Business “systems” are very 2009.
“Blueprints” harken back to 2011.
Blending in, toeing the line, doing what the other elves are doing is OUT.
What’s hot, new, now and WORKS to bring you success on your terms?
Customized personal shizzle that shows people who you really are, what you do that has big value and helps people in a big way.
Logos = out.
Your smiling face = IN.
Boring advice everyone is giving = OUT.
Having an original idea, opinion and approach = IN.
Look, no one is going to pay you to teach them something they can find in a “Way to do Business for Dummies” book. Think about that for a moment.
I can buy a social media marketing book on Kindle for $9.99. Why should I pay so much more to a coach to get the same information?
You can’t sell what Oprah or Martha Beck or *name guru here* already sells. It’s being sold. You can’t compete. Oprah has a cable station for goodness sakes. (and she got that by being completely unique in the world of talk TV).
The future of successful small business is all about who you are and the customized support and solutions you can offer your clients.
Target has cute cups and dishes made in China. I can get them cheap.
You need to tell me why I should buy your custom pottery to drink my coffee this morning. I’m willing to pay more for something special. Now you have a business.
When I challenge people to get personal and original, confusion sets in.
We have been trained and dare I say, brainwashed, since we were 5 years old that success = fitting in.
OK,that worked in the 20th century. It really did.
But now we’re in the 21st century and the game has changed.
Just like horses were replaced by trains and cars. The old “fitting in to succeed”model is going away.
But people are confused and nervous, thinking, “I don’t know what makes me special. I’m really good at fitting in. ACK!”
That’s fine and normal and perfectly OK to feel out of sorts when the world changes.
But this doesn’t let you off the hook.
If you want to build a small business, my friend, you need to get your YOU on!
Here in our little corner of the world we’re going to practice being unique and special.
Getting comfy with anything new requires practice, right?
And we’re going to do this in 2 ways.
First Way: I’m inviting you to tell your story here on my blog. Why? Because the first step to figuring out your unique voice and offering is to talk about it, in public. I am offering you a chance to kick yourself in the ass and get out there. Isn’t that nice of me?
This story can be any story you want to tell. It can be about how you decided to work for yourself, what motivates your business, something from the past that affects your present, a talent you have you need to share with the world. It’s your story, tell it your way.
The rules are —you need to tell it via video (yes, video!) in 3 minutes or less. Consider this a precursor to your future TED talk.
The story cannot be a pitchy, selly thing, either (not that you would do that, but just in case strangers land here and don’t understand our vibe, just adding that little reminder).
I’ll have an example of the story telling tomorrow by sharing MY story.
Post the links to the videos in the comments of this thread OR email it to me directly.
I’ll watch each one to make sure it’s family friendly and not a sales pitch. Of course, your video will pass this test. Then you’ll get a spot on my blog calendar to be featured! We’ll share link love to your website, too. I’ll let you know when you will be here so you can share with your friends if you are so inclined.
Second Way We Will Ease Into Being Unique and Successful
There will be a FREE video series about this whole new movement of “be unique, sell custom” coming from ME to any of you who have an interest.
I’m going to walk my talk here and put my ideas out there and share them with you as directly as I can in video. The videos will not be awesomely produced with fancy headers and songs and animations. So if you’re looking for a Disney-esque experience, I don’t have that.
However, I do have some ideas that have helped me and my clients build thriving, unique, custom businesses that let them make great money and live life on their terms, so if you’re into that give us your email and we’ll talk about how to do that. (sign up at the bottom of this post. If you’re reading this in your email box, you need to click over to the blog to sign up.)
Are you ready?
Now is the time to step out and practice being who you are and selling what you do best.
No more “follow the crowd.” Now it’s time to do business your way. And I’m not saying you should be unique just because it’s nice to do. Nah. I’m saying that you need to stand out because that is what works in making money now.
So, stay tuned for my story, coming to you by video tomorrow.
And sign up below to get my new video series on building a personal business with custom products and services.
Fascinating. I’m already thinking about what I would say.
You have me excited and nervous – but growth and change never start from a comfortable space, so with that in mind I’m going to give this a go.