Top 3 Barriers Holding You Back from Getting More Clients

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If you are like most entrepreneurs at the beginning stages of your business—whether you are starting a new area of your business; you are a new entrepreneur coming from a corporate job; or switching the area of focus in your entrepreneurial business completely—there are 3 common barriers that are likely the culprit holding you back from getting clients.

The tricky thing about these barriers is that they come up again and again, really no matter where you are in your business. So, what is so 'bad' about these barriers?

Well,...they are powerful—just as with any thought or emotion—and they can make or break a relationship, whether it is your relationship with your clients or potential clients, or your relationship with money; they can determine whether you move forward in your business... and this ultimately stops you from helping people through the exceptional work that you do each day.

Here are 3 of the top barriers likely the culprit holding you back in your business (no matter where you're at):

1. Fear and Unease: When you begin to listen to your thoughts, you will hear a lot of fear showing through. It may be subtle, but it is there. It can be your “what if” thoughts, like “what if I don't succeed?” “what if they don't like me?” “what if I make a mistake?” Or you could feel uneasy when you are about to attend a networking event because you don't know what it will be like or who you will meet or know that you will talk about. These are all very common and I want to share with you one thing that you can do right now to begin breaking through them. This one thing is: getting clear on the true value that you provide and to whom. These fear and unease-based thoughts quickly begin to disappear when you get clear on your niche and what you uniquely offer.
   
   
   
2. Overwhelm: Ok, so we all know that there is a TON to accomplish when you are at the beginning stages of your business. Not only is there a lot to accomplish, but you are often doing it yourself because you either don't feel the need yet to hire help or you feel that by doing it all yourself will save you money. At any stage of your business, there will always be a list of things that you want and need to get done.
   
   When you are at the beginning stages of your business, the best steps to take is to first determine what stage that you are actually at and second is to get help. You're going to save yourself a lot of heartache by getting help from the beginning. This is going to be a huge factor in helping you achieve the success that you desire.
   
   
   
3. Fatigue: This is a big one, right ladies? We are queens of multi-tasking and taking care of everything and everyone. We either feel like we have an obligation to fill or we feel that we will do it better than others, so we attempt to handle everything and make time for everything without asking for help. As an entrepreneur (and mom, daughter, wife, friend, partner, and perhaps even employee too), you fill every moment with 'doing something' so that you feel like you're not wasting any time. And while you might get some things done, you have to ask yourself whether you are truly being productive. And if you are not being productive, especially if all your work is not bringing in any more money, and you still feel fatigued, something has to change.
   
   So first, take a deep breath... did you take it? Take a deep breath right now and let it out slowly. Now, let's talk about what you can do right now to stop getting yourself so tired and still feeling like you are not getting enough done. One important step that I mentioned in #2 is to get help. A second step is to write down your priorities in all aspects of your life and then determine how much time you are wanting and willing to spend to each priority. This is going to help you start getting clear on what you can and want to do yourself, what to delegate, or what 'put away' for a later time. When you get clear, you will be able to see how you can give your attention to the most important things without overexerting yourself into fatigue.

What are those other things standing in your way or stopping you from building the kind of success that you want?

Need help breaking through your barriers and attaining the clarity and focus you need to move forward? Sign up for my FREE gifts at http://www.lisahromada.com. When you sign up, I have an extra bonus gift for you to take advantage of that is going to help you get clear and get focused. 


And don’t forget… I want to hear from you. Share your comments and questions below!

Copyright 2011 All Rights Reserved

If you would like to use this article on your blog or website, feel free as long as you include the following author information:

Known for her creativity, gentle disposition, enthusiasm, and passion, Lisa Hromada is a Personal Branding Strategist who specializes in empowering women entrepreneurs to manage their time and find the clarity and focus they need to create a thriving business while still having the time and energy to enjoy their life. Find Lisa's FREE gifts and more at: http://www.lisahromada.com

Top 3 Trailblazer 'Secrets' to Managing Your Time

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Do you have difficulty finding time for everything? Are you often tired at the end of the day from trying to fit everything in? 


It's overwhelming...and common. You're going from one thing to the next and you never seem to get everything off of your to-do list. This happens all the time and is one of the most common complaints from entrepreneurs, especially if you're just starting out your business.

You've probably taken multiple courses, attended seminars, and hired coaches to help you with your business...or health...or relationships...or finances, so that you can feel like you're more in control over these particular areas of your life that are important to you...and make time for them. 

But what it really comes down to is how you use your time to have all that you want. Of course you need the help, knowledge, and tools, but first you need the time management know-how to be able to use those resources, otherwise, you will have no time to have the healthier and wealthier business and life that you want, desire and deserve.

As an entrepreneur, the way that you use your time really does determine how successful you are—personally and professionally. That's why it is so important to be crystal clear about what you really want, what your priorities are, and how you're going to accomplish what you want—whether you do it yourself or hire someone else to do it.

The goal of this article is to share 3 'secrets' to managing your time better, so that you are more productive, more satisfied, and have ample time to include all that you want in your day or week.

1. Know what should dedicate your time to and what should not: One of the most important first steps is to know what you really want; think of one specific thing at a time. Think about what you want to happen or what you want to have in the next 30 or 90 days. 
   
   
   Then with this one goal in mind, think of what needs to happen—what tasks need to be done—for you to get it accomplished. Remember that you don't have to do every task yourself; think about who you will need to help you; it could be a partner or a VA or even a neighbor or friend.
   
