Low Business

You know, I never thought of a business owner as having "low self-esteem" ABOUT their business. Here's what I mean by that: I have seen far too many business owners think very small of themselves and their businesses. It's become more pervasive with the challenging economy, true, but that doesn't mean that you cannot feel strong and powerful about your business, in spite of the current conditions. You may think I'm blowing smoke here, but I'll give you some really practical things you can do to help raise your business self esteem and one "woo woo" to go along with it. => Identifying "low business self-esteem" Let's begin with what "low business self esteem" look like? It can take the form of avoidance in terms of networking - online and offline. For example, some think why go out there when no one is interested in what I have to offer and won't pay for it even if they were. It may be reading the online or offline news to see (and pray) that the economy, the newest politician or Wall Street will MAKE something new happen that will help them. You see, it's putting the focus totally outside of yourself and your control. Low business self-esteem is being stalled out and unwilling to do anything in your business that will cause more prospects and clients to find you and connect with you. Crazy right? This is why you're in business. But it's a fact that when you don't feel good about your business (low self esteem) you basically sabotage yourself and your business. This further spirals you down into lower energies around your business. And then there is looking for and taking advantage of "free" all the time. There is nothing wrong with taking advantage of "free", just know that what you put out, you attract. So if you are unwilling to invest, even a small dollar amount in yourself, then you will attract clients who want "free" from you. Conversely, you can get all the "free" you want, just use it! So many of us have PDFs, MP3's and Videos on our laptops, desktops, jump drives, etc. and we haven't looked at or done anything with it! Get the "free" but use it because if you're putting good stuff out there to attract clients, they will do just what you do with the "free" stuff. I think you "get" what "low business self-esteem" is and what it looks like, feels like and how it can and will affect your business. Let's shift gears and talk about why it's important to increase your business self esteem and what that looks like. Then I'll share some practical steps to do so. => How to increase your business self-esteem Creating a high business self esteem will help you to think big and play bigger with your clients and grow your business as a result. It means feeling good about you and yourself in your business. What a joy it is to have something of your own that you can grow to the largest proportions of your own imagination! You can serve who you want to, to the level that makes you and them happy and satisfied. Think about the times you've engaged a business and said to yourself, "If this were my business, I would NEVER…" Well, you get to do that! How awesome is that? Remembering this, the power and yes the responsibility you have, is a great place to be - any day and in any economy! And this is the feeling your prospects and clients want to have about you and your business. And who are you to deny them of that! immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno immeno With all of that in mind, here are your practical steps: Get out your testimonials and read them. And if you don't have any, request testimonials from those you've worked with or who have purchased something from you. It's important for you to see the impact you've had on your clients and their results. When you're having one of "those days" get your testimonials out and read them. It does wonders for the "soul of your business" and you! Next, do something different than you have in the past. If you've always gone out networking to get clients, use the same dedication in your online persona through the social media networks. Play in Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter. Better yet, discover a new social network that you can "play in" and establish yourself. Breaking away from the crowd can give you a breath of fresh air and a new sandbox in which to establish your business. Finally, share your expectations for business improvement with your clients and colleagues. You will get the benefit of others who share your same desires and this will shift your point of attraction. Ok, this is a little on the "woo woo" side too, but think about it. Are you attracted to people who complain and stay stuck in fear? Is that someone YOU would want to work with? Or would you want to work with someone who is hopeful for a better year and is willing to continue to create better ways of getting things done? You can do this either on a blog of your own or someone else's! Write articles and submit them to the article websites and watch the response you get. Oh yeah and here is that "woo woo" that I promised! Louise Hay, well known in the self-development world and author of "You Can Heal Your Life" suggests the use of affirmations to help you improve your self-esteem and self-love, self-care. I would strongly recommend the same. You can create an affirmation that reminds you how much you love your business, love your clients and love what you do. What happens when you do that? You reconnect with why you created your business, how you intended to enjoy helping and serving others and that translates to how you attract, serve and support more clients. This in turns helps them to easily invest more with you, which grows your business. See how it's all connected? Here are a couple of suggested affirmations to get your started: - I love and enjoy the pleasure being in business gives me. - My business and clients constantly increase. Remember, it's how we perceive things that make them so. You can create the highest "business self esteem," whether you're bringing in clients and income or not. It will be your level of business self esteem that will create the level of attraction for more of what you want in your business. Chris Makell, marketing mentor/coach, is particularly skilled at guiding her service professional clients to "Think Big...Play Bigger" and successfully create 6 & 7 figure businesses.