How A New Program Drew 350 Registrations–the First Time Out

A client of mine, Teresa Aziam of The Aziam Center, led a telecall last night that interested 350 people in just a few days of promotion. She went to her list and asked two JV partners to promote for her—but out of the gate, with not a whole lot of promoting at all, this was a strong number.

Here’s what they were drawn to: There is a single formula that explains your lagging business success—and it’s the same (and only) formula you will ever need to get all the clients, sales, buzz and love you want!

That was the hook–and the essence of her “Teaching Story”—the story she unfolded on the call.

They may have been drawn to the title, too, but we didn’t measure that: Off-the-Charts: The Only Formula You Need for Breaking the Ceiling on Business and Life Success.

They stayed because—as one woman near the end of the call said, when asked how one of the exercises affected her, “I can’t even express it, it was so profound.”

 

This is Teresa’s “Portal Program,” as I call it–#3 on the diagram. It is the pre-event to her star-money-maker, Signature Program.

This diagram illustrates the strategic line-up of offerings I help my clients create. But it doesn’t just magically happen. Here’s how Teresa and I got to her “Teaching Story” hook above.

She came to me, knowing that her specialty was “mindset work.” First order of business is always determining target market.

 We went back and forth on that for a few sessions and finally she decided on “mom-preneurs” with kids under eight years of age. (I always have my clients, working with mothers, determine the age of their kids; it reveals yet another dimension of their problems/needs/desires that need to be addressed.)

The next order of business is determining that market’s “urgent problem.” I always say, “You must be urgently wanted (b/c you solve an urgent problem) or you will be an elective…and you can’t afford to be an elective.” So, we quickly determined that her market’s urgent problem (even though Teresa didn’t feel qualified at first to address it) was, “poor sales.”

“I don’t teach sales,” she said to me repeatedly, as she was trying to grasp that as her business future. She felt she wasn’t credible to solve that urgent need. (Can you relate? Then read on.)

“There are many solutions for someone, for example, who needs to lose weight,” I told her. “Someone can help nutritionally. Someone else can provide hypnosis treatment. Someone else, liposuction. Someone else, self-mastery techniques. The problem is the same, with many solutions. You can help that problem, as one of the solutions.”

That accomplished, we began to drill down into what she believed mom-preneurs needed to do to succeed. It wouldn’t be a sales technique, or strategy for attracting leads; it would be her answer, based on what she does well. After days of thrashing about in deep reflection (my questions tend to do that to people), she determined that above all, (that’s what I look for) her market needed to know their own self-worth to succeed. Without it, there can be no success.

And that began the very mysterious process that happens between me and a client in developing their Teaching Story. We sit on a see-saw, the two of us, and as she pushes off the ground in answer to a question of mine, it rolls down to me, and stimulates an idea, and back and forth we go, as my brain—always scanning for a Brain-Sticky concept—begins to think of what to teach to the market.

It’s completely non-linear and a process I cannot teach or I would make it a group program, but in no-time on that see-saw, keeping in mind a) her market; 2) what they most want; 3) what they need to know; 4) what she does best and 5) what they don’t know, I knew the hook: your sales are directly proportionate to your self perceived value. They will be low if your value of yourself (in any or all areas of life) is low; they will be high, if your self-perceived value is high. Teresa loved it because it was true. She said, “Yep. There is no exception. It can’t be any other way.”

I always test and test my clients’ convictions, and so I asked (as I’d asked it multiple ways before), “If they try any of the other solutions to boost their sales, will it work?” She was an emphatic, “No! This is THE answer!”

And so, I whipped the concept into a formula (which I don’t want to reveal here, for proprietary reasons, but you can go find out yourself!)

From there, I began to design the “arc” of the Teaching Story—how she would teach this to an audience. As you know, she gave it last night to a live audience, but even if she was never going to “be on stage” with it—having a Teaching Story Arc is a sweet, key way of developing an “idea” that no one else in the world has. No one else has the formula of her Teaching Story—and no one else has the teaching content we developed that teaches the formula, what do with it, and then presents a natural new problem to the audience.

