Selling Without Selling Out Your Soul

by | Sep 8, 2022 | Brand Story, Building Foundations, Business Coaching, Growth, Sales Calls

Do you want to find out how “Selling Without Selling Out Your Soul” can revolutionize your business?

When I started my business I thought that selling was too hard until I find out that selling without selling out your soul is much easier and simpler.

I had this belief that selling was too hard. At corporate, I used to be a Purchasing Manager so buying to specifications was easy and natural. However, when I was confronted with the idea of selling my services, I completely froze and that is when the struggle began.

You see, we build expectations about certain situations in life and that is why we make them even more unachievable. We start creating obstacles in our mind that keeps us away from the unfamiliar. The unfamiliar is uncomfortable and so at times we give up and don’t progress further. We create images and thoughts about the difficulty of the situation because we are afraid to adventure into the unknown.

Selling was my “unknown”.

I had to change my thinking and feeling about the traditional “sales calls”. Honestly, I had to leave the corporate talk behind and start being myself and truly listening to what my potential client wanted to achieve. I had to tap into my own story to create the customer journey in their minds.

The reality is that without being able to find your sweet spot in your sales calls, you won’t be able to sell your services.

Therefore, without mastering the Art of Selling Without Selling Out your Soul, you will have…

  • No Clients;

  • Very little Cashflow;

  • An unsuccessful Business;

  • And, NO group program.

I am being as transparent as possible with you here and I know exactly what you’re going through. There are no strategies that anyone can teach you that will help you master the Art of Selling. This ability resides within you. What others do is irrelevant and sometimes detrimental to your own success. You must find that sweet spot in your business where you are selling with authenticity and there is clarity in your voice and message.

Firstly you need to master the belief that you have the power to do so authentically and without pretending to be someone you’re not. Other people will feel attracted to your honesty and ethical conduct more than if you embellish your services with things that are intangible to achieve. They will feel compelled to your own message when you speak up from a place of honesty, integrity, and truth. Selling your coaching business is a People 2 People meaningful conversation.

The moment that you shift your thinking, you will be able to:

  • Sell with integrity;

  • Own your worth;

  • Know that others value what you offer;

  • The clarity in your message and marketing activities will position you as the expert;

  • And, you will stimulate others buying desire through the power of your story.

Why Selling with Empathy and Integrity Matters Now More than Ever!

“People with integrity do what they say they are going to do. Others have excuses.” ~ Dr. Laura Schlessinger

  • Believe in what you offer your clients. You can’t sell anything if you don’t see the value it provides. Know that your potential clients are looking for the solution you provide so it would be a disservice to not put it out there. 

  • Be mindful of your client’s needs and respect their time. Listen to what they want and why they want it. Listening has been one major thing that I had to learn profoundly. I realized that my audience does not want to know the nuts and bolts of achieving what they want. They want to get to their end goal as quickly and as easily as possible. I am a VISION BUILDER and therefore now I keep that vision vivid for them and eliminate the boring details of getting to the vision. 

  • Know their pain and empathize with it. They want to Be where you are right now. BE the guide.

  • “Honesty is telling the truth whilst Integrity is staying consistent within that truth”.

  • Believe that your service delivers the solution. Trust that your story is going to make an impact.

  • Be respectful and ethical when discussing your competition.

  • Appreciate the fact that your prospect has taken the time to talk with you. Honor the time and space between you two, and listen more than talk.

  • Remain honest & loyal— even in the face of losing deals. At times is best to say NO to your prospect than a YES that doesn’t feel aligned with your purpose and mission. You’ll be able to close more sales calls if you stay true to your worth and value than selling them something that they don’t need. Seth Godin has said: “People don’t buy the products or services. They buy the relations, stories, and magic”. 

I go more in-depth on this particular step in the Radical Launch System Intensive Bootcamp where I am helping you master your sales calls so you can easily convert your prospects into paying clients without feeling sleazy, pushy, or out of integrity. You’ll learn the art of selling through the power of stories and authentic sales conversations that feel great for both your client to be and you. Consequently, by the time you’re done digging deep into this crucial step, you’ll love the sales conversations almost as much as your coaching conversations!

