Building My Business - One Client at a Time

I can’t believe it.?

I can’t believe that I have made a business out of something so narrow and so specific.

Two years ago I knew nothing about LinkedIn. I knew nothing about business. I knew nothing about sales or marketing. Or how to collect payment online. Or how to use Zoom, even.?

I know about Quality stuff. I know about people stuff. I know about law stuff. I know about teaching stuff. And I know about word stuff. That's all.

I’d never heard of Canva, had no website, had no idea how to set up a store online, had no concept of how to set up an email list or what in God’s name an email automation was.

I still know embarrassingly little about most of this stuff. But I’ve figured out enough to get a business off the ground.?

I was embarrassed to tell people what I was doing, initially. I guess I was worried about failing. And I definitely was worried about being judged for being “just another online coach’.? So, I kept things pretty hush hush for the first year or so. People in my “real life” had no idea what I was up to.?

I’m pretty proud now though. I’m no longer embarrassed. When I explain what I do, and how I started, and how much I’ve learned the response is always positive. There’s a lot of: “How cool is that?” or “Wow, that’s amazing, I wouldn’t be brave enough to try something like that.” or “That’s inspiring.”

When I hear myself telling people what I do, I still can’t believe it. It’s not that I don’t think I’m capable of figuring things out (or finding people to help me). It’s that I can’t believe it didn't occur to me that there's a need for what I do.?

It’s true that we really take our own knowledge and experiences for granted a little bit. Or a lot.?

You see, I still don’t think I have any particularly special knowledge or skill that others don’t have, or can’t acquire easily enough with a bit of effort. I feel like everybody must surely know what I know. The curse of knowledge is truly a curse. So, it’s taken me a while to embrace the notion that I have something special to offer. And that I can make a difference for people.

But I get it now.?

Because I’ve seen the difference I make for people. And they actually tell me - which feels pretty darn good!?

But really, it’s nothing special. The thing I have is essentially the thing everyone has. Our uniqueness. We all have our own special bundle of experiences, education, knowledge, perspective, personality, and passions. And, by some clever design of the universe, our unique package quite often fills a need. So specific. So narrow. But so needed by those who need it.?

I help Quality types - in medical devices, pharma, or biotech - with their words.?

That’s it.?

I either help them with their communication skills at work so they have more confidence.?Or I help them with their writing. Or I guide them with the writing and presenting parts of whatever they're working on at work.

That’s what I do. That's all I do.

And I now have people approaching me all the time. Here’s what they sound like:

“I have to do a presentation to upper management about…blah blah…Can you help?”

“I’m doing a SixSigma project, my first language isn't English, and I need some help with the writing and presentation…Is this something you can help me with?”

“We’re a start-up and we’ve got to do a presentation to investors…Can you help us make it clear and compelling?”

“I want to write a book review on a technical book, but my first language isn’t English and I’m going to need some help…Is this something you can guide me through?”

“People think I’m too direct and I’ve just been told in a recent performance review that I need to work on my communication skills…Do you do any one-on-one coaching on this sort of thing?

“I’m writing a whitepaper and I know what I need it to say, but I know it’s not as clear as it needs to be…Can you show me how to fix it?”

"Can you give my your opinion on this presentation? Is it clear? How can I make it better?...Do you provide this sort of feedback and consulting?"

“I’m a wreck in meetings and I’m always too scared to speak up. My career has stalled because of this…Can you help?”

“Our website sucks…Help!...Do you ever help people with their web content?”

“We have all this online training we deliver and we’re not sure if everything is clear and easy to follow… Would you be willing to work with us?”

Yes, yes, yes, yes…a hundred times yes!!!

Does it involve words??

Then, the answer is yes.?

I’m grateful for each and every client and student who has put their trust in me. You’ve given me the confidence (and a big assortment of experiences) to continue to peddle my services and help others who are looking for someone just like me.?

I’m also grateful to all of my LI connections who support me with their likes and comments and shares and enthusiasm for my sometimes serious, sometimes silly, sometimes ranty content!

I'm eager to see what lies ahead in the next few years. Can't wait!

Thank you all!

#medicaldevices #pharma #biotech #communication #qualityassurance #qualityculture