finding and following your
true north to success
Weekly Directional for Your Life and Your Business
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Weekly Directional for Your Life and Your Business |
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May 7, 2004 In
this issue: I. Finding friends in unlikely places... I was thinking about friendships and how we all have ones that are dear to us, as well as maybe some that perhaps no longer add positively to our life. A few years ago, I ended some very long-term friendships because I was finally at a place where I could be honest with myself about how those friendships negatively impacted me and my life. It was very hard, particularly because we have mutual friends, but I know it was the right decision for me to move away from them, and I haven't regretted it. As a matter of fact, as soon as I did that, two other equally long-term friendships that had been in the background became much stronger relationships effortlessly. It's so important to surround yourself with people who care and support you, and even if you've been to hell and back with some friends, as you evolve in your personal growth, those same friends may not necessarily evolve with you, or worse, they won't support your growth, due to their own issues. I have actively sought out new friendships with women who care and support me over the last few years, and I am truly blessed by those who have come into my life since. How did I find them? Well, one fabulous group of women I met through a Life Makeover group I "host." Another I've just met recently in an unlikely way for me, so I wanted to share it in case you are someone who knows that perhaps you need to cut some ties and develop some new empowering ones, but you're afraid you won't be able to find or make new friends. (As an aside, there's nothing more refreshing than building a genuine friendship with someone who doesn't filter everything you say and do through your history together! You get to create a new history and be, and be seen as, the person you want to be and who you really are - it's amazing!) I let you in on a semi-secret. James and I are trying to conceive our first child. We've been at it for awhile, and for those of you who've been through this, you know what an emotional roller coaster it is. Having the support of other women, both moms and wanna-be moms, has been essential to my sanity while we work to create our own little family. In my search for information about getting pregnant, I stumbled upon a discussion board for women who are using the Clear Blue Fertility Monitor, like myself. Discussion boards are a staple in my life, as I am a member of several for either business or educational purposes, but I've never joined a list for personal reasons. But I'm so glad I did. I have connected with many of the women on the baord, and the support is unbelievable (these ladies get IT), but I have felt a strong connection to one woman in particular. We are the same age, both recently married, trying to conceive our first child, and have many other things in common. We live fairly near each other and in a few weeks we are meeting for dinner. I'm really happy to have connected with her and feel that our budding friendship will continue to grow over time. Who would have thought that I'd make a friend from a discussion board? Think about your friendships. Is there perhaps one or two that you are tolerating as opposed to truly enjoying? Perhaps it's time for a heart-to-heart. Or perhaps it's time to simply walk away. Just know that as you continue to evolve and grow as a person, you will attract like-minded, like-feeling friends to you. II. Asking for what you want in your business, part 5 Last week, we talked about Asking for Written Endorsements from Highly Credible People as a way to boost your business. This week, I'd like to talk about the strategy of Asking for Top Quality Referrals to add to your business success toolkit. Even though referrals are the easiest and least expensive way of gaining clients/customers, they are another underutilized tool for expanding your business. Asking for referrals should be part of your marketing plan. It should be one of your business habits as part of making your business more successful. Within your client/customer base, it's likely that you have at least a few if not several "core" clients/customers; the ones who buy from you the most, or who use your services consistently. They are one of your best resources for quality referrals. Why? Because they obviously like your product/service and have likely become very well versed in what you provide. Therefore, they are able to make some well informed matches for you with new prospects. These are the clients/customers you need to ask for referrals. You don't have to limit yourself to just asking these clients/customers, however. When you meet with a new prospect who cannot use your product/service, ask them if they know someone who could. Ask them if they will refer others they know who may be able to use your product/service. Another thing most enterpreneurs don't do is make giving referrals part of the sale. You could simply say, "We grow by referral. Please pass along our contact information to others who may benefit from doing business with us. Thank you." You can offer an incentive, like a discount off a future purchase, for each referral. Or you can say thank you by sending a simple gift, like a couple of movie passes or a lottery ticket, for each referral. It's important to give recognition to those who give you referrals so that they will continue to do so. Just as important: Don't just ask for referrals, give them, as often as you can. Remember, giver's get. Period. In my business program for entrepreneurs, one of the key strategies we cover is creating a low-cost marketing engine, and asking for referrals is a great low-cost marketing tool, which every business should use. If you'd like to know more, visit www.innercompasscoaching.com/entrecoaching.htm. III.
From behind the barn door… Earlier this week, I had a list of errands to run, one in particular that was completely in the opposite direction of all the others, so I decided to make an adventure out of it. I packed up some of my homemade tomato soup in a thermos, my laptop and a pile of reading I've been wanting to get to, and headed off. Near my far-away errand is a Starbucks, and I plunked myself down with a venti chai and wrote and read the afternoon away. It was just great, and something I plan to do consistently from now on. Sunday is Mother's Day, and per our annual tradition, I will be driving to Boston to take my mother into the city for the day. We've been doing this for maybe 10 years or more, and we both really enjoy the time together, just walking, browsing, and catching up. And having those conversations that only a mother and daughter can have. I'm really looking forward to it. Each day I think I become more and more grateful for my life. It's amazing... Have a fantastic
weekend! Cheers ~ Alicia
Forest is a Personal & Business Coach serving enterpreneurs and small
business owners in their desire to create a sucessful business, by their
definition of success. Her coaching programs are delivered by means
of quarterly teleworkshops, monthly teleconference calls, email and
telephone.
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Inner Compass Coaching. All Rights Reserved.
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