IT’S A WRAP

Think about everything that I spoke about above and let me know if it resonates with you. The moment you start selling from a place of complete integrity, authority, and honesty, that is when things start changing for the better.

Trust and own your skills like a Sales Queen and you’ll find that you won’t go back to the old ways. Would you believe if I tell you that I have sold my services just through a simple messaging conversation? Yes, it’s true because when others know what I do and the value I provide, they’ve made the decision there and then without the need for a face-to-face conversation. The conversations took place online for a while and they knew my worth and my expertise.

5 Burnout Signs That Had Gone Way Too Far

by | Aug 25, 2022 | Building Foundations, Mindset, Personal Development

The burnout signs can happen at any time in your life.

When you least expect it, the burnout signs start to build up in your body until it explodes either mentally or physically. Either you’ll be employed, unemployed, or running your own business.

So, what is burnout?

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands.

It can indeed wipe off the joy out of your career, friendships, and family interactions. However, this silent predator is not easily detected. You can have these signs for years until it reaches a stage of depression.

5 Burnout Signs That Had Gone Way Too Far

  • Stare into oblivion – Mental and Physical Exhaustion:

    • I first experienced this when I had my first baby. I was already 36 years old and completely clueless about how to take care of a baby. I used to say to myself “why don’t they come out with a manual”. You see, if I had a manual I could just follow instructions, and all was good. So I got one, “Gina Ford” book which saved my life at the time. However, the lack of sleep and adult interaction with my work colleagues soon drove me into postnatal depression. It was suggested by the midwife that I needed to see the doctor so that she could prescribe me something for my condition. I politely declined and got on with my life. There were times that I was climbing the walls and I was missing terribly going back to work, where I knew my job was valued and I knew exactly what to do.
    • Once I was so tired that I was staring into my coffee machine waiting for the coffee to come out. My body was present in the kitchen in front of the coffee machine but my mind was somewhere else entirely. So much so that the coffee filled the counter and I burst into tears because I couldn’t control the situation. Exhaustion delays your reflexes and your ability to think quickly.

  • Unspeakable Health Issues:

    • Stress will catch up with you either mentally or physically in your body. From the moment I was able to be free to do whatever I want, I always just did it. Meaning that I wouldn’t think twice about the consequences. My impulsive nature always guided me on the path that I was meant to be on. Most recently intuition is ruling my world. I suppose “intuition” has always been there but unfortunately I wasn’t able to use it properly. I was indeed very impulsive but at the same time courageous but I was missing a secret ingredient which was the ability to tap into my intuition.
    • Most recently, stress caught up with me. Like literally and I didn’t even see it coming. Suddenly, all these horrible rashes started appearing on my feet and hands. Intense itchiness, redness, and formation of small blisters filled with clear fluid started to appear first on my foot and then in my hands. I immediately saw the doctor who was prompt to give me some injections but also told me that this was due to stressful situations in my life and if not controlled they will appear again. So, I urge you to be vigilant for any anxiety triggers in your life to avoid these eruptions in your body or even become aware of your emotional state.
    • Your mind controls your body (aka the immune system) and when you have a weak immune system, all sorts of illnesses can appear spontaneously. Doing daily meditation can help you overcome these and heal you from the inside out.

  • Lack of Motivation and performance:

    • It is September of 2014, and I’m having a strange feeling in my gut as I arrive at work. That day, the company was working for announced massive redundancies in the workplace. Even though my position was safe I felt enormous empathy toward my colleagues. Needless to say that days after my energy and motivation completely changed. It was the time that I said to myself “enough is enough” and made the bold decision to fire my boss in order to start my own business.

  • Constant worrying about what’s not yet concrete (aka the Future):

    • “With great responsibility, comes great power”. This quote has been stuck in my mind for a while. It’s true that my life as I was growing up was simple and empty of life’s responsibilities. My family provided for me and that is A-Okay, they were teaching me how to embrace the POWER of responsibility. The moment I left my parent’s house to live by myself, I understood the “power” that I had. The responsibility of the work-life demands was at times very worrying. That’s why I had to tame the power I had in me to progress and move forward without worrying about what was to come. And this is why is important that you take care of the most important person in the world. YOU!

