Keep First Things First
When I owned my gym, we specialized in helping people achieve the weight loss goals they had failed to achieve with other methods, and we were damn good at it. We marketed weight loss through nutrition, exercise, and accountability.
People got great results, because once they were in our doors they also got community, personal and group coaching, and once they hit their goals- we helped them to keep the weight off, and achieve their next physical goals- whether is was to run 5k’s or marathons, get stronger, or develop a more chiseled physique.
When I owned my gym, we specialized in helping people achieve the weight loss goals they had failed to achieve with other methods, and we were damn good at it. We marketed weight loss through nutrition, exercise, and accountability.
People got great results, because once they were in our doors they also got community, personal and group coaching, and once they hit their goals- we helped them to keep the weight off, and achieve their next physical goals- whether is was to run 5k’s or marathons, get stronger, or develop a more chiseled physique.
Men and women who came into my gym, allowed themselves to become immersed in our methodology and our culture- their lives were forever changed, because they changed not just how they looked at exercise, their food, but also themselves.
If we sold the big transformation, nobody would have understood our marketing. They would have struggled to understand our message. We kept first things first.
It’s easy for us as creators to create ourselves right out of a job. In fact it’s a mistake that I initially made when I launched The Momma Boss. I wanted to help busy Female Entreprenuers who also happen to be mom’s (the word momprenuer makes me cringe, so I try not to use it,) to relieve stress in trying to manage and run their successful businesses through systems and structures.
Sounds great right?
The very problem I wanted to solve, was falling on stressed out, deaf ears, because let’s be honest when you promise an entrepreneur or business owner less stress- you are met with an eye roll, and disbelief. As entrepreneurs we accept that we will always have a level of stress, and when we don’t have stress, we tend to create it.
So I took it deeper… and promised to help people, fix their broken business- that was stressing them out, and costing them relationships, sanity and peace of mind. I got some response, from people saying- yes you get me, but not enough interest for people to crack open their wallet.
The pain I was talking to wasn’t deep enough. The solution, looked like more work.
People don’t want to be sold more work, they don’t want to buy more work.
So I dug deeper and deeper, until I figured it out.
People want to buy a solution that provides them with relief from their problems which typically falls into these categories.
Status (Will it make me popular, famous, or seen as awesome)
Money (Money buys choices & everyone knows that)
Sex (Weight loss and body transformation fall into this category)
When you can articulate which of these categories your product speaks to, it will be easier to sell your product or program.
I realized with the Momma Boss, that even though there is so much more that I help my clients with, I had to give in to the fact, that at the end of day, being a business consultant, I help clients make more money. It was a hard pill to swallow.
Fighting ego along the way, doesn’t help you help more people or change more lives. It just gives you an excuse to be broke and not make a difference in the world.
Remember to meet people where they are at, if you truly want to help them.
I see so many coaches, and consultants who get so wordy in their I help… statements, that what they do, actually gets lost in translation and falls on deaf ears. I get it, it’s a process of honing, refining, and redefining what it is you do.
Much like with my gym, I wasn’t leading with maintain your weight. That’s not what people want. I led with the promise, keeping first things first. Weight loss, and body transformation.
When you keep first things first, people fully get how you can help them. Then once they come into your sphere of work and methodology- you show them HOW to get what they want.
Keep first things first.
Take a moment to reflect on these questions.
What is their next level?
What is the first step for you prospective customer or client?
What do they need to have in order to get to the next level?
How can you help them get to the next level?
If you are too far ahead in your ideal clients journey, take it back a notch. Go Deeper. Remove your creative ego from the mix, and get down in the dirt and really consider what do my clients and prospective clients really want?
Do they want more money?
Do they want more status?
Do they want more sex appeal?
What do they want to feel more in control of in their business or their lives?
When you can speak to that pain and make a clear and concise promise your business will grow.
If you are having a hard time honing your message and growing your business. I can help.
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Are willing to pay for it
Become raving fans who refer their friends
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Show you how to start attracting the right clients to you
Help you build a simple business that pays you everyday
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8 Ways to Create A Community In Your Coaching or Consulting Business
Never under estimate the value of building a strong community. A strong community of people will do great things for your business, but also great things for each other. At the end of the day people need people, and if you as a coach can facilitate those relationships through your products and programs- clients will stay longer, be happier, and see more success.
Which means better reviews, programs clients love, and relationships that your customers can take with them through their lifetime. That’s a gift. Those same people will tell other how they made fabulous connections and friendships while in your program. Which also seeds your program in the minds of others, who when they see your marketing- will go- I have heard great things, and sign up, if your offering suit their needs.
Never under estimate the value of building a strong community. A strong community of people will do great things for your business, but also great things for each other. At the end of the day people need people, and if you as a coach can facilitate those relationships through your products and programs- clients will stay longer, be happier, and see more success.
