Life Of E's

Here’s a question that came in recently from a Life of E’s member (during the Email Extravaganza) with my response below:

Hi, Meggin,

I’m motivated, focused, and loving life.

I’ll try to keep this short.

I’m writing you this email to let you know where I’m at now and where I want to go. Maybe I’m looking too much at the negative (which I usually don’t do), but my business is struggling. I knew it would take awhile but I was hoping that I would be a little further ahead than I am right now. I know I have what it takes to be successful as a speaker/consultant. But, when is it going to happen? I must be doing something wrong. Can you please help me figure out what it is?

I’m sure my focus will change, but right now I’ve got to figure out a way to MAKE SOME MONEY. If I can’t do that, I’m going to be hurtin’ for certain. I’ve recently taken a part-time job just to bring in some extra income.

Please understand that right now I’m not discouraged at all. I’m more motivated than ever. But, I know some things have got to change.

Let me know what you think.

My response:

I wondered if that was a possibility…and I must say, good for you for getting some extra income coming in. Lots of people, as you know, build their businesses while they have ‘jobs.’ You took the leap so you could focus on this and you stepped, in essence, into something brand new-speaking. So giving yourself a little cushion is not a bad plan while your company keeps growing (and it will, I believe with all my heart).

You aren’t doing anything wrong. There is a LOT to building a business and it may be that what you need to do now is FOCUS (and I’ve had this conversation with 3 members of the Life of E’s in the last few days; imagine that. And it’s one Larry has had with me a time or…2? Or maybe a few more). I know part of your focus is making money, and that’s fine – and within that focus, you need to focus your efforts on fewer things. For example, here is what I currently observe you doing:

1. Marketing to schools by mail
2. Marketing to colleges/businesses by mail (or getting geared up to do so)
3. Marketing to schools by phone
4. Marketing to schools by meeting people
5. Networking at certain events
6. Marketing your booklet
7. Writing articles
8. Putting in proposals to conferences to speak
9. Preparing your speeches & workshops
10. Learning how to maintain your own website
11. Learning how to set up and use a shopping cart
12. Creating products (magnets, signs, etc.)
13. Writing your emails that go out each week
14. Learning by reading, joining in the Life of *E*s & other conversations, listening to teleseminars, etc.

And this is just off the top of my head. Any one of these is actually several parts. That’s the kicker that blows people away as far as how much time goes into setting up a business as a speaker/author, etc. There are A LOT of moving parts, to say the least. And you can’t focus on all of them at any one time.

You have got to get known in your area (and it’s a pretty big area). All of the things you’re doing help that to happen, but you are dispersing your efforts and your time. It’s not scatter shooting by any means, but it is dispersed vs. focusing more laser like on a few things.

Believe me (!!!!) I get the whole thing about wanting to do everything and seeing how everything is going to be useful and I make myself nuts that way.

I think you have got to build your list so you have more people to contact about your products. List building has lots of parts, so we need to talk about which ones will get you out there the fastest.

I think you have got to get principals & counselors to KNOW what it is you have to offer. You may have to put yourself in front of some people for free in order to get known. I told you all in the Make a Diff class that I did scores and by now, hundreds of free things, and that’s part of how people know me. I can help you think about how to offer free workshops, talks, teleseminars, etc. so that you keep your fee integrity but you also have people see who you are and what you have to offer. You know I’ve told you over and over (and I think you know this) that once people meet you and see what you do, they can’t resist trying to figure out how to bring you back.

So, this may be more than you needed right now…but there you have it…