SD #110 – 5 Steps to Business Freedom
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This week we’re not talking about giving feedback; we’re talking about marketing your services and letting people know the value you are providing.
I was sitting at the traffic lights and in front of me was an SUV style of vehicle. Underneath the back window on the body panels I read “Sizes 10-26”, a phone number and address. I presumed it was for a clothing retailer. I also presumed it was for women and yet nowhere could I find the name of the shop or what the sizes were for. I was intrigued, so I found a way to pass the vehicle and to my amazement the sides of the vehicle did not show the name either.
If you don’t tell them; they won’t know.
The same theme emerged as I was working with one of my coaching clients this week. We were working on his messaging to showcase his credibility for the work he does.
Initially reluctant, he was concerned about the “Tall Poppy” syndrome. He didn’t want to appear arrogant or egotistical.
I shared a story that one of my employees told me years ago. She was purchasing taps for a renovation and the salesperson seemed to get annoyed with her because she didn’t appear to appreciate what he had done. Eventually he blurted out, “You don’t seem to realise what I great deal I have just given you” and proceeded to tell her about all the discounts he had factored into the price. She explained to me that until he told her, she had no idea; she just thought that was the price.
If you don’t tell them; they won’t know.
And just yesterday I was working on marketing messages with participants in the next Powerful Marketing Video Event and a similar thing occurred. They weren’t aware of the special attention they were receiving so I mentioned it.
Marketing is all about getting your name known and attracting customers. It’s your responsibility to let them know the value you bring.
Don’t be shy about this. It doesn’t mean you have to be arrogant. It doesn’t mean you have to be resentful, it simply means, “If you don’t tell them; they won’t know”.
Your job this week is to look at the value you bring and ask yourself whether your clients or prospective clients know this. In fact, you could even extend this to your inner circle at home. Are you sharing the value you bring or are you feeling resentful because they aren’t showing appreciation, when in fact, they may not know.
Here’s a simple example – in a few weeks we’ll be celebrating eight (8) years of Weekly Thoughts. That’s amazing to me that I haven’t missed a week in all these years. Starting at number 1, we’re now up to 406. When we get to 416 we ring the gong and perhaps will celebrate with a few surprises.
If I didn’t tell you, you might not have known.
One of the scores we use in the Integrity and Values profile measures Appreciation. This is the degree to which you can give both positive and negative feedback. The creator, Jennifer Elliott, says that if you can’t give negative feedback, you’ll also be unlikely to give positive feedback.
This week I’ve noticed a theme around giving positive feedback and accepting it.
What I’ve found is that often we do receive positive feedback but we don’t take it on board for a number of reasons:
There are plenty of other reasons as well and you can make up your own list.
Today I want to encourage you to both pass on positive feedback and also accept it when you receive it.
And when I say pass on positive feedback, I am including yourself in that.
This week I presented a workshop for the Real Estate Academy and I took notice of my reaction to positive feedback. I’ve been working on this for myself to allow myself to hear it and accept it and I am so happy to say that at the end of the workshop, not only did I not beat myself up for all the things I think I could have done differently or better, I actually acknowledged to myself that I did a good job and was happy with it AND I accepted the compliments that came my way from the participants and organiser as well.
It has also been interesting to notice people’s reactions when we show them their videos. Most people report not liking seeing or hearing themselves on camera. They don’t like the way they look, etc. This is easily overcome if you think about the fact that people are looking at you every day and that doesn’t stop us from going out and doing our thing each day.
This week I’d like you to focus on passing on the positive to yourself and to those around you. Really make a point to make sure they hear it and accept it.
I’m including myself in this exercise and have passed it along to at least 5 people in the past 3 days, plus myself.
Who can you pass some positive feedback to?
Will you allow yourself to receive?
And to finish, I wish you a happy Easter if you celebrate Easter and happy holidays if not.
When I started High School, it was “cool” for girls to shave their legs. It was a long time ago before waxing became the norm.
I asked my mum if I could borrow her razor.
“What do you want that for?” she asked.
“To shave my legs of course”, expecting that she should have known that all the cool girls shave their legs.
“No! You’re not shaving your legs,” she almost screamed at me.
“Why not? Everybody else is,” I cried.
“You’re not and that’s all there is to it,” and with that I was dismissed.
Now being the strong willed, pig headed and rebellious character that I can be, what do you think I did?
You guessed it. I went into the bathroom and I shaved my legs.
Not content to just silently call victory to myself, I flaunted the act by going and standing next to my mother who was on her hands and knees cleaning up a spill on the floor.
I simply stood there until she figured something was up. Without looking up at me, she turned to face my legs, ran her hand up my leg to make sure she wasn’t just seeing things and then slapped my leg so hard that it stung and repeated, “I told you not to shave your legs”.
Mission accomplished, I grinned and walked off.
And I’ve been regretting that decision for over 40 years.
So what has this story got to do with “Stop Pushing Me”?
For me, it’s about knowing myself and being able to respond rather than react.
My rebellious streak has gotten me into trouble (a lot).
If I feel pushed to do something or am told I am not allowed to do something, my rebellious nature will arc up.
Thankfully, over the years I have come to recognise it and have learned to manage myself with awareness and self talk, although the initial feelings can still be quite strong.
And why is this the topic for this week’s thought?
Following on from last week’s thought, “Every team needs a leader”, it’s important for you to know your people and to know when to encourage, push or support.
It can be tricky to know the difference and timing is everything. The last thing you want to do is push someone when they are at breaking point and needing some care and attention and by the same token, neither do you want to let them off the hook when they do need to step up and take responsibility and do the work.
You’ll know which way to go if you tune in to your people and listen to what they are telling you, both verbally and non-verbally.
And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go shave my legs.