I’ll say it for the record: I’ve been on Oprah. In the mid-1990’s I was running a non-profit magazine, and one of her producers called us to see if we could recommend someone for a show. When I suggested me, and my wife, they said “Yes.” and off we flew to Chicago.
We still have the “Thanks!” Oprah mugs, but that was about the biggest bump our nonprofit received from the exposure.
I know, I know. Appearing on Oprah in the last few years has been enough to “make” some people and businesses, launching them into the spotlight. And getting exposure certainly doesn’t hurt.
Maybe it was my fault the appearance did nothing. And that’s kind of my point.
No One Event or Person is Going to Save Your Business
A few years back a client came wanting to finally understand marketing. They had done well for three or four years as a consultant, but when I started asking questions, really it was a single sizable contract with a single corporate client that was renewed. And then, once it wasn’t going to get renewed again, this person had no idea how to get more clients.
Similarly, big media appearance can give your business an upshot in web traffic and inquiries, but if you don’t have the principles of momentum in place once the bump is over, you’ll be back where you started.
You may already know this. You may not even be contemplating a big media appearance. But, if your business isn’t running the way you want, you may still find yourself dreaming of the equivalent.
Some big client that comes along and sweeps you off your feet. Something that just happens, and suddenly more clients come through.
But always, always, that something stops, and you’re back where you started.
Here’s the Point: Give the Most to Your Best Client
Over the life of your business, which client is the most loyal, sticks around the most, refers the most clients, and pays the most money?
It’s a bit of a trick question: but the answer is your business. Individual clients pay your business, your business pays you. Clients come and go, but your business pays you regardless of who is paying it.
Here’s a question: if you give your best and most creative attention to your best clients, do they stick around? Are they happy paying you? Do they refer others?
If you want your business to soar, you have to give it attention. In fact, give it a client slot, or two. See what it needs, and then give it what it needs during those client slots.
Instead of waiting for a rescue party or a lottery ticket, instead just treat your business like a client, and give it what it needs, and watch it grow. As it does, it will be happy to pay you over and over again.
I’m curious, how much time do you spend working on your business each week? Do you have trouble getting to it? What’s your relationship to your business?
p.s. Early-bird deadline for Momentum Course
Tomorrow, Thursday, is the early-bird deadline for our Momentum course. If you want your business to truly be your best, most consistent, highest-paying client, then what you are looking for is Momentum.
So, if you give it the time it needs, how do you know what to do, where to focus? How do you prioritize? How do you know whether to improve what you’re already doing, or to add in something else?
It’s all covered in the Momentum Course.
Here’s what a past participant said:
“Mark, This is the first course I have taken that “gets the heart stuff” and, in fact, helps that stay the focus. I am so grateful. The Heart of Business Momentum content is absolutely the best. It’s concrete, logical and makes sense–and it keeps me in touch with my heart.
If anyone is skeptical about the Sufi stuff–don’t be. I was, but that was short lived. Mark, what you bring is a beautiful blend of both the spiritual and business teachings in a way that supports me to be “whole” as serve others.
I have never taken a course that has brought more value in every way–content, feedback, Q&As, resources galore. I believe that it’s the biggest bang for your buck!
I thank you, Mark, for your gentle, brilliant and wise spirit as you teach. I appreciate the richness the course has brought to my business and to me as a person. The words “seen and heard” have a whole new meaning–which is deep and wide and fruitful.
Blessing, Lee Miller”
After Thursday, the price goes up by one hundred fifty dollars. We go deep, we go wide, we get it done. I hope you’ll join us.
The Momentum Course: Three Journeys to an Ongoing Flow of Clients and Money
15 Responses
Thank you so much for putting these thoughts out there Mark. I’ve recently had the opportunity to connect with several organizations that approached me about stepping up into programs that got publicity and (thankfully) I realized, just what you said here, that until I get some internal systems in place, paying for those publicity opportunities, without the backup and ability to follow through practically, would not be an effective use of time, energy, money. But it does inspire me to do as you suggest, take my actual business of my business more reverently and deliberately. Thank you for your grounded, sensible, yet honoring outlook for us and our businesses. This really resonated for me. Time for me to “dust off” the business strategies portion of my Opening the Money Flow notes.
You are so welcome, Deborah! Woo-hoo, glad you are inspired to get it going like that!
One thing that I’ve started recently after hearing a friend talk about doing it in her business is setting aside Fridays for business development. Which sounds like less fun than it is – basically, the way I do it is just set aside all day for things dealing with the insides of my biz that I want to make sure are addressed on their own, with extra space and care, and that they don’t just end up being a part of another day. Setting aside some time to think about what I need from my business & what it needs from me. I’ve only been doing this a few weeks so far but I’m very much liking it!
Michelle- exactly. Monday is my time for that, plus all through the week in chunks. But we’re doing a lot over here. 🙂
U-hum, this is just what I needed to hear. Thank you for this very grounded, applicable advice. I love your analogy of my business being my best customer. That metaphor works for me and helps me soften some of my resistance of working on the back end systems. (I’d much rather just teach or write!) I’m going to set aside regular times just for my business as you and Michelle have suggested, to build that platform underneath my heart.
Thank you, Mark! I feel grateful!
Mark,
I had to come back and share – I committed to working on my business this week and it felt really good to support myself in this way. And here’s what really surprised me – I actually enjoyed it! Thank you for the gentle nudge.
In gratitude, Karly
Right on, Karly! I love hearing that! More, eh? 🙂
This is reinvigorating! Although we would all want to win the lottery, chances that this happens are almost nonexistent. So instead of waiting for someone else to rescue us, we’d better take the matter into our own hands and rescue ourselves. If we want, we can be our own heroes.
Thanks for sharing your story about your Oprah appearance, and
the truth that it didn’t create a big break for you that we hear so
much about in the media.
I discovered the importance of utilizing focus days in my business.
I devote a day to a certain business activity, such as marketing or writing.
I liked your idea of treating your business as your customer.
The truth is that the best help you receive from yourself and you can count only on yourself!!:) Everything else is waiting in vain!
I agree with girly you can only count on yourself. We need to love ourselves more and become our own best friend.
You’d spend a lot of time for business especially when it’s the only source of income you’ve got, and I have to agree that the big rescue is a myth. nice point.
There is no beginning to practice nor end to enlightenment; There is no beginning to enlightenment nor end to practice.
I have so much resistance to overcome, in order to make my business a priority, and I do fall into thinking there is some rescue out there. Since my business does not generate money in any on-going way, yet, I work on it as a volunteer and thus have to also work another job to earn a living. Than I get sidetracked by activism that seems so urgent, and then I find it challenging to attend to the slow growth of this idea that started many years ago and keeps morphing and I keep having self doubts, but don’t want to let know the original investors, myself included, and thus step by step…moving forward, and appreciate the support.
made some typos and wish I could do a quick edit…