Her Teaching Story was “urgently wanted” because it: addressed a nagging problem (low sales) with a irrefutably true concept (your sales are proportionate to your self-perceived value), spun in a unique way with a hook, (the formula), built with unique content (provocative exercises and data that taught the formula and the science behind it, in her case), delivered, using the unique curriculum design I’ve been teaching for years, which “teaches to the brain”—then resurrecting a new problem (how to effectively change self-perceived value forever to achieve off-the-charts sales and other business success), which is solved by the next event, the Signature Program.

And that is how 350 people came to register for the “only formula you need for breaking the ceiling on business and life success.” Congratulations, girl!! If you want to find out more about Teresa’s event, click here.

To do this work with me, email info (at) inspiredleadersacademy.com with “I want lots of people on my telecall, too!” in the subject line 🙂 or go read more at: www.inspiredleadersacademy.com/powerhousemethod2.

 

 

How I Got Certain of My Career Purpose: Letter to Client

A client asked me the other day how I came to have such conviction about my
purpose. It came on the heels of my having told her that, as a leader of change,
 she needs to have “certainty” about that. That it’s her time now to move into
power and play much bigger.  When she wrote me a couple of hours later, asking
me how I’d come to eb so certain,  I had to think about it!  I’d never had to “pull apart”
or articulate HOW it is that I know with such certainty that I am here to “activate”
the leaders and help them build successful one-of-a-kind business empires. Here’s 
how I answered her:

Here are some contributing factors:

1. I am really in touch with my emotions; always have been, and I don’t like anything
that feels bad. That’s why I could never work for anyone else, because I hated it. I
couldn’t stay in a marriage that felt wrong, and am 10 years into a relationship that
feels  great.  There are downsides to only wanting what feels good: I tend to
procrastinate on anything that doesn’t feel good and am rather moody when
doing something I hate.

However, all of this fine-tuned awareness of my feelings has repelled career paths
that felt bad, and drawn me to those that feel good, and 25+ years of that kind of
intuitive “tacking” has brought me to a spot in my life where I’m doing what I love
and am good at because I only cultivated the skills that I really enjoyed. After all of
these years, sorting out good-feelings from bad-feelings, my intuition is a finely
honed and powerful tool in my arsenal and it has led to “I KNOW.”  That kind of
certainty. I work with clients whose feelings aren’t that keenly felt, and so making
decisions can be very hard. And decisions are “certainties.” There is a great deal of
neuroscientific research that proves that if we can’t feel, we can’t decide. Read this
USA Today article  here.

2. Honestly, another answer that comes to mind is that I’ve done my own work–
meaning, the work I take others through. I know so well my own convictions because
of those deep, penetrating questions. For instance, in The Powerhouse Method(TM),
clients must assert their *single* contention for their market–and this is a very large
step in revealing their purpose. Then, I have them excavate their “mountain top
message”–their leadership message, that is their message for humanity. It’s really a
big message. When they get this clear, they’re almost home to certainty. Then, we
craft their mission statement and determine their one-of-a-kind solution and after
all of this, they are convicted about their reason for being here. I did all of this for
myself, of course, and no one can walk out of that not KNOWING.

3. I also have the certainty I have because of my career history. I have spent years
developing  my expertise–skills, again, that I am good. My conviction comes from
knowing my value to my market.

4. Additionally, I am madly in love with my market of service entrepreneurs here
to do big things in the world. Certainy comes from that and from knowing I’m a
perfect match for them.

5. And lastly (I guess, though I’m sure I’ll go to bed, thinking of more)…I bring my 
beliefs into it all (part of what I do in the PHMethod for others), so I’m clear that I
believe this is a special time in history, and *the* time for service entrepreneurs to
move into roles of leadership during this historic transition. I am DEEPLY convicted
about that…and that reinfoces my certainty of my role to ensure they succeed.

