Do you want a pretty picture or do you want the truth?

I've been speaking with a lot of women recently who are thinking about working with a business coach. They're either in the beginning stages of entrepreneurship or they're ready to take their business to the next level. Either way, there's one thing that I keep hearing over and over again: "Don't paint a pretty picture for me; tell me how it really is."

It's easy to tell people that they'll make mega money quickly, that growing their business will be a walk in the park, and that their life will continue to feel all warm and cozy. 

I'm not going to sugarcoat it for you. The first 6 months of your business (and sometimes more) are hardcore. I imagine that it's kinda like being on The Biggest Loser. You're at a place where any alternative really isn't an option, you're willing to do whatever it takes to succeed, but you have absolutely no idea what you're in for.

Within the first week, people are throwing up, passing out, and having emotional breakdowns on the gym mats. They feel physically and emotionally pushed beyond their limits and can't necessarily see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Being a business owner can oftentimes feel the same way. If you think that you're not going to have moments of doubt, overwhelm, and fear, you're wrong. 

Here's the cool thing though. It's those same moments of doubt, overwhelm, and fear that are the gateways to your growth. If we didn't get scared and overwhelmed, we wouldn't be pushed to learn more about ourselves, to strengthen our faith in the Universe, and to take those actions that we simply wouldn't take otherwise.

It's often only when the fire under you butt is hot enough that you'll be driven to really take a step back and extract the lessons that the situation is offering to you.

 

So here's the truth about succeeding as a business owner:

1. It definitely won't happen over night or in a month, but it definitely will happen if you're committed

2. You must get comfortable feeling uncomfortable

3. The road to success will feel a lot longer and more difficult without the ongoing support, guidance and accountability of a coach or a mentor 

4. It can be one of the most fulfilling experiences that you will ever have in your life

5. You will need to train yourself to live in a place of faith and to become certain of your success

6. People want to help you, but you need to ask them for help in order to receive it

7. The Universe doesn't give you a desire without the resources available to help you translate that dream into a reality

8. There will be days where you will want to throw in the towel and stay in bed for hours

9. There will be days where you will feel on the top of the world

If you're looking for someone to support you through your journey, guide you, and tell it to you like it is, then let's set up a 30 minute complimentary Business Strategy Session for you and me to talk about what's going on for you right now, where you want to go, and how you can get there. I believe that you and I have connected for a reason, and that you're reading this today because you want to get to the next level. I only have a limited number of spots available, so be sure to sign up asap. So excited to speak with you soon!

Why I do this (it's not for the money)

Having your own business is a funny thing. One of the potential perks is that there is no limit of how much money you can make. You want a raise? You give yourself one. You want to create a new program? Done and done. When you're a business owner, you call the shots and that includes naming your desired salary. 

What I'm realizing is this: the only way you'll make money is if you're not in your business for the money. And I'll take this even one step further - if you want to make big time money, you have be driven entirely by love. It can't be for the potential fame, expert status, vacations, nice cars, and big house.  

Your success in your business is completely contingent on how much you're not in it for you. The Universe doesn't honor ego-driven intentions. 

We all talk about the big WHY. Why you really want to be a business owner - on a deep core level. So people start to think about what motivates them - sometimes it's that they want to have a baby or buy a house or just pay bills every month. Sometimes, it's because you want to go on more vacations or get a massage every month. And that's all well and good. 

But the big WHY has nothing to do with you. It can't. You can't be in this business for you. The freedom around finances, choices, time - those are all wonderful by products, but you must be in your business because you believe with every fiber of your being that you have the ability to make people's lives better. 

Not because you're better than other people or cooler or more special, but becauseyou were given a gift and it is your responsibility to share it with the world. When you were born, the Universe blessed you with a gift; life is all about first discovering what that gift is and then, once you do, making sure that you share it with as many people as possible. 

So then, in theory, you could say, "Well, Jordana, why not give away my gift for free? Why do I charge people for my services? Isn't that unfair to put a price on a gift?"

Here's the crazy part of it all. Making people pay for your services is really a favor for them. Whenever you make a big financial investment in something - whatever it may be - you become more emotionally invested in it. You take better care of it and show it more attention. When clients pay for your services, it drives them to step up to the plate in a way that they never would if they weren't paying at all - so much so that if you don't charge them, you're really doing them a disservice since they won't learn and grow as much. 

So late last night, sometime between 1 and 2 in the morning, I wrote down why I do what I do, why I am so invested in helping you. And then I made a vision board too. And I want to share both of them with you. This, my dear friend, is what I wish for you in your life, and what I am *committed* to helping you feel when we work together. 

 

Here it is... My Manifesto (what I wish for you)

And here's the vision board

I want you to really get that my purpose is all about helping you. My calling is to make sure that your goals become a reality. With all of this in mind, let's set up a 30 minute complimentary Business Strategy Session for you and me to talk about what's going on for you right now, where you want to go, and how you can get there. I believe that you and I have connected for a reason, and that you're reading this today because you want to get to the next level. I only have a limited number of spots available, so be sure to sign up asap. So excited to speak with you soon!

The dollars are behind the discomfort

What to say when you reach out to people

As business owners, we write emails ALL. THE. TIME. In fact, sometimes, I feel like my business IS writing emails. It helps to have a few templates in the back of your pocket for emails that you may be writing a bunch. 

Here are two kinds of emails that I've found to be particularly popular.Remember, these are just suggestions. Below each script, I map out the structure of the email, so that you're welcomed and encouraged to use your own wording and tone. 

Hope you find these to be helpful and that you no longer experience the "what do I say" panic moving forward. 

Announcing your business 

** you can also use this template if you are changing your business a bit or adding a new service to what you currently offer**

Subject line: Exciting news! 

