Many experts and online entrepreneurs dream of the day when someone with a big fan base or database mentions them or promotes them.
Few are ready for what might occur next.
This week a client released her first product and the night before it was released her WordPress site got hacked. When she phoned up the people at the help desk of the company who hosts her site she may have well of been speaking Swahili.
They a) couldn’t even see the problem and b) even if they could – they would have had no idea how to solve her now massive and stressful problem.
When big opportunities come our way – we must have good systems in place and be ready for the onslaught of visitors.
I have an even sadder tale to tell – I remember I had something going off one time = people were hitting my site AND purchasing AND my scummy hosting provider automatically shut my site down because my plan ran out of bandwidth. It ran out because abnormal numbers were hitting the site.
At the time I didn’t even know what bandwidth was, but I suddenly became very aware of the consequences of not having enough because people stopped buying!
When you consider that you pay for a service that allows people to hit our sites, you might expect that they might give you some time to sort the problem out before shutting you down. Most will send an automated reminder to tell you that you are nearing your limit and if you are getting loads of visitors, that little extra you had up your sleeve is gone in 5 minutes due to high visitor numbers and BANG they shut you down!
So to make the most of the dream of hundreds of people visiting you and your website – this is the minimum you need in place to ensure you don’t get shut down or that your system doesn’t fold under pressure.
Back up – Back UP – BACK UP!
A hacked or attacked website usually means one thing – a complete reload from a clean source to ensure everything has been removed. If you don’t have a backup of your current website files (yes including that small change you made yesterday that took hours to complete) then you may need to re-write the whole site! OUCH!
I have all my files on my GoDaddy* server, on the hard drives of my TWO Macs and then use Dropbox to store all my hard drive files using cloud technology. Total overkill *yes* but it means I can access my files anywhere in the world that has the Internet if I need to reload my site.
Extreme perhaps – but you will thank me the morning your site gets hacked and now looks like a porn site and you are due on stage in 30 minutes to sell a big event and your website is the point of entry for the hundreds of people in the room.
Pay for unlimited bandwidth
I still don’t know what bandwidth is, but I don’t have to care because I’ve got the problem covered - again GoDaddy* sorted that for me. All you need to know about bandwidth is that you need a lot of it if you do get a rush on your site so it won’t fold.
My best advise is to pay the price for an unlimited service and never worry about it again!
Get reliable hosting
Use a company to host your website that is available 24/7 AND their staff are experienced.
I have the GoDaddy* unlimited bandwidth and website package. They promise to fix your problem on the first call and have 24/7 support staff who have always fixed my challenges in one phone call. There are many other great suppliers you can use – and these days the cost is very low – it truly is a case of invest before you need it.
Who ever you use, make fine sure they are set up to handle big volume traffic – and be aware most hosting companies are set up to take the traffic like you might expect the local hardware store to generate. Ensure all your suppliers can take a worldwide online product or event release.
Its also good policy to have some of your eggs in one basket. Most tech companies will start blaming each other when you have multiple suppliers. There are pros and cons from having one supplier host everything - but when there are problems it is nice to know a) they see how everything is functioning together and b) they can't blame third parties and c) you won't end up the one with a massive problem and no idea how to solve it.
Capture those hot leads!
Have a way to capture visitors to your site by way of a free product or offering that collects their email address so you can stay in touch once the hoop-la dies down.
These days just offering a newsletter isn’t enough – you need something unique and appealing to your target audience and you need to be able to follow up. People don’t start to purchase until they have had at least 7 “touches” from you. If you haven’t friended them or collected their email address you can’t touch them again – the magic is in the follow up.
Stay tuned
Be around to respond quickly to queries or problems that come up – just before an event or product release is not the time to take that vacation or go sit on a mountainside to chant.
Use companies who already have big name clients and are used to high volumes.
You MUST HAVE a good customer relationship management system (CRM)
OK so you’ve got it all down to date – you have a robust website that will take whatever is thrown at it – you have a free product and the visitors are sucking it up like ice cream on a hot day and BANG! Your CRM tells you that you have reached your capacity and it has stopped letting visitors sign for your free program.
When this happens anyone who comes to your site will visit and go and you have no way to stay in touch with them in the future – in fact you won’t even know who came by!
Mail Chimp is an excellent free service that allows you to store up to 2,000 people for free. Those numbers make most people think its "enough", but when you consider at any given time there are millions of people on Facebook and there could be millions watching an ad roll past and decide to click on it, then 2,000 people simply isn’t enough.
You are going to fold pretty quickly if your system won’t allow those people to give you their email details so you can stay in touch with them in the future.
I have a system called Infusionsoft and a package that starts to tremble at 500,000 people – no that’s not a typo that’s half a million people securely stored before it even starts to get antsy.
There are many other great CRM systems out there but always be certain you can talk to someone who can answer your questions very quickly. Always check their customer service hours and rates before you sign up. Some now charge you big bucks if you want to speak with them – they have you over a barrel if something does go wrong and this then becomes an expensive mistake on every level.
Don’t just sit idol
Be promoting the event yourself, just don’t sit back and leave it to the promoter – help the promoter promote you by promoting them! It’s a win for everyone if you do.
Ensure you are wired to stay in touch
Link up your Facebook, twitter, newsletters, blogs etc to your website (tell me you have those!) – we want to create as many opportunities for new people to interact with you as is humanly possible.
Are You Mobile Friendly?
High numbers of people now view your website via mobile phone devices or iPads - make sure they can see you and not just a jumble of rubbish that they will click out of fast.
You have 10 seconds or less to impress
Stats show you have around 10 seconds to interest and hold the attention of a new web site visitor. Ensure your site is ready to serve immediately – that your core message is communicated within the first 10 seconds - hello and welcome – is not a good opening – they need to understand immediately what’s in it for them to stay.
If you fail to captivate and capture that 10 second opportunity you can be assured it will be a lost opportunity unless you can figure out how to get them back. Think about it, why would someone return to anything that failed to appeal the first time - this really is the time to get it right the first time.
Form meaningful relationships
Then once all these wonderful opportunities are harnessed – you need a way to go back and form meaningful relationships with your new Facebook friends, Twitter followers or newsletter subscribers - or by whatever means you have captured them. Again if you want to keep these new people in your circle of light for the next few years, you are going to have to start reminding them who you are and how you can serve them …. without scaring them away with hard sell tactics.
If you've built it - they can come!
Great opportunities need to be taken seriously and you need to take yourself seriously.
If you want to be seen as an expert and present yourself to the world as someone worth working further with, you need to be ready, have invested in systems that not only work but will take the load.
Now is not the time to rely on free services that are patched together with band aids. If you want people to take you seriously, you need to take your IT seriously and learn what you need to do to be successful out in the big wide world of the internet.
All too much??
Best book a complimentary session with me if this overwhelms you but you know you need to get this right. Not being ready for opportunites can cost you in SO many ways. It may be the one time in your whole career where you have the world come to your doorstep. You need to be ready to offer a big slice of home made cake and a big soft comfy sofa to sit your guests on.
Most fail to offer their internet friends and visitors even the most basic of hospitality and wonder why they don't stick around for a chat.
Show em you care, form meaningful relationships and give extreme value and they will stick around for a very long time ….. and isn’t that what we are about – being of service to others for a very long time?
*GoDaddy’s CEO has taken a lot of flack from PETA over the elephant shooting incident. I don’t condone the shooting of anything, but sometimes things get so far out of whack I can at least see why it is necessary to protect villager and their food supplies. You can read his response on his blog and discern if his product is right for you. As for the racy ads – well those women have choice and they are being well paid for the sponsorship and why should the guys always get these highly paid sponsorship deals – again discern if this is right for you.
