“Do those sales letters really need to be so long?”

Happy holidays to all of you!  I hope you are enjoying some relaxing down time and happy times with your families.  I know I am, but I just wanted to share this with you…

Well, she is at it again…My partner, Michele PW, is answering another juicy marketing question from those we have collected over the past few weeks.  This one is so ‘chocked full’ of great insight that I wanted to share it with you here.

“Ah, this is THE number 1 question I get asked. “Do you really need all those words on a long sales letter? I never read those long sales letters, do they actually work?”

The short answer is “yes.” (See, direct response copywriters CAN be brief.) And no, it’s not because I can charge all sorts of money the longer they get. It’s because yes, long sales letters actually make more sales than shorter ones.

Why do they work? Well, it’s because people have a lot of questions when they’re deciding whether to buy something or not. And if you don’t answer all those questions to their satisfaction they’re not going to plunk down the money.

Think of it this way. You’re on the phone with a prospective client. Let’s say it takes 30 minutes to explain what you’re selling so they feel comfortable enough to buy. Now imagine you’ve transcribed that 30 minute call. That’s at least 20 pages of text. 20 pages. And it’s only for one person. What about the next person? Sure some of the questions will be the same but there will also be different questions.

And, the more expensive product/service you’re selling, the more questions your prospective clients will have. And the longer on the phone you’ll be with them (hence longer copy). That’s why you see more copy for more expensive programs.

So when you look at it that way, sales letters are actually much shorter than you’d expect. You need to answer as many questions and overcome as many objections as possible for as many different prospects as possible. And using a sales letter you can probably do it more efficiently than being on the phone with them.”

If you want to learn more about this along with other tips on how to write online copy that sells your brilliance so you make more money with less effort, then you need to join me on January 6. I’m going to be hosting a special Q&A call with my business partner, Michele PW, your $Ka-Ching$ Marketing Strategist, answering all your questions.  (Just in time to start making money in 2010!) Here’s the link to learn more and reserve your space: http://bigmoneyonlinesecrets.com

“How do you write sales letters so they don’t sound so hype-y?”

This answer is from my Juicy business partner Michele PW and I liked it so much I wanted to share it with you.

“As a direct response copywriter this is a question I get asked a lot.And I completely get it. After all, so many sales letters and emails sound so inauthentic and hype-y, (not to mention just plain badly written) why WOULD you want to sound like them?

So how do you write a sales letter that doesn’t sound hype-y and yet still makes you money? The answer is actually very simple – you need to make a connection with your ideal clients.

You see, the more you connect with what’s keeping your ideal clients’ up at night, the more you provide a solution to that, the more you speak to your ideal clients in their language and talk to them about issues that concern them, the more persuasive your sales letters and emails will be. Best yet, they also won’t sound hype-y because you’ll be connecting to them on a deeper level then just screaming things like “make more money” or “lose 100 pounds in a month.”

If you want to learn more about this along with other tips on how to write online copy that sells your brilliance so you make more money with less effort, then you need to join me on January 6. I’m going to be hosting a special Q&A call with my business partner Michele PW, YOUR $Ka-Ching$ Marketing Strategist, answering all your questions.  (Just in time to start making money in 2010!) Here’s the link to learn more and reserve your space: http://bigmoneyonlinesecrets.com

Intuition and Business: There’s No Exception

Everyday I ask myself what my intuition is guiding me to do or say.  Everyday I ask my clients what their intuition is guiding them to do or say.  Intuition is a powerful tool that we all have and all utilize to some extent.  We call it our gut, a hunch, a feeling, inner guidance, etc.  Some of us even use our intuition to help others as a professional service.  However, when it comes to our business we often dismiss our feelings and concede to a “professional”.  We often wonder if our intuition knows what it is doing in this area.  As if business is an exception. We say, I don’t have a business degree, I’m not a marketing consultant, maybe I should just push past the feeling of “this isn’t right” and listen to what the professionals say.

