Whether it’s the USA election or Brexit, September 11 or Hurricane Katrina, the uncertainty that surrounds world events brings up anxiety in people and changes their behavior, which in turn affects your marketing and sales. I've spoken with several colleagues who are having a difficult time filling autumn classes or getting clients to commit to a …
28 Ways to Say No
Would you babysit my pet tarantula next week? No. Is it okay if I bring my twelve cousins to your birthday party? No. Can we extend our contract for six months but not increase the price? No. Sometimes saying No is easy! But sometimes, finding the right words to say No can trip us up. And without the right words, we sometimes say Yes …
“Ground Truth” and the Importance of Market Research
I know. I know you’re excited about your new business ideas. I know you have a great idea and when you tell others about it, they think you have a great idea, too. A great idea is the birth of a new small business. But as a self-employed small business owner, you can’t afford to take chances on ideas without getting more information about …
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Is the Problem Traffic or Copywriting?
I recently worked with a client, Lydia, who has a beautiful website. The graphics, layout, and branding are perfect. So why wasn't Lydia getting more sales? The first thing we needed to do was some detective work. Why? Because we don't know if her problem is that she's not getting enough traffic to her website or if the problem is that …
How To Create A “Perfect” Life: Kathleen’s Story
Everyone believed that Kathleen Wiltshire had a great life. She had a close and loving family, a business she loved and for which she was well-paid, and a bright and cheerful outlook on life. Kathleen also had too much stress in her life. Both of her elderly parents were ill, her mother with advanced heart disease, and her father with …
What Is Your Legacy?
During a recent speech, I told the audience that my mission was to empower the self-employed to succeed. Instantly a hand shot up in the audience. "What's your definition of success?" I smiled to myself -- I love it when they ask this question! There are as many definitions of success as there are self-employed people. Success …