Sandra Martini's Success Strategies

Guru Bashing: So Whose Responsibility Is It Anyway?

Off and on over the past year, a new trend has appeared: Guru Bashing.

I've sat back, agreed with some and often shook my head at other posts -- especially since many of the bashers are also gurus.

Enough.

Seriously...I've had enough. 

Right here, right now, I'm making (and taking) a stand.

Making the Tough Decisions in Your Business

Would you prefer to listen to this week's article?

If so, just click the PLAY button above. Note: If you can't see the audio controls, you can click here to listen…

This weekend, my husband decided to leave the band that he’s been a part of for 4 years. As you can imagine, it was tough to do – the other band members are friends and more like family to him, to us.

There are times in your business when you need to make the tough decision to do what’s best for you, your business in the long term.

Your Program's Sold Out -- Now What?

Would you prefer to listen to this week's article?

If so, just click the PLAY button above. Note: If you can't see the audio controls, you can click here to listen…

“YES! Finally!”, you’re thinking as the “ka-ching” sound on your computer dings again and again and you see those “New Order Was Placed” or “You’ve Got Money” emails coming in again and again.

This is the moment you’ve worked so hard for. You built relationships, created a great program, marketed it properly and clients are lining up to purchase.

Another “ka-ching”.

And another happy giggle from you. After all, this is THE moment everyone talks about and that you’ve waited so long for.

Now you can buy that new laptop, pay down some debt, breathe a little.

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

Are you selling *hope*?

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, chances are you know my beloved BlackBerry died last week -- I love my "scroll wheel" and have had a similiar model for over 10 years (I know you iphone peeps are cringing).

They no longer make scroll wheels.  Now it's all touchpads and touchscreens.

As I tested the Droid and Droid2 (on the Verizon platform where I've been), I quickly realized that it wasn't what I wanted.  Luckily, BlackBerry came out with it's new Torch and the ATT store was right next door.

15 minutes into "playing", this is what I wanted. 

Back next door to Verizon to see if they have anything comparable. 

"Nope, but we'll be getting new BlackBerries sometime before Christmas. Can you wait till then?" said the Verizon rep.

While considering it (after all, I love the Verizon platform and haven't had any issues in my tiny town of Lakeville), I went back to ATT to play with the Torch some more.

Joe, the extremely helpful and patient salesman, asked which way I was leaning and I told him what the Verizon rep said about new BlackBerries before Christmas.

And that's when Joe said it -- "They're trying to sell you hope."

WHOOSH! Immediate flashback to a conversation I had with a colleague a couple of years ago -- we were discussing how she'd just filled one of her programs and mine wasn't filling as quickly despite being more results-focused.

And that's when she said it -- "I'm selling hope and you're selling realistic results. . .hope will win every time as no one wants reality."

Over the years I've seen hundreds of examples of people buying hope and then coming to me for results after they've spent tons of money and are frustrated with themselves and the person who sold them the hope because they're no further along in their business than they were before.

Personally, I'd rather be in the results business.  How about you?  I'd love to hear your thoughts below. . .

PS...I'm now the proud owner of a BlackBerry Torch from ATT and LOVE IT! :-)

Launch-based or Sustainable -- Which Type of Business Do You Have?

Would you prefer to listen to this week's article?

If so, just click the PLAY button above. Note: If you can't see the audio controls, you can click here to listen…

So many businesses are "launch-based" -- never earning revenue unless something is actively being promoted or clients are locked into long-term contracts.

And then, once that promotion is over, the business owner is frantically trying to create the next program, product or service to launch.

Imagine it. . .high revenue one month, low revenue the next two, then high again, then low. Your revenue isn't meant to be a roller coaster ride.

3 Ways to Ensure Your Business is Busy -- No Matter The Economy or Season

It’s summer. . .a time of school vacations; hazy, hot and humid weather; and, according to some, the slowest business season of the year.

Not so here in Lakeville! We’re going gangbusters and there’s a few reasons why which you can easily use/adapt for your business:

1. Plan for success and work the plan. Nothing secret here – it actually makes things easier if you have a plan to work by as there’s no wondering “What should I focus on?” thoughts when you walk in the office each morning.

2. Generate exposure all year round for a steady flow of business: consistent article marketing; regularly (at least 2x/week) posting on your, and others’, blogs; connecting with people “live” through social media; “touching” your readers through direct mail and, if conducive to your business, regularly hosting f.r.e.e. teleclasses.

3. Create systems to work for you. The busier you get, the more important it is to have the right systems in place so “no balls get dropped” and every client experiences Extreme Client Care™ from you and every member of your team. And the busier you are, the more clients who want to work with you.

The above is a longer way of saying that:

Ordinary things, done consistently, create extraordinary AND consistent, results!

Make It Real: My Request To You

It’s true. . .the above may not seem like the sexiest or most amazing secrets in the world.

It’s also true that 99% of all entrepreneurs and small business owners don’t do them. Always searching, hoping for the magic pill, they fail to do the things which practically guarantee success.

Every day you sit down to work, you have a choice: move steadily forward or sit and wait for success to find you.

Which are you going to do today?

What happens on the other side of your door?

The other day, I shared a post about the first tenet of Escalator Marketing(tm): Having ONE door to your business, one door so that when prospective clients and partners visit your business, they know what you do and where/how to start learning more about you and your business.

Today, let's talk about what happens once the door is opened and your prospective clients and partners enter. . .

Thanks for watching and I'd love to know your thoughts below. :-)

The Door To Your Business

When prospective clients "walk up to your business", what do they find?  This under-2-minute video shows you why it's important not only to know, but to have the *right* answer.  Enjoy!

Oh, and see if you can pick up where my little Llasa Apso Buddy decides to start tossing my slipper around. :-)

Can Freedom Really Be This Simple?

 
Have you ever put something in the oven, only to get distracted and end up overcooking it?

I used to do it all the time -- especially once I started my business.  In the oven went dinner, then I was off to check emails or write.

An hour later there was a burning smell (and "yes", baking potatoes CAN explode in your oven!).  

Then I discovered the freedom that a simple timer could bring.  Set it, off to do whatever and come back when it beeps.

I employ the same principle in my business using a Polder Digital Timer (it's the visual of digital "sand" that makes this far and above other timers):