A New (Better) Version of Your Business
I want to introduce you to Schelli Whitehouse (left). She wrote a most interesting blog post on how to Attract the Perfect Clients with Authenticity and Leadership which had me nodding along, laughing (especially at the horse-eating plastic bag, lol!), and giving her points some deep thought. Particularly on the point of my business being a reflection of myself…
If you run a service-based business, or work directly with clients or customers of any kind, you’ll find this interesting. Schelli talks about dealing with refunds, demanding or slow-paying clients, and the stress of raising prices. All of which relates back to us, and our mindset.
It’s a short post (a quick read) but will leave you with plenty to think about. I’ve often confessed at how many hurdles I overcame along the way, personal hurdles, to bring my business to where it is today. Everything from pricing, to dealing with the negatives to managing my business.
None of that came naturally for me. I went into business with no previous experience and no college education. And plenty of personal issues. 
Looking back I can say that the one thing I wish I had done sooner was to get help. I don’t mean therapy, though that probably wouldn’t have hurt (lol). I mean getting a coach, getting involved with a mastermind group, or aligning myself with other successful people that I could learn from.
I would love to hear the one thing you took away from Shelli’s post.
For me it was being aligned with my objectives. I realize that sometimes my thoughts and feelings are not in line with my goals, and those goals are rarely met. It helps to know the “why” behind your goal, and to be 100% attached to that why.
I also loved the example of the horses getting spooked, and what that says about focus. The fact that they waste no time over the details, but rather get right back to work the minute they recognize the situation for what it is.
Like I said, it’s a quick read – but very powerful. As we head into the new year, and a new decade even, now is a good time to analyze where you are with your business – and what changes you would like to make. If you are not moving forward, and enjoying every minute of your business, now would be a good time to explore the reasons behind that. Is it your business – or is it you?
I know for a long time it was me. I can admit that.
What holds you back? What part of your business do you love, and which part do you dread dealing with? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Maybe we can get Schelli to weigh in on some of it with us. 
Also, Schelli has just launched a scholarship essay contest for people interested in participating her my upcoming 10-month program. You could win a spot in her program just for entering! You can get details and enter at this link. The contest ends on January 11th, so you’ll want to enter soon if you’re interested!
Best,
Disclosure: this post was sponsored by The Next Highest Version of You
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What an excellent post. I chuckled at the horse eating plastic bag. :p
I have owned a service based business since the late 90′s. One of the best things I did was when I joined a Yahoo group of all women web designers. Through that group we had many discussions and I learned that men and women often view business differently. Men don’t agonize over charging what they’re worth or raising their prices. Yet many women tend to tie in an emotional aspect to running a business and that seems to cause conflict within themselves.
Once I realized my own worth: as a business professional; and I accepted my role, along the authority and confidence that should go with that, I no longer struggled when I needed to raise my prices or make solid business decisions. I just did it.
Aside from the above, what really propelled my business forward was two things:
1. Taking action. Now, when I get a business idea, or know that I need to do a certain thing to market my business or continue in the path toward a target goal I’ve set: I just do it! It’s that forward motion of taking action that has been my biggest success.
The FlyLady says, any work done still blesses your family. Same principle applies in business: any work done that moves you toward your goals, still blesses your business!
In other words: do it now, tweak it later.
2. Delegate and outsource. I used to think I was the Lone Ranger. I would try to do every aspect of running my business all by my lonesome. Once I realized that even the Lone Ranger had Tonto, and I let go of that ‘control freak’ side of my personality, I got me a few Tonto’s and now my lifestyle is more inline with what I want and my company is actually MORE productive and making more money.
Follow me @TraciKnoppe on Twitter.
I totally agree with you Traci about the gender thing. That’s clearly evident in the fact that the majority of my clients are women. And you most definitely cannot have enought “Tontos” in your business.
HI-Ho Silver! Away.
Follow me @CoachSchelli on Twitter.
Thanks Schelli. I agree, we all need more ‘Tonots’ to run our businesses efficiently and effectively. I mean come on, does Bill Gates or Steve Jobs make the computers, package them up and ship them? NO!
Even small home-based businesses can operate and compete with the ‘big guns’ if we think and work smarter: that includes outsourcing! 2010 should be the year of Tontos and the end of the Lone Ranger syndrome.
Follow me @TraciKnoppe on Twitter.
And hooray for that!
I can relate to the whole Lone Ranger syndrom, as I was in that mode for years myself. It has made a world of difference for me to take on a team. Still perfecting it and adding to it, but LOVING the results!
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
Hi Lynn..
You talk about masterminds and surrounding yourself with successful people.
This is probably the most important thing to me. They help keep me on track, inline and motivated.
I would give up everything before I give up the people I surround myself with and my masterminds.
Joe
‘Google First Page Formula’
Follow me @joemarsh on Twitter.
Ditto that, Joe – same here
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
One thing I took from Shelli’s post? The horses are scared by something, regain confidence and get back to work. It is something that I have heard over and over again in interviews of successful Internet Marketers. TERRIBLE things can happen to scare us in business- lists are lost forever, sites tank, partnerships dissolve… and the truly successful folks pick themselves up, keep plugging and regain momentum. That’s just like Shelli’s horse eating plastic bag analogy. What a great post!
Follow me @braffenberg on Twitter.
Hey Bridgett, one other thing I thought of that applies to recovering from the scary things that happen to us and regain momentum, is the importance of learning from the event, make the corrections needed and jump back in the saddle! (Horses actually learn this principle much quicker than us complicated humans.)
Follow me @CoachSchelli on Twitter.
I can attest to surrounding myself with like minded people that have the same intense energy in achieving their goals. They help keep me in line and focused.
I make my products to sell to customers. I think the one thing I don’t like is when a customer calls me and they complain about another silicone mold maker. I know immediately they are not the ones I want to work with. I am right about this 100% of the time.
I want to delegate and outsource so bad, but because of finances I cannot. I know that once I can do this I can achieve so much more.
Follow me @Dawnaurora on Twitter.
Hi Dawnaurora,
Something I have discovered on this journey of solo-entrepreneurship is that if we can stop focusing on the things that we can’t afford to do in our business (right now)and take bold steps toward what it is we do want to accomplish that every single time, what we do want appears to take steps toward us.
Make the plans for the business you want (help, clients, services you want to offer, etc…) then begin making the calls, setting up interviews, engaging with other more successful people in your industry and offering help wherever you can. You will be amazed at how what needs to happen next to move your business forward will show up for you in both expected and unexpected ways!
Follow me @CoachSchelli on Twitter.
Some options include your local college – they can actually get college credits for working with you as an apprentice. A great way to start, and potentially find someone you end up hiring!
I also hired both of my teen children. Great tax benefits.
You may also consider taking on an intern.
Follow me @lynnterry on Twitter.
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