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Friday, 24 September 2010
Molly Carlile on The Circle
My dear friend and colleague Mz Molly Carlile was featured on the morning TV show The Circle recently speaking about her new book "Sometimes Life Sucks When Someone You Love Dies"
Molly spent many years on the wards as a pallative care nurse. She has helped literally thousands of people pass from this life. Whenever you sit down for coffee with Molly you can bet the topic of conversation goes to death within 5-10 minutes. She is passionate about the topic of death but not in a morbid way, but in a way that educates and gives people permission to feel safe about the topic.
Molly is a grand example of someone with a congruent message. That means that everything about her and her message fits together in one stream lined package.
Molly spent many years on the wards as a pallative care nurse. She has helped literally thousands of people pass from this life. Whenever you sit down for coffee with Molly you can bet the topic of conversation goes to death within 5-10 minutes. She is passionate about the topic of death but not in a morbid way, but in a way that educates and gives people permission to feel safe about the topic.
Already she has done SO much to change the way people deal with a process we will all inevitably go through but weirdly know little about. She is making it safe for people to talk about the topic and helps them deal with their fears and curiosity in an open and frank way.
Over time her message is morphing and she is really focusing on helping young people understand the process of death and not be fearful. She is using the performing arts as a great way to get her message to more people.
Strong messages open your world up to new and exciting ways to market your business or your products and services. This week the play Molly collaborated on with renowned actor and playwright, Alan Hopgood will be the feature of the International Hospice and Palliative Care Awareness Day event, Four Funerals in One Day at BMW Edge, Federation Square on September 28th 2010 at 7pm
You can book here if you would like to attend
If you would like to hear more about what Molly does, she was my guest on a Mosh Pit call - you can listen here
If you would like to hear more about what Molly does, she was my guest on a Mosh Pit call - you can listen here
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Healthy Marketing TeleSummit
I am going to be appearing at the Heathy Marketing Telesummit on the 14th September and it was wonderful to interview the creator of the program Krishna Everson. You can listen to the interview here:
The Heathy Marketing Telesummit will see ten marekting experts interviewed over six weeks and there will be a heap of great marketing ideas and concepts shared, all for free, to help natural therapists grow their business.
I trust you will be able to join us and in particular listen to my segment on the 14th of September 2010 (whihc of course will be FABULOUS) where I'm going to be talking about Making Your Story Your Glory.
You have to register on the website so you will receive all the information regarding the calls and how to get on them.
Hear you on a call soon!
Don't forget to register at the website www.HealthyMarketingTelesummit.com
Saturday, 12 June 2010
Do you believe strong messages and consistent action change the world?
I reckon the following is one of the strongest messages ever
“OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS NOT THAT WE ARE INADEQUATE.
OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS THAT WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE”
This is just one of the beautiful messages Marianne Williamson has created through her words.
Most therapists I know can recite the whole section Nelson Mandela quoted from Marianne’s book A Women’s Worth, under water or ten ton of wet concrete if necessary!
They have it on their fridge. Their eyes roll if you dare to give them a copy because of course they “know it” so well.
I was at a seminar once and a guy stood up in the middle of the room and challenged the presenter.
This *lone standeruper* was angry because the presenter was in his opinion “churning out the same old stuff”. As he spat out his accusation he wanted to know “when was he going to start teaching us something new?”
An uncomfortable silence critically draped itself across the room as the presenter spun in the direction of the question. As the presenter locked eyeballs with the *lone standeruper*” a soundless noise resonated throughout the room like a gigantic metal door being slammed against steel.
Then all you could hear was the awkwardness of bums rustling on seats as we waited in the intensifying silence.
The presenter held a steady gaze for what seemed an eternity. He didn’t seem to blink, he just stared at the guy. Then he calmly asked the man “had he implemented all the old stuff he had been taught?”
A vacuum formed as the crowd sucked in what seemed like every gasp of air in the room.
The room filled with the electric anticipation of a rock concert but silence was the only chord ringing out. We all felt for this *lone standeruper* because we all knew the answer. He was like an open book and even though this man was a total stranger to the room we could see and sense his current status and we knew he wasn’t going to come out the victor.
The presenter now owned the room, which means he had the full undivided attention of 100% of the people in the room.
He smelt the blood in the air and was heading straight in for the kill using silence as his sword.
His eyes stayed locked on the *lone standeruper*, now head down with a roving mic in hand. The *lone standeruper* had no where to hide and was eventually forced to confess from a place of shame to the hundred or so people crammed into that expansive ball room that despite “knowing” everything that had been taught that morning, he had in fact not “implemented” one single piece of the information in his business.
The presenters response dispensed with the exact right dose of silence was simply: “if you haven’t implemented it – you don’t know it”
The crowd exhaled.
The lone standeruper quietly sat down and didn’t utter a peep for the rest of the weekend.
The presenter returned to the whiteboard and continued to teach to a room that was listening way harder than they were a few minutes before.
Five things to be learned here:
You have also just experienced the power of learning through a story which leads to a discussion point.
My point is: I’ve found most therapists “know” Marianne’s beautiful words backwards but very few have fully “implemented” them and live them fully in their life
“IT IS OUR LIGHT, NOT OUR DARKNESS, THAT MOST FRIGHTENS US”
I have observed that most therapists can clearly articulate what’s wrong with them.
Our light is what’s right with us, however, most have never really owned what is right with them.
Therapists, practitioners, healers, coaches can be prone to hide from their light but spend copious amounts of time telling others how awesome they are and encouraging them to shine.
This creates a silent lack of credibility that others will see in you. You won’t be able to see them looking but you will feel it. What others can see is the insincerity you create within yourself if you haven’t walked through a fear you are asking others to face.
I find heartcentric people more likely to cower from their light than people who don’t even understand what “the light” is.
When you hide behind every excuse imaginable so you don’t have to put your name or yourself “up in lights” whilst telling others to do that, then a disconnect will form.
This causes even more hiding because you will fear that people will find out the “what’s wrong” part of your story.
Vicious circle huh!
WE ASK OURSELVES, ‘WHO ARE WE TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, TALENTED, FABULOUS?’ ACTUALLY, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE?
Most heartcentric people think they know why they are in business and it usually goes something like “I just want to help others” or “I want to make a big difference on the planet”.
Basically they “want to change the world” ………. but are often frustrated because to do that you need to be teaching workshops and speaking to groups. Sometimes people are not even getting their message to an audience of one in their treatment rooms.
Most are not even regularly communicating with their people or writing articles because they don’t know what to write about. When you have a strong message the problem becomes too much to write about and to little time to do it in.
“YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.
YOUR PLAYING SMALL DOESN’T SERVE THE WORLD.
THERE’S NOTHING ENLIGHTENED ABOUT SHRINKING”
Most people I meet are hiding from the world and don’t or won’t put themselves outside their comfort zone. They have shrunk so much it’s like they are trying to sail a row boat in a puddle and are getting frustrated that only a few people can fit in and they can only take those people on a short ride.
To help more people get bigger results you need to create a bigger pond and you need a clear message that will encourage more people to come on board with you.
“WE ARE ALL MEANT TO SHINE, AS CHILDREN DO.
WE ARE BORN TO MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US.
IT’S NOT JUST SOME OF US; IT’S EVERYONE”
Many see their mistakes or their weaknesses or past addictions or bad habits as faults.
Here’s the thing: These “faults” or “hiccups” ARE your message and your truth. That is why we are given the challenges so we can learn and grow from them. We tend to stuff them under the mat so others can’t see them but the world can still see it.
If you hide that truth your only course of action is to adopt someone else’s truth.
When you adopt the truth of others you end up living a lie.
No wonder you aren’t coming in contact with the right people to allow you to make the difference you yearn to deliver for people.
“AND AS WE LET OUR LIGHT SHINE
WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHERS PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME”
As people tell me their stories I’m coming to understand the reason why they want to make a difference to others is because they know how it feels to be down, or sick or addicted or stressed or like I was in a job I hated and needed to get out before it killed me.
