Like many people, 2020 marked a big shift for me. We went into lockdown on my birthday, which was also a Friday the 13th, and I decided then and there to follow that auspicious date wherever it would lead.
It has not been a clear path, but rather a wandering one though dense fog. The path is there, but only the next step is available to me, the destination still obscure.
I am a writer, and an entrepreneur, a DIYer, a massage therapist, a teacher by training, and a single mom to 2 adolescents. Roll that altogether and you get, well, you get an interesting journey!
But really, my business puts together my intellectual teacher-y skills, my big empathic heart, my DIYer willingness to attempt new and potentially messy projects, and my love of all things wordy. I edit, I write copy, I help you figure out what you want to include on your website, I strategize, I listen to your concerns. It's a bit like website therapy...if that's a thing?
I'm here to move from thinking about all the things, to walking the talk and doing all the things. And to meet some interesting, like-minded folks along the way!
Like many people, 2020 marked a big shift for me. We went into lockdown on my birthday, which was also a Friday the 13th, and I decided then and there to follow that auspicious date wherever it would lead.
It has not been a clear path, but rather a wandering one though dense fog. The path is there…
8:05
When your things don't sell... why not?
Why do you think that is? Before you continue to read, comment below first on what your hunch tells you... If your stuff isn't selling well, here's why it might be... You might be thinking a lot in isolation when it comes to what to offer. Analogy of mountaintop vs people at the river. To get clients, you must sell what others want (not just what you want). To understand what they want (to buy), you must do market discovery... that's what this course is about! Find out what your people are hungry for... for which they aren't finding satisfying options. Find the gaps in offerings that your people are *eagerly* looking for. Finding "product-market fit" is life or death for a business. For us who are coaches/healers/mentors, this translates into "You-topic-format-audience fit". You = your energy signature Topic = what your services are about Format = offer format, e.g. 1-1 services, group programs, or something else? Audience = of all the people you can reach, who's most interested to work with you? This is what the Authentic Market Discovery process unconvers. We help you discover what your ideal clients must buy, not just would be "nice to have." Bottom line -- You must choose the right thing to offer, if you want people to buy from you...
3:34
Welcome to the course! + Our community values
A warm welcome here! I encourage us to see this course as a community... not comments from random people, but rather, focused comments about specific topics, from your kindred spirits 😊 The most important part of a community is its culture. Each of us (who participate here) influence the culture with every interaction we have here. A few values to keep in mind: Comment once, reply twice. For each comment you make, look for 2 other comments (especially ones with few replies) and add a reply – with your encouragement and suggestions (if appropriate). This helps to balance the comment/reply ratio, and gives you practice in seeking and giving support here. Notice and name each others' energy signatures. Each person's presence is unique, and each person has their strengths. It can be difficult for us to notice our own, and easier to notice others'. Whenever you notice someone's comment that refers to something personal to them, try to name something that you appreciate. We all have a fear of being fully seen. Let’s help each other feel accepted and received. Co-Learning Community. Nobody here (not even the "teacher") knows everything about market research/discovery... it's a rich process that can be customized greatly to each person's way of doing things, so let's create a co-learning environment here. Even I as a "teacher" can and will learn from your shares too! Share generously. Be supportive of others here. If you discover something that works, or hear about a great tip that helps with market discovery, please do share it with us. Comment under the appropriate lesson if possible, or if not sure where, just comment below. Sharing will make this course better for all of us! Keep all sharings confidential. Let's keep this a safe space for sharing by promising to keep all comments (particularly the personal ones) confidential. Let me know below if these values are helpful, and if you have any suggestions. The values we embody here is what makes this course experience amazing for each other 😊 If no comments below and no ability to comment, first log into this course.
I've definitely been in the flailing around trying to create something people want, but not really knowing what they want, even when I ask them directly! This has resulted in me feeling like maybe I have nothing to offer, and taking it all way too seriously as character flaws!
I say this because this is the HARD WAY to make progress....and I'm super excited to let George take some of the mystery out of this for me and get moving in the right direction.
3:40
Let's begin imagining your 20...