So, in summary: I am so certain of my purpose because I know how to feel what is
wrong from right for me, by years of sorting out what feels good from bad. If you are
not sure of how you feel, this will be a problem. You will stay stuck in analysis
paralysis and waffle for years. I encourage everyone to start small and notice their
” body’s speak.” Notice what your body says when you’re looking at a menu filled
with choices. It is what tells you if you want chicken or fish. Pay attention to those
cues. Then, start to notice how it feels when you’re reaching for the phone to call
someone: does it *really* want to talk to that person, or are you just doing it from
habit? I am also so certain about my purpose because I know my message to my
market and my message to humanity; I know what my unique offering is; I am
passionate about a certain population and have beliefs about their purpose that fuel
my certainty about my own. I encourage everyone to find a population they’re in
love with, and to look into their beliefs about what that population is here for; doing
so will help cement their own purpose.

I am thankful for this client asking me this question, and I hope my answer was
helpful for all.  Here’s to changing the world with your message!

 

10 Years In Business Tip #2–Without This, You’re Sunk

In my special report, What I Know For Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business, I list 75 topic areas that I have bumped into over ten years. Throughout October, I will randomly choose one of the 75 and expound on it. So here’s today’s:

#2 You’ll really only make it in your own business
if you have a tenacious, merciless beast within you
that CANNOT WORK FOR ANYONE ELSE! The idea
of doing so must be excruciatingly painful, or you
will be too easily persuaded to do so when the
going gets tough
.

I’ve always had this beast in me. Early on, it showed up as my being a careless and often neglectful, forgetful and completely indifferent employee–which annoyed my bosses, got me fired once, and generally left me with the certainty that I must be lazy because I hated to work.

Well, it wasn’t until I became an entrepreneur 10 years ago this month, that I realized ALL of that was wrong. Society has enculturated us  with the robotic “life success” trajectory: get good grades, go to college, work for a good company and claw your way to the top--OR you’re a miscreant. I bought into that hook, line and sinker…only to  discover in my own business that not only can I work with some degree of interest, I can LOVE working…in fact, way too much.

As my business grew, this beast that had once seemed my enemy–became my dearest friend. I’d hit a dry spell and have those middle-of-the-night terrors where I’d consider selling my soul for the ever-lauded “consistent paycheck”–and my beast would unleash itself wildly, screaming at me that I would wither under the supervision of a boss. I’d die giving up my autonomy, my ability to run things entirely…and, most of all, the ability to create something meaningful out of nothing and call it my own. And get paid for my own genius. “NEVER!” it has shrieked at me in such times, and I’ve had no choice but to listen.

And THAT is why I am still here 10 years later. If this beast did not live vividly in me–the other beast called fear could easily have won. And I would NOT be here telling this story. In fact, I’m quite sure I wouldn’t be here at all. So, the only question to ask yourself is, “Can I work for anyone else?” The answer will predict your future.

Get all 75 tips PLUS much more! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/report/

And watch for the TOP 10 to be revealed on Halloween…and for great specials to be announced Friday, Oct 28–my birthday!!

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10 Years in Business Tip #40–Speak and Profit!!

In my special report, What I Know For Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business, I list 75 topic areas that I have bumped into over ten years. Throughout October, I will randomly choose one of the 75 and expound on it. So here’s today’s:

#40 Public speaking is truly the best, most leverageable marketing strategy for service professionals. Trust issues, resistance and skepticism melt away when we see someone in person (for the most part). Nothing else does this like being in the room with your prospects. Get out and speak!

Okay, it’s kind of laughable for me to stuff my opinion on this subject into a single blog post. :-) For those of you who don’t know me, I specialize in teaching a very cutting-edge public speaking training, and for 5 years, have been teaching entrepreneurs to “Speak Free and Profit.” (See ebook to the right of this page and archived posts to learn even more.)