Most people have found themselves training in a modality that will allow them the freedom to have their own business because at some time in their life, they wanted to move away from something that was causing them discomfort.
They never tell or even own that personal story in business because they think it will be seen as unprofessional, coming from ego or lets get real – most people don’t have a clue about the importance of their story ………… so have never tapped the gold in that vein.
When you finally tell your story, it allows others to come up and share that they have had a similar experience. People can relate to your story, so it is easy for them to relate to you.
As I teach Sore to SOAR, my speaking intensive workshop, I have come to understand that your story is your glory.
Once you understand and embrace your discomfort – you have your story.
***Clear and powerful messages create business success***
When you understand your story you can start to run towards opportunities because you know why people need to work with you.
When your story is clear everyone including YOU understands why you are in business.
But that’s not the biggest thing I do for people. Learning to speak makes you aware of how you have been hiding away from the world, playing small, not letting your light shine and not helping as many people as you want to. I give you permission to leave those limiting beliefs behind once and for all.
Fear stops most people from speaking in public. It’s a genuine fear and yes sometimes some idiot stands up in a room and challenges you. If you have the right knowledge to deal with the situation and a strong message, you will come out as the hero and grab the glory.
In Sore to SOAR three things we learn is the power of silence, the power of eye contact and how to own a room. We also learn how to keep repeating your message in different ways until the audience gets it.
You speak when your message gets bigger than your fear.
I had Marianne Williamson's words on my fridge for a long time. When I had the guts to have an opinion and a message, even when it wasn’t what everyone wanted to hear, I took the words off the fridge and started to speak.
I took it off the fridge not because I was a know it all but because I didn’t need to “know” it anymore. I had broken through the fear and was “living” her words in my life and my business.
“AS WE’RE LIBERATED FROM OUR OWN FEAR, OUR PRESENCE AUTOMATICALLY LIBERATES OTHERS.”
To change the world, we need to live our message.
If you are ready to get out from under the rock of fear that has been holding you down, I can promise you that attending my Sore to SOAR workshop will be one of the most uncomfortable things you have ever done.
There is a workshop at the end of June and the early bird ends this week.
The guy who taught me to own a room is the same person who eyeballed down *the standeruper*. In Sore to SOAR I teach you the same formula he taught me.
This workshop is full of good information but it won’t be easy for you. You will be asked to speak at the end of the weekend and actually implement what you have learned over the two days before you leave.
That’s why this course creates people with credible messages. It is also why 80% of past participants have created their first workshop within weeks of attending Sore to SOAR because all the fears have been walked through by the end of the weekend. You leave “knowing” it because you “implement” it.
So if you are sick of being the “I’m gonna” type of person and are really ready to serve a bigger audience, ready to teach others what you already know and are ready to get over yourself in one weekend ……….. book now.
My part of the deal is that I will treat you and your feelings with the greatest of respect because I have been through the process myself.
I will create a loving and safe environment where you and five others will break through together and support each other at each stage of the journey.
I promise you will leave able to liberate others with your pure light, simply by being your true self, knowing your story, seeing how it impacts others and being able to tell it in a way that not only liberates others but gives you the freedom you have been seeking to create your dream your way.
Book Now: all details here - www.Sore-to-SOAR.com
“OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS NOT THAT WE ARE INADEQUATE.
OUR DEEPEST FEAR IS THAT WE ARE POWERFUL BEYOND MEASURE”
This is just one of the beautiful messages Marianne Williamson has created through her words.
Most therapists I know can recite the whole section Nelson Mandela quoted from Marianne’s book A Women’s Worth, under water or ten ton of wet concrete if necessary!
They have it on their fridge. Their eyes roll if you dare to give them a copy because of course they “know it” so well.
I was at a seminar once and a guy stood up in the middle of the room and challenged the presenter.
This *lone standeruper* was angry because the presenter was in his opinion “churning out the same old stuff”. As he spat out his accusation he wanted to know “when was he going to start teaching us something new?”
An uncomfortable silence critically draped itself across the room as the presenter spun in the direction of the question. As the presenter locked eyeballs with the *lone standeruper*” a soundless noise resonated throughout the room like a gigantic metal door being slammed against steel.
Then all you could hear was the awkwardness of bums rustling on seats as we waited in the intensifying silence.
The presenter held a steady gaze for what seemed an eternity. He didn’t seem to blink, he just stared at the guy. Then he calmly asked the man “had he implemented all the old stuff he had been taught?”
A vacuum formed as the crowd sucked in what seemed like every gasp of air in the room.
The room filled with the electric anticipation of a rock concert but silence was the only chord ringing out. We all felt for this *lone standeruper* because we all knew the answer. He was like an open book and even though this man was a total stranger to the room we could see and sense his current status and we knew he wasn’t going to come out the victor.
The presenter now owned the room, which means he had the full undivided attention of 100% of the people in the room.
He smelt the blood in the air and was heading straight in for the kill using silence as his sword.
His eyes stayed locked on the *lone standeruper*, now head down with a roving mic in hand. The *lone standeruper* had no where to hide and was eventually forced to confess from a place of shame to the hundred or so people crammed into that expansive ball room that despite “knowing” everything that had been taught that morning, he had in fact not “implemented” one single piece of the information in his business.
The presenters response dispensed with the exact right dose of silence was simply: “if you haven’t implemented it – you don’t know it”
The crowd exhaled.
The lone standeruper quietly sat down and didn’t utter a peep for the rest of the weekend.
The presenter returned to the whiteboard and continued to teach to a room that was listening way harder than they were a few minutes before.
Five things to be learned here:
1. NEVER confront an expert if you aren’t 100% squeaky clean yourself
2. The RIGHT eye contact replaces a thousand words
3. SILENCE is sometimes your most powerful companion
4. KNOWING and DOING are different
5. LEARN how to own a room before you open your mouth.
You have also just experienced the power of learning through a story which leads to a discussion point.
My point is: I’ve found most therapists “know” Marianne’s beautiful words backwards but very few have fully “implemented” them and live them fully in their life
“IT IS OUR LIGHT, NOT OUR DARKNESS, THAT MOST FRIGHTENS US”
I have observed that most therapists can clearly articulate what’s wrong with them.
Our light is what’s right with us, however, most have never really owned what is right with them.
Therapists, practitioners, healers, coaches can be prone to hide from their light but spend copious amounts of time telling others how awesome they are and encouraging them to shine.
This creates a silent lack of credibility that others will see in you. You won’t be able to see them looking but you will feel it. What others can see is the insincerity you create within yourself if you haven’t walked through a fear you are asking others to face.
I find heartcentric people more likely to cower from their light than people who don’t even understand what “the light” is.
When you hide behind every excuse imaginable so you don’t have to put your name or yourself “up in lights” whilst telling others to do that, then a disconnect will form.
This causes even more hiding because you will fear that people will find out the “what’s wrong” part of your story.
Vicious circle huh!
WE ASK OURSELVES, ‘WHO ARE WE TO BE BRILLIANT, GORGEOUS, TALENTED, FABULOUS?’ ACTUALLY, WHO ARE YOU NOT TO BE?
Most heartcentric people think they know why they are in business and it usually goes something like “I just want to help others” or “I want to make a big difference on the planet”.
Basically they “want to change the world” ………. but are often frustrated because to do that you need to be teaching workshops and speaking to groups. Sometimes people are not even getting their message to an audience of one in their treatment rooms.
Most are not even regularly communicating with their people or writing articles because they don’t know what to write about. When you have a strong message the problem becomes too much to write about and to little time to do it in.
“YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.
YOUR PLAYING SMALL DOESN’T SERVE THE WORLD.