  • Not taking care of number 1 – ME:

    • The moment you neglect yourself, things start to go downhill pretty quickly and burnout is inevitable. Choose time for you, to unwind, to do your hobbies, to just take a walk down the beach, to relax. I feel so re-energized when I pamper myself. It’s like I’m a new person, full of joy, happiness, and energy. Also, taking care of yourself increases your creativity and self-expression.

In this article from HealthLine you will find the Signs of Burnout:

  • Exhaustion. Feeling physically and emotionally depleted.
  • Isolation. People with burnout tend to feel overwhelmed.
  • Escape fantasies. Dissatisfied with the never-ending demands of life.
  • Irritability. Burnout can cause people to lose their cool with others more easily.
  • Frequent illnesses. Burnout, like other long-term stress, can lower your immune system.

Have a look at the insightful Infographic with the 12 Stages of Burnout from Healthline.

Here’s another article that is very helpful to help you reduce stress. Did you know that “gum chewing may relieve stress responses?” I was pleasantly surprised too. Which of these 12 scientifically-backed ways to reduce stress are you going to implement today?

What can you do to prevent burnout:

  • Meditate to Alleviate

Creating a designated time to meditate consistently will help you to relax your mind from stressful situations. And meditation doesn’t have to be hardcore. I speak about this in my other article 5 reasons why meditation doesn’t have to be hardcore. It requires discipline though to start building a habit and to stick with it. Meditation has definitely helped me fight the burnout symptoms that I’ve felt throughout my life. It has helped me become aware of the present moment and reduce stress.

  • Hobbies can be a lifesaver

It is crucial to find something outside of work that you are passionate about doing.  Whether be a hobby, sports or fitness activities, or even volunteering in the community with some charity work. It has been proven that those that keep themselves occupied even after retirement, have an active and healthy mind and body.

  • Play the “Pull the Plug” Game 

With the evolution of technology in our present society, more distractions are at our fingertips. This is why is super important to set boundaries by unplugging and spending time with loved ones. Set a date for your next holidays. Imagine yourself already on holiday with your family or friends. For inspiration, check out our 5 daily habits to boost your creative power.

  • Get Enough Sleep

I’ve always been a night owl and I know that many of you are too. However, I’ve recently realized how important it is to have proper sleep to stay away from burnout. The realization happened when after successfully completing a MindValley program with Dr. Michael Breus, The Mastery of Sleep. After many years of deprived sleep, your body starts to reach its limit, and therefore in order to refuel your brain and your body, it’s imperative that you have a healthy sleep pattern.

  • Stay Productive

Often, when we are burnt out, we forget a lot. There might be a task or 2 that is going to slip through the cracks. Start planning your day, write down all the to-do’s you have for the week, and put them in your calendar to remind you. That way, it’s easier to be on top of things and you don’t panic when things are not done. Create a reminder system and not don’t just rely on what’s in your head. I use a digital calendar but I also have a planner which I carry around whenever possible.

  • Make Self-care Your #1 Priority

Make an appointment with yourself! No, seriously, when you feel that you are exhausted and your thoughts don’t make any sense. You are shouting and feeling quite irritable… PAUSE and take a step back. Ask yourself: “Where is this feeling coming from?”, “What has caused this event to escalate?”.

Asking yourself powerful questions will help you to find out why you are stressed out. 8 out of 10 times, these feelings come from internal challenges that we are feeling. So, prioritizing your regular self-care will keep you motivated, doing your best work, and functioning well. Self-care is a tonic for creativity, innovation, and happiness.

IT’S YOUR TURN

I would love for you to try some of the ideas I gave you above. Which ones are you more inclined to do? The important thing is not to overthink and just do it. Is there a hobby that you’ve been thinking of pursuing? Is that painting unfinished or needs a spruce up? When was the last time that you walked along the sea and felt the waves covering your toes and the soft ocean aroma covering your body with delight?

