"But that's so OBVIOUS! Why didn't I see it??" is one of the most common reactions I get when working with new coaching clients. Whether it's related to their ideal client, their compelling marketing message or just areas of their business where they are leaving money on the table, they just can't see it until it's pointed out to them. It's really easy to get so bogged down in the day to day running of your business that you forget to look up once in a while - but it's the looking up and stepping back that can make a world of difference.
Here are three questions you can ask yourself to see if it's time for you to take a step back and look at your business with fresh eyes!
1. Are you busy for the sake of it? Busy does not always equal productive and DEFINITELY does not always equal profitable. Work out where you are spending your time and make sure that you're not just being busy for no reason. You would surprised how often I have this discussion with new coachees, who haven't looked at their working practises or procedures since they set up in business and just do things they way they have always done them. The trouble with this is that you can't build a big business on small business practises, often it's not a scalable model. Remember too, that if you always do what you've always done then you'll always get what you've always got. If you are serious about building your business then you need to look at how and where you are spending your time and make sure that it's on productive activities.
2. Have you taken a look at your pricing lately? Are you charging what you are actually worth? Or are you charging what you used to charge several years ago? And how DID you set your prices then, by the way? Were they based on what the competition charged? On what you felt your customers might pay to work with 'little old me'? Even if you do keep putting up your prices, are they just creeping up by a tiny percentage once a year? Well listen to this - if you find your ideal customer and really niche your business, you are able to charge more as an expert in your field. And because you know your ideal customer inside out, it's easy for you to demonstrate the benefits and value you bring to them.
3. Is your work easy for you? Or have you ventured further and further out of your comfort and knowledge zones as time has gone on, because you're saying yes to anyone who wants to do business with you? It's a common issue, especially when money is tight, but what happens when you start down this path is that your time is filled with work you don't enjoy doing, for customers you can't please. You're no longer doing work that's a great fit, for clients who are a great fit. I see this all the time with women business owners and I've been there myself too. Take a step back today and work out what is 'bad' business and what is 'good' business for you - then just take on 'good' business! Easy!
So this week, make a point of stepping back from the day-to-day 'stuff' in your business and see where you can make changes for the better!
Claire Mitchell is the founder of The Girls Mean Business - an online global network for women business owners. The Girls Mean Business provides coaching, mentoring and educational workshops on all aspects of marketing including marketing plans, finding your niche or ideal customer, your business strategy and vision, money mindset, pain free selling, finding time to grow your business, using Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Blogging for Business. Our Running a Business in Heels 6 month Coaching Programme helps you to double your business in 6 months! If you're a woman business owner and you're serious about growing your business, check out
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