THERE’S NOTHING ENLIGHTENED ABOUT SHRINKING”
Most people I meet are hiding from the world and don’t or won’t put themselves outside their comfort zone. They have shrunk so much it’s like they are trying to sail a row boat in a puddle and are getting frustrated that only a few people can fit in and they can only take those people on a short ride.
To help more people get bigger results you need to create a bigger pond and you need a clear message that will encourage more people to come on board with you.
“WE ARE ALL MEANT TO SHINE, AS CHILDREN DO.
WE ARE BORN TO MANIFEST THE GLORY OF GOD THAT IS WITHIN US.
IT’S NOT JUST SOME OF US; IT’S EVERYONE”
Many see their mistakes or their weaknesses or past addictions or bad habits as faults.
Here’s the thing: These “faults” or “hiccups” ARE your message and your truth. That is why we are given the challenges so we can learn and grow from them. We tend to stuff them under the mat so others can’t see them but the world can still see it.
If you hide that truth your only course of action is to adopt someone else’s truth.
When you adopt the truth of others you end up living a lie.
No wonder you aren’t coming in contact with the right people to allow you to make the difference you yearn to deliver for people.
“AND AS WE LET OUR LIGHT SHINE
WE UNCONSCIOUSLY GIVE OTHERS PERMISSION TO DO THE SAME”
As people tell me their stories I’m coming to understand the reason why they want to make a difference to others is because they know how it feels to be down, or sick or addicted or stressed or like I was in a job I hated and needed to get out before it killed me.
Most people have found themselves training in a modality that will allow them the freedom to have their own business because at some time in their life, they wanted to move away from something that was causing them discomfort.
They never tell or even own that personal story in business because they think it will be seen as unprofessional, coming from ego or lets get real – most people don’t have a clue about the importance of their story ………… so have never tapped the gold in that vein.
When you finally tell your story, it allows others to come up and share that they have had a similar experience. People can relate to your story, so it is easy for them to relate to you.
As I teach Sore to SOAR, my speaking intensive workshop, I have come to understand that your story is your glory.
Once you understand and embrace your discomfort – you have your story.
***Clear and powerful messages create business success***
When you understand your story you can start to run towards opportunities because you know why people need to work with you.
When your story is clear everyone including YOU understands why you are in business.
But that’s not the biggest thing I do for people. Learning to speak makes you aware of how you have been hiding away from the world, playing small, not letting your light shine and not helping as many people as you want to. I give you permission to leave those limiting beliefs behind once and for all.
Fear stops most people from speaking in public. It’s a genuine fear and yes sometimes some idiot stands up in a room and challenges you. If you have the right knowledge to deal with the situation and a strong message, you will come out as the hero and grab the glory.
In Sore to SOAR three things we learn is the power of silence, the power of eye contact and how to own a room. We also learn how to keep repeating your message in different ways until the audience gets it.
You speak when your message gets bigger than your fear.
I had Marianne Williamson's words on my fridge for a long time. When I had the guts to have an opinion and a message, even when it wasn’t what everyone wanted to hear, I took the words off the fridge and started to speak.
I took it off the fridge not because I was a know it all but because I didn’t need to “know” it anymore. I had broken through the fear and was “living” her words in my life and my business.
“AS WE’RE LIBERATED FROM OUR OWN FEAR, OUR PRESENCE AUTOMATICALLY LIBERATES OTHERS.”
To change the world, we need to live our message.
If you are ready to get out from under the rock of fear that has been holding you down, I can promise you that attending my Sore to SOAR workshop will be one of the most uncomfortable things you have ever done.
There is a workshop at the end of June and the early bird ends this week.
The guy who taught me to own a room is the same person who eyeballed down *the standeruper*. In Sore to SOAR I teach you the same formula he taught me.
This workshop is full of good information but it won’t be easy for you. You will be asked to speak at the end of the weekend and actually implement what you have learned over the two days before you leave.
That’s why this course creates people with credible messages. It is also why 80% of past participants have created their first workshop within weeks of attending Sore to SOAR because all the fears have been walked through by the end of the weekend. You leave “knowing” it because you “implement” it.
So if you are sick of being the “I’m gonna” type of person and are really ready to serve a bigger audience, ready to teach others what you already know and are ready to get over yourself in one weekend ……….. book now.
My part of the deal is that I will treat you and your feelings with the greatest of respect because I have been through the process myself.
I will create a loving and safe environment where you and five others will break through together and support each other at each stage of the journey.
I promise you will leave able to liberate others with your pure light, simply by being your true self, knowing your story, seeing how it impacts others and being able to tell it in a way that not only liberates others but gives you the freedom you have been seeking to create your dream your way.
Book Now: all details here - www.Sore-to-SOAR.com
Friday, 28 May 2010
Are you ready to go to the next level?
Two strangers walk into a workshop.
Both were natural therapists looking for similar outcomes but nervous as all get out. They had never met before but by “co-incidence” managed to sit beside each other.
As it turned out both these women did have something in common. They had both seen me speak at their industry associations in 2007.
I hadn’t heard from either of them in nearly three years but they were here today because their message had got bigger than their fear of public speaking.
Despite their own reservations, they were ready to find out if they were “good enough” to speak from the front of a room.
I quizzed them as to what it was that they remembered most from the talk I delivered to their respective associations. Both immediately came back with a vague recollection of a couple of things I had taught them during that brief 60 minute talk.
However both cited the reason they were sitting in the chairs, about to take themselves to hell and back, was because they remembered my story. They felt they knew me from that story and they trusted me to help them.
Both talks had caused me extreme discomfort but this short exchange showed the reality of speaking your truth. I felt honoured by their trust but I also honoured and thanked myself for having the guts to go and speak to them all those years back.
The talks these women attended were “walk in and talk” events both delivered in bleak environments. One in particular I remember being VERY nervous at because no one had mentioned my talk would be videoed. I’d driven for two hours that Sunday morning telling myself the worst that could happen was that I’d only bomb in front of a few people. The video going out to their national membership upped the odds dramatically!
The other talk had been delivered during the worst weather Melbourne could conjure up. I was tired and weary because I’d had to leave home three hours early because three out of the four exit arteries around my town were closed due to snow blocking the roads. The journey normally takes around three hours. It took me six hours this day as I progressively drove through snow, gale force winds and driving rain.
Despite these not so harmonious circumstances I made an impact on both occasions not because I was good but because the story I told resonated deeply.
It wasn’t a fancy story. In fact it was a rock bottom story without a happy ending.
It was however my truth.
These two women remembered me and my story enough to pay to attend one of my workshops three years later. Not only that, they chose to turn up to a workshop and let an almost total stranger help them overcome a fear most would rather die than do.
Back then I knew nothing about method. I hadn’t been taught how to work the energy of a stage. I didn’t know how to adequately roll out a learning set. I didn’t know how to put knowledge into conceptual bites that make it easy for people to understand. I probably broke all the rules at both talks but still my message came through because I knew how to earn the right to be in the room.
A well crafted “earn the right” makes you credible and memorable no matter what is going on because it demands you speak at the intersection of love and truth.
I influenced those women not because I was some fast eddy with slick sales techniques. I impressed because I had experienced and lived through every wart, every crinkle, every tear and every emotion I spoke about.
The power of emotional speaking is that it builds relationships.
Once you learn how to harness the emotion and tell your story from your heart, people will not only sit through a sixty minute talk without throwing tomatoes, they also remember you years later. This alone is marketing gold. BUT it gets seriously golden when people will come and work with you without you having to evoke hard sell marketing techniques to get them there.
Sure it’s not the fast road to success but it’s powerful, it’s genuine and it’s real.
The course they attended last weekend was called Sore to SOAR and man did everyone soar. One participant contacted me this week to tell me she has sent away for the material she needs to run her first workshop. She has been meaning to do it for ages. Difference this week is that she has done it.