Burnout is a serious matter that can’t be ignored so watch out for those pesky signs and change your habits. Remember that you are in control of your current situation and it’s in your power to create change even if scary and daunting at times.

No one can be a TRIBE of one!

by | Jul 14, 2022 | Growth, Mindset, Personal Development, Personal Growth

I know this to be true…No one can be a TRIBE of one!

Recently I had confirmation of this statement when I attended the Super Coach event of the year organized by Evercoach and Mindvalley.

“Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much” ~ Helen Keller

The power of Connectivity and leaning on a Tribe’s vibrational energy is super empowering and stimulating.

I truly was in my energetic environment for 5 days. So now I am going to express my own takeaways and breakthroughs from this Extraordinary Experience.

I’ve separated my thoughts and breakthroughs into 4 parts since the beginning of my journey with Evercoach by Mindvalley Supercoach Event. This was my Life Coaching graduation trip but by the time it finished, it was so much more than just a get-together of collective minds.

I became aware of my inner insecurities and my constant need for external validation which comes from a long time ago. You see, even though we continue to live our lives in a progressive rhythm if we don’t resolve past hurts and insecurities, they will come to haunt us sooner or later.

Insights & Breakthroughs

Our Journey is so enjoyable and exciting when we know exactly where we are going

Fact: When we know exactly where we’re going it makes everything so much clear to start putting steps in place to reach what we want. During all the events in my life that I knew exactly where I was going, it was much easier to navigate when I had a final destination.

You don’t need to have everything in place! For example, when I moved countries in my late 20’s, I had a final destination – The UK – but surely I didn’t have all sorted out. I improvised along the way without expectations and accepted what was to come. It was fun. Every day was a gift. I was not stressing about having it all figured out and I trusted that somehow I would be okay.

Sometimes I was alright and other times were more challenging but in the end and because I wasn’t constantly worrying about what was to come, I managed to get through adversities that I would encounter.

When we worry about the future and are miserably stuck in the past, we are not living our best selves and therefore we miss present opportunities that otherwise we wouldn’t see.

People’s stories and cultures are fascinating!

I’ve always been fascinated by other people’s cultures and personal stories. Adversity stories and amazing powerful LIFE stories.

Maybe that is why I love to travel and discover the world. After being restricted to travel for over 2 years, going to the Super Coach event was like opening a present at Christmas and relight a candle that had almost burnout.

There were close to 600 people at this event and I can honestly say that I have made connections for life while I was there. From the first day, I arrived that connections were made and they were so natural. It’s extraordinary how conversations just felt amazing and time just flew by. I felt the love and sincerity from others like I never felt before.

When we connect deeply as collective intelligence, the vibrational pull is intense, beautiful, and healing.

Connections are one of my core values. I value knowing and learning more from others’ experiences and being connected to such a beautiful Tribe brought meaning to my presence whilst in Tallinn.

We did an exercise on the last day that blew my mind.

We split into two groups: Humans and Angels. The Humans had to sit quietly with their eyes closed while the Angels would whisper in their ears something that they would want to hear as small children. I was an Angel first and it was so powerful to see that small little empowering words would create such an intense reaction in others.

Tears run down my face throughout the whole exercise… I couldn’t help it. I just felt the love, compassion and the words whispered in my ear just touched my heart so deeply that I felt it at a visceral level. I can’t explain in words how incredible this experience was for me but I’m sure you can imagine.

That is why I say that… No one can be a TRIBE of One! It’s just not possible to survive in this world on your own. You can achieve so much more when you are truly connected with a tribe that gives you positive energy and empowers you to achieve more. Because let’s face it when you encounter certain challenges in life that don’t allow you to move forward, it’s better to do it with someone else than all alone.

This is how I love to empower my Tribe to smoothly transition from their corporate life and become their own boss, fearlessly!

 There is no “end” to anything, only evolution, transformation, and transition.

I truly believe that there is no end to anything but “empowered beginnings”. Whenever you feel like “your world is about to end” for whatever reason, reframe that perspective and belief that it’s only a life transition you are facing. Truly believe that better things are coming your way and that everything around you evolves, and transforms hence not having an end.

