April 04, 2009
I’ve had a rough year. A $30,000 sale fell through, as did a $3,000 per month consulting job. Ouch. I’m not one of those gurus who make hundreds of thousands of dollars a year online - I NOTICED those losses!
(Personally, it’s been rough, too. My uncle died last March. My dad died last September. My aunt is dying now. I’ve simply had other things on my mind than business, and some emotional ups-and-downs, too.)
So I can relate to people who are feeling worried or anxious about their jobs and about the economy. Leaving aside any talk about whose fault it is or how to fix this mess, all of us need to figure out how to deal with it. Even if we personally aren’t feeling much pain, our friends, customers and prospects probably are - it’s not something ANY of us can ignore.
For what it’s worth, here is what’s helping ME. Some of it’s personal, some of it’s business-related, and it may not help you at all. But maybe it will…
Strategy #1 (Business): I’m re-connecting with past customers and prospects and trying much more deliberately and methodically to stay in touch.
We do business with friends. We do business with people who value us. And yes, we do business with people who remember us!
So I’m trying to talk to people more often, call people more often, send cards more often.
And yes, I’m asking for referrals more often, too; I even added a statement about referrals on the back of my business cards. Many people WILL help you if you simply ask. Send Out Cards has been of enormous value as a tool for this strategy.
Strategy #2 (Business): I’m re-assessing my capabilities and experience and using them in new ways to earn money.
I’ve been online since 1999. I’ve built my own websites, written my own copy, learned SEO and HTML and PPC and invested thousands of dollars in ebooks, courses, software, and training.
Do I know more about Internet Marketing than a lot of my friends? You bet. Is what I know of value to these people? Will they pay me for what I know?
YES! Absolutely! And that’s my newest income source. Right now I’m using my experience to help local business owners with THEIR website and Internet marketing needs, and it’s going really well. I’d never dreamed of doing something like this until a couple of months ago. This is the offline business resource website that’s been of enormous help.
Whether or not this particular idea suits you, the overall strategy might - is there something you know or do that people might pay you for? Is there an additional product or service you can offer or a sideline business that’s easy to start? Now is a good time to find out.
Strategy #3 (Personal): I’m helping others more often.
Please don’t take this as a personal “aren’t I wonderful” post - but there’s an old poem with a line that suggests “do something for somebody, quick!” when you’re weary or hurting. And that line keeps going through my head.
So I’m volunteering more regularly - pricing items at the church garage sale to benefit Habitat for Humanity, building a blog for the local animal shelter, passing out food to people who need it.
And I’m sending a lot more greeting cards to people, too. To say thanks to the church secretary who puts in LOTS more hours than her salary warrants. To tell my mom I’m proud of her for helping take care of my dying aunt, even though my dad’s death is fresh in her mind. To say happy birthday to a friend. To just send a silly photo to another.
Most mornings, before I do anything else, I log into my Send Out Cards account and just pick two people to send cards to. Not for business reasons, just because they come to mind.
Knowing that I’m going to put a smile on someone’s face when they get that greeting card in the mail makes ME feel WONDERFUL - and it’s cheaper than therapy!
So there you have it. These are three things that help ME cope (and actually thrive) these days.
I hope you’re doing okay, I hope you’re coping well, and I’d be happy to hear from you.
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