Something is Just Not Right

I’m here to tell you that you have all the answers you need inside about your business and when you take time to listen it will serve your highest good.  Every time you ignore your inner voice, a small part of you withers away.  It creates a disconnect, a misalignment and over time your business (and life) begins to feel out of sorts.  You’ll feel like something is “just not right.”  That “something” is all those times you dismissed your intuition and yielded to an external influence instead.  It’s time to trust yourself.

Here are six signs that you may need to stop what you are doing and take time to listen to your intuition:

1. You are going around and around in your mind about something and feel confused or stuck.
2. You say, “I just need to figure this out!”  (Whenever I hear myself say this I know I need to switch from my head to my heart.)
3. Money is the prominent decision making factor.
4. When you feel the slightest feeling of obligation, guilt or “should.”
5. You keep asking others for advise and it makes you more confused.
6. You are relying on the advice of experts at the exclusion of looking inside yourself.

That Crossed My Mind

One day I had a thought about calling a certain client.  I met this gal at a networking group where I was the speaker.  She expressed interest in working with me one-on-one as a coach saying she really needed to get some clarity around her business.  I told her to give me a call, but I never heard from her.  Well, one morning out of the blue I had the thought, “I should call that gal I met.”  It had been over 3 months, but her name just popped into my head.  Now, when I’m in a questioning place, I might think that too much time has gone by and if she really wanted to work with me she would have called.  But, since I’m working on trusting my intuition more, I decided to call.   She was delighted to hear from me, said she had just been thinking about me and wanted to set up a meeting right away.  So, when a thought crosses your mind, pay attention!

Here are five signs that your business intuition is trying to communicate with you:

1. You say, “That thought kept crossing my mind.”
2. You think, “There’s just something about this that doesn’t feel right.”
3. You are procrastinating or avoiding doing something.
4. You are not looking forward to something.  Whenever you think about it you get a yucky feeling.
5. You feel compelled to do something and are not sure why.

From the Inside Out

People often ask for my advice, “Do you think this is good timing to do this event?” or “Is there a market for this product or service?” and my favorite, “What do you think I should do?”  My favorite answer is, “What does your intuition say?”  There are lots of external factors we can consider when running a business, like what the “market” wants, but I believe we should always start with what WE want and go from there.  That is why our Conscious Marketing tagline is From the Inside Out. Start with you, get real clear on what feels good to you, and then consider other things.

Here are some everyday business decisions that may go smoother when you listening to your gut or intuition:

-         Setting pricing or project fees

-         Deciding which clients to work with

-         Hiring a vendor (accountant, lawyer, consultant, coach, etc)

-         When to schedule meetings, deadlines and time off

-         Determining what services to provide

When you are having trouble making a decision about something, stop and take time to listen to your intuition.  Take a walk, visit nature, take a deep breathe, meditate or journal for five minutes or just listen to music.  Create the space for your intuition and it will rise to the occasion.  Trust your intuition in all areas of your life; remember business is no exception.

Your Future Self May Have Other Plans

Have you ever been frustrated when things don’t go as planned? You plan, prepare, set goals and then you get something else? The popular business model is to plan ahead for years. We do five-year plans or we do business plans. We plan and plan and plan. We put so much effort into our plans that we feel like we have to stick with the plan. And, if we don’t plan, we feel like we should. Now, I’m not saying that we shouldn’t plan. All I’m saying is that we need to know it’s only a plan and that your Future Self has one of its own. Be open to seeing what you feel like doing when you get there.

Take this scenario for instance. We wake up one morning and don’t feel like starting the day. We need a break or a change in plans. However, our day-to-day plan is that we get up, shower, eat and go to work. Maybe we exercise. But there is a plan in our day. A plan set up by generations of “workers.”

It’s like the calendar. Why do we take Saturday and Sunday off? What if we want to go to the beach on Friday and work on Saturday? When we have our own businesses we get to create our own plans-the day-to-day plan and the long-term plan. We also get to go with what feels right (or avoid what feels wrong) whenever we want. Yes, I really mean, whenever we want. Call the client and reschedule that meeting; they can wait one more day-really!

Watch For Signals

Procrastination ruled my life when I was a student. Years later, when I started my own business, I would be afraid that things wouldn’t get done. I’d stress all weekend about something I had to do on Monday. “Because, you know, I used to procrastinate in college,” I’d say sarcastically to myself or someone else.

