After 15 years of working with folks who are self-employed, I’ve watched so many people get stalled out with speaking or writing to their audience. Whether you’re creating a web page, an email, a video, preparing a talk or otherwise getting ready to put your message “out there” I have one very simple exercise for you.
Ask yourself: who are you seeing?
Most people, when I ask them, are seeing someone in their mind’s eye who is standing there, arms folded across his chest, a stern, skeptical look on the face, with the unspoken challenge, “Convince me, and I don’t really care, anyway.”
Ugh! Yuck! Don’t talk to that guy!
Of course there are people like that in the world, but they aren’t your audience. You can safely ignore them.
Your message is for people who are struggling with something you can help them with. They are smiling at you, hopeful, waiting to hear what you have to say.
Talk only to those smiling, receptive people who are genuinely in need of what you do.
Gentle breath.
Turn your attention back to whatever message you are working on. Write/create whatever it is as a message to that smiling person.
Easier? Oh yeah!
Please let me know what’s it like to shift your attention from someone who doesn’t want to hear to someone who really wants and needs to hear what you have to say?
p.s. Where to start?
I love our programs, both Foundations1: Clients and Money and Foundations2: Expand Your Reach. They give incredible support to those in them, and the results we’re seeing are fantastic.
Yet sometimes a group program is just not right for you. Maybe your business is beyond start-up. Maybe you learn and move best with one-on-one support. Maybe it’s just what you need.
If you’re ready for individual support, may I suggest our Organic Business Development Program. My personal client roster is full, but Jason, Yollana, Steve and Lincoln all have availability for a new client or so.
See who you resonate with most:
The Organic Business Development Program
Not sure what you need?
As always, if you don’t know where to start with us, you can get a free Readiness Assessment.
For all of our Training Programs, check out:
http://heartofbusiness.com/training-programs
7 Responses
I love this. It’s not always about your “perfect avatar” as much as it is about the ATTITUDE of your perfect avatar. 🙂 Great reminder, Mark!
Lisa- exactly… these people really like us, don’t they?
The person I saw is a client who Loves to go deep and do the work but falls back into stories of her unworthiness or being ‘done to’ from time to time. But always shifts back into empowerment with a little clarity bringing from Moi. 🙂 Thanks Mark. Beautiful.
Yve- isn’t that so much better? Sweet…
Thankyou for this Mark – it’s so freeing to imagine a person who is longing to hear from us, with open eyes, ears and heart. I imagine my own heart opening to witness this person, and to share what my heart most deeply wants to give – without the fear and constriction that my ‘mind’ brings up. What a joyful and ‘ease’ y way to bring marketing closer to home. Great reminder, thank you ! 🙂
You are so welcome, Ann. Really freeing, eh?
Excellent tips Mark! Inspiring stuff 🙂