Note: The original post ran in April, 2011

One of the cool things about having a blog is that I can share interesting stuff with my peeps. Many of us became entrepreneurs because we had a message that we wanted to get out into the world. Through our work we want to make change in our community, country or world. In some shape, fashion or form we want to improve the quality of people’s lives. In my case, I use entrepreneurship as a way to teach women not only to make more money, but also to how create meaningful personal lives. Good intentions however aren’t enough to catch busy people’s attention AND make them take a specific action.

I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t acknowledge that some entrepreneurs do a much better job than others of getting their message out into the world. Moreover, most of them do it without large media budgets or high-end public relations firms. So why do some entrepreneurs move the masses, while others languish in obscurity?

I’ve viewed this video by Simon Sinek, author of the book, Start with the Why , several times because it’s a wonderful tutorial for entrepreneurs. People are attracted to brands that distinct and that are infused with some core value or belief. Functionality is a given in the marketplace; the successful entrepreneur also creates a brand that strikes an emotional cord with people. Clients want to you know “WHY” you are in business and WHY you serve the people that you do and WHY you operate you business the way that you do. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs to their detrimnet get fixated on the how and what. The “how” and the “what’ of their businesses are secondary, they are natural extensions of the “WHY” of the business—its dharma or purpose.

 

P.S. If you’d like to get clarity about your overall business and learn other strategies to attrace more quality clients click here to see how I can help you.

 

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The Biggest Reason Why Smart Entrepreneurs Fail

by Yvonne Bynoe on January 19, 2012

“People can ONLY think to the level from which they are exposed” Marvet Britto (via Twitter)

Many smart entrepreneurs fail in their businesses because their visions are limited.  They have passion for their work but they also have fixed views about a host of things: how their business should run; what they are capable of achieving; what people will pay; and how much money they are entitled to. Doing the lone ranger thing, these smart entrepreneurs maintain their limited ideas and stay stuck. They continue to struggle in their businesses, not helping the number of people that they should and not making the money that they could. In comparion, successful entrepreneurs hire coaches and mentors because they realize that they have blindspots and lack the ‘know how” to reach their goals. 

I have yet to meet a successful entrepreneur who doesn’t work with a coach or mentor. 

This includes the millionaire and multi-millionnaire entrepreneurs that I have worked with. Why? Because you only know what you know. If your goal is to help more people; earn more money; create a business model that gives you more free time; add new products or services; break into new markets, get more media exposure; write a book, overcome limiting beliefs, etc. you need the advice and guidance of someone who’s been there and done it.   This means that you have to be willing to get outside help. This means that you’ve got to be willing to invest in yourself by hiring an expert.

You’re probably thinking, “She’s talking about spending money on coaching and I’m barely making it.” However, the hard truth is that if you don’t invest in yourself through a coach, you’ll keep struggling. 

When I started my business, I too was a “smart” entrepreneur who didn’t see the need to spend my extremely limited funds on a coach.  I thought that I was “smart” enough to create a fabulous 6 figure business by myself. Subsequently, I attended zillions of free teleseminars, read a library of marketing books, bought home study courses and even attended a conference.  My lack of progress was utterly astounding.  To make matters worse, the “small” amounts of money that I spent snowballed into a fairly large sum. Unfortunately I still didn’t have many more clients or much more income. I still wasn’t making the type of impact with my business that I desperated wanted.

After a year of believing that I was smart enough to go it alone, I decided that I wanted to be a successful entrepreneur.

My business goal was/is to empower women, emotionally, spiritually and financially. I also made the decision to invest in a business coach to make my dream possible. My first coach helped me to clarify my goals; create an income generating business model and decide on the best way for me to market my business.  She saved me valuable time, wasted money, and countless headaches.  More importantly she encouraged my potential and helped me to lay the foundation for my solvent business. To this day, I’ve continued to work with coaches and mentors. Each coach helped me to push further beyond my fixed ideas and my fears. With their counsel and knowledge my business has continued to improve and grow. 

A good coach can provide you with not only technical assistance but also accountability and emotional support.  My mentors have helped me to expand my vision of who I am and how I can contribute to the lives of my clients.  Moreover, as someone who came from a corporate background, these fabulous women helped me to see bigger possibilities for my life, impact and income as an entrepreneur. 

I’m inviting you to now take the step to expand the vision for your life….to make a bigger and more meaningful impact with your business.

I have  FREE Business Alchemy coaching sessions up for grabs.   In this private, 45 minute session we’ll talk about where your business is; where you want to be and what’s stopping you.  We can also discuss how to continue working with me one-on-one for the next six months.   Deadline Friday, January 20, 2012.
***The 8 sessions are gone but you can apply to be on my waitlist.***
To apply: Email me at Yvonne@SoulfulAffluence.com In the subject line put: Business Alchemy Waitlist.

 

 

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