I know now that it was because I didn’t like the schoolwork. My procrastination was a signal that I was not doing what I loved. Now I am supposedly doing what I love, so why do I still procrastinate?

I’ve come to realize that the only time I put something off is if I don’t like (or have some other discomfort) with the task. I have an early warning system within me that tells me when I need to delegate a task (such as balancing my bank account), when I need to say “no,” or when I need to eliminate a service I’m offering. I have a plan, but I keep my ears (and heart) open to signs that something may need to change.

Dread is a Useful Tool

Have you ever felt dread when you are talking to a client and offering them a service you provide? A feeling of dread means you really don’t want to do that service or there is something about it that feels overwhelming. Dread is what led me to bring in a partner to deliver the marketing services portion of our business, Conscious Marketing. I liked having the website, brochure and public relations services, but didn’t like managing them. When I was finally willing to let this part of the business go, my overall revenue doubled! I had much more energy for the stuff I loved, and the opening of my spirit allowed me to receive more flow. This feeling of dread is an extremely useful tool. I know now that it’s not just because “I’m a procrastinator,” irresponsible, or sloughing off. A feeling of dread means I need to change my plan.

Focus on What You Love

How do you label yourself or judge actions that could really be considered signals instead? Do you say, “I’m not good at sales,” or do you think, “I don’t really like sales, so I should hire someone to do that for me.” Honor your talent and passion. Know that someone else can do the other things. This includes focusing on products and services you love, instead of doing what you have always done-or what you think you “should” do.

Sometimes I meet an entrepreneur who has a list of services (or products they sell) that is a mile long. They may even have multiple businesses. I always ask, “Do you like all of these equally?” They reply, “No, but I’ve been doing X for years,” or they will talk about all the training and education they did to learn X. Creating a business life you love is an evolution. Hey, they say that the only thing that is constant in life is change. So, go for it!

YOUR ASSIGNMENT: Look at your list of products or services. If you had to eliminate half of them, which ones would go? Now, visualize your business with this new focus. Does it feel more fun? Do you feel lighter? Are you more energized? The energy you save is returned to you tenfold. You will be more motivated to build that business, rather than continue to struggle with the one you have now, and the Universe will have clearer direction when it comes to supporting you. You can do the same with projects or even your clients. Imagine eliminating projects, services, or clients that you dread and see how you feel.

The bottom line is to plan and be open to making changes. Trust yourself. Recognize when you begin to lose excitement for your plan. When the thought of moving in another direction seems more fun…do it! When you are putting something off or feeling reluctant about a task, recognize that it may not be your passion. It doesn’t mean that you’re not good at it and should try harder. It means, stop doing it or find someone else who has a passion for it.

Finally, look at your business and ask yourself if you are equally passionate about all the products and services you provide. Imagine the ideal scenario for you and begin to move toward it. After all, it just means that your Future Self has made other plans!

Lisa Cherney is a Business Intuitive, Marketing Consultant and President & Founder of Conscious Marketing™. If you want a business full of passion and profit visit www.ConsciousMarketing.com or call 888-771-0156.

Celebrate Yourself, Sell Yourself!

When was the last time you celebrated yourself? When was the last time you toasted to all that you’ve accomplished? Do you say, “Thank you,” or “That a girl, you did it!” to yourself on a regular basis? This is not a small thing to be taken lightly. All the books say to celebrate your accomplishments, but they don’t say that this it essential to feeling joy and success. When we don’t celebrate our success we are letting it die. When it dies it takes a small piece of us with it. Yes, I mean when we don’t say, “You go girl!” or “Great job!” it’s like we are ignoring our progress, our work and our efforts.; When we ignore them, it’s like they didn’t happen. It’s like our efforts have gone unnoticed.