But I get this feedback all the time. It is awesome and I love hearing every word.
However there is something more important for me than seeing participants float from the room espousing how much they’ve grown and how good they feel. What is truly remarkable is the undeniable fact that 80% of the participants who have attended fully have either spoken in public or delivered their own workshops within two months of completing Sore to SOAR.
That’s my point of difference – people actually step up and step out, some within weeks of attending the course.
The people who have done the course are just everyday people who have a dream in their heart and a burning desire to help more people.
Many who are breaking through are busy Mum’s, people just setting up in practice or people who have already had success in one aspect of their practice. To date they have been a bit “scaredy cat” about the next step but are good to go now.
They are the unseen heroes who have been standing beside a massage table treating people one on one or sitting at home knowing something is growing within them. Knowing their message is important for the world but they have no idea what that message is, how to find it or how to get that message out or even where to start. This eventually causes discomfort.
Discomfort is the one thing that makes most humans move.
What’s weird is that these supposedly “ordinary” people already have the story within them that will gain them recognition and give them the confidence to leap up to the next level. Sore to SOAR allows them to connect with their story and we all have one. The true magic occurs when you learn to apply the “earn the right” formula to your story.
Sore to SOAR is not just another workshop it’s a personal expansion.
The two strangers left with an admiration for each other rarely forged in a weekend. One shared as she walked out the door that she felt she finally had all she needed to speak. It was an incredible honour to move her from feeling ordinary to extraordinary in such a short period of time.
Sore to SOAR gives people two ultimate gifts – confidence and no excuses.
If you are ready to go to the next level there is a Sore to SOAR intensive workshop running in Melbourne 26 and 27 June 2010.
Sore to SOAR takes you on a journey from a sore place of really hurting inside to one where you SOAR out the door on Sunday evening with a heap more clarity around what you do and how you can make a difference to a lot more people.
The early bird price is running out soon.
Book now: www.Sore-to-SOAR.com
Friday, 21 May 2010
Are You Addicted to Fear?
I had a big aha moment last week when a well loved client had her inner wimp out tap dancing on the table. As the wimp tapped loudly she made a lot of noise but was really only treading the same old boards out of habit.
I realised just like drugs, alcohol and anything else toxic that become a negative due to overuse, habits often cover fear. This creates a vicious circle because our egos love fear. Above all our ego hates change. This gives our ego a vested interest in keeping us dancing on the spot.
Fear and ego are a formidable force and continue to provide rational reasons not to do things.
Once addicted our fear and ego begins to dominate our destiny.
Eventually we overuse fear to the point of addiction.
Not such a bad thing if the behaviour we get addicted to is positive because initially that at least creates forward movement. But when the behaviour is negative it results in a downward spiral.
Unless we create some sort of intervention program, the problem only becomes worse.
You know you are addicted to fear if you:
* Are not moving forward
* Under charging
* Over giving
* Feeling frustrated that things aren’t working out for you
* Know your actions (or lack of them) are limiting your potential
* Start believing the excuses you create to cover your actions or inactions
* Listen to your negative voice instead of ignoring it
* Have a great message or service that isn’t getting to enough people
FEAR is the root cause of all these points and this is the short list. There are a thousand things we are addicted to that hold us back.
However I believe the fear list can be distilled down to seven core items
1. Fear of failureAll these fears are driven by internal voices that frankly just churn out a bunch of lies about you 24/7.
2. Fear of success
3. Fear of being judged
4. Fear of getting out of your comfort zone.
5. Fear of not being good enough
6. Fear of getting the things you actually want
7. Fear of your own greatness and light
Call the voices whatever you like – the monkey voice - inner wimp – inner vandal – inner critic – inner “holding you back from being who you really are” hooligan ……. there are a thousand “inners” who stop us in our tracks.
After a while though the voices become comfortable friends that give us an excuse for not accomplishing all the things we want to do. Once that happens, your fear is now an addiction.
Addiction comes in many forms and there are many theories, including 12 step programs that assist people to break through their addiction.
I know for myself I attended a Debtors Anonymous meeting and experienced the full hit of facing myself head on in a 12 Step program. As I spoke the words “I’m Margaret and I have a problem with debt”…..and heard the response back “Hi Margaret” …. I knew I had gone too far.
My problem came because I set out on a crazy journey of self discovery, following a dream that was probably best left in the “do with more resources” pile. I didn’t start out with the right knowledge to go from a salary earner to someone who had to sell themselves to make a living. By the time I got the right knowledge I was way out of control and was addicted to maxing out credit cards.
I knew that I had to overcome the addiction because it was holding me back.
My first step was to recognise I had a problem and then I had to look at the root cause because the debt was only a symptom. The real truth of the problem was that I was addicted to expensive personal development workshops. I kept going to them to get validation and they kept selling me another course. I had found the source of the problem. An out of control positive habit and the fear of not being good enough.
The hard core reality check that meeting gave me sent me cold turkey and made me accept I had just been repeating my old “not good enough” inner talk. Once I got that I understood I could at least stop the debt growing by accepting that I didn’t need others to tell me I was worthy of personal and business success.
It was time to set up my own courses and start teaching and silence that vicious inner wimp that was keeping me from helping others.
Now if I attend a course I ask three golden questions:
1. Is this educating a weakness or a strength?If not, then I have probably learnt the information already and haven’t been brave enough to put the knowledge into action, or my ego is keeping me in line.
2. Will I come out with a tangible skill
3. Are my guts churning? If they are, I know I’m facing a fear.
Either way I take an action that will pull me into discomfort because I know that’s where the growth is. I have found facing fear in this manner and walking straight through it clears the fear. But you have to keep facing your fear long term.
Good learning will make your guts churn because it puts you outside your comfort zone where you don’t know the answers. It will also place you with people who challenge and inspire you, not people who are churning out what you want to hear and making you feel all warm and fuzzy.
I was told at one of those fancy PD events, “Margaret once isn’t good enough - you need to climb a mountain of fear every day”. I had just exhausted myself overcoming the very real fear of climbing a very real mountain in a snow storm where at one point slipping on the ice and falling to your death down a ravine was a very real possibility.
There will always be another mountain of fear and that day I got to the top by taking one small step at a time. I knew if I stopped I would give up. I didn’t take breaks with the others I just kept going. I’ve found taking action certainly helps keep the wimp in line and the mountain climbable. Even in a snow storm I eventually blitzed my fear and the ego that said I couldn’t do it.
So if you are like me and you like to take action and walk through your fears then maybe I have a deal for you.
The greatest fear most people have is to speak in public.
The greatest business and personal growth building skill you can acquire is to speak in public.
I’ve also faced the fear of speaking in one hit.
I was a total wimp but knew I had to master public speaking to get my message out to more people. So my first public speaking appearance was to a roomful of my coaching peers. I just went and did it with no training. As it turned out I broke every “rule” in the book that fateful night but they loved me none the less and I’ve never looked back.
Now I help others get over the fear of speaking and I find the type of people who turn up to my Sore to SOAR speaking intensive are “just do it” wimps.
They are as scared as I was that night I spoke to my colleagues. But deep in their hearts they know they have to take a leap of faith because, like me, they figured out:
“You speak when getting your message out becomes more important than your fear”
Once you walk through a fear you realise there is nothing on the other side.
Once you speak you realise you have a tool that will give you everything on the other side along with the personal recognition you so deeply desire.
Sore to SOAR asks you to tell your personal story to six workshop participants.
Its like me speaking to coaches – it’s a safe audience because they understand how you feel. You can’t fail because you know your story backwards and the others in the group give you the encouragement to voice it.
The really interesting thing for me is that many of the natural therapists who attend the course have been drug and alcohol addicts in the past or have endured and overcome more physical and emotional abuse than most humans need to.