Hi NAME, 

I'm so excited to write to you today as I have big news to share with you. As you may know, I started my own professional organizing business in 2007. I had absolutely no idea how to start or grow my business, and I had to teach myself, step by step. Over the past few years, I've worked with hundreds of clients, been featured on TV and in national magazines, and I'm happy to say that it's been a huge success!

It wasn't the easiest of journeys, however, and I've met lots of women during this time who were in the same boat. And many still are. Starting a business is a huge commitment and a big decision to make, and it can feel very scary and daunting. 

With that in mind, I decided that I wanted to start helping those women who were committed to starting and growing their own service-based businesses, but needed the ongoing support, accountability, and guidance to be sure that they dreams would become a reality. 

Today, I want to proudly announce the launch of Embarkability, with the mission to help women start and grow their own successful service-based businesses. I work with women worldwide, from across the street to across the ocean. I've already begun working with amazing clients and the results they're seeing are huge. It's really been a wonderful experience so far. 

Here's where you come in. Would you please keep your eyes and ears open should you know someone who would benefit from working with me? I would love to connect with them! I offer 30 minute complimentary strategy sessions to learn more about their goals and see how I might be able to help them moving forward. 

Thanks in advance for your support and any introductions you're able to make in the near future!

All the best,

Jordana

Recap of Formula: 

1. Remind them of what's been going on in your life/business

2. Let them know how it's been going

3. The inspiration behind the new business/additional service

4. The announcement and purpose/mission of the new business/additional service

5. Ask for their help (describe your ideal client and how you help them)

6. Thank them in advance for any support they might be able to offer

Reaching out to potential referral partner

Subject line: Would love to connect with you!

Hi NAME, 

I found out about your company online and I wanted to reach out as I think that many of my clients could benefit from your services. In 2010, I created Embarkability with the mission to help women start and grow their own successful service-based businesses. Many of my clients already need or will soon need a SERVICE OF REFERRAL PARTNER to help them take their business to the next level, and I wanted to reach out to see if connecting them with you would be a good fit. 

By the same token, if you have any clients or colleagues who are currently struggling to get clients and make money, I would love to see how I might be able to help them. 

Overall, I would love to learn more about you and your business as I think we could be a great partnership moving forward.

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

All the best,

Jordana

Recap of formula: 

1. Let them know how you found them (online, through a friend, etc.)

2. Let them know what you do

3. Let them know why you're reaching out and how you can help them

4. Let them know how they might be able to help you  

5. Emphasize the potential of a great partnership moving forward

 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's article! Be sure to leave a comment on Facebook - it's a great way to connect with me and the rest of the Embarkability community.

One more thing. While all of these email templates are straightforward, you will onlysee results if you take action. The key word is action. 

 

Which is probably why you're reading this newsletter today - because you already know that it's difficult to take consistent action when growing your business. With that in mind, Let's set up a 30 minute complimentary Business Strategy Session for you and me to talk about what's going on for you right now, where you want to go, and how you can get there. I believe that you and I have connected for a reason, and that you're reading this today because you want to get to the next level. I only have a limited number of spots available, so be sure to sign up asap. So excited to speak with you soon!

The "behind the door" experiment

If you're frustrated in your business, this might be why!

Remember when your mom or dad would get upset with you and ask you, how many times do I need to repeat myself??"

While their question was more rhetorical than anything else, I'm sure that at the time, they were at their wit's end.

Even if they had said something to you once - and DEFINITELY if they said it more than once - they wanted & even EXPECTED you to listen.

Now here's the million dollar question: Did you listen?

It's funny how the tables turn - because now, in many ways, you are in your parent's position - but as a business owner. Let me explain - you tell a prospective client what you do once, maybe even twice, and well, you want and probably even EXPECT them to understand and remember what it is you do after saying it those 1 or 2 times.

I recently read an article that spoke about the "three-times convincer."  Basically, it said how you can't tell someone something only 1 or 2 times and then expect them to believe you.

In fact, according to the article, "80 percent of people need to hear a message three times before they buy into it, 15 percent need to hear it five times, and five percent up to 25 times." Do you realize, that the minimum amount of times they said was THREE? That was the least amount of times someone needed to hear a message in order for them to really get it. And the most was - I know - TWENTY FIVE!

Now while 25 times does sound a bit much, it definitely shifts your perspective a bit. If you've been wondering why more prospects haven't become clients, you now know that it could very well be simply because you haven't told them enough times about what it is you do!

It's not that you're not good enough or that your service isn't valuable, it's that you're TOO QUIET! Start speaking up more, and see if it makes a difference. Now while this doesn't mean that everyone will suddenly say "yes" - I can tell you that simply going by the law of probability, the more people you speak with and the more times you tell them what you do, the higher the likelihood that you will have more clients.

So now what?

Here are some of the ways I keep the conversation going:

1. Send your prospective clients a weekly newsletter
2. Schedule coffee dates or phone calls with potential referral partners
3. Pick up the phone and see how past, current, and potential clients are doing
4. Send a "just because" card to check in
5. Email them and ask them if there's anything you can do to help
6. Mail them a birthday card and/or present

These are just a few of the hundreds of ways you can keep in touch with the people in your world.

The lessons to be learned here are that connecting or following up with someone one time is never enough, there is no such thing as an overnight success, and to keep going, no matter what.

PS. Let's set up a 30 minute complimentary Business Strategy Session for you and me to talk about what's going on for you right now, where you want to go, and how you can get there. I believe that you and I have connected for a reason, and that you're reading this today because you want to get to the next level. I only have a limited number of spots available, so be sure to sign up asap. So excited to speak with you soon!

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You're being persistent, not pushy

Interview with Young Female Entrepreneurs