Do You Really Need More?

As I was overseas last month I’ve spent the last couple of weeks focused on clients and catching up with each of them individually.

I love 1:1 coaching as it allows you to delve deeper into their challenges and find the root cause.

Private conversation allows for a greater level of honesty & vulnerability.

To have a sounding board to bounce & validate ideas.

Streamlining your focus further with individualised actions and accountability.

During these sessions a few common challenges consultants face shone through that I'd love to share with you.

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1. Limiting your success due to other's beliefs

Children soak up everything like a sponge.

I did. You did. We all did.

Influenced by those around us and what we see, hear and feel in the process.

Forming thoughts that we search for evidence to substantiate as we grow older, turning them into subconscious beliefs.

The problem is that many of the beliefs that are formed aren’t real.

And they certainly aren’t ours.

They’ve been created by someone else based mainly on hearsay, societal norms and expectations.

And even if you don’t buy into that belief at a conscious level.

Your subconscious will continue to question what’s possible.

OK. This may be a little ‘woo woo’ but hear me out…

If you were brought up in a household where it was constantly stated by your elders that to succeed in business you have to work really long hours, do work you don’t particularly enjoy, and that as a woman your chances of making it are small.

Then this is what you’re highly likely to expect.

(Not forgetting that their interpretation of success is likely different to yours too. In this case success was no doubt based purely on financial outcomes)

You’re conditioned for it even if you don’t buy into it.

Therefore, you work silly hours, on projects that don’t light your soul, undervaluing your services because you doubt your true worth.

Creating a reality for yourself that you don’t want.

Yet is one that your children are witness to.

And so the ‘belief’ cycle continues.

Yesterday my client started the process of breaking the cycle by creating a new story for their consultancy business.

With an ending they want to believe in.

And has started taking intentional action towards it.

With consistent action, this new belief will be reinforced.

Which in turn creates a new reality.

And from what other clients have experienced, greater results.

This is what happens when you're in The Zone.

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2. Speaking a different language

One of the things I notice a lot when having a nose at client's content is that very often they’re not speaking their client's language.

First off, the issue of fluffy marketing speak and technical jargon.

Seriously, who wants to read a bunch of fancy words that don't make any sense?

Not me, and definitely not your clients!

Keep it real, straightforward, and relatable.

Next up, the problem of not meeting your clients where they're at.

Look, they're dealing with challenges right now, not some distant future problems.

Just because you've got insight into what happens if they don't resolve their challenges now, means they do.

Talk about their current pain points and offer solutions that can make an impact in their lives & businesses today.

Give them a reason to reach out or respond.

Lastly, let's talk about being too professional and polished.

Don't get me wrong, professionalism is important, but being too rigid can kill human connection.

So hiding behind your branding, logo, colours, stock images, and quotes just ain’t going to cut it.

This is essential for solo operators as your business is personal - it's YOU that your clients are buying.

Show your personality in your words, be yourself, and let your clients know there's a genuine person behind the brand.

Over recent months my client Kim has been very mindful of this when creating content for her HR consultancy. As a result of the changes she's made, she's having more conversations with more prospects, and is signing more clients in less time.

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3. Do you really need MORE?

I’ve been fortunate to work with some incredibly smart people over the years.

They have years of experience.

Immense amounts of knowledge.

Amazing qualities.

So much value to provide.

The ability to positively impact many others.

Yet, I constantly have people tell me they need MORE to be a successful consultant.

More education.

More qualifications.

More experience.

More time.

More money.

From what I’ve seen in 9/10 cases they don’t need MORE to be successful at all.

They just need a framework. A mechanism. A method.

Whatever you want to call it.

A visual representation that brings their expertise together and simply & clearly articulates how they take their clients from A to Z.

And once they’ve tried and tested their framework in their marketing, sales, and taken their clients through it and got them results, they have all the validation they need.

Proof that their IP is the solution to many problems.

Yes, it’s important to strive to achieve greater things.

Yes, it’s important to keep learning and growing.

But that doesn’t mean you don’t have what you need to be a success right now.

Seize the moment.

It's yours for the taking.

To your success.

Karita x

P.S. I've just released the Marketing Readiness Scorecard. It's a simple 60 second questionnaire designed to show consultants their marketing & sales blind spots and provide instant, actionable steps on how to improve. I'd love you to give it a go - CLICK HERE