You’ve done all the right things; figured out your core marketing message, built an awesome website, put together  great products and services  and the money is coming in, but just not enough of it.

You know there’s is a big shift that needs to happen to grow your business to the next level. This is when it’s time to have a strategic planning session and  figure out the next steps.

However, it feels hard and as though you are up against a big wall and not sure how to get over it.

You may have an inkling that you need to get out of your comfort zone and do something completely different.

This could seem like a big risk. Why is that?

That wall you’ve hit against is the combination of your feelings, beliefs and actions.

Example:  Your feelings might be fear or self-doubt. It is terrifying to do something new or different that that involves investing money and time. Your emotions say, “What if it doesn’t work? What if I screw up again?”

Your beliefs come from experience or modeling.  Example:  ”It is better to not take risks. Be conservative. You’re not smart enough.” It is hard to change your inner mind-set.

Your actions are your habits, ways you are used to acting. You have developed routines and  modes of operating that you are comfortable with, but may not be serving you or your business.

Are you willing to let go and do things a different way?

These three parts of you overlap and can take a strong hold. Take a few minutes and visualize the change you want to see in your business.  Write out a list of your feelings, beliefs and actions that emerge when you think about taking the risk to support this goal.

Once you have this insight you can choose to make decisions from a more aware place.

What feelings, beliefs or actions are stopping you? I would love to hear your comments below.

If you own and run a business there is always those days when you wake up and nothing is going right.

Please reassure me that I am not the only one that has these days! I sat down at my desk this morning and I couldn’t remember why I liked my business. I just felt disconnected.

I could probably dig down and figure out what might have triggered this, but it is actually way more important to know how to get out of this space. Luckily I did know this process because this is not the first time. I may have even written about this once before:)

Here are my super duper 5 tips to shift your attitude! I acknowledge that these are mine. Some of them might work for you but the important thing is to create your own list.

1. Find something you have been wanting to get done but haven’t had time. This needs to be something you want to do but have been putting it off. For me it is always something creative as that makes me feel good, happy and I remember what it’s all about. I managed to do that today and it feels like a huge accomplishment.

I can’t wait to get back and wipe it off my white board. I did have a wee technical issue come up but even managed to call Jocelyn and she answered the phone and fixed the problem!

2. Take a shower and wear something that feels good. When I feel blah, I feel like wearing blah clothes all day. Today I didn’t have any face to face meetings so this was a day I could have worn my sweats all day!  But I put on my favorite blue shirt and that color always lifts my spirits.

3. Get out of your office – especially if you work at home like I do. I have been working at the TeaHouse all day and it has been lovely to be here with other people and as a result,  I am not distracted by all the stuff in my office that is a mixture of clutter and piles of things that need to be filed or dealt with.

4. Get out and move your body. I packed up my computer and got on my bike and rode down to the the TeaHouse to work. Just the ride on my bike shifted my energy- almost like magic. Riding my bike feels like flying a bit and as a result I feel lighter. I still have the ride back home in awhile.

5. Listen to uplifting music. I have been sitting with my i pod. I have a playlist of my favorites; all songs that make me feel good. I’m listening to “Across the Universe.” while typing this.

I began to write this blog post early this morning. I put it aside while talking to clients on the phone, getting my creative project done and answering emails. Now it’s 3:00 and I have done all the 5 things above. I feel back to my real self again and I’m sure it’s because of these choices.

ok- here is the creative project I got done today. I am beginning a brand new program called  ”Wednesday Inspiring Biz Tips”. Every Wednesday you will receive a short, sweet and supportive email from me with one tool to help you shift from self-doubt into positive income.

You can be the first to join this free group! Just go to my home page and look on the side bar. I promise that this will be awesome!

What are your five things?  I would love to have you share below plus it would be nice to know I’m not the only one who has these days!

Ideal client or niche client? People often use these terms interchangeably but in fact they don’t necessarily mean the same thing.

I thought about this last week when I had two people ask me who my ideal client was. Before I tell you how I answered, I want to give you my simple definition of these two categories.

Ideal client: A small business owner who has chosen to get help before spending a heap of money on a new website. ( for ex.)  It is always more fun to work with someone before they make huge mistakes.

My ideal person is committed, really wants help and willing to do the work involved. This person sees the return on investment of hiring me.  In other words- someone who I enjoy  working with! My ideal client is really about me and who I enjoy helping the very most.

Niche client: Is the person powering my core marketing plan. A small/solo business owner who helps other people with their service. They are highly skilled and experts in their field, however they struggle with business decisions, skills and no-how. They need more clients, more cash flow and clearer focus on how to get their business stronger.  It is all about them, not me.

I had to really think about how to answer the questions that were asked of me. Part of my response depends on who is asking me. The first person was a client I had worked with last year. She was wanting to get more marketing clarity. The second person was a potential new client.

For the first person, I explained the difference between ideal and niche to help her understand her own marketing focus. She  was mixing up the two and was focused on her ideal, but was calling it her niche. This is a common challenge service based business owners have because they are thinking about what they want to do. Her  definition was too general as well.