“Dans la nature rien ne se crée, rien ne se perd, tout change.

In nature nothing is created, nothing is lost, everything changes.”
― Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier, Traité élémentaire de chimie

 

5 Things You Can Do at Lunchtime To Exit Your 9 to 5

by | Jun 9, 2022 | Building Foundations, Exit Your 9 to 5, Productivity

5 things you can do at lunchtime to exit your 9 to 5 and start building your business foundations.

I still remember so vividly when I was desperately looking for a way out of my 9 to 5 and knew the importance of start building some systems and foundations in order to start my business.

Every break I had, I would look out for every opportunity to plan my exit and start building my business but obviously without jeopardizing my current employment.

You must be clever and conscious to not let the “desperation” of your current situation, influence your exit from your 9 to 5.

There are things that you can do in order to start building the foundations so that your 9 to 5 exit is smooth and not drastic. After all, you still need the “comfortable” monthly income of your job to finance your exit.

I wrote a previous article on the 5 sneaky ways I fired my boss and I believe that will inspire you as well. 

Now let me show you some ideas that you can implement at lunchtime so when the time comes, you are ready and prepared. These are so simple and easy to implement that you will be surprised.

Let’s get into the 5 things you can do at lunchtime to exit your 9 to 5 and start building your foundations.

1 – Mindful Eating

It’s understandable that at lunchtime, you would eat right? If you are currently in a job, you will probably have 30 minutes to 1 hour for your lunch. If you are currently in a stressful job, be aware that stress creates acid in your stomach and if you are feeling this discomfort then it’s important to attune your 5 senses especially when you’re about to seat to enjoy your meal.

The state of consciousness that you are in when you’re eating is even more important than the food itself. ~ Emily Fletcher

  • Before your meal prepare a warm drink (2/3 hot and 1/3 cold water)
  • While the water boils, do a simple breathing exercise
  • Energize your food by giving thanks for what you’re about to eat.
  • Don’t rush your food. Eat slowly and really enjoy your food. Enjoy the colours on your plate, the smells that eradiate from the ingredients. Savour and taste every single bite as if it was your first meal.

2 – Plan Your Exit with Asana.

Start planning your 9 to 5 exit plan in Asana or your startup business plan. We use Asana for all of our project management tasks. This tool allows you to create specific projects either private or public and share tasks with your team and/or clients. Even if you don’t have a team yet, this productivity tool keeps it all prioritized and you know exactly what you need to do next, all important deadlines, and a record of the completed work.

Building a Business Plan in Asana is super simple and quick. They have templates ready for you to use. There is also a mobile app that you can use when you find extra time at lunchtime or you need to send an email to a client or a teammate.

 

3 – Choose Your Appointment Scheduler

so that you can start inviting people for a strategy call with you. I’ve used a few different types of appointment schedulers since I’ve started my business to check which one was the best for me. Finally, I’ve chosen Acuity Scheduler to organize all my calls with prospects. Go ahead and watch the video where I will show you how to create a free account with this tool.

 

4 – Research and Hire a Professional To Start Building Your Online Presence

This is what I do for my clients, we get Coaches and Consultants online with an attractive and branded online presence. We architect and design your business online that resonates with your target audience and gives them exactly what they are looking for.

If you are running your coaching business as a side hustle, the 5 Steps to 5K in 5 Days Intensive Bootcamp might be just the solution you are seeking for.

This will allow you to:

Serve more people in one go,

Have a cash injection in your business…

And work fewer hours.

    5 – Get Paid Quickly

    Even though you are still in your 9 to 5, nothing is stopping you from having clients outside your working hours or even during your days off. And you want to have a payment system to charge your clients.

    This video tutorial is for you if you want to set up an automated monthly recurring payment with your clients.

    IT’S A WRAP

    These are just a few of the things that I used to do before I quit my 9 to 5. I really want to emphasize the importance of building your pillars before you take the LEAP from your current employment. Becoming your own boss has its challenges that if you can minimize the risk and overcome the uncertainty that comes with being an Entrepreneur, the faster you will succeed in your future endeavours.