Give Yourself Credit

Often, instead of giving ourselves credit, we look for validation outside. We want it from our clients, parents, teachers, spouses and even our children. We feel like they don’t appreciate us. I say it’s time we learn to acknowledge ourselves. Whenever you are looking for outside validation, take it as an opportunity to give it to yourself instead. Whatever you wish “they” were saying, say it to yourself! Just think, you can tell yourself… good job, you are brilliant, I would hire you in an instant and pay you lots of money! Wouldn’t it be powerful to give ourselves the validation we seek outside? Hey, we talk to ourselves all the time, but often they are not loving, validating thoughts. It’s a skill we already have, and it’s time we use it for good and not evil!

All the time we have spent seeking validation, praise, acknowledgment or love from outside, it has been within us waiting to be tapped. It is inside you in abundance just longing to be accessed. What would it feel like to tap into that power? And if you are a caregiver (i.e. parent, coach, healer, teacher) you are accustomed to doing this for other people, so you have an even deeper well to access because you already have the words. Those words are often for other people, but it is time to use them for yourself. Pretend you are coaching yourself. Pretend you are your own client, pretend you are your child. Ask, “What would I say to them?” Then just say it to yourself!!! Just imagine what it would be like if you never were longing for someone else to say, “I’m so proud of you!” or someone else to say, “Good Job!” or someone else to say, “I love you.” How powerful that would be!

Filling Yourself Up

Now when you are looking for this from others, know this is a sign you are feeling empty and it’s time to fill yourself up. Take it as a sign to do self-care, to take time to celebrate, to take time to ask yourself why you are so great. In fact, this is your assignment:

ASSIGNMENT: Open a new document on your computer, take out a fresh piece of paper or your journal and ask yourself these questions:

• Why do people like spending time with me?
• How do I help people (friends, family, clients or co-workers)?
• What do people say when they recommend me to a friend?
• What are my talents and passions?

Let the answers flow in. Accept it as the truth. Then, use it for your marketing or in job interviews!!  Read it when you feel down, and practice saying these things until they feel like second nature. You see, that is how it flows into how you communicate for your business or work of purpose. If you are not praising yourself on a regular basis how are you going to sell yourself to a client and how are you going to talk about your accomplishments? It is all for the greater good of sharing your purpose with the world.  Whatever that purpose may be. So please go out there and celebrate what is great about yourself and celebrate what your fans know to be true: you are unique and that is why we want to be with you AND do business with you. So, start with praising yourself and we will praise you too. However, it won’t be what you need it will just be the icing on the cake!!

Lisa Cherney is a Business Intuitive, Marketing Consultant and President & Founder of Conscious Marketing™. If you want a business full of passion and profit visit www.ConsciousMarketing.com or call 888-771-0156.

Embracing the Business Adventure

I’ve done a few of those quizzes to determine my core values. I always seem to choose the value of “adventure.” To me adventure means that I get to try new things, take risks and feel the thrill of accomplishment. On a recent vacation I had the opportunity to do something I have always wanted to do. Granted, I have had many opportunities in the past, but something always stood in my way. This time I decided I had waited long enough, and I booked a top-of-the-line excursion to swim with dolphins. Needless to say, it was amazing! One of the most gratifying things was simply knowing that I didn’t let money, or the fact that I had to go “alone,” keep me from the adventure. Furthermore, my risk-taking confidence got a big boost. (You can see photos on my Facebook Profile.)

This boost got me thinking about how being a business owner is one big grand adventure, and if we don’t value that aspect of the journey, then we may not be as successful as we’d like to be. Our adventure muscles need consistent exercise to keep us at the top of our business game. Unlike the life of my pre-school daughter, Bella, who has a daily adventure, as adults we have to create opportunities to try new things. One day Bella learns to pump her legs on the swing so she can “fly” all by herself, and the next she discovers the adventure of making pancakes.  To watch her is to learn how to embrace everything as an opportunity to be independent and learn new stuff. However, I have found that many of my students are paralyzed by a lack of confidence in their talents and even more frustrated by the challenge of marketing these to potential clients. Some even contemplate throwing in the towel on their dreams and getting a job while others dwell on their past “failures.”

Bella tells everyone who will listen that she now knows how to swing on the big kid’s swing all by herself. On the rare occasion that I fear she is bothering someone, they always respond with resounding support. Why don’t we do the same with our own expertise? Part of the adventure of business is often simply promoting our talents and sharing about the results we create. What if we saw this as part of the adventure – instead of “shameful” marketing or “pushy” selling? What would our business look like?  How would our results improve?

