Are You Creating Your Own Team?

I spoke to an entrepreneur today who was stressed out with all the things she needed to do in her business. It was clear by the sound of her voice that she needed help. Doing everything on her own was wearing her down and putting her into overwhelm. She’s a brilliant talented woman who wasn’t focusing on what she does best.

For most of us, it’s our passion that inspires us to go into business. We go into business with the strong desire to help people and make a difference in the world. But as we get more and more into our business, suddenly we realize there are many different hats we have to wear.

Although you realize bringing in business is a priority, all the things you have to do daily take you away from doing what you do best. Before long, you’re spending more time on the day-to-day tasks than on what will bring you in the most money.

You start off each day with a plan in place but early on you get side tracked by an unexpected situation. By the end of the day you realize you haven’t accomplished very much. You’re never going to grow your business trying to do many different things in your business. In addition, you have to focus more on doing tasks that you don’t enjoy doing.

I recently read a quote a friend of my posted on Facebook that sums it up. “A person’s most valuable currency is what comes naturally—if something isn’t easy, then don’t do it. You can’t override your feelings or ignore your core desires and expect to create something sustainable. When you let go of the activities that aren’t second nature, it opens up your creativity.” How true that is!

I can remember when I first started my business, I felt overwhelmed with all the tasks that needed to be done. I thought I was suppose to be super woman. I was doing work I didn’t like doing and it took longer to do because I wasn’t an expert. It didn’t leave me much time to do the work I loved.

As soon as I hired my first team member, I became more relaxed and more time opened up. I gave up the notion that I had to do it all. My creativity juices were brought back to life. I now reach out to my team of experts who help me in the areas I need help. I don’t always need them but I know they’re there when I do.

I invite you to do the same. Start by making a list of all your tasks. Next to each task, write your initial if it’s something you love to do or write an “x” if it can be delegated. Begin to create a team that you can reach out to help you who are experts. You’ll quickly see the difference it makes for you in your business.

Remember, you went into business because you’re good at what you do. Now it’s time to be doing what you do best.

If you would like to use this article on your website, or for your own ezine, not a problem; however, there’s one thing you MUST include: Rochelle Togo-Figa, The Sales Breakthrough Expert, is the creator of the Sales Breakthrough System™, a proven step-by-step sales process that will help you close more sales, sign on more clients and make more money with ease and velocity. To sign up for her free sales articles and teleclasses on closing more sales, visit http://www.salesbreakthroughs.com/.

It’s Time to Raise your Financial Self-Worth

I was recently on a call with a client who shared with me how she received all theses leads at an event she attended. I expected her to be excited with such a strong response. It was obvious by the number of leads she received that people needed her services. Yet, she was feeling frustrated and depressed. And, when I asked her why, she said, “Even if I get the business, I’m still not covering all my expenses.”

I felt so sad to hear this because she’s great at what she does and should be paid generously for her expertise. We went a little deeper and uncovered she was afraid to charge more because she had a low-worth mentality. She had worked many years as an employee. Although she was now a business owner, she was still thinking like an employee.

What she experienced is not uncommon for many people who leave the corporate arena to start their own businesses. It’s easy to sell a large ticket item when you work for someone else. But when it comes to stating your fee, you find yourself tongue tied and stumbling over what to say. Although you have a passion and desire to help your clients, and hope to be financially rewarded for doing that, your limiting belief about your self-worth determines how much to charge.

Here are some statements that show it’s time to raise your financial self-worth:

• You know in your heart you’re not charging enough.
• You’re afraid if you increase your fees you’ll lose the clients you have.
• People are telling you that you should be charging more.
• You don’t believe you deserve to charge more.
• You’re afraid to go after bigger clients.
• You’re not excited when you bring in a new client.
• You resent the time you give to some of your clients.
• You’re giving extra time to clients and feeling depleted.