   
   
2. Understand how much your time is really worth: One of the biggest blocks for many entrepreneurs is thinking that they will save more time and money doing every task themselves. This may be true in some cases, but in most, entrepreneurs save more than twice as much time and money concentrating on those tasks that they are passionate about, good at, and that will generate money, by delegating the other detailed tasks.
   
   So, a useful exercise to determining whether to get help with the growth of your business or not is to determine how much your time is really worth. So, how much is your time worth? 
   
   
   Give yourself a general hourly rate as a basis. Knowing how much your time is really worth and how much time you spend on all of your tasks on your to-do list, you'll be clearer about what you want and need to delegate to grow your business the fastest.
   
   
   
3. Don't keep everything bottled up in your mind—write it out: People have different ways of making lists that work best for them, but no matter what kind of list works best for you, it's important to get all the things out of your mind and onto paper. 
   
   
   Because then you are able to fully see what seems to be important to you (it's on your mind after all). Once you see where you want and need your time to go, you're able to then make a plan to either schedule out each task, delegate to someone else, or eliminate it if it is not going to really get you to where you want to be.

There are of course many other time management 'secrets' to creating a business and life that you truly enjoy and honors your lifestyle, but starting out with these 3 'secrets' will help you start getting clear on how to best use your time.

Need help getting clearer on how to manage your time and be more productive? Sign up for my FREE gifts at http://www.lisahromada.com. And don’t forget… I want to hear from you. Share your comments and questions below!

If you would like to use this article on your blog or website, feel free as long as you include the following author information:

Known for her creativity, gentle disposition, enthusiasm, and passion, Lisa Hromada is a Personal Branding Strategist specializing in empowering women entrepreneurs to manage their time and find the clarity and focus they need to create a thriving business while still having the time and energy to enjoy their life. Get your Free Trailblazer Entrepreneur Success Kit at: http://www.lisahromada.com

Pipelines, People, Places and Prices

The 4 P’s of keeping your business activities in balance: pipelines, people, places and prices. Each one of these P’s requires your consistent and careful attention. Without a filled pipeline, you will constantly be looking for new clients. Without connecting with people, no one will know or care who you are. Without visiting the right places, you could miss exciting opportunities and you could experience monotony. Without appropriate pricing you could be losing money and/or clients.

Pipelines. Marketing is a verb; meaning an action and when it’s done consistently, it produces results. There are a wide variety of ways to incorporate small marketing tasks that will add up to big results. Refine your marketing message so that it speaks directly to your target audience. Ensure your product or services solve an identified pain point. Clearly communicate your marketing message on your website, blog and social media networks. Keep it fresh. Update your offers and promotions at least, quarterly. Never stop marketing. Staying top of mind ensures potential clients remember your name first when the need for your product or services arises. 

People. It takes about 7 touches before a client makes a sale. Develop an effective follow-up system with potential clients. (i.e. 1-day, 3-days, 14-days, 21-days and then monthly newsletter or announcement). Despite the social media wave, there is still a lot of value in face-to-face meetings. Create a personal touch that is unique to you and your customer experience.

Places. Step away from the desk. You can’t get refreshed by doing the same activities and looking at the same four walls day in and day out. Get out and visit local businesses and explore new relationships. Change your routine and experience diverse perspectives by venturing into new geographical areas and seeing people and places you don’t normally visit.

Learn more about recent trends in your industry by connecting with your local professional and trade associations. Attend a trade show in your area or region and seek out new opportunities and markets.

Prices. When was the last time you gave yourself a raise? A raise is always possible regardless of the economy. Consider raising your prices. You might lose a few clients due to the price increase, but you’ll actually be able to give each client more attention, and make more while working less. Market your services to a target market that is recession proof. Do a SWOT analysis and figure out how to service more people at one time for less money (i.e. speaking, ebooks, memberships, teleseminars, etc.)

BONUS: Practice makes Perfect.

Be sure to spend a little time developing the 4 P’s of fundamental business activities. Each one will ensure your business practices are solid and provide you with some of the necessary discipline for growing your business.

Need help reviewing and organizing the fundamentals of your 4 P's? consider Micro Business Therapy. It’s common sense, practical and realistic. Don’t forget… we want to hear from you. Share your comments and questions below! 

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Shared post info: To address your specific concerns, Skype: amichelleblakeley or email at info@simplicitymastered.com 

For over 18 years, Simplicity Mastered™ founder and CEO A. Michelle Blakeley has owned or managed small businesses and nonprofit organizations. Expert in her field, Blakeley personally guides her clients out of their Business Brain Freeze™ to streamline operations, increase return on investment, and attain quantifiable results. Forbes.com and FinancialPost.com each recommended her as one of 30 Women Entrepreneurs to Follow on Twitter, joining the experts who know that Blakeley is a master at growing small businesses … and doing it with “Simplicity.”

Four Ways to Follow-Up with Hesitant Clients

By Cheryl Issac

I learned this method during my former life as a banker. After three meetings with a potential small business customer, I was about to nail the deal. We were going to transfer some of her business assets from another institution, and provide the funding for her business remodel. This was a big deal for my portfolio. Then she walked in and uttered the dreaded words, "I just don't think I'm ready yet."


After she left, disappointment clouded my thoughts. I was making some quick notes and putting away her file, when I looked up and saw my mentor glaring at me. "What are you doing?" he asked, "she is still a potential customer, and it's your job to continue to treat her like a potential client." He then walked me through the steps that helped me win over this client within two months, and helped me become a top ranking banker.


Here are a few of those steps I've tweaked for my business -- and may help you when dealing with a hesitant client:.... MORE >>

Four Ways to Follow-Up with Hesitant Clients - WomenEntrepreneur.com