The
Marketing Person You Think You Aren't
by
Beth Woodward |
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After
working in the corporate field for 25 years, it was time to
nurture my creative inner self and find my passion in starting
my own business. I found a fulfilling profession as a Personal
Life Coach. Helping others find their passion - it just doesn’t
get any better than that. After achieving my certification I
found myself asking the question…Now What? Although it
was my choice to develop my own business, I did not have the
marketing experience and desire I needed to build that client
base. I simply wanted to do what I do best – Coach! The
truth is, I disliked (kind word) marketing, I didn’t want
to feel like I was selling and I knew I didn’t have what
it took to achieve this part of my business…or thought
I didn’t. The fact is, if I had a dollar for every time
I said, “I’m not a marketing person,” I wouldn’t
have to market my business; I’d be set for life.
I
did the typical routine of sending some letters of introduction
to my friends and business acquaintances, giving away sample
coaching sessions and making a few calls that felt safe. I even
put a few ads in the paper. I soon came to the reality that
the phone was not going to ring and people were not going to
approach me while I was sitting comfortably at my desk. Then
a turning point came while I was standing in my office one afternoon.
I realized I just wasn’t a person that could be an independent
business owner - what was I thinking that I could do this. I
decided I should quit and go back to an office job. At that
moment I heard a voice; it was very clear. “If you quit
before you’ve given it 100% you will be very disappointed
in yourself for the rest of your life.”
I
thought I’d give it one more try. How was I going to do
this? I asked myself two basic questions. What did I need and
What did I want? The answers I received were simple. I needed
movement and I wanted color. At that point that was all I knew.
I decided to trust that these answers would forward my direction
in marketing and building my business. About one week later
I drove past a juggling academy in Burnsville MN. Color, movement
- I signed up. I started with a juggling class, networked with
friends and business peers and developed a monthly call with
other business owners about “manifesting” what you
desire. I started looking at me; what made me tick, what energized
me and when was I at my best. This became a time period of self-discovery.
I had been so tied up in who I thought I wasn’t, I had
forgotten who I was; a great team player, a great partner, the
queen of brainstorming and resource extraordinaire. I thrived
from the energy of others to help build my business. I needed
diversity to keep things interesting and took a look at what
really interested me. What were my strengths and what made me
unique? I also looked at what was giving me energy and what
was taking my energy. I decided to cut loose a part of my business
that was draining rather than energizing. About 2 weeks later
“Marketing On The Playground” was born. I had created
the space for what was supposed to come in by releasing what
wasn’t working.
The
journey from then to now, 2000 – 2003, has been one that
was inspiring, difficult, exciting, emotional, challenging,
exhilarating, passionate and filled with aha’s. I feel
as blessed as a person can be. We are given what we are meant
to have and we get to choose what to do or how to be with it.
I was meant to have a struggling emotional first year, create
a wonderful program for others through that learning and create
my current vision to take it to the top.
Does
it sound like I’ve done this alone? … Hardly! When
I didn’t know the answer I learned to ask for help. Funny
thing, it didn’t hurt a bit. If I didn’t know where
to go I learned to just take one simple step forward, no matter
how scary or uncertain. It would always take me to the next
question or open the next door. A very wise person told me that
when you take the first step, the second will appear. The most
common “stuck” place I have seen my clients and other
new business owners is the need to know all the answers before
taking a step. Needless to say, you will remain stuck and deprive
yourself and your business of the richness it needs. The best
material I have written and programs I have created happened
when I took a chance, made a few mistakes and asked for help.
One more awareness - we are meant to help one another and work
in teams. It’s more fun giving and helping others build
their business – in return you receive so much more including
help to build your business. Bring the right people around you
for support, creativity, goals, vision and motivation.
Through
creating my big vision and honoring my strengths, passions and
interests, my business has blossomed into: 1) writing the booklet,
Marketing On The Playground, 2) publishing the Marketing On
The Playground book (to be complete by June 2004), 3) delivering
Marketing Playground programs to business owners across the
country, 4) working with individual business owners who want
to find their own marketing style and take their business to
the next level and 4) creating the Marketing On The Playground
series.
Here’s
the bottom line. Discover what works for you. It should be an
extension of your own strengths, passions and uniqueness. You
have chosen to be in your own business; that took guts, passion
and a desire for making a better life for yourself. Tell me
again why you don’t think you have what it takes to market
your business? If you have passions, interests, the strength,
and I do mean strength to step into this world and set your
own course, you have what it takes to market your business.
Now, it’s just a matter of finding what works for you.
I challenge you to identify your comfort zone, stand in it and
doors will open.
What
was my secret for overcoming obstacles - “True” belief.
Belief so strong that you are willing to stand up and overcome
anything and everything that challenges your vision.
A Few Marketing Tips:
• Give yourself “permission” to follow and create
your own style as an extension of yourself.
• Network and Market Through Your Strengths, Your Passions,
Your Uniqueness and Your Comfort.
• Trust Yourself - You are the only one who has Your own
unique talent to market Your business.
• Look at what’s working and what’s not - If
it’s not working do you need to cut it loose?
• Seek out the right team(s) of people to help you succeed.
• Believe in Yourself, and “Be” Yourself.
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