My Landscaping Business is Better Than Your Lanscaping Business...
Yesterday I was having a discussion with Mary who I know from a mother's group that I attend with my daughter Sammi. Through previous conversations I have determined that this woman is very talented in the areas of landscaping and interior design. I couldn't help myself?As we talked, I asked her if she had thought about going into business for herself which would be a perfect way to do work she loves while making money. Her reply to me was, "It's really hard to make money at it. People aren't willing to pay." Now if Mary were a client, my next question would have been, "So no one makes money doing landscaping and interior design?" Of course her response would have been, "Well some do." And my next response, "So why not you?" The real reason Mary won't consider going into business has nothing to do with the industry she is interested in, it's that she isn't willing to see that SHE could make it happen. In reality, she could have the best landscaping business in the area?if she believed she could! Can you see yourself in Mary's example? How many business ideas have you shot down because you really don't believe you can pull it off? Here is how a lot of my conversations with clients go? Client: "I would love to do such and such, but I can't make money doing it." Me: "Ok, well how much money can you make doing it?" Client: "I really don't know." Money is the excuse; your belief in yourself is the problem. So what do you do? In order to create what you want, you have to move beyond what is. 1. Suspend disbelief and envision yourself doing and making money doing, work you really love. The trick here is to think about what you want, not how you are going to get it. So in Mary's case that would be easy; "I have created a very successful landscaping design business. I have exactly the right number of clients that generate plenty of revenue to support my business and myself. I love going to my clients and seeing how excited they are when I complete my design." 2. Now, list all of the excuses why this vision could never be a reality. This includes internal and external reasons: External: -The economy is bad. -It's a tough industry. -People won't pay for this service. Internal: -I don't know how to run a business -I hate marketing. -Why would anybody buy anything from me? -I can't make money doing work I love. List them all, I'm sure, like my clients, you have plenty. 3. Now test your belief in these excuses: -The economy is bad. "People are successful in so called "bad economies" all the time." -It's a tough industry. "If other people can figure it out, I certainly can." -People won't pay for this service. "People pay for this service all the time." -I don't know how to run a business. "I can learn how to run a business." -I hate marketing. "Maybe I can get someone to do my marketing for me." -Why would anybody buy anything from me? "I do have great ideas and examples of work I've already done." -I can't make money doing work I love. "I've never tried, so I don't really know if I can." You just want to get past the disbelief in order to generate next steps. Bottom line, if you're not willing to see the possibilities, you won't see the obstacles and therefore you won't be able to resolve them and move toward what you really want to do. Unfortunately a lot of us live our lives according to beliefs, that once you break them down, aren't realities. This is truly the "big lie" and it's time we all started creating our own desired realities! Doreen Banaszak is a career coach, teacher & founder of the "90-Day Get Your Career UnSlumped Challenge". Where do you want to be in 90 days? Register today to receive your free "GetUnSlumped Welcome Package" including an e-workbook, free tele-workshop and complementary coaching consultation. Register at http://www.getunslumped.com! Check out more articles by Doreen at the, GetUnSlumped Blog.
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
When and How to Say I Just Cant Do It!
We naturally hesitate to tell our boss when we can't do something or are feeling overwhelmed in our job. Bosses don't want to hear that, right? Well, it depends.
In many situations, your boss is so busy that he/she doesn't keep track of how much work you're doing. When your boss gives you a new project, he's not thinking about all the other projects you're already working on.
And here's the kicker -- unless you speak up and tell your boss that you can't handle the workload he's giving you, he'll assume everything is fine.
This can have bad consequences for you AND your boss. You know what will happen. Eventually things will start falling through the cracks or you'll rush through tasks and start making mistakes.
You can only do so much in a day, and deadlines will be missed. While you're stressing out, work that your boss needs you to do is NOT being done.
When this happens, your boss will not appreciate your excuse: "But I had too much to do, I was overloaded with work!" Saying that AFTER the fact will be much worse than telling your boss up front -- before mistakes occur or deadlines are missed -- that you're having trouble with your workload.
It is your responsibility to tell your boss when you are overwhelmed, and there's nothing wrong with doing this.
Of course, you don't want to tell your boss, "I can't do that; I'm too busy." But you can say, "I'll be happy to take that on, but I need your help with prioritizing the other projects you've already given me. Which jobs can I put on hold or delegate to someone else while I work on this new one?"