So what *can* I say about this in a paragraph or two? Well, how about this:  some things never change in a wildly changing world. The internet has lulled us into believing we can connect with others through our monitors and iPhones–but the truth is, we still need to experience each other in a live setting. We still crave the connection that is born out of face-to-face, in-person communication. It is not dead, any more than the delicious joy of holding a book in our hands and reading from paper pages is dead. Communing with others live is a delicious joy, too, and as entrepreneurs dedicated to effecting change, we must elevate speaking to the top of our marketing to-do list because it is our job to do what works. Getting people in the room to influence them to act on our world-changing idea, or to purchase something, is just plain being business smart. MUCH smarter than sitting around, waiting for dollars to come out of our Facebook pages.

Speaking is far more “Brain-Sticky” than any other kind of marketing, period. When you speak to a room of people, you have an unprecedented opportunity to remove resistance and doubt and replace it with powerful and long-lasting (if you know what you’re doing) trust and affinity. If you’re a keen observer of human dynamics, you know that an energetic circuit evolves in a room, and a master knows how to use that energy to lift the room to heights of inspiration, hope and empowerment–driving action-and once that has occurred, you have a dozen or thousand new fans who will want more of that experience…in you.

You can’t create this kind of circuit anywhere else. As such a master of live event energy, I’ve tried! You need to get them in the room with you. And they want to be there still, though it’s a tougher task to get them there than it used to be. But as humans, they want to feel the electricity that occurs in the presence of like-minded cohorts, and they want to see you up close and personal.

I always say, “Inspiration sells.” But inspiration gets transmitted best through the energy of live human beings, looking in each other’s eyes, touching each other’s arms, hearing each other’s laughs…and watching you in your grand sincerity and brilliance. Public speaking is, hands down, the most leveragable of all marketing strategies ever conceived. Some things just never change.

Get all 75 tips PLUS much more here! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/report/

And watch for the TOP 10 to be revealed on Halloween…and for great specials to be announced Friday on my birthday!!

 

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10 Years in Business Tip #54–Give ‘Em Something to Talk About

In my special report, What I Know For Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business, I list 75 topic areas that I have bumped into over ten years. Throughout October, I will randomly choose one of the 75 and expound on it. So here’s today’s:

#54 Surprise your list and your clients. This can be done in countless ways so unleash your creativity. The message here is singular: give them unexpected gifts.

The best way, of course, to surprise your prospects and clients is to deliver more than you promised. Are you consistently doing that? You don’t ever, ever want them complaining that you didn’t provide what you said you would–nor do you want them experiencing only what they expected. Not that that’s a bad thing, but it’s just not extraordinary. Every person I’ve served in business has said I have exceeded their expectations–whether in ebooks, live trainings, or 3-month courses. It’s been a huge part of my success.

But I also surprise my list with presents: transcripts from a recent talk I gave is a favorite example, or a new article I wrote (not blog post, but bonafide article). Recently, I sent them a 9-page special report detailing the blow-by-blow development of my new business brand in 2012. This might seem self-serving, but it was so chock-full of insights and guidelines any one of them could take when making changes to their own business that it was every bit a gift, and I was told so often in emails from them. And, of course, I just gave out this 14-page, 75-item report, “What I Know for Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business.”

There truly are countless ways that you can gift your list and clients–limited only by your imagination. I suggest you take yourself back to the last surprise party you gave, or how you felt as a kid, surprising your parents with breakfast in bed or a birthday cake. Do you remember how good it felt to give what was not at all expected? Do you remember the delight on their faces? You may have gotten something back in return, but what really mattered was the selfless giving of something you knew they’d enjoy. That’s where this comes from.

Now, go and have some fun! How will you surprise your prospects and clients today?

Get all 75 tips, PLUS much more! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/report/

In celebration of my 10th anniversary, TODAY you can get my comprehensive ebook, Speak Free and Profit: The Definitive Guide to Giving Free Seminars that Explode Your List AND Your Revenues! Click to get it for just $20.11–REDUCED from $47!  Friday Oct 21 ONLY. :-) NOTE: The sales page indicates the wrong price; but when you click to order, you’ll see the sale price.

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10 Years in Business–Tip #45: Scarcity Sells

In my special report, What I Know For Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business, I list 75 topic areas that I have bumped into over ten years. Throughout October, I will randomly choose one of the 75 and expound on it. So here’s today’s:

#45–You may not like it, but the truth is scarcity/limitation sells. When offering a program, offer it only for a limited time, and offer a “scarcity” of seats.