Which means better reviews, programs clients love, and relationships that your customers can take with them through their lifetime. That’s a gift. Those same people will tell other how they made fabulous connections and friendships while in your program. Which also seeds your program in the minds of others, who when they see your marketing- will go- I have heard great things, and sign up, if your offering suit their needs.
When I owned my gym we focused hard on building community, because a gym without a community, is just a place to workout, which most people can do for free at home. Much like a course without a community, a real community is just another course, not a life changing experience.
How do you build a community? Friends, I hate to tell you, it’s work- like a lot of work.
You have to get people together. In the time of COVID I know that seems like a laughable suggestion. (Please insert your eye roll here.)
Figuring out how to build community is a process in and of itself, but when you succeed, clients will stay clients just so they can remain with their tribe. I look at my life in group programs like intensives, masterminds, collectives and time after time, I stayed apart of these programs a full year past when I wanted to stop, simply to remain close to those whose relationships, input and advice I appreciated.
That’s the power of community, which in this spread out, digital world is harder to come by- because we are all separated by a screen, a mask, or fear.
So how do you build community?
Building community is a layering process, because it means you need to pave the way for all the different ways people like to interact. In person, Online, Through Experiences and shared memories.
Where most coaches and consultants miss the mark, is they don’t layer their communities, they toss up a facebook group and call it community- then wonder why no one is engaging or connecting.
Here is the layering process for building community with your clients, whether your business is online or offline.
Facebook group-
Facebook groups are not all bad, it’s the way we approach them. They should be a place where people are introduced, cheered on, celebrated, inspired and motivated. Where they can feel free to ask questions and get answers. In your facebook group, take time to comment on posts, post a live video, and connect with your people.
Zoom/ Video Calls-
There is something so cool that happens when people can get live coaching from you, in front of others in group. They become vulnernable, create connections, have side conversations, and open the doors friendships. It’s also a great place where you clients can connect with you, be in your space, your energy, and get inspired and motivated. My favorite way to do these calls is on a regular cadence- like daily coaching for general questions, and bi-weekly or monthly for new content. What this does, is it lets your clients know what to expect, get excited, and actually want to show up for the call.
In person working events
In person working events like mastermind meetings, round tables, weekend aways, etc. These are opportunities where you provide the opportunity for your clients to come together, to teach, to work, to discuss new ideas. Typically you provide the meals, snacks, and the content. Some in person events have a theme, while others are business as usual. A chance to unplug from the daily grind, and connect to their tribe in meaningful ways. If you have heard my story for how The Momma Boss came to be, it happened at one of these events.
In person fun events
In person fun events can be built into a working event or be held as a stand alone event. Fun events you bring your clients together for are retreats, dinners, parties with dancings, game nights, laser tag, hiking, workouts, etc. You name it, you can bring people together for it. When people make memories together, they grow a deeper connection to each other, your tribe, and your community.
Online Working Events
These have been super popular the last 9 months as coaches and consultants and worked hard to maintain their business operations in the face of travel bans and closed boarders. 2-3 Day Events where people can learn and connect are great, but also I think the blue screen fatigue is real with all of us. There are several platforms that are great for hosting these online events at scale. Hopin seems to be the smoothest running platform, zoom has some capabilities, and I am sure there are others. When running an online working event that is days… some things to consider… break times, ease of networking and connecting, breakout rooms, chat features, etc.
Accountability Coaching
Separating clients into pods, for coaching and accountability. Each week they come together, learn something, ask and answer questions, and are given their marching orders as a group. Tell them to connect with each other through out the week, checkin with you if they need to, and come back the following week. This works great for intensive coaching programs where each week has a purpose.
Be a Connector
Introduce people, become a connector and facilitate friendships. Tell people who they should know, make introductions, and help people start conversations. This helps people feel less awkward when meeting new people, which can often be very intimidating.
Be a cheerleader
Be a cheerleader for your clients, give them status. When they are crushing it, let your tribe know who is crushing it, how they are crushing it, and why they should get to know this person. It builds the one person up who is doing well, but it also makes them an authority figure to other clients, who will reach out to them and a relationship has a chance to start. Everyone wants to be seen, and everyone wants to know they matter. Being a cheerleader for your clients, serves that purpose.
There can be a dark side of building community as well, when a rotten egg enters the batch, starts gossiping and causing chaos and discontent. I’ve seen it happen where people out stay their welcome, and end up spoiling the whole batch. It doesn’t happen often, but it happens often enough to mention.
As you are building your community, it is just as important to cull the herd every now than, to remove people who no longer fit the values of the community or your company. These conversations are never easy, but you have to value your business- more than they value the drama they are bringing to it. After all it’s your livelihood, and you must protect it.
What are ways you like to create community in your business? Let me know in the comments.
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