I am always pushing myself to the next level in my business – sometimes more than others – but there is always an opportunity for adventure when you’re your own boss. And if you want to be the best boss you ever had, you must move forward in faith on a daily basis and embrace the business adventure. This could mean everything from choosing to raise your fees, to saying “no” to a client you know will be a pain-in-the-butt (even when you “need” the money).

Here are a few risks I’ve taken over the years that, in retrospect, were critical to the ongoing success of my business:

1. Hiring an assistant when I “could not afford it” in order to be set up for expansion
2. Investing thousands of dollars to create audio products without a specific idea of how I was going to sell them.
3. Picking a date and putting a deposit down on a space to hold a workshop without anyone already signed up or the content completed.
4. Saying “yes” when a potential client asked if I could do something, even though I had never done it before on my own.
5. Investing in countless coaches and seminars with money I didn’t have.

RESULTS: A successful business, celebrating its 10th year, a lifestyle that allows me to be home with my daughter 2 days a week, a 5-figure per month income and the satisfaction of knowing I have helped thousands of business owners touch exponentially more lives while making big money.

What business adventure are you willing to embrace in the next 30 days? Make a decision and tell someone! Create a “success group” with some colleagues, join a mastermind or find a mentor to ensure you keep taking new risks. There is no force more powerful for creating breakthrough action than the support of people on the same path. Creating a structure of accountability for yourself just may be your biggest business adventure of all!

Is Your Marketing Juicy?

“How do you help people?” is a fundamental question that you as a business owner should be able to answer. Why? Because how you help people tells the world the benefits of the work you do. This is a critical item to include in all your marketing communications. People want to know how their lives will be impacted by your product or service, not a list of your credentials, certifications, modalities or services.

By the end of this article you will be able to answer this question and list the concrete benefits that you can share with the world. You will also learn how to take these benefits to a new level, that I call “Juicy.” This is where you discover the unique benefits you provide (and the words to describe them).

Features vs. Benefits

As a marketing consultant, I’m often asked to evaluate brochures and other marketing materials. I do this by looking at several elements, including design (or the “look”), layout (what information or graphics are placed in what location), strategy (is it accomplishing your goals), and finally, by asking does it reflect your unique approach and passion for what you do?

This last element is the foundation of Conscious Marketing and a key item necessary to attract your Ideal Client (click here to read more about Ideal Client).

So, how do you make sure your passion gets channeled into your marketing? It happens through your benefits! This is NOT a listing of all your services or what products you offer. These are called features. For example, if you are talking about a massage table, you would say that a feature of the table is that it only weighs 30 lbs. Now, what is the benefit of this feature? Or, in other words, “How does that help people?” One answer is that it prevents back strain for the therapist.

Benefits get to the heart of how the product or service helps people. Yes, you want to list all the types of services you offer, AND you also want to be sure to cover why anyone would want buy it! People always want to know how their life is going to change, or the old adage, “What’s in it for me?!”

Creating Your Benefits

A simple way to ensure you are focusing on your benefits is to make certain you are answering one of the following questions in your marketing materials (this includes websites and 30 second introductions at networking meetings):
How does my product or service help people?
How do I change people’s lives?
What is the outcome or the result of my work?
How are people different as a result of my product or service?
Pick one or two of the questions that resonate with you and take time to answer them for your business. If you have more then one product or service, you’ll want to consider each one separately. For example, the benefits of my Juicy Marketing Audit is that business owners will discover if their website is portraying the message they intend and if it will accomplish their goal. However, the benefits of my coaching may be entirely different.

Getting to the Juice

Now that you have answered the above questions and have a list of benefits, you want to make sure they stand out and really reflect your passion. If you have trouble finding just the right words to describe your benefits, please know you are not alone! Try asking the following question to get out of your head and into your heart, so you can find the words you need:What do I mean by this? This will begin to get you beyond the common, overused benefits everyone else uses like:

“I’ll increase your income.”
“I’ll reduce your stress.”
“You’ll be more efficient.”
“It will save you time/money.”

