Being Yourself in Business

A few weeks ago I called a trusted friend, colleague and expert in getting people known/creating connections. I had a simple question for her:

"I'm seeing lots of telesummits and haven't been invited to participate in one for months (which is unusual). Can you give me some insight into why/what's happening?"

She had an immediate answer. People are looking for "new and innovative" and you're "stable, peace of mind, dependable."

I reflected on this a bit. Essentially, my being successful (strong business, high client retention, over "6 figures" and profitable, in business for 6+ years, proven on-stage presenter, etc.) wasn't enough.

There needed to be something new and exciting.

More reflecting...Being dependable, getting things done and teaching my clients how to create sustainable and profitable results and businesses wasn't enough.

What I do isn't sexy enough.

Should I focus on my background and experience of:

being on the 5-member team responsible for launching the AmeriCorps program,
working in Peace Corps Marketing when we went into Russia
all the excitement that went with being a Director of Business Operations for a national satellite television company and
getting my business to over $100,000 and profitable within 6 months of starting it?

It's not necessary. I bring those parts of me to everything I do. So what then?

I received an email from a member of my Maximizing Conversions program. I don't have permission to share the full email so here's a brief excerpt:

"...your training is simply different than any I've taken. I think it's the fact that it's more realistic or something. I can't put my finger on it yet, but I really like it."

There was more, but the word "realistic" stuck out to me here. So much "out there" isn't realistic and isn't doable.

That email was followed by another from a client of the same program thanking me for sharing the "how" as well as the "what" - practical steps in addition to creative ideas.

Thank you ladies (you know who you are) for reminding me that my business isn't sexy and that's okay.

My business helps others and is profitable without charging exorbitant fees and that's so much more important to me than being sexy or being on a telesummit.

My Request to You:

Know who you are, who you're not and do what you do. Period.

Your ideal clients will resonate with you and those who aren't ideal won't. It's okay.

It's more important to be you than to try and please everyone - which, let's face it, never works anyway.

Sandra Martini http://www.SandraMartini.com founder of Escalator Marketing™ and creator of the Escalator Profits Program™, shows creative heart-based entrepreneurs and small business owners how to grow their businesses for long term success, without losing their integrity or their minds.

It's time to stop the cycle, get off the revenue roller coaster and design your business to support your desired lifestyle. And that's Sandy's mission:

Deliver comprehensive business building and strategic marketing programs, products and mentoring through a community designed to teach and mentor small business owners and entrepreneurs to build a sustainable business which gives them more time, more profits and more freedom to live their desired lives.