They turned to alternative therapies to heal their wounds and then went on to train in the modality that helped them. When you learn how to put your story into a compelling format - your story becomes your glory - and people start to understand why they need to work with you.
To date about 80% of the Sore to SOAR participants after finishing the course have either spoken to groups or set up their own small workshops and have started to stand in their own power. These are extraordinary results because most people leave workshops with great intent but fail to implement the knowledge or like me end up in courses that don’t make you take action.
My 12 step experience made me swear to create programs that really drive people do what they sign up for at least once. I think the difference with Sore to SOAR is simply that you go cold turkey. You face the fear in front of your peers and once you have mastered speaking, which is the one thing most people would rather do than die, you just go ‘pah’ and get on with it.
The effect speaking has on a small business is remarkable because it gives you opportunity to get in front of more people, you become an inspiration to others for your braveness and it opens new doors.
If you have a message inside you that is burring to get out – I’d love to help you banish your “inners” and finally feel “heard” not just in your business but in every level of your life.
The next Sore to SOAR Speaking Intensive is 26-27 June 2010 in Melbourne. It’s limited to six people. It sells out fast. Book NOW www.SoreToSoar.com
Friday, 19 February 2010
An Unexpected New Outcome from Speaking
The more I teach my Sore to SOAR workshop and help people understand how their story helps first them, then others get a greater understanding of what they do, the more I get an understanding of what learning to speak does for people.
Firstly I thought it was a fluke when practitioners started to report that after having completed the workshop and reported getting the normal things such as:
All the rational things you would expect from a speaking workshop.
What I didn’t expect was the intangible reports back the following week of how participants have gone back into their practice only to find their sessions with clients are not only going to a deeper level but clients reporting a greater understanding of the treatment and what it does for them.
This was unexpected and I have developed a whole new respect for speaking as more participants roll through the program and keep reporting the same thing. They are feeling more "heard" in their treatment room and finding that their treatments are going deeper.
This is starting to confirm my belief that our fears not only hold us back on one level – they hold us back in many deep layers of our being.
Because speaking is such a deep fear to overcome (research shows most people would rather die than speak in public) it must correlate that when that fear is released it makes space for a whole new level of good stuff to open up.
I love what I do – every day is filled up with new learning and observation and just when I think I am starting to get to the bottom of the barrel of what is possible, a whole new opportunity to help people grow opens up and a new barrel appears.
www.sore-to-SOAR.com
Sore to SOAR Melbourne
in the Conference Room at Quest
Firstly I thought it was a fluke when practitioners started to report that after having completed the workshop and reported getting the normal things such as:
- more confidence
- greater depth of understanding
- the sense of what it feels like to have a go
- getting more in touch with their message
- overcoming fear
All the rational things you would expect from a speaking workshop.
What I didn’t expect was the intangible reports back the following week of how participants have gone back into their practice only to find their sessions with clients are not only going to a deeper level but clients reporting a greater understanding of the treatment and what it does for them.
This was unexpected and I have developed a whole new respect for speaking as more participants roll through the program and keep reporting the same thing. They are feeling more "heard" in their treatment room and finding that their treatments are going deeper.
This is starting to confirm my belief that our fears not only hold us back on one level – they hold us back in many deep layers of our being.
Because speaking is such a deep fear to overcome (research shows most people would rather die than speak in public) it must correlate that when that fear is released it makes space for a whole new level of good stuff to open up.
I love what I do – every day is filled up with new learning and observation and just when I think I am starting to get to the bottom of the barrel of what is possible, a whole new opportunity to help people grow opens up and a new barrel appears.
www.sore-to-SOAR.com
Sore to SOAR Melbourne
in the Conference Room at Quest
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
The Drumming Session at Utopia Retreat 2009
The highlights of Utopia International Retreat 2009 were many and varied but for everyone who attended the drumming class with my gorgeous clients Sandy and Curly Harris of Relationship Mechanics, this clip brings back many grand memories.
At one stage there were as many as 50 people drumming and this clip in particular shows why the very lovely Jan Winslade of Yoga By the Bay should never be given a tamborine - a true example of expressing your inner tamborine goddess. You will also see my tribal clad self and Goddesses Raeleen Byrne and Megan Twidle alongside my fabulous newly moved to Bryon Bay Reiki Channel Belinda playing doon doons (the ancestor drums). TOO MUCH FUN and we still had the Evening Singing to the Stars Concert with Dean Frenkel to go that day!
Monday, 26 October 2009
The Importance of Standing Out in Business
There are many things that make up a successful small business but by far one of the most important things we need to keep in mind when we have a small business is to stand out and be different.
Being different helps in three ways
1. When you stand out from the crowd it makes it easy for people to remember you.I was reminded of the importance of standing out when it came time to choose the winner of this years Utopia prize draw of a months coaching with me. When you view the video you will see how a very simple addition to the entry form made the selection of a winner a no-brainer.
2. Finding creative ways to stand out draws attention to your business and frequently brings PR and free plugs that you may not have normally achieved.
3. You attract people of like mind to your business, which makes the sales process easy for you because they have attracted to you naturally rather than you trying to draw them in.
It also highlights the need to be vigilant and adding creative bursts of colour to everything we do.
Utopia is finished................. sadly
Well what a week in paradise!
Utopia was AWESOME last year but this year it was even AWESOMER (is that a word?) Everytime I think back to the very special moments shared over the weekend it brings me back into the fabulous heart space that was created over the weekend.
It was fabulous to meet up with last years presenters and to meet the new ones who were experiencing this special event for the first time. Words cannot adequately describe how wonderful it is to be with people of like mind for an extended period of time.
I have stayed on in Noosa for a little longer than anticipated because several of the presenters were involved with a fabulous event called Earth Magic and I decided I was so close and it would be rude not to attend - so I did and had an equally fabulous time experiencing the lovely Raeleen Burn speaking her truth and Jeremy Donovan wowing the crowd with his amazing knowledge and mind blowing didge playing oh and who knew he could play native american flute so adeptly. Raeleen and Jeremy released their CD at the event and celebrated all the joyous miracles that have occured for them this year as they step futher into their divine energy and soul purpose.
So as I soak up the blue skies and sunshine so foreign to this Victorian - you will be pleased to know I'm getting back to work and have interviewed my awesome hosts Sandy and Curly Harris of Relationship Mechanics about our experience of Utopia International Retreat
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
The Speakers Road to Utopia
.....2 more sleeps to go
Some brave decisions have been made, the keynote is down to 45 minutes and the aliens have proved less than reliable in the beam me up stakes - so it looks like I'm going to Utopia International Retreat in Noosa after all.
For a short time yesterday I was led to believe by a client that storms were expected over the Gold Coast - that would be too much cosmic humour when all I want to see is some blue skies.
BUT it appears clouds are not showing up on the Sunshine Coast but the weather report is looking quite bizarre. They seem to consistently use double digits to report their temperatures and are prone to put 2 and 3's in front of their numbers.
Thursday - Fine - Max 30
Friday - Fine - Max 29
Saturday - Fine - Max 26
Coming from central Victoria that seems very odd but it does at least say its going to be fine in the land of the fading curtains. You've got to love Queensland - they even give me back the hour I lost to daylight savings earlier in the month. Sleep in and still make the yoga session = EXCELLENT!
I'm also looking forward to walks by the river pictured above. The river is straight across the pedestrian crossing from the resort and it really is a world apart.
My only concern now is that I haven't as yet experienced the "I'M JUST NOT GOING" hissy fit but I dare say that will come. There seems a routine to these speaking jitters so the appearance of the detailed packing list is bound to set that one off.
Now if only I can change:
Wednesday - Windy and few showers - Max 11
I might even manage to get the washing dry and have clean underwear before I head to the airport tomorrow - its the golden rule of travel - always have clean underwear when travelling the highway of life.