There are marketing techniques that can feel really sleazy and have given the entire selling process a bad name.  One of them is putting a limitation on an offer. “Squeezing” people to act, who otherwise probably wouldn’t, by limiting how many units are available (seats of a seminar, books, CD’s, cameras, you name it),  and or limiting the time-frame when they are available–either forever (never to be offered again) or at a particular sale price.

We don’t seem to get annoyed at Macy’s for having a 1-Day sale or at any other retail store that threatens, “while supplies last”–but we seem to get prickly when an expert with intellectual-property says you only have today to buy a seat in a program at a reduced rate. There’s really no logic behind our finding that distasteful but not the way retailers use the same sales technique–except we’ve been conditioned since childhood to accept this from stores.

I remember years ago, when I was coaching everyone (smile–and see my report) on inter-personal communication skills, I had been working with a couple for nearly 9 months. They were caught in a vicious cycle and one of them wanted to leave. They had agreed that on a certain date, if nothing had changed, the one who wanted to leave would make a decision: stay and accept things as they were, or leave. Part of my job was to ensure that they upheld that very terrifying agreement of  a final date. I allowed them to move it back one time, by one month, but then I said, “Okay, then on September 14, you’ll be here in my office with a decision.” They trusted me and they came and the one who wanted to leave was quaking in her boots. I didn’t even know what her decision was; I wanted her to tell us both at the same time. She couldn’t get the words out. But I held her to the “squeeze date” because the truth was, she was ready. She just couldn’t do it on her own. Finally–and ONLY because she had a limitation–she blurted out that she wanted a divorce. It was  rough ride for the rest of that session, but she was able to claim what she really wanted.

A week later, she called met to say, “Lizabeth, I thank GOD for you.”

I did many things in our time together, but the most effective was setting a limitation on their vicious cycle: to say, “It’s got to end and it’s ending on this particular date.” And I had the professional integrity not to let them renege on what was best for them.

This is why I believe in limitation in sales. I know that the result they’re going to get with a program or product of mine is going to change their business in profound ways. In other words, it’s the best thing for them. But I also know the squirrel-y mind chatter of the human being, and how someone could easily tell themselves they can do it themselves, or now isn’t the time–and continue in their vicious cycle. What I’m doing, in passionate good conscience, is stopping their pattern of continuing the status quo that does not work. I put a limitation so they will act on a better decision. I am clear that doing so is the best thing I could do for them…but only because I know that my work is the best thing they could buy.

So, if you’ve had an emotional struggle with setting a limitation on an offer, I truly hope you will digest what I’ve said here and see it through an entirely different lens. Of course, if you doubt your own work, it’s possible that is getting in the way of your issuing a time or unit-restriction. Check in on that first: do you know that you deliver powerful, life or business-changing results? If you do, then give your prospects the gift of squeezing them to do what they really want and need to do.

Get all 75 tips PLUS an invitation to join me in celebrating 10 years on a free call October 10th, PLUS much more! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/report/

In celebration of my 10th anniversary in biz, today you can get my comprehensive, chock-full ebook, Speak Free and Profit: The Definitive Guide to Giving Free Seminars that Explode Your List AND Your Revenues! Click here to get it for just $20.11–REDUCED from $47! Thursday and Friday Oct 20 and 21 ONLY. :-) NOTE: The sales page indicates the wrong price; but when you click to order, you’ll see the sale price.

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10 Years in Business Tip #37–How to Deal with Email Unsubscribes

In my special report, What I Know For Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business, I list 75 topic areas that I have bumped into over ten years. And every day in October, I will randomly choose one of the 75 and expound on it. So here’s today’s:

Unsubscribes. They tend to bring a little pang of
insecurity to every business owner but those
with the thickest skin. TIP: Write them from
your private email as soon as the unsubscribe
message pops up. Tell them you’re sorry to see
them go and ask them to tell you why. I’ve saved
2 recently just by doing that; they got right back on
.

