7 Reasons Blueprints Don't Work

Every time you turn around these days, someone's trying to sell you a blueprint:

• blueprints for marketing
• blueprints for social media
• blueprints for reaching 6 figures
• blueprints for reaching 7 figures
• blueprints for setting up your team

Blueprints don't work.

A "blueprint" is a model or prototype -- most often used by architects to build homes and by car manufacturers to provide specs for model designs.  You follow the steps -- 1, 2, 3, etc. without variation to get the same result repeatedly.

This works for homes and car designs which start with the same raw materials and want to end with the exact same results.  It does not work for businesses:

• You are not starting from the same place as the person selling you the blueprint
• You don't have the identical skillset and expertise
• You don't thrive on the exact same marketing strategies -- you may love writing while others don't
• You have a different personality and so resonate differently with your ideal clients (which are likely not the exact same ideal clients as the person selling the blueprint)
• You don't have the same resources (you may have more, you may have less)
• You're not doing/offering the identical thing -- even if you serve the same industry, your style's going to be different
• Your don't have the same goals, values and "why" supporting your actions

Blueprints don't work. . .plain and simple.

What DOES work is seeing what others do/have done and adapting it for your style, circumstances and business and working with a mentor who understands that your business is unique to you and gives you strategies and solutions which support who you are and how you want your business to support you -- not someone who teaches a cookie-cutter approach designed for every Jane, Mary and Sue (or Tom, Dick and Harry).

It's about creating a business to suit your uniqueness and your desired lifestyle -- whatever that happens to be. 

If you are ready to get off the roller coaster and stop following blueprints which don't work as you create the business of YOUR dreams, and want help determining the exact next step you should take, I'd love to chat with you. I've added 10 spots to my calendar over the next 3 weeks to talk with ambitious business owners who are ready and willing to focus on growing their business.

Request a complimentary session with me here: www.SandraMartini.com/getofftherollercoaster

Comments

[Nancy Marmolejo]

Sandy, you've nailed on the head. Everything you said is so true. What people need to do is learn who they are in business, what their strengths are, how they shine... then and only then can all the blueprints, etc work. It's like building a house with a plan but no materials. Can't work.

Thanks for stirring it up!

[Kris]

You are a breath of practical fresh air. Thanks for the reality-check.

[Sandra Martini]

Hey Nancy,

Exactly! Once they know who they are, what they offer and to whom, then it's time to pick and choose what resonates with them and their ideal clients from the different models.

Thanks for visiting and commenting!

Sandy :-)

[Sandra Martini]

Hi Kris,

Thanks for your comment!

Knowing who we are as biz owners (rather than following a cookie cutter approach not designed for us) allows us to create the best experience and results for our clients AS we build our desired lifestyle business.

With abundance,

Sandy :-)

[Kris]

Now all I need is an interesting business idea! I still have a J-O-B, but I do enjoy reading about everyone out there entrepreneurializing.

[Gillian]

Thank god someone has had the courage to say this out loud ! You are, as usual Sandy, so so right.
A futher point - there are coaches out there who have been 'certified' by one of the 'big names' and who follow one particular style and process regardless of whether or not it fits the coachees personality, business, statof mind whatever and charge horrendous amounts of money into the bargain. Like you I tailor make everything to the person, their experience, their situation, their aspirations.The only way to go in my view. Bit like learning a language in fact - one system does not, and never will, fit any but the minority.

[Laurie Marrelli]

Terrific article Sandy and oh so accurate! I find that each growing business does indeed have it's own unique blueprint, just like a custom home does. What works for one business doesn't work for another.

Say it with me, "We are not tract homes!"

[Sandra Martini]

Hi Gillian,

SO true! That about sums up my feelings on your response. :-)

Pricing's gone insane and becoming robots of another person's model doesn't serve either the coach or the client.

Thanks for commenting! :-)

Sandy

[Sandra Martini]

Hey Laurie,

I couldn't agree with your post more!

Oh and. . .We are NOT tract homes! We ARE NOT tract homes! We ARE NOT TRACT HOMES!

Sandy :-)

[Karin Witzig Rozell]

So grounded, focused and real. That's what I like about you and your work Sandy!

[Nina]

Hey Sandy,
You are totally write. When I first started my business, everyone was telling me to start a group coaching, do a seminar, etc, etc. I am an introvert by nature and all of those "blueprints" that were being thrown at me, didn't feel right.

I learned to stick to what I like to do and know how to do well. I finally decided to stop listening to people who are only getting rich by selling the blue prints, and started doing authentic marketing, and noticed a change in my profits for the good.
Thanks for always being a honest, no bull shit type of marketer. It's greatly appreciated.

[Carolyn]

Bravo, Bravo! Thank you for your honesty. Your SYSTEMS work and are not designed to create mini me's! I know where I am going and how I will get there because I am doing the work that is applicable for my business.

[Joanne]

Sandy, this is really interesting. I hadn't thought of blueprints in that way before – that they're actually limiting. You're right!

Further to Gillian's comment, what do you think about signature systems? I prefer tailoring to individuals, but having a basic framework from which to work. Your thoughts on this?

[Shannon Cherry]

OMG Sandy! I've been saying #4 (your target market is not the same so the strategy won't work the same) for YEARS.

I see a change happening - one that people like you are leading. People want more personalized approaches and will be looking for people to deliver them.

The 'blueprint' folks often don't know enough of why the strategy worked to replicate it for others.

A new class of 'coach' is coming... one who understands why something will work - and wants to help others understand it too.

You're leading the charge, my dear!

[Valerie McKen]

Excellent! I had never thought of it like this until now - thanks Sandy :)

How are things in RPO?