I speak Friday afternoon and present a workshop on Saturday afternoon and then I get to play for the rest of the weekend - guess that makes up for the "speaker belly" and irrational hissy fits.
I'm booked in for Lia Scallon's Crystal Skulls workshop and my big manifesting crystal is coming to get activated by her well travelled crystal skull. I have no idea what that entails but will be excited to find out. Lia also does the opening ceremony which I will be participating in as well so I'll be fascinated to hear her channel the sounds of Sirius. I have little knowledge of Lia's work and her crystal skulls but they seem to be turning up all over the world so I am very much looking forward to that. PLUS I get to go to everyone else's keynotes and watch them do the jittery speaker routine that will be well and truly over for me by the time the cocktail hour rocks in on Friday night. Shame I don't drink!
My place under the palm tree by the pool awaits.
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
The Speakers Road to Utopia
.....3 more sleeps to go
The answer is aliens today. It seems the only sane way – three more sleeps to go and my keynote is still over time – I’ve taken some out and more crept in while I wasn’t looking!!! A few Klingons on the starboard bow right now would be the answer - aliens beaming me up will solve the need to go on.
But let’s hope the aliens beam me up after I get to Noosa because it’s grey and pouring with rain here and we welcome the rain but I’d really like to see some blue skies. A few hours by the pool at Australis after the Utopia International Retreat has finished will be welcome respite from the grey.
This lead up is really making me look back and understand how far I’ve come in this crazy journey I’ve been on for the past 10 years. A keynote really helps you reflect on the things that have become important to your message.
Speaking is one of the scariest and most irrational things you can do as a human because it takes you away from the tribe. Anytime we disconnect from the tribe or our community or the group of people that happens to be in front of us, we go into discomfort.
Discomfort is our greatest friend. As humans we rarely make a bold move if everything around us is fine, its just human nature to want to keep the status quo balanced. But speaking is one of the few things you do that tip that status quo on a voluntary basis. Speakers, musicians, workshops leaders, rally leaders, we all actually put our hands up to place ourselves outside the normal comfort zone. Most would rather die than speak in public so it’s why people are so inspired when you do and speaking is a totally learnable skill for most people.
I’m SO glad I learnt how BUT in the lead up to this un-natural way of being …….. of course I am forced to ask myself constantly throughout he day WHAT WAS I THINKING!
Now where are those aliens?
But let’s hope the aliens beam me up after I get to Noosa because it’s grey and pouring with rain here and we welcome the rain but I’d really like to see some blue skies. A few hours by the pool at Australis after the Utopia International Retreat has finished will be welcome respite from the grey.
This lead up is really making me look back and understand how far I’ve come in this crazy journey I’ve been on for the past 10 years. A keynote really helps you reflect on the things that have become important to your message.
Speaking is one of the scariest and most irrational things you can do as a human because it takes you away from the tribe. Anytime we disconnect from the tribe or our community or the group of people that happens to be in front of us, we go into discomfort.
Discomfort is our greatest friend. As humans we rarely make a bold move if everything around us is fine, its just human nature to want to keep the status quo balanced. But speaking is one of the few things you do that tip that status quo on a voluntary basis. Speakers, musicians, workshops leaders, rally leaders, we all actually put our hands up to place ourselves outside the normal comfort zone. Most would rather die than speak in public so it’s why people are so inspired when you do and speaking is a totally learnable skill for most people.
I’m SO glad I learnt how BUT in the lead up to this un-natural way of being …….. of course I am forced to ask myself constantly throughout he day WHAT WAS I THINKING!
Now where are those aliens?
Monday, 12 October 2009
The Speakers Road to Utopia
.....4 more sleeps to go
Everything is looking good – I’ve put in all my paperwork – I’m booked in row 8A so don’t have to do the bun fight up the back of the plane and all is looking good.
There are four sleeps now until I speak and I have a funky new hair do and I’ve just come back from a wonderful massage and reflexology session so I’m totally ready to go on one level.
HOWEVER I’m sitting here wondering how I can get out of it – who I could substitute and despite having the most awesome experience last time I spoke I'm wondering why did I ever say I would do it again in the first place! Was I totally mad, what was I thinking! This is totally normal and par for the course and in fact has been going on now for a about week but still I can't come up with a good enough excuse not to go on. Got four more sleeps to go though......
But despite all the drama queen voices fighting for a position in the queue I’ve written my keynote and it’s 15 minutes longer than it needs to be and now there is anguish over which part has to go ….. and there’s four more sleeps to go!
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
How to Avoid Ending Up Burnt Out & Broke When Organising Your Event
Events are a wonderful way to get your message out to a larger audience and also to start positioning yourself as an expert in your chosen field.
What I have worked out is that events are risky at best and you MUST know what you are doing or you will lose your blouse on an event and end up with tears before bedtime!
Many find the thought too daunting and never have a go because there is so much to learn and do and......well......it does involve the one thing most would rather die than do, which is public speaking. We are not saying there isn’t a lot to learn and do but if you are prepared to follow a process and do some early leg work, then the rewards on every level can be huge.
Like everything the answer is to start early and to start small and take on the challenges in bite sized chunks.
Samantha Richardson and my good self ran a teleclass last night that gave some quick and dirty tips and strategies to help you gain the confidence to get your own events started.
When I first started out in my small business I knew I had to network but I was totally useless at it. As it turns out this became a wonderful strength because it made me realise that at a networking event you are very lucky to get ten people knowing what you do but everyone goes home knowing who the speaker is. That realisation changed my life and still today I rarely go to networking events in any other capacity than the speaker (yes, I’m still a rubbish networker!),
I went from someone who was petrified of speaking to someone who loves to speak in front of an audience.
The biggest thing I learnt was the importance of clarity. We discuss this on the audio below.
The audio will also give you the following three marketing tips you can use to start to put bums on seats at events
1. The importance of building a strong databaseBut please burn Sam's wise words into your brain because these tips are only meant to be a taster - there is a whole lot more you need to know.
2. What are affiliates and how can they help get people to your events
3. How to leverage other people’s events to get exposure for your event and still have the event organiser love you
“There is no one way to get lots of people to an event
but there are lots of ways to get one person to an event”
Samantha Richardson, Evolution Events
but there are lots of ways to get one person to an event”
Samantha Richardson, Evolution Events
You can listen to the audio here:
MP3 File
If you feel you are ready to take the next big step you will love our live event YOUR NEXT BIG LEAP which is running in Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane – you can find out more here. http://yournextbigleap.eventbrite.com/
If you live in Adelaide don't forget we are speaking at two networking events at the end of May 09 more details here
Oh and BTW - little Harry was just fine, although he did spend the next few days looking like an extra from a Rocky movie - he has hopefully learnt about playing in games with your big brother - the injury factor grows! You will understand when you listen to the audio.
Monday, 11 May 2009
Adelaide Promotional Events
I am co-presenting an event called YOUR NEXT BIG LEAP with Samantha Richardon of Evolution Events which is in June. We are going be doing two lead up teleclasses and two live presentations which you are all invited to attend so you can get to know us up close and personal. Details below:
Live Event #1
Enterprising Woman's Meeting
Samantha Richardson and Margaret Gill present
Live Event #1
Enterprising Woman's Meeting
Samantha Richardson and Margaret Gill present
"How to Earn More, Work Less & Not Lose Your Blouse in the Process"
Date : Friday 29th May 2009
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Cleggett Wines Lang¬horne Creek, SA 5255
Booking Cost: $20.00 to cover wine & nibbles.
Hosted by Anne McLennan of Cleggett Wines and Sharon Bremner of Bodysense by Shaz
Bookings Essential: (08) 8536-8366
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Cleggett Wines Lang¬horne Creek, SA 5255
Booking Cost: $20.00 to cover wine & nibbles.