There isn’t much more to say about this except to impress upon you that doing it
is worthwhile.
I always send back an email when I get an unsubscribe message
with the subject line, “Sorry to see you go, name!” It gives me a chance to thank
them for signing up in the first place and to get some information. Just the other
day, a woman unsubscribed when I sent out an email pertaining to my 10th year
anniversary. Since the subjects I’m dealing with for this anniversary are not my
areas of specialty, I felt it was important for her to know precisely what I do before
she goes. Nice and concisely. Here’s what I sent her, after the subject line I mentioned
above:

Before you go for good, I wanted to be clear that today’s email was a little off-topic
for me and that may be why you unsubcribed. For October, I’m “cleaning the closet.”

So, I wanted to be sure you knew precisely what I do and why you got on my list
in the first place: I build businesses for visionary entrepreneurs based on a single,
unique “powerhouse” message…which then gives rise to the suite of products and
programs that build their business empire–which includes their one-of-a-kind
money-maker, their Signature Program. I help them sell that program with Brain-
Sticky marketing–and, of course, I help them deliver it
with unparalleled power
and impact with my public speaking program.

Hope to see you back again one day!

She didn’t come back, but she wrote me back to assure me that this wasn’t
personal (smile)–and to tell me the reason: which was that she is inundated
with emails. I wrote her again one last time to say thank you and now she is
left with a different impression of me and my work than she had from the
email from which she’d unsubscribed.

So, the next one you get–do the same thing. Write them back to thank them
for signing up in the first place; to ask if you can help with anything one last
time; to share what it is you do; or to ask for feedback. Again, you may not
get them back (but then again, you may)–but it’s all about customer relation-
ship and leaving a positive final impression.

Get all 75 tips PLUS an invitation to join me in celebrating 10 years on a free call October 10th, PLUS much more! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/report/

Hate to sell? In celebration of my 10th anniversary, I am reprising one of my most beloved programs. A 4-part/2-week course, Grillin’ the Gremlin: Freedom for the Sales Phobic. Learn the 7 reasons you do not sell EAGERLY or WELL. This is the LAST time you’ll ever get his program, and the ONLY time you get to work with me for peanuts. Jump on this. It’s good only until Tuesday Oct 18th! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/gg/

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10 Years in Business Tip # 7–The Question to Clear Out Your Business Fears

In my special report, What I Know For Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business, I list 75 topic areas that I have bumped into over ten years. And every day in October, I will randomly choose one of the 75 and expound on it. So here’s today’s:

Fears getting the best of you? Ask yourself,
Is this information I’m getting?” In other
words, newsworthy material I should listen
to? You’ll feel an answer. If it’s “yes,” then pay
attention. If it’s, “No. Just same old fear and
whining,”
then lay it down. You only need to

attend to clear and helpful information.

 

This is a really important distinction. The chatter in our heads is either shi*-stirring propaganda
or it’s information with very important direction. Either/Or. The rubble-rousing kind of
monologue has no data and information in it–except, of course, that you’re doomed, are never
going to make it, are a loser now and always, Life sucks–and on and on. But when you dissect it,
you see that’s not information.

Information is defined in Webster’s as 1. “the communication or reception of knowledge or intelligence.”
(What’s that tell you about your self-talk?) 2. “the knowledge obtained from investigation, study or
instruction: FACTS, DATA.”

So, as you’ve got your head in your hands, lamenting over a dismal month of sales and everything you
did wrong, ask yourself, “Is this information I’m getting?” Facts, data, knowledge or intelligence?
Or is it a bunch of fear-mongering ka-ka designed specifically to pull me down? You will find this simple
question clears away all of the cobwebs: the answer is either yes or no. If it’s information, you will not
feel great emotion anymore, just a clearing to walk through to a more effective solution. If it’s not
factual data that you can use…what are you going to do with the chatter in your head? You must
summon the self-respect to walk away from it and ask instead, “What information do I need to get me
back on the right path?”

