Talk about what you do

I hope you had a relaxing long weekend!

I was busy preparing for fall in so many ways, but I had plenty of time to relax too. I finished a book for book club this week and even had time to make a delicious soup. I also helped my sister prepare for the arrival of my new niece or nephew and dusted off and polished up something else close to my heart: the Heart-centered Entrepreneur Apprenticeship.

The new, improved Heart-centered Entrepreneur Apprenticeship includes the basic program: 6 weeks of Clearing your Path for Success, 6 weeks of Six Steps for Success, and 12 weeks access to the Heart-centered Entrepreneur Forum, but there are also some premium options now: a Mastermind Group and Private Coaching with me. Contact me if you're interested!

Today, I want to talk about what you do. It's the activity from Day 4 of the Buff your Business! Bootcamp. Building and maintaining a successful business requires the same kind of discipline as a fitness routine, as consistency is the key to success. Showing up every day for your business is just as important as showing up every day to your yoga mat.

Watch today's video here!

When someone asks you what do you do, are you someone who responds with "Ummm", your day job position title, or something vague like "I work for myself?" If you answer with "I'm a massage therapist" or "I'm a designer", you are getting closer to the truth but are still hiding behind these labels.

It is really important for heart-centered entrepreneurs to learn how to talk about what they do in a way that goes beyond vague, beyond merely factual description.

A heart-centered entrepreneur needs to be able to reach right out and touch someone by resonating with their heart with their words about the gifts they offer.

Using clear, revealing, heart-centered language can be scary on a number of levels, but it is so important to practice, practice, practice until it's as easy as saying your name. Telling people what you actually do is so important, even if it makes you feel vulnerable at first.

Let me give you an example by using myself. If I responded to what do you do with "I'm a business coach for holistic practitioners", what does that really tell you? Probably that I know something about some kind of business, but not really much to give you a clue to go on about what I actually do with my clients.

Instead, if I said to you - "I help heart-centered professionals develop the skills and courage they need to live a healthy, happy lifestyle that is fully supported by their heart-centered business."

Wow! The second one there is a lot more specific and descriptive. If any part of that resonates with you, you are going to have questions. You might want to know how I do that or what kind of businesses do my clients have or even what kind of skills I am teaching my clients. The questions are the point, though!

Questions start a conversation, and a conversation is a great opportunity for you to hone your communication style and talk about what you do.

A potential client could be searching for you anywhere. Think of all the people out there who need you but who don't know you can help them or don't know how to reach you. It's ok, even important, to tell everyone what you do, even if someone is not your ideal client, because they may have a friend, relative or neighbor needs what you can provide. The more your community knows who you are and what you do, the easier it will be for new clients to find you.

So how do you put together a specific answer to the what do you do question?

Well, sometimes this is called an elevator pitch (from back in the days when someone had 1 minute on an elevator to pitch an idea to the boss). Think of it today like condensing your message into a status update - clear, direct, concise and to the point.

Here's a formula for your offer:

"I help (describe ideal client in 1-3 words)(action) (solution to ideal client problems) so they can (reach goals or alleviate pain)."

It also will help to be prepared to answer follow up questions asking for details on how, why and when you help people so you can hold up your end of the ensuing conversation. The more you talk about what you do, the easier it gets. Also, talking about what you do generates excitement, interest and energy around you.

Tell 3 new people what you do today. Feel free to run it by a friend or colleague first for feedback.

Download your own copy of the Buff your Business! Bootcamp and join the Forum here.

If you're not feeling confident about your business and need support in identifying your ideal clients, crafting your offer, and communicating from the heart to your audience, the Heart-centered Entrepreneur Apprenticeship is where to start. The next program starts September 25th.

If you'd like to learn how to listen to your heart, get clarity about your path and hone your meditation and visioning skills, the Clearing Your Path for Success Learn-at-home Programis what you need. The Premium version of this program is included in the Apprenticeship, but the E-program includes a workbook and 5 guided meditations set to inspirational music that you can do at home by yourself or with a buddy.

