I said, 'Eat Your Vegetables!!'

'CIARA!!! If you don't eat your vegetables you will be in trouble’

'But they're disgusting'

‘I don't care you need to eat them or else you'll be going to bed early with NO dessert'

'Fine...I'll go to bed then'

My poor parents… I was always told how stubborn I was as a child. Even when I was put in time out and placed in a corner to ‘think about my actions’ I found a way to find my own peace and fun. No punishment seemed to bother me enough to make me want to change. Spanking?? Sure it's only temporary. Standing in timeout? Okay I'll just play with the chips on the wall. Go to bed early.. fine I love to dream anyway. And as I got older it didn't much matter either. No cell phone? That's fine I love writing and reading. Can't hang out with friends? It's cool I'll think about how next time I'll make our plans even MORE fun. Nothing mattered because I always knew something inside of me felt in control or maybe felt at peace with any option presented.

And as I've gotten older and worked with corporate companies, foreign entities, non profits, government and many more organizations, I see so much of myself and even my parents within these organizations. The employee who just can't be ‘motivated’ enough to hit those numbers. Not because they couldn't but because they just didn't want to. Something inside them said this is not the best option for me…this is not what I really want to do. And then there's the ‘parent’ or boss trying to force the team into compliance or order masking it with words like 'streamline process' or 'protocols'. And they too find at the end of the day, the frustration of trying to bend the will of the stubborn employee.

But on an even larger scale today I see so many companies trying to force the vegetables down the throat of other companies. Trying to persuade or convince them that if they don't do this (purchase the service or product) then they'll have such and such results or consequences. Or being so vigilant with their CRM system and automated messages that even if you don't reply to the messages they'll send followup after followup based on the fact that you 'viewed' the response.

Fast forward now 30 or so years and I am an avid vegetable eater… I actually eat more vegetables than any other type of food. Not because it's good for me although I know the health benefits. But because I actually enjoy it.. my body feels good when I have it and I like the variety of textures and taste. Now my parents may believe it was due to the forceful punishments that have brought me to become a vegetable lover and part of that may be true. But the larger part is that I finally enjoy it.. I am ready to eat them.. I am ready to receive the benefits of their nutrients.

Your clients and customers are either ready or they're not. It's up to you to decide whether you will force it down their throats with persistence or just relax and wait for the time to be right. Now if you choose the latter you'll free yourself, your time, energy and resources to focus on those who are ready. Those who are seeking what you have. And how much more fun it is to work with someone who values your work, pays a fair compensation and enjoys the passion and effort you put forth. As of June 2023, it has been reported that LinkedIn has over 930 million members in over 200 countries. Omg!! That's crazy, right? How fun it would be to collaborate, explore, synergize with members around the world that are aligned with us and our visions. That would like to rendezvous with us effortlessly. Who is waiting to come outside and play and explore and have fun. Who is sitting in their part of the world thinking about YOU but just not yet knowing your name and face. How much more fun and exhilarating it is to attract those people for our lives and business and not waste time on the stubborn young Ciara's who won't budge regardless of what you throw at them.

This is why I've been hosting this 8 week series on How to Attract Global Clients and made an ebook that's about $2 to help us better align ourselves and attract not just clients but friends, partnerships, more adventures and success. Join us this week for Part 2 and make sure you download the ebook as well at eliteprecisionconsulting.com.

Let's put the forks down and go out and have some fun!!