This simple question has saved me from balancing out on many a ledge. Try it yourself!

Get all 75 tips PLUS an invitation to join me in celebrating 10 years on a free call October 10th, PLUS much more! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/report/

Hate to sell? In celebration of my 10th anniversary, I am reprising one of my most beloved programs. A 4-part/2-week course, Grillin’ the Gremlin: Freedom for the Sales Phobic. Learn the 7 reasons you do not sell EAGERLY or WELL. This is the LAST time you’ll ever get his program, and the ONLY time you get to work with me for peanuts. Jump on this. It’s good only until Tuesday Oct 18th! http://inspiredleadershiptraining.com/10Years/gg/

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10 Years in Business–Tip # 19: What Am I the BEST in the World At?

In my special report, What I Know For Sure: Lessons Learned in 10 Years of Business, I list 75 topic areas that I have bumped into over ten years. And every day in October, I will randomly choose one of the 75 and expound on it. So here’s today’s:

Set out to answer the question,
“What can I be the BEST in the
world at?”
It may take years to
find the answer, but seek it, and
know that it must be answered
one day, so watch yourself and
ask your clients often, “What do
I do best in the world?” The
question is not, “Of all of my
skills, what am I best at doing?”

It’s what are you the best in the
world at. Period.

I was on a telecall a couple of years ago led by an older business man whom I respected–
though I’m embarrassed to say I don’t remember who it was. But he said that on his desk
he had a question: “What can I be the BEST in the world at?” And he admitted that he was
still valiantly trying to answer it. So, I adopted the idea and put the question on my desk,
believing that I *would* answer it. It, like all things that our physical senses experience
routinely, disappeared into the woodwork most days–but every so often, my Reticular
Activating System would have me catch sight of it again and I’d ponder the possibility:
What can I be the BEST in the world at?

Be assured that it’s a game-changer to know you can go toe-to-toe with the best in your
field and give either as good a performance or, more likely, a better one. Suddenly,
with this realization, your stock just took a quantum leap. You know you deserve, can,
and must command top-dollar for what you do–assuming, of course, that it is wanted.
As the best leaf-presser in the world, you may have a tough time with that. But if what
you’re “the best at” is valuable to the marketplace, you’ve just written your golden ticket.

Steve Jobs knew he was the best in the world at
innovation and made no qualms about boasting
so publicly. Writers Lev Grossman and Harry
McCracken wrote in Time Magazine’s October 17,
2001 issue: “Jobs dubbed the $2,495 Mac ‘insanely
great,’ a bit of self-praise that became forever
associated with him and Apple.” He didn’t listen
to his customers or his employees: he knew the
brilliance of his own mind and knew that to succeed,
he and everyone at Apple would do best listening to
it without reservation. They did–and the world was
changed.

On the one hand, you don’t have to broadcast to the world that you’re the best; one can
be more humble about it. But there’s also something very compelling about an expert
who asserts with conviction that he can do something no one else can. Humans aspire
to self-actualization, after all; we are fascinated by the evidence before us of one who
has reached it–at least on one  level.

Just the other day at my public speaking training, I said, for the first time, with clear
eyes and cellular certainty that I am the best in the world at extracting the message
an entrepreneur has been born to shareand that will change the world and
build a business empire. I would never compare myself to Steve Jobs, but I said it
with the same kind of knowing he had that no one can do what I do better. It was true.
It was simple. It was real. And so I said it. And I went on to let them know that come
2012, my stock price would be very different. It wasn’t a ploy or a manipulation. It
was just the truth–take it or leave it. It had impact.

Knowing what you’re the best in the world at is a game-changer. As I said
above, the question is not, “Of all that I do, which skill am I the best at?” It’s What am
I the best
in the world at?

I suggest you write the question out and look at it every day–as that business man has
done, and as I did (and still do). Your subconscious will work on it, and one day, if you
want it enough, if you believe in yourself enough, the answer will come. And it will be
a
brand new day.

Get all 75 tips PLUS an invitation to join me in celebrating 10 years on a free
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