Connecting from the heart

Watch my video here!

The Buff your Business! Bootcamp was inspired by my own experiences participating in online bootcamps for physical fitness. I love the challenge of working out every day, being held accountable and being able to share my ups and downs with a buddy or three. Bootcamps shared with friends are an extremely motivational and fun way to be disciplined and create habits that lead to success.

Building and maintaining a successful business requires the same kind of discipline as a fitness routine, as consistency is the key to success. Showing up every day for your business is just as important as showing up every day to your yoga mat.

There is no denying it - social media is the way people connect online. Short, snappy status updates on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and the new Google+ are the way to engage your audience and potential clients in conversation.

This is especially true if your ideal clientele are under 50 years old. If you happen to work with a more senior population, perhaps you can skip this step. Although, I know plenty of people in the 50-70 age group who research on Google, shop online and stay connected with family and friends on Facebook. So perhaps, unless you work specifically with a 75+ community, online socializing may not be a necessity.

Hmm. These elders may have children and caregivers who are likely researching online and staying connected via social media, so really, there is no excuse not to get comfortable using social media.

So whether your business sells heart-centered products or services, social media is a great way to expose people to your offerings. Think of those little status updates as mini-opportunities to connect with your ideal clients and introduce yourself.

Please, however, do not view your status updates as commercials. People are already bombarded with ads online and on tv, and social media is a place where you can make a heart connection with someone.

Yes, heart connections are even better on the phone or in person, but in this day and age you have to show up where people are - on their laptops, Ipads or smart phones. Think of social media as a way to get to know people so you can invite them to meet you in person later.

So let's get right to the important stuff: how do you make a heart connection with someone on social media?

By writing about what's close to your heart. By writing with passion and a generosity to share what you know and love. By commenting on other people's posts with love, kindness, and compassion. First impressions are still important, it's just now that more of them are taking place online these days.

So get creative and start a heart-centered dialogue with your audience on Twitter, Facebook, Google+ or LinkedIn. Share interesting links related to your passion and sum up profound thoughts in 120 characters or less. You can do it! It's like challenging yourself to write in Haiku. "Social media / choose your words and phrases well / it will be archived."

Just do us all a favor and remember that consistency is not the same thing as repetition.

Consistency means showing up and sharing; whereas repetition becomes boring and annoying very quickly. You are welcome to direct people occasionally to your offers or craft an offer within a status update, but be careful not to turn your social media feed into a home shopping network.

Rule of thumb: keep direct promoting to 1 out of every 5-10 status updates you make. Let the rest of them be conversational and heart-centered so you can build a relationship that may turn into business one day. Need more guidance on how to connect from the heart using social media? Check out the suggested activities in the Buff your Business! Bootcamp E-book.

If you're not feeling confident about your business and need support in identifying your ideal clients, crafting your offer, and communicating from the heart to your audience, the Heart-centered Entrepreneur Apprenticeship is where to start. The next program starts in September.

If you'd like to learn how to listen to your heart, get clarity about your path and hone your meditation and visioning skills, the Clearing Your Path for Success Learn at Home Program is what you need. It includes a workbook and 5 guided meditations set to inspirational music that you can do at home by yourself or with a buddy.

What are you offering?

Creating a successful business requires the same discipline as establishing healthy habits for physical well-being. The reality, just like with working out, is that lots of people are sporadic with promotional activities. Let's break the cycle of despair and create successful, steady promotional habits to keep your business flowing smoothly all year long.

While it takes discipline and commitment to get consistent results in your business, it doesn't have to be dreary. The seven different bootcamp days are designed to keep you on your toes and inspire you to get creative with your promotional activities so they are fun for you.

So without further ado, Day 2 - Make an Offer (every time!). Watch my video here.

Making a confident, heart-centered offer while face to face with someone is the best opportunity for transitioning an interested person into a client.

In a client ~ practitioner relationship, it's your responsibility to make it as seamless and easy for someone to book a session as possible. Handing them your card and walking away is a lost opportunity. When my friendCatie Shoenfarber gave a workshop to The Healing Centerpractitioners, she emphasized that making a heart-centered offer EVERY time is the way to start filling the pipeline of your business.

