Sunday, December 22, 2013

You can not survive depending on a little help from your friends!

 This is a blog for those of us who are entrepreneurs and small business owners trying to find our way. I have learned a lot about business since opening my own Art Studio and Gallery 3 years ago that I did not learn in the fancy university that I went to or while managing companies for others.

One of the most painful yet important lessons that I learned is that though our friends and family can be excellent support and strength for us as we forage into the unknown, they can not and should not be viewed as or expected to be endless financial supporters of our efforts.

Some years ago I signed up to sell Mary Kay. For those of you who do not know what Mary Kay is, it is a line of make up. I was attracted to their representatives which were extremely beautiful and intelligent women and I really hungered for the streamlined approach to business this company offered. I still very much appreciate it today. I was not successful in Mary Kay for several reasons.
(1) I did not put enough focus and personal energy into being successful.
(2) I was not strong in my marketing and networking skills at this time and did not really have personal goals outlined or means to execute the ones that were laid out for me.
(3) When I was lucky enough to get make up parties or clients I was not versed enough in sales to realize the importance of taking personal interest in my clients or inviting them to introduce me to new ones.

When I opened my business I had gained a lot of things personally that I was lacking at the time I sold make up but I still was missing the mark on number 3. I was not understanding to survive in the business world I would need to do two things well.
(1)   Truly know my clients and listen to their needs.
(2)   I needed to make contacts that were fresh.

I spent a lot of time this past few years waiting for friends to take my art classes and purchase my paintings and I am so very grateful at how supportive of my business my circle of friends has been. However, if you want to truly be a financial success you are going to have to work networking into your business plan. Expanding your client circle is paramount for being successful. Our friends and family are our support system emotionally, not financially. Let them be the people who you turn to for a boost or a kick in the pants, not who pays for your electric bill. It is important that our friends and family are our private cheerleaders, not our financial backers.

This year I have a plan. My plan includes a number of new contacts that I must make each month. I have decided how many people it will take to get my business to reach its potential this year and I have decided to actively seek them out.

How does one reach 30 new contacts a month? (or what ever your number is)
We go to the places our target clientele go. We take part in community functions. We volunteer our time, we chat with people at the grocery store check out line, We ask friends to share our site with others who may be interested. There are many ways to meet new people.

It can be difficult when we are sitting in our businesses or homes and we are ripping our hair out wondering how we are going to get new clients. The best thing to do is, get up, get dressed, grab your business cards and get out the front door. There is a whole world out there waiting for you and somewhere in it you are going to find just the right opportunities!

Love!
Hannah Scott
Legacy Studios Midland MI
Success Coaching and Strategic Planning Sessions Available
989-430-3113

Email: LegacyStudiosMidland@gmail.com

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