Your niche needs to be a narrow, specific group who you are aiming your marketing toward.

With the second person,

I responded with who my niche client is because I knew that’s what she was asking. She cared about  her own business issues and this is what i needed to speak to.

In order to build a strong, powerful marketing plan you need to learn to really focus on your niche and use this definition as this is who will help you to grow your business. Does this make sense?  Have you been confusing these two things?  I would love to hear your comments.

Free tele-class with more help on this topic!

“Why do I need a niche if I can help lots of people with my service?”

I get asked this question at least once a week by solopreneurs who are highly skilled but are struggling to have enough clients and enough cash coming in.

It can seem logical that defining a niche will make your money flow smaller, not larger.  Some comments I hear from solopreneurs owners include:

•  I know what I want to do and there are many people I can help.
•  I know exactly what I don’t want to do, what I don’t enjoy.
•  I have tons of experience and training so I know I am good!

Although the three statements above are true, they will not, by themselves, bring you more clients.  Why is that?

Your potential clients are focused on their own issues or problems. They want something to change in their lives. They know what’s not working for them but don’t know how to fix it. Sometimes they feel desperate, anxious and urgent.

When they begin to feel those ways they begin to look for solutions or someone who can offer them support, help them shift and make changes. They want a specialist or expert  who is focused on working with people just like them.

If you refuse to name your niche, you become a generalist, not a specialist. The people who you are wanting to attract won’t be attracted to you.

To better  understand this, imagine your niche were all people who are teal blue. Teal blue people have certain specific issues. They are a strong but narrow group that can be defined by their situation. They want help on how to put their teal blueness out into the world more and be more successful, happier, make more money, have better relationships or whatever.

They look for someone who speaks to them.  They end up on your website but all they see if a someone who is specializing in dull grey people. Grey is a mixture of all the colors and becomes undefinable. You seem skilled to them but not a teal blue expert.  They son’t feel empathy so they click off and keep searching.

Lets imagine that you have focused and decided to clearly define your niche speciality as lime green people who need what they need. Funny thing is that if a teal blue person ends up on your website they will still recognize you as a specialist and might think, “Well, if you can help  the lime green folks, maybe you can also help me.” They will never think that if you present as a grey.

The moral of the story. Let go of being grey. Specialize and speak directly to those specific people who you want to attract.  If you want more help figuring out how to do this, check out  Find Your Niche Market Ready-Set-Go

When you boldly name your speciality, those people will feel connected to you as someone who “gets,” them. It is all about building empathy. Do you know what your color is?

You’ve likely discovered that it is virtually impossible to start, run and develop your business without mentoring.

When I  began my very first business I didn’t understand this so I struggled along and made slews of mistakes that cost me many dollars and waste of energy.

I did what many first time entrepreneurs do.  I:

•  Thought I could figure it all out myself.
•  Didn’t want to spend the money for an expensive mentor.
•  Didn’t even realize that I had blind spots.
•  Focused on what I was good at.
•  Ignored the parts I didn’t understand.

Ten years ago when I began my present business, which involves helping others like me, the first thing I did was to hire a mentor coach. I did spend a bundle of cash but decided it would be worth it. She did help me, however it was also a bit disappointing. I assumed that being a professional she would give me exactly what I needed, however I learned that it is also a mistake to make that assumption, as everyone has different strengths and skills.

My next mentor was perfect and I continue to work with him.  He helps me see past my blind spots and more. Here are a few things I have learned and some tips that can help you to choose the best mentor for you.

1. Be wary of people who say, “Hire me and I’ll help you get to six figures in a year!”  That is hype and no one can guarantee this. The very best thing someone can do for you is to help you get past your obstacles and blind spots and help you make decisions that will lead to higher profit.

2. Pick someone who will really listen to you and how you feel and what you need. It all needs to begin with you and a good mentor will take the time to hear you and really understand where you are stuck, where you want to go and what you need to overcome.

3. The best mentor is someone who has the ability to access tools and processes that are focused on your specific issues and not a stock program. Each business owner may dealing with similar issues but not the exact same challenges. You want someone who focuses on you individually.

4. Find someone who has the ability to see the best in you and can see more in you than you see in yourself. This is extremely important because when you are stuck and struggling, self doubt and judgment tends to cloud your perceptions. You need someone who can see what you are unable to see, and to give you the confidence to shift and grow into a stronger leader of your business. A good mentor is willing to speak out and offer constructive feedback and help you to expand your vision.

5. Choose value not price. If you have money issues, your own self doubt and fears will emerge in the process of considering who to hire and this can confuse you. Focus on the benefits and not your fears when deciding. This is an investment in yourself and your business and it needs to be about the value and benefits you  receive. If you get the help you need you will likely increase your income and  it will pay for itself in the long run. Pick someone who is a specialist at working with people just like you.

Entrepreneurs who choose to get help from a mentor are way more successful.  I hope the five tips I offer will help you to make a decision that will support your growth and transformation. If you want to add anymore tips from your own experience I would love to hear your comments.