So, how do you create a heart-centered offer?

Your offer needs to be positive, specific and include your next available session (up to 3 options) as well as your confidence that you can help the person.

Catie suggested crafting formulas for your offers that you can practice until they become second nature. Choose your offers based on your goals for the year to help you meet them.

An example of a specific, heart-centered offer is: "I understand your situation, and I can help you. This is what I specialize in, and I have been able to help other clients reach the same place. I would love to work with you in reaching your goals, here are my openings this week." Tweak this offer with specific details about your own practice.

Don't hand the responsibility over to the client to contact you later to schedule the appointment.

Catie pointed out that you offering a specific appointment time is your commitment to this potential client. Making a commitment first makes it much easier and less scary for a potential client to commit to an appointment with you.

One of the challenges practitioners run into is fear of rejection. We all feel it from time to time, but it's important to learn how to keep your heart open and allow it to be ok if the person doesn't say yes.

My rule of thumb is to expect that 90 percent of my offers are refused this time, so I keep offering until I connect with that 10% who are ready to work with me today.

I trust that keeping my heart open and flowing with love will attract the people who need my help the most, and it's ok when people who aren't ready say no. It's not about me, it's not personal. It's about them and where they are at today. It takes a little practice to shift into this perspective, but it's very rewarding when you do!

Trusting in abundance, filling your heart with love, meditation, centering yourself, practicing the Remembrance are all ways to practice keeping your heart open no matter what the other person says or does. Check Appendix A & B of the Buff your Business! Bootcamp Ebook for resources and ideas on staying centered and abundant feeling.

If you're not feeling confident about your business and need support in identifying your ideal clients, crafting your offer, and communicating from the heart to your audience, the Heart-centered Entrepreneur Apprenticeship is where to start. The next program starts in September.

If you'd like to learn how to listen to your heart, get clarity about your path and hone your meditation and visioning skills, the Clearing Your Path for Success At-home Study Programis what you need. The Premium version of this program is included in the Apprenticeship, but the E-program includes a workbook and 5 guided meditations set to inspirational music that you can do at home by yourself or with a buddy.

Do you need help with your business? Do you have a strong desire to shift your life or your business in a more meaningful and prosperous direction, but something is blocking you? You've been talking to other people, researching, seeking out options and opportunities, but still something is blocking forward movement.  Do you need support, accountability and someone to push you (gently, with love) into the next level of success for your business? If so, the Breakthrough Bootcamp is for you! This 4 week coaching program is designed to get you the breakthrough results you need to create forward motion quickly.

Centering yourself is #1 strategy for success

As you know, the Buff your Business! Bootcamp was inspired by my own experiences participating in online bootcamps for physical fitness. I love the discipline and challenge of working out every day but changing up what I do each day for variety so I don't get bored.

The other thing I love about bootcamps is doing it with a buddy who can hold me accountable and share the ups and downs. I find this to be extremely motivational and a fun way to create healthy habits.

Creating a successful business requires the same discipline as establishing healthy habits. The reality, just like with working out, is that lots of people are sporadic with promotional activities. Heart-centered entrepreneurs sometimes get caught up in client work when they are busy, and then when the client flow slows down to a trickle (or even a drought) they panic and start scrambling to attract clients. It's a cycle of despair fraught with stress and anxiety. Let's break the cycle and create successful, steady promotional habits to keep your business flowing smoothly all year long.

While it takes discipline and commitment to get consistent results in your business, it doesn't have to be dreary. The seven different bootcamp days are designed to keep you on your toes and inspire you to get creative with your promotional activities so they are fun for you.

So without further ado, Day 1 - Center yourself!

Day 1: Buff your Business Video - click here to watch it.

Let's be totally honest here.

Yes, you absolutely love helping other people feel good. After all, that's why you are a heart-centered entrepreneur.

Most likely, you completely understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle that includes the activities, relaxation, supplements, food choices, exercise, meditation, time with loved ones, following your bliss, soul food etc... that you teach or give to your clients.

