In This Issue...

- FEATURE ARTICLE: What Do You Want to be Known For?

- COACHING
- TELECLASSES
- RESOURCE LOUNGE
- VIRTUAL CONNECTIONS

As I tie things up from this year and get ready to launch my new Membership Program in January, I’m finding that I’m busier than I’ve ever been this time of year. I was planning on taking the last two weeks of this month off for rest and relaxation since I’ve been moving at such a fast pace all year. But I’m discovering there’s a lot to do to get ready for January.

A couple of days ago I caught myself feeling frustrated that I was so busy and even wishing (just for a brief moment) that I worked for someone else and wasn’t the only one responsible for my business. Then, I could take a vacation and leave my work for someone else to do!

After about 24 hours of feeling sorry for myself and not being able to see past how tired I was right then, I asked myself why we Solopreneurs all feel this way some days and feel unstoppable on other days? There are as many answers to that question as there are Solopreneurs, but for me, I discovered that I often feel this way when I’ve lost sight of why I chose to be self-employed in the first place. Yesterday, as I was thinking of writing this newsletter, I reconnected with why I do what I do and the impact on others’ lives I hope to make – if even just a small one. I remembered that there’s something much larger than my daily activities that I’m creating here. And when I tap back into it, I get tremendous energy and am able to move forward effortlessly.

Asking ourselves what we want to be known for taps into our core values and the contribution we want to make. It takes us to that “bigger picture” vantage point that makes everything we do and each decision we need to make for our business much easier.

So, am I giving up my vacation time to get work done? Actually, after regaining this perspective on my business, I now feel like there’s plenty of time for everything I want to do - including taking time off.

Wishing you a very happy (and relaxing) holiday season!

Dawn

Not Another Goal-Setting Article

As I thought about what to cover in this last issue of the year, I knew I wasn’t going to write the same article as in years past about reflecting on the year and setting goals for the next year. (See Making Success Simple: Effortless Business Planning for the New Year http://solopreneurzone.com/SoloFlyer.htm if you do want to read a goal-setting article).

Two issues ago, I asked you what your business philosophy was. Today, I want to build on that by asking you what you want to be known for. Your answers to this question alone could replace an entire year’s worth of goal setting if you truly tap into what is most important to you.

It’s Not Just What You Do

Many of us offer services that are very similar to what others offer. Yet, you probably know a few Solopreneurs who stand out amongst other providers of the same services. Often, it’s because they are known for something very specific or unique. They do the same work that others do and yet they attract more clients.

Your “Product” Isn’t Your Service

Your product isn’t your service itself. Because clients can buy from many other providers of a service, they typically aren’t making a decision to work with you because of the specific services you offer. Instead, they are buying the relationship with you. If you share more about yourself with potential clients, you give them more to go on in deciding to work with you.

Marketing is Easier When You Have a Simple Message to Share

If you’ve ever struggled with marketing, you know it can be challenging to figure out what specific message you want to share and who to share it with. Many of us run around trying different marketing strategies we’ve heard have been successful for others and wind up feeling like we’ve wasted our time.

When you are clear on who you are and why you chose to do the work you do, you are able to take a stand for what you want for your clients. Once you know what you want for your clients, your marketing becomes effortless. You are able to speak directly from this clear place and choose exactly the right words to say and who to say them to.

What Were You Known for This Year?

Stop and think about what stood out about you and your work most this year. Was it your integrity? Your attention to detail? Your ability to anticipate clients’ needs before they do? Or maybe it was your extra calls to clients in between meetings or how much fun it is to work with you?

Do you share these things with potential clients, or just hope they’ll find out? Or, have you changed gears so much this year that it would be nearly impossible for clients to notice your wonderful qualities through all the clutter?

What Would You Like to be Known For?

Stop and take a few quiet minutes to think about these questions…

• What would you like your business and yourself to be known for? (Not just what you do, but who you are and why you do what you do…)

• If this was the last year you could provide your service, what would you like your legacy to be?

Instead of setting goals this year, what if you focused on what you wanted to be known for and let the details fall into place from there?

Have you heard about The Solopreneur Zone’s new Coaching Membership Program? Members will have access to me during my open coaching hours, access to a growing group of business advisors (marketing/PR, web design, virtual assistance, etc) and hours of recorded and live teleclasses and group coaching opportunities.

To make sure the program gets off to an incredible start, I’m launching it in January with a core group of 20 members. If you’d like to be one of the Founding Members and be the first to join, I’m offering the membership at only $150 per month (there are currently 14 spots remaining).

After the first 20 members have joined, the membership will go to a budget-friendly $225 per month. However, the Founding Members’ monthly fee will never go up. Ever.

I’m offering these spots to clients, members of my R & D Team and readers of the Solo Flyer first. No one else will hear about the program until December 22. Here’s a private link to the details about the program that cannot be accessed from anywhere else on my website http://solopreneurzone.com/Membership.htm

Sound intriguing? Don’t sign up yet! I want you to attend a 45-minute informational session about the program to make sure it’s for you. See the Teleclasses section below for dates and times.

__________________________________________

Open for Business: Now What?!
How to Succeed in Business in Spite of Yourself
Perfect Niche, Ideal Clients
The Secret to Finding Clients
Marketing Strategies that Suit Your Personality
The Effortless Marketing Plan
Interviewing Prospective Clients

Buy a class now and be listening to it in the next 5 minutes! http://www.solopreneurzone.com/Teleclasses_Purchase_RA.htm

Your Best Year Yet: Ten Questions for Making the Next Twelve Months Your Most Successful Ever by Jinny S. Ditzler
There’s no better time to reflect on the past year and plan for the year ahead than right now. If you do want to set specific goals this year, this book lays out 10 simple but powerful questions to ask yourself. Many Solopreneurs focus goal-setting on just their businesses, but these questions give you the opportunity to set your intentions for your whole life, including your business. To buy this book on Amazon (used copies are just as good and very cheap!) click he*re.

AdvisorTeam www.advisorteam.com
If you’d like to spend a little time getting to know yourself better as you think about what you’d like to be known for, the Temperament Sorter is a simple online series of questions you can answer in just a handful of minutes. You’ll get a basic analysis for free or get the whole report for $14.95. I found out that a significant part of my personality is only shared with less than 5% of the population. Gee, just knowing that makes me feel more “understood”!

For a complete list of resources we love (growing weekly), visit the Resource Lounge at http://www.solopreneurzone.com/Resource_Lounge.htm

NEW: Have you signed up for The Solopreneur Zone's Yahoo Discussion Group?

This discussion group was created to support you in trading questions, ideas and tips with other Solopreneurs. Why go it alone, when you can build your business more easily with the support of others? Questions, thoughts and ideas should be directed to the entire membership. I will read the messages regularly and contribute my thoughts to the discussion when appropriate.

The group will be moderated by Angee Robertson, Administrative Consultant for The Solopreneur Zone, to make sure you only receive messages from members who want to be an active part of this community.

Join Today, by visiting our home page at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/solozone

*Have you checked out The Virtual Water Cooler? It's a free monthly community teleconference call where you can share ideas and questions with peers from around the globe. Join our next call on Thursday, January 8 from 3-4pm ET (the call will be one hour earlier now). For details visit http://www.solopreneurzone.com/WaterCooler.htm

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Copyright 2003 Dawn Nichol, All rights reserved. You are free to use material from the Solo Flyer publication as long as you keep the entire publication intact.