Imagine 20 people you love to work with – they enjoy your style and skills just as you are now, without you needing to change or improve anything – and you enjoy them as well. Part of this work – as all work of "authentic business" – is to practice believing in the value of your skills and presence, and stepping more into your authentic service-oriented power. Those 20 people probably already in your life/network right now. Draw them forth by writing a heartfelt description of them... You're welcome to comment below as you tell us about them – anything you can tell us is great, their inner characteristics, outer (visible) demographics, their interests, and most importantly – why they like and trust you. And what they believe that you can support them with. No perfection needed here... just write what comes to you. You can always update it later – and likely will :) After writing your comment, turn around and comment on 2 others' descriptions, especially if you resonate or know someone who is exactly like that! :) Just because you reply to someone's comment doesn't mean that you'll get a spot as part of their 20 ;-) but later in this course, if there's still space, and it seems aligned for the time being, they might reach out to you with a gentle invitation to play :-)
My 20 people:
- are in the first few years of their solopreneurships
- are often healers, helpers, coaches, therapists, teachers: pulled to make a positive difference in the world
- feel that their business, whatever it is, comes from the heart of themselves, and is deeply personal
- and so they want to be sure to have a clear message as their "brand voice"
- but seem to keep getting caught up in not knowing what to write, or how to write it in a way that connects with their own ideal clients
- often, my 20 people are intimidated by the amount of writing they have to do for their business, or feel that they don't have the skills they need to craft an effective message
- and really don't want to be inauthentic, manipulative, or misleading
- They might be experiencing a general lack of confidence in their writing skills
- or be totally overwhelmed by their websites
- or by the many other small pieces of writing that they need to do for their businesses
When it comes to know me, like me, and trust me, my Fab 20:
- align with my philosophy of copywriting/website design that's based on people making the best decisions for themselves
- they know I'm a truth-teller, and not into using manipulation to get people to buy something (that may NOT be in their own best interest)
- they know I am patient, that no questions are silly, even if you have to ask it multiple times as they learn
- they appreciate that I am a wordy nerd who like to think big thoughts and have deep and meaningful conversations
- they like that I have also worked as a massage therapist for many years,
- and have a degree or two in Education
- and they like that I am good at creating safe spaces to learn and work out those rough drafts of their writing work
I'm pretty sure I tick all of your boxes. Hope I made it to your list.
QUESTION - Is there something magical about 20? Can it be more or less?
18:55
Super helpful. I appreciate your candor and telling it like it is. AND, I see I need to start showing up for more Q&A calls!
1:47
MJ if your prompt gets rejected...
See this tip from Sonja, posted in our membership group. (If you cannot access, I show it in the video above.)
Something weird happened with this one, which was actually the response from a /describe prompt: a woman in a costume with a lot of flowers, in the style of rtx on, gigantic scale, adafruit, raina telgemeier, i can't believe how beautiful this is, hatecore, victoria poyser --ar 3:4
It got rejected, and I understand why, it's just interesting that it's MJ itself that gave me the description!
Here's what it gave me when I replaced hatecore with queencore, a term I learned from the /describe prompt:
When things don't sell at all it's because people probably don't actually want them. They don't see the value for them.
I like this definition of "selling" from Michael Neill:
"Selling is finding out what people already actually want and helping them get it."
He goes on to say that we do this by listening and getting to know people. 💡
If what I've got isn't selling, people don't think it will help them get what they want. They don't see the value or the value isn't there for them.
There's no judgement in this; it's just how it works. It's my job to communicate the impact of what I do as clearly as possible so that I can help the people I'm here to serve.
I believe the ways to create value are infinite, so it's just a matter of time before we find the match. 🤗
When I was less certain about what was available through my coaching, my communication was uncertain, too.
I work with a coach and spend a lot of time reflecting on what creates the most powerful impact. The more I see about that, the easier sharing it gets.
Listening is essential. I need to really understand how someone thinks and what's relevant to them in order to communicate in a way that connects.
I don't always do a good job of it. Sometimes I stumble and fumble in communicating, but every time I have a conversation, I get clearer. It also helps to review my sessions with my coach so that he can help me see more deeply, too.
Writing this response makes me realize how invested I am in growth in this area! 😂 I know what a big difference it makes to my impact and the people I can help, but I don't feel heavy about it. I know that the more I show up curious and open, the more I learn.
And then there's the piece about what do they actually want, anyway? And can they tell you what they want, or are they also uncertain of what would make a difference?
I am finding that if I ask and really listen, people can tell me what they already actually want: more clients, more money, a feeling of peace. When I get curious and ask follow up questions, we discover what they REALLY want those things for.
Once I know what they want and WHY they want it, we can establish relevance. Can I help them get this or not? If I can, I can communicate what I see that will make the difference. Then someone will know if this aligns for them or not.
If I do a good job of this, I'm already creating value for them, and they feel it. If I do a crappy job, maybe not so much. 😁
This is easiest to do with people in 1:1 conversation. It can also be done through a good sales page and content, but it requires a clear understanding of what people already actually want, the words they use to describe it, and a message that bridges what they want to what you offer effectively. I think this comes naturally from experience with clients (and market research conversations!) but if your energy signature is clear and resonant, it may become less important. If your clients tend to listen to their intuition, they may reach out to you simply because "they had a feeling." ✨ That's my experience, anyway.
That’s so freeing for me because I have real blocks around marketing. “It’s my job to communicate the impact of what I do as clearly as possible so that I can help the people I’m here to serve.” What a keeper! I could post it on my wall, and I just might! Thank you!
I'm (finally) starting to see creating clients and service as the same thing. Not as a reframe, but as an actual fact. I show up and serve. Sometimes that creates clients. Many times it's doesn't. But that's the way I want clients to show up in my life, through service. 😍
I experienced my first taste of this when I asked my first market survey question. My romantic travel writing got no hits, my Investment Education was a total sign me up! It was very encouraging.
Romantic travel writing! That sounds much more fun to me than investment education. 😂
There is brilliance is listening to people and seeing what occurs to us to serve. I love what emerges from that process.
I'm thrilled you're finding encouragement in the journey! 🤗