Being happy and healthy so you can do your best work as a cheerful role model for your clients is crucial. Clients love when you are happy, well and embody all the heart-warming qualities that they wish they had in their own lives. It's attractive, and it will motivate them to keep spending time with you.

And so, it's really non-negotiable. Centering yourself is the #1 thing you can do to guarantee your success as a heart-centered entrepreneur.

Meditation is a great way to center yourself. It's one of those techniques, over time with practice, that subtly shifts you into a more permanently relaxed, go with the flow state of being. There are so many different ways to meditate! Don't dismiss it as something you can't do because the idea of "clearing your mind of thought" sounds impossible.

Check out Appendix A of the Buff your Business! E-book for meditation resources and ideas.

If you're not feeling confident about your business and need support in identifying your ideal clients, crafting your offer, and communicating from the heart to your audience, the Heart-centered Entrepreneur Apprenticeship is where to start. The next program starts in September.

If you'd like to learn how to listen to your heart, get clarity about your path and hone your meditation and visioning skills, the Clearing Your Path for Success At-home Study Program is what you need. The Premium version of this program is included in the Apprenticeship, but the E-program includes a workbook and 5 guided meditations set to inspirational music that you can do at home by yourself or with a buddy.

And, for those of you needing more support, accountability and someone to push you (gently, with love) into the next level of success for your business, the Premium Breakthrough Bootcamp is for you! This 4 week coaching program is designed to get you the breakthrough results you need to create forward motion quickly.

Ready, Set, Let's go!

Buff your Business! Bootcamp for Heart-centered Entrepreneurs

I've created the Buff your Business! Bootcamp for Heart-Centered Entrepreneurs to motivate and inspire you to reach your business goals. It's called a bootcamp because it involves a commitment to daily business building exercises so you can get real results in your business.

Watch my Welcome video!

Do you need clarity, inspiration and more clients? Then this program is for you!

This program was inspired by my own experiences participating in online bootcamps for physical fitness. I love the challenge of working out every day, being held accountable and being able to share my ups and downs with a buddy or three. Bootcamps shared with friends are an extremely motivational and fun way to be disciplined and create habits that lead to success.

Building and maintaining a successful business requires the same kind of discipline as a fitness routine, as consistency is the key to success. Showing up every day for your business is just as important as showing up every day to your yoga mat.

Lots of entrepreneurs are sporadic about their promotional activities, focusing on clients when there are plenty, and then scrambling to find more when things slow down. This bootcamp is designed to motivate you into creating successful promotional habits to keep your business flowing smoothly all year long. It takes discipline and commitment to get real results in your business, but it doesn't have to be dreary. We are going to have tons of fun working out our businesses together!

How does it work?

You'll follow the 7 day "Buff your Business" program of exercises designed to help you attract clients and pick up momentum. Doing this program for four weeks will help you make business buffing habits a part of your work routine. You'll do one exercise each day for a minimum of 15 minutes. Also, you're invited to stretch into doing 5-30 minutes of centering yourself 5-7 days of the week.

You'll follow this program for four weeks. It's going to stretch and challenge you, but it'll be worth it. You will see results in your business, as consistency and follow through are keys to a successful business.

What if I have more questions or need support?

You will be participating in the Buff your Business! Bootcamp inside a free forum to record your progress and share your insights with others doing the program. The forum will be a place where you can connect with other people who are participating in the program. Post your goals, questions and more in the forum to get feedback and support from me and a group of others like you.

Overall, this bootcamp will make sure you are implementing successful business building strategies and turning them into a routine to keep your client flow full. By doing a different exercise each day, you'll have more fun and be more likely to stick with it!

Need premium support?

For those of you needing more support, accountability and someone to push you (gently, with love) into the next level of success for your business, the Premium Breakthrough Bootcamp is for you! This program includes everything in the free version along with private coaching sessions with me over the phone.

Are you excited? I sure am!

Create your account and start the Buff your Business! Bootcamp right here!