Take time to carefully craft the language in your marketing materials. They should represent the essence of who you are and what you bring to people’s lives. Sometimes it can be hard because we are too close to it. For some step-by-step guidance, worksheets and to hear me coaching other people on their “Juicy Benefits” check out our Creating a Marketing Message with Juice program at www.standoutbejuicy.com.

There are people in the world who need you, so take time now to create marketing materials with “juice” that make you stand out and enable you to fulfill your mission to touch lives AND making money!

Solving the Marketing Strategy Mystery

People ask me all the time, “Now that I have this brochure, what do I do with it, who do I give it to?”  The “doing” is what us marketers call Marketing Strategies.  There is so much advice out there about which ads you MUST run, which direct mailer you SHOULD use and what networking events to attend, it can make your head spin!  It makes my head spin and I run a marketing company!  So, how do we decide where to spend our marketing money and time?  Here’s a simple process:

1. Determine where your Ideal Clients hang out
2. Decide how you want to be there
3. Take action
4. Pay attention to the results
5. Repeat Step 2-5

Now, just so your head doesn’t spin with, “This isn’t what  [fill in the blank with your latest marketing guru] said I should do?!”  Please know that step zero is following your own intuition.  Yes, even though you don’t have lots of marketing experience, your intuition still knows what’s right for you.  We have lots of tools and philosophies at Conscious Marketing, but the one that always comes before anything we say is, “Follow Your Inner Guidance First.”

Step 1. Determine Where Your Ideal Clients Hang Out

If this term “Ideal Clients” is a new one for you, you may want to read one of my other articles that talked all about how your “target” only scratches the surface when defining who you want to attract.  A target can be “anyone who has a health problem” while a characteristic of your Ideal Client is “people who are excited about trying alternative healing modalities.”  You can see how the later FEELS much better then the former.  It accounts for our heart.  It gives us an opportunity to change all the awareness we have about what we don’t want (i.e. clients that are fearful of alternative medicine) and turn them into traits of our Ideal Clients.

Based upon your Ideal Client description, start to brainstorm places they can be found.  Formulate a life size Ideal Client hologram in your head and see where they go and what they like to do.  Here are some questions to consider in your brainstorm:

1. Where does my Ideal Client shop, eat and go for entertainment?
2. What does my Ideal Client like to read? (Free or subscription magazines, books, newsletters, websites, etc.)
3. Where do they go for continuing education or professional development?
4. Where do they seek personal or spiritual fulfillment?

You will quickly build a list of places where you can connect with your Ideal Client.  Don’t edit yourself if you think you can’t afford to advertise there.  If you think they read O Magazine, you can find similar characteristics in another publication that’s local or maybe a women’s organization that has the same spirit.

Step 2. Decide How You Want to Be There

Now, this is where the various forms of advertising come in. If you identify that your Ideal Clients eat at Vegetarian Restaurants or take classes at The Learning Annex, decide how you want to be there.  The most common choices are print ads, directory listings, direct mail (i.e. coupon mailers, flyers, letters, postcards, etc.), in-person networking, radio or TV ads (a.m. stations or cable are affordable) and electronic newsletters (like this one).  Does your favorite veggie spot have a newsletter where you can advertise?  Does the organization have a mailing list you can purchase?

How much a marketing strategy costs doesn’t have to be the only deciding factor.  There are many things that are low or no cost like free calendar/event listings or being covered by the media (which is referred to as public relations).  Then there are the low or no cost opportunities that usually require a commitment of time, which for me, is sometimes more scarce then money.  These include writing and submitting articles (in a physical magazine and in online publications), being a speaker at an organization or conducting classes.  This also includes hosting your own teleclasses (a.k.a. phone seminar or massive conference call).  We offer a free monthly “Ask An Expert” teleclass that costs us nothing to host and attracts lots of people.  We use www.freeconference.com if you want to check it out.

You can also simply hang out in the place where your Ideal Clients are and introduce yourself (no, this is not being a stalker, just being friendly).  Maybe the owner will let you do a free screening or some other event that gives clients a sample of your product or service.