If any of the above statements sound familiar and you want to turn them around, here are some ways to help you gain the confidence to raise your fees:

• Make a list of the results clients get from working with you. As you write this list, you’ll gain more confidence seeing the value you bring to your clients.
• Ask several current clients why they chose to work with you. You’ll be surprised and delighted by the reasons your clients hired you.
• Visualize clients happily paying you what you’re worth. The more clearly you can see clients paying you what you’re worth, the more real it becomes.
• Write down all the reasons you deserve to increase your fees. After you’ve written this list, read it over and over so you begin to see that you deserve to be paid what you’re worth.
• Ask your satisfied clients for testimonials and then read them periodically. This will increase your confidence when you read how much you’ve helped them.
• For each negative thought you have about raising your fees, change that thought to a powerful and positive thought. Instead of saying “If I raise my fees, my clients will leave, say, “I’m worthy of these fees and provide a valuable service to my clients.”
• Next practice saying your new fees over and over until the words come out as easily as saying your name.

Remember many of the people you’re dealing with are business owners just like you. They see their own costs going up and expect your fees to increase too.

Remember the client I mentioned earlier. After working with her to shift her beliefs and thoughts about increasing her fees, I received a call from her. She was so excited she could hardly speak. She said, “I just met with a new client, presented my new fees and she hired me! And, it was so EASY!” Everything shifted for her once she raised her self-worth.

If you would like to use this article on your website, or for your own ezine, not a problem; however, there’s one thing you MUST include: Rochelle Togo-Figa, The Sales Breakthrough Expert, is the creator of the Sales Breakthrough System™, a proven step-by-step sales process that will help you close more sales, sign on more clients and make more money with ease and velocity. To sign up for her free sales articles and teleclasses on closing more sales, visit http://www.salesbreakthroughs.com/.

It's Time to Blow Your Horn

I recently met with my client, Jenny, who left her corporate job to start her own business two years ago. Her business has quickly grown, she had built up a clientele of loyal customers and she was ready to go after bigger accounts. Yet, there was something in the way that was keeping her from pursuing the bigger accounts.

Jenny had worked for someone else for many years. She was comfortable promoting their product and staying in the background. But now as a business owner, the product she’s promoting is herself. She was having difficulty creating a compelling marketing message and letting people know about her.

When I asked her what was holding her back, she said she doesn’t think she can compete with the big competitors. And, when we went a little deeper, we uncovered the real fear and that was she didn’t think she was good enough. Now, is this the truth? Absolutely not! She made this thought up and deep down she believes it.

For many entrepreneurs, we have difficulty blowing our own horn. What holds us back can be our limiting thoughts. We’re not always aware of these thoughts, but you know they’re there because they can show up in our behaviors.

Here’s how you know you’re holding yourself back:

• You make excuses for not doing what you said you would do.
• You blame circumstances or other people for your situation.
• You find yourself distracted and sidetracked by other tasks.
• You feel overwhelmed by everything there is to do.
• You compare yourself to others.

If you want to take your business to the next level, you have to be willing to step out from behind the curtain and stand confidently and proudly center stage. It’s time to blow your horn, let everyone know how great you are, what you have to offer, and how they can help you.

It means “acting as if” you’re already that person. The more you act as if you are, over time you will become that person. It’s like being an actor. The actor takes on a role. She’s “pretending” to be that person; however, to the audience she “is” that person.

I did that when I created my new website. I wanted a new website that projected an image of professionalism yet softness. I took the leap and made the changes. At first it was scary. I wondered how people would respond. There was no reason to be scared, the response to the website has been so positive since I’ve launched it. In the first week, I’ve attracted two huge business opportunities. I’m so happy I made the leap!

Here’s 5 easy steps to help you blow your horn!

• Make a list of your accomplishments. When you do this exercise, you’ll begin to see how much you’ve accomplished. Far more than you ever thought!
• Make a list of the benefits people receive from working with you. This will help you become clear on what you provide for your clients.
• Interview clients. Ask them what they like best about working with you, what is unique about you, and why they hired you.
• Gather testimonials from your clients. Read those testimonials over and over, so you’re present to the results you’ve produced for your clients. These are your raving fans!
• Take action now! What’s one step you’ve been wanting to do in your business and been putting off that you’re willing to take on today?

If you would like to use this article on your website, or for your own ezine, not a problem; however, there’s one thing you MUST include: Rochelle Togo-Figa, The Sales Breakthrough Expert, is the creator of the Sales Breakthrough System™, a proven step-by-step sales process that will help you close more sales, sign on more clients and make more money with ease and velocity. To sign up for her free sales articles and teleclasses on closing more sales, visit http://www.salesbreakthroughs.com/.