Lively Biz for Online Entrepreneurs with Alicia Forest

It seems that, at least in the US, the holiday season starts earlier and earlier, with Christmas cards taking over most of the card section of any store right after Halloween (if not before!).

And while it bugs me to hear holiday music over the store speakers while I'm shopping for my kids' Halloween costume (because by the time Santa does visit, I'm quite tired of dreaming of a "White Christmas"), as far as planning on how to market for and during the holiday season for my business, it's almost never too early.

As we head into the season of giving, now is a great time to show appreciation to your clients and customers. Taking the time to give thanks to your clients will set you apart, increase loyalty, improve retention, inspire more sales, and deepen relationships that last long after the initial sale.

As I'm wrapping up a slew of private retreats with clients this month, it's become clear that it's time for me to get focused on practicing what I've been preaching - or more specifically, to put myself through the same intense process and plan that I take my clients through.

I had many lightbulb moments during my three days in Dallas at SHINE this year, and I wanted to share with you 10 of my top take-aways:

1. Opportunities come through people, not your computer

Think about that for a minute. Yes, you can build good relationships with people over email and social media. But when it comes to the really juicy opportunities, those are going to come through meeting people and spending time with them IRL (in real life). That's one reason why it's so important to get out there at least a couple of times a year.

I'm a believer in creating your own luck (thus why I don't buy lottery tickets). Actually I don't usually use the word luck because I think it's too easy for people to use it as an excuse, and not in a positive way. I'll share something personal here - I bristle whenever someone says to me how 'lucky' I am to have such well-behaved kids. Don't get me wrong - I know how blessed I am (and those of you who know me or have been reading my ezine for awhile know this too) to have two happy, healthy, whole kids. No one is more grateful for that than I am. And yet, that comment (and similar ones) always comes across to me as if James and I had nothing to do with it, that it's the luck of the draw that we have well-behaved (most of the time) children. Are you kidding me?

Chloe has a children's book titled Milton's Secret: An Adventure of Discovery through Then, When, and the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle and Robert S. Friedman, which really simplifies the concept of living in the present moment, and how the practice of that will, for the boy in the story, eliminate fear and worry.

I wanted to explore that as it pertains to your business, with a slightly different slant. I wonder if you, like so many of my clients, and myself as well from time to time, are so hooked into the future that we're missing the NOW and not fully enjoying the journey?

When I was studying for my MBA, my most challenging class was statistics. And even though I managed an A- in the class, it took every one of the few analytical brain cells I had to do so.

So imagine my pleasant surprise when I sat down to analyze the statistics of my business over the last 12 months and found myself engrossed, fascinated, excited and practically dancing for joy. Armed with this critical data, now I know exactly where to spend my time and efforts going forward to receive the highest and best rate of return!

One the biggest mistakes I see entrepreneurs make is creating what they think their market needs instead of what it wants. Then they're left disappointed, discouraged and with little to no sales - and maybe even unwilling to try again.

So if you're creating products/programs/services that you think your market needs - offerings that seem the most logical to you that will help your prospects do, be or have better - but you're not selling many - or any, then keep reading.

Here’s a question I get asked all the time:

"I don’t know you how do it, Alicia…with two little ones to care for and so few hours in the day to actually focus on your work. Somehow you manage to write your weekly ezine, hold a bunch of teleseminars each month, run your group and private coaching programs, AND be creating and promoting new offers and new products all the time. I’m so impressed and inspired by you, but more than that, I want to know how you do it all!?"

While the message and the market of your business may be different, there are some stumbling blocks that seem to pop up for even the seasoned entrepreneur.