Step 3  Take Action & Step 4 Pay Attention to Results

There are lots of strategies to choose from and lots of theories on what is the most effective, but the important factor is to choose something and get started.  The only thing that keeps you stuck is making the same choice [to do nothing] over and over and over.  However, whatever you choose, be sure to track your results!  You can minimize a waste of time and money by simply paying attention to what works.  This means always asking people “How did you hear about us?” Do this when a client calls, sends an email, and purchases a product.  Add a field to your order form, train your receptionist and make yourself a HUGE reminder sign above your computer.  When you track results, you can release worry about trying something and failing.  Try something, wait a few months, and stop if your results show it’s not working.

As a professional marketer, and more importantly, a big fan of asking for help, I’d be remiss if I didn’t suggest that sometimes you need to consult an expert.  If you are trying lots of things, the results are dismal and it feels like something is missing, find someone that can guide you.  Nothing can stand in your way when you are willing to explore your options and test different things.

After all, solving the marketing mystery may be as simple as deciding to start your journey, choosing a path, adjusting the course when it doesn’t feel right and being willing to connect with strangers.  Those strangers just may need your service and will be grateful you crossed their path.

It’s Starts With Show ‘n Tell

When I talk about the origins of my passion for speaking, I usually make a joke that it started at birth.  However, today I had a realization… it started in pre-school with Show ‘n Tell (or what my daughter Bella’s school calls Share Day).  Today she chose two princess figures (Sleeping Beauty and Belle for those that are wondering).   I immediately began to discuss with her what she was going to say about them when she shared them in the circle.  See, I knew they were on the top of her castle cake from  her 3rd birthday party.  I thought that was a key piece of info to share.  She agreed, and then added that we all sang Happy Birthday to her too (and of course she had to sing it so I would understand).

The items I chose for Share Day when I was a pre-schooler had to have a good back story because I was all about the presentation… and I still am. Now I get to have Share Day about 4 times a month when I speak to various groups or guest on teleclasses. When I know I’m going to be speaking, usually the night before, I begin to pluck things out of my life that I want to share with the group.  Yes, I talk about Standing Out and Being Juicy in your Marketing, but I also want to tell you that Bella is on her 4th day of potty training and I that I’m looking forward to seeing Star Trek.  My back story is what connects me to you.  I want you to know me and that connects our lives and our missions.

I imagine Bella’s friends will enjoy meeting her princesses and singing Happy Birthday with her as she walks around the circle holding her figurines.  This connects  her to her class.  This blog connect me to you.

Earthquake Awakening

I’m sitting in a Starbucks, feeling fairly anonymous, when an earthquake hits.  At first it feels like a big truck going by, but then it’s quickly obvious it’s an earthquake.  I look up to the ceiling to asses my current position while others contemplate whether they should go outside or not.  What was once cool decor, raw wood panels suspended from the ceiling, is now swinging above my head.  I imagine if one fell it wouldn’t feel so “cool.” 

Once we all realize it’s not a truck going by, everyone’s head pops up from whatever they are doing (texting, talking to friends, reading the newspaper) and we look around.  In an instant we are connected.  We are looking at each other, completely present, and connected…eye to eye, racing heart to racing heart. The woman sitting outside, just behind a wall of glass, makes eye contact with me.  We smile with a shared sense of awe and fear.  She mouths the word Earthquake.  Even the barista stopped what he was doing and came into the room to share our group awakening.  It lasted about 30 seconds, and then as if nothing happened, everyone went back to what they were doing. 

I sat on a couch, with a view of the entire room, absorbing what just happened.  It was AMAZING to see.  We go about our day, minding our own business, and then BOOM, we are connected by an act of nature. What else would bring a group of strangers together more instantaneously then that?  This must be what happens when people experience a real catastrophe or life threatening situation but this was more like a brief Time Out.  It froze the whole world (or at least Orange County) for less then a minute.  We stopped worrying, planning and doing and just looked at our neighbors.  We were a community, a family, having a shared experience.  An experience scary enough to make even the toughest among us stop.   If we could just have more of these moments, we may truly learn to love our “neighbors” and live in a way that acknowledges how truly connect we are!