That's way better than keeping your mouth shut, trying to do too much, and failing miserably.
Resume Layouts ... The Hidden Pitfalls
Options for Resume Layouts
Three Ways to Transition to a New Career
As a Certified Personnel Consultant working for Find Great People International in Greenville, South Carolina, I receive telephone calls from people who are considering a career change. For some, transitioning to a new career is easier than others. Some professionals already possess a foundation of skills to make the transition easier. I'll give an example. An unemployed network engineer and hobby electrician decides to become an electrical contractor for new construction. His transition might be easier because he needs minimal training to enter the new field. But others require training, or additional schooling, which can sometimes be costly.
How to Write Cover Letters That Increase Your Chances of Winning an Interview
Submit a poorly written cover letter and the chances are your resume will end up in the trash bin without even being looked at.
Minding Your Own Business
Think you have gone as far as you can in your present job? Instead of looking around for a similar position in another company, you may want to strike out on your own as a consultant.
Surviving Corporate Politics Part 2: Keeping Up Appearances
Never a 2nd chance to make a 1st impression, or so the saying goes. We all know that when someone is introduced into your work environment for the first time, their peers size them up immediately. How they are dressed, how they talk, and how they set up their workspace. Especially in large companies, where there is constant personnel movement, keeping up your appearance is a full time task. In smaller companies, how you compose yourself from Day 1 is of utmost importance. We will start with the basics:
How to Feel Satisfied in Your Career
Many people turn a beloved hobby into a vocation. They have a gift, a talent screaming for expression. It means doing something that they love. At last, they feel empowered.
How to Transform a Boring Note Into A Killer Cover Letter - Part II
In Part I, we covered how to grab the reader's attention with the opening sentence. Now
we'll get them interested, arouse desire, and get them to take action. Let's get moving.
The Fallibility of Psychological Testing
Psychological Testing has become rampant across industries, more so in
the case of Information Technology, BPOs and ITES companies. These
tests are used to 'throw up' personality profiles and competency
descriptions that would help companies recruit the 'right' candidate.
The Human Resources department in most organizations is responsible for
the administering of Psychometric tests.
How to Write a Simple Job Description
1.0 A timely reminder
Networking is the Key to Star Performance in Everything You Do.
Many people's idea of networking relates to the 'size of their Christmas Card List, rather than the quality of their relationship with each person on that list. Similarly those people network, but few reap the rewards of zeroing in on their potential. Here are some ideas to help fill the gap between where you are now and where you can be.
Fantastic Job Fair Follow-up
Set the stage for fantastic job fair follow-up while you are still at the job fair. As the conversation is coming to a close, ask for the company representative's business card. If he or she doesn't have one, ask for their name, title, and best way to reach them. Write that information down in your notebook. Thank them for their time and re-affirm your interest in the company and position.
Four Simple Steps To Better Results With Your Resume
Is every job description you read the same? No.
Dont Quit Your Day Job! Convincing Your Boss To Let You Telecommute (Part 2 of 2)
Ok, so you've determined that you have the right skills and qualities to
do your job effectively from home. You're sure that your job is well
suited to telecommuting. Now you just need your boss to agree that this
is a great idea, but how?
Multiple Skills for the 21st Century
(excerpted from The Weekend Seminar - Skills for the 21st Century 1999 Version)
How to Improve Your Work Situation
buWhy are so many people unhappy in their work situation?
Why do people, who are successful at one career, have
such difficult times coping with their new career? These
problems frequently occur, because conflicts exist in their
work relationships.
Resume Writing - Get That Job
Looking for a new job, whether it is with a new company or a promotion within your own organisation, requires time and effort. To make your job search more effective you need to take five fundamental steps on the road to success:
Are You Winning the Talent Wars?
How many times have you heard or read, "Our employees are our greatest asset"?
Work Is A Four-Letter Word
I can hear the jokes already and most of them are not politically correct. Let me throw out a word that we often don't attach to work and yet I think it is a word of redemption, of contribution, of achievement, of community, and ultimately, of legacy.
Resurrecting the Perfect Resume, Part One
Is your resume dead? Don't be so quick to say, "No way!" Of the hundreds of resumes I've seen written by job seekers of all backgrounds and educational levels, easily 95% qualify to be labelled as dead-but-not-yet-buried.Â
|