    Which of these ideas are you going to start doing? Let me know in the comments which ones and your own stories. Maybe you already do something similar! Share with us what that is.

    Start a New Habit Stress Free

    by | May 19, 2022 | Mindset, Personal Growth

    Have you been feeling stressed out lately because you can’t seem to let go of an old habit?

    Let’s Take The Stress Out Of Starting A New Habit!

    However, breaking an old habit requires you to replace it with a new habit.

    And to keep you motivated to follow through on something that you want to accomplish. If you don’t move towards taking inspired action, the old habit will only leave you in more pain so it is worth putting into place some simple steps in order to break free from it.

    All you need is a bit of motivation, persistence, inspired action, and a reward system in place to set you free.

    I would recommend you experiment in finding out what motivates you the most. Some people are motivated by criticism whilst others are motivated by what gives them pleasure.

    I’m sure you must have heard this before… Everything we do in life is because we want to avoid pain and move towards pleasure. However and depending on how we’ve been brought up, what motivates us is the criticism we received. I know this to be true for me because I do get triggered when someone says to me that I can’t do something. I immediately react with words that empower me to move forward and I’m on a mission to show them that “I absolutely can do it and I will”.

    Can you relate and if so let’s start!

    Firstly you need to identify the behavior you want to stop and then ask yourself the following questions:

    What is the PAIN you associate with stopping the old behavior?
    What is the PLEASURE you’ve felt from doing that behavior?
    What is the PAIN that will happen if you don’t stop the behavior?
    What is the PLEASURE you will experience if you DO stop the behavior and create the desired outcome?

    Secondly, identify an inspired action you want to take that you have been avoiding and then ask yourself the following questions:

    What is the PAIN you associate with taking this action?
    What is the PLEASURE you’ve gotten from implementing this action?
    What is the PAIN that will happen if you DO NOT take this action?
    What is the PLEASURE you will experience if you DO take this action and create the desired outcome?

    Your Turn Now!

    I’ve learned from an amazing community at Evercoach with Mindvalley how to build better habits and now I am giving you the 4 steps you need to start, implement and stick with your new habits.

    I also know that this alone is not enough. You need to build consistency, empowering resilience, and firm determination to keep doing the work and sticking to them.

    This is where I come in keeping you motivated and on track so that you don’t find resistance and start self-sabotaging what you really want to achieve in life.

    These 4 elements are necessary for building new habits: 

    Motivation – Find out the reason why you want to have a new habit. Make a list of your emotional, social, biological & spiritual reasons.

    Triggers: Something triggers bad habits, so identify the old habit you want to change and remove the trigger that keeps you repeating it. Then you want to create triggers that encourage the new habit.
    • Write it down in your journal:
      • What is the trigger that keeps on fueling the old habit?
      • Anchor a new trigger for the new habit.
    Repetition: A habit is a function of repetition. The more times you do a particular habit the easier is for you to get into that habit. Repeating the new habit over and over again is the “sticky glue” to change it.
    “if you want to rewire your mind, it takes about 63 days”. Caroline Leaf, Ph.D.
    Rewards: Having a reward system every time you accomplish a new habit is fun and gratifying. What ideas do you have to celebrate yourself every time you achieve a new habit? 
    How to make habits stick
    Habit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do). -Stephen R. Covey

    It’s a Wrap

    Give me an example below of habitual behaviour that you want to change but find hard or almost impossible to achieve? Then think about what is the trigger that comes up with that nasty old habit?

    We need to remove the old habit trigger and create a new trigger to anchor the new habit. Habits stick when we repeat them over and over again and finding the motivational triggers to “glue” the new habit is KEY.

    What is the small little step you are going to put in place today and consistently repeat? No need to overwhelm yourself with huge action plans because often the small steps you take will give you the motivation to progress and grow without self-judgment.

    How are you going to reward yourself daily? Small rewards will keep your spirit joyful and full of fulfillment. You are rewarding yourself and nobody else.

    So, go ahead and let me know in the comments your breakthroughs and insights that came from this blog post.

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