Home Business Entrepreneurs Must Connect
In our forthcoming work from home business e-book we speak of the critical skill of connecting with people. It is such an obvious element to business success that people actually overlook it thinking they already have the ability.
Well, we all do - but to what extent?
But my favorite principals is Leverage. Leverage is essentially working smarter rather than harder - multiplying the power of our resources (time, money, effort, etc.). It’s also available in most everything we do. Our challenge is that it is not apparent to us - so it is often overlooked.
So the question is: How can we leverage ourselves in this critical area of connecting to others?
First off; become more. Rather than coming across as just another person who wants their money - position yourself as the one person who will help them in an ongoing manner from this point forward. Become their Trusted Advisor. Assume this position before you ask for their money.
This is accomplished by being of service and adding value upfront. Yes; it makes perfect sense to determine if they actually need and want what you provide, that they can afford it, and also have the authority to make the purchase decision.
The point is this: If you are simply the marketer or salesperson - then the next salesperson offers a similar product at a cheaper price will replace you in a flash. At that point you are just a commodity competing on price and that’s a losing proposition any way you look at.
Second. I don’t care how old you are, what you look like, your education level, the color of your skin, etc. - people want to interact with people who are self expressed and feel genuinely comfortable in their own skin.
Being the quiet, mild mannered, reserved person we were trained to be thanks to the school system will not serve you as an entrepreneur. For you and your product to be known - YOU are the message.
In fact, you only have a few seconds to make yourself significant enough to another person that they will invest any quality attention on what you have to share. Be bold in your communication and do it with a quiet passion - coming from a person who is comfortable in their own skin and who has strong self-esteem.
Third: Fall in love with your prospects and clients. They will sense your genuine caring and it will be something they rarely encounter. See everything from their point of view and communicate that understanding to them.
Forth: Never stop educating your prospects and clients. Marketing’s main goal is to communicate messages that provide value to a client that they continue to pay attention. If they pay attention long enough they will purchase.
Ongoing communication regarding your product’s value, your value, the value of your relationship, trends coming down the pike, important information that will allow your client to prosper, etc. we’ll help cement your status as their Trusted Advisor.
These principals actually apply in any business but a home based business entrepreneur especially needs to adopt the mindsets and strategies that provide the leverage to not only succeed - but thrive.
John T. Kelly
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