Hosted by Anne McLennan of Cleggett Wines and Sharon Bremner of Bodysense by Shaz
Bookings Essential: (08) 8536-8366
Samantha Richardson and Margaret Gill present
"How to Make More Money & Get Authentic Heart Based Messages to a Larger Audience"
Date: Saturday 30th May 2009
Time: 3.00pm to 5.00pm
Venue: Quality Hotel Old Adelaide Inn
160 O’Connell St. North Adelaide
Booking Cost: $28
Sorry guys this one is ladies only
Time: 3.00pm to 5.00pm
Venue: Quality Hotel Old Adelaide Inn
160 O’Connell St. North Adelaide
Booking Cost: $28
Sorry guys this one is ladies only
Hosted by Sue Gibbs of Financial Choice for Women
Bookings Essential: 1300 876 494
Map to get to the Venue
View Larger Map
Friends & colleagues welcome at both events
2 x Free Teleclasses
How to Avoid Ending Up Burnt Out & Broke When Organising Your Event
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, May 12th at 8.00pm Melbourne Time
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast -- it's your choice)
The phone numbers to dial are at this link
http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=7024026
Bookings Essential: 1300 876 494
Map to get to the Venue
View Larger Map
Friends & colleagues welcome at both events
2 x Free Teleclasses
How to Avoid Ending Up Burnt Out & Broke When Organising Your Event
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, May 12th at 8.00pm Melbourne Time
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast -- it's your choice)
The phone numbers to dial are at this link
http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=7024026
How to Earn More, Work Less and Not Lose Your Blouse in the Process
DATE & TIME: Tuesday, June 2nd at 8:00pm Melbourne Time
FORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast -- it's your choice)
The phone numbers to dial are at this link
http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=7024152
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Are You Ready to Take Your Next Big Leap
Have you got a lot going on in your business and life?
Are you ready to jump up to the next level but have no idea how?
Have you got a secret desire to facilitate change in the world but are unsure how to get your message out?
Do you need to find the clarity and knowledge to bring your message together?
Many women have created a business that was meant to stay small and insignficant only to wake up one morning and realise their message has become bigger than Texas. Then the dilema becomes how to get that message out to the masses who are starting to want to hear it.
The Adelaide Luxury Business Bootcamp is designed to help you firstly get the confidence to run your own events and start getting your message out to more people.
We will help you to understand what an authentic message is and how to become comfortable enough to start getting your message out to larger groups of people.
PLUS we are also going to help you to fill your events by sharing the many different ways you can get people to your event.
We are calling it "Get Organised, Get Real and Get On With It"
Who is the Adelaide Luxury Business Bootcamp for?
Women in Business, Solo-prenuers, Coaches, Natural Therapists, up and coming presenters and workshop leaders - in fact anyone who leads from the heart and has a message inside them that is screaming to get out.
An event is any gathering bigger than two people, what we teach will help whatever stage you are at in your business, whether you want to have small intimate gatherings or big seminars and workshops.
Event dates
Friday 18 June 09 to Sunday 20 June 09
Venue
Mercure Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide
125 North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
www.mercuregrosvenorhotel.com.au
Costs
Full Price $1497
Early Bird is $397 (ends 12 Jun 09)
Super Early Bird is $249 (only 10 tickets at this price + only available until 17 April 09)
click here to register and pay
Click here for more information
Are you ready to jump up to the next level but have no idea how?
Have you got a secret desire to facilitate change in the world but are unsure how to get your message out?
Do you need to find the clarity and knowledge to bring your message together?
Many women have created a business that was meant to stay small and insignficant only to wake up one morning and realise their message has become bigger than Texas. Then the dilema becomes how to get that message out to the masses who are starting to want to hear it.
The Adelaide Luxury Business Bootcamp is designed to help you firstly get the confidence to run your own events and start getting your message out to more people.
We will help you to understand what an authentic message is and how to become comfortable enough to start getting your message out to larger groups of people.
PLUS we are also going to help you to fill your events by sharing the many different ways you can get people to your event.
We are calling it "Get Organised, Get Real and Get On With It"
Who is the Adelaide Luxury Business Bootcamp for?
Women in Business, Solo-prenuers, Coaches, Natural Therapists, up and coming presenters and workshop leaders - in fact anyone who leads from the heart and has a message inside them that is screaming to get out.
An event is any gathering bigger than two people, what we teach will help whatever stage you are at in your business, whether you want to have small intimate gatherings or big seminars and workshops.
Event dates
Friday 18 June 09 to Sunday 20 June 09
Venue
Mercure Grosvenor Hotel Adelaide
125 North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
www.mercuregrosvenorhotel.com.au
Costs
Full Price $1497
Early Bird is $397 (ends 12 Jun 09)
Super Early Bird is $249 (only 10 tickets at this price + only available until 17 April 09)
click here to register and pay
Click here for more information
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Utopia International Retreat is On Again for 2009
Utopia International Retreat 2009 it's happening again!!
You may have remembered me returning from speaking at the 2008 event and just being in such a wonderful space after meeting all the wonderful participants and presenters.
This year is promising to be even better with a longer list of presenters, all with a unique passion in their specific area of expertise.
There is a very beautiful new website you can visit here where you will see me a picture of me presenting last year on the home page. The website production this year is sponsored by Kyrona and Rebecca at Inspired Insight and they have done a wonderful job.I'm going to be interveiwing most of the presenters in the lead up to the event so stay tuned and get your ticket early this year.
The photo is from the closing ceremony in 2008 and it shows me getting a healing from the fabulous Jeremy Donovan who will also be doing the closing ceremony in 2009 but with Dr Stephan Farmer. People who have seen them work together in the past say they are AMAZING!
You can see photos of last year and read some of the testimonials from last year here
Listen to the First Interview
You can listen to the lovely Susan Joy Coombes and Simone Matthews who are the co-creators of this years event talking about what we can expect in 2009.
Utopia is a not for profit event and if you can get the message out in any way, shape or form, we would be very grateful and after presenting last year I can promise you won't be disappointed if you decide to attend - UTOPIA IS AWESOME! Click here to register
Utopia - Susan Joy Coombes and Simone Matthews Interview
MP3 File
Friday, 6 March 2009
Get Naked, Get Help & Get a Winning Attitude!!
Leonie Marks, Holistic Coach, Mentor and Intuitive Astrologer will be the master of ceremonies at the Luxury Business Bootcamp myself and Samantha Richardson of Evolution Events will be holding on the Gold Coast later this month.
Leonie wrote a wonderful article for her people this month and I thought I would share it with you,
Firstly because she has done a great job of telling her own story of getting up on stage and speaking
Secondly because she gives some great tips on how to stop the sabbotage and get on with being fabulous!
Thirdly becuase you are probably sick of Sam and I banging on about the topic. It will be a nice change to hear a new perspective = ENJOY!
More than ever before, its time to move forward. . .. . . and more than ever before you'll be aware of any struggle that brings up - along with those old feelings of being held back or blocked . . .
Whatever you label that “obstacle” – the truth is, its your own self-sabotage reaction trying to keep you safe, secure and firmly stuck - right where you are now.
The good news is
. . . those undesirable feelings of frustration, stuckness and even
fear – are a huge sign that you’re ready to go to the next level! The biggest decision is to take the first step, then it gets easier, you just keeping taking one step and before you know it, you’ve travelled a huge distance and achieved things you never thought possible!
Since I've come to recognise the feeling of being stuck as a big fat signpost in my life – its completely changed how I respond to life and what I attract as a result.
Here’s how I put that into practice last year:
I had this enormous urge to get my message out there and help a lot more people to step up in their lives – the urge set off the old feelings of frustration at not knowing how. On good advice from my business coach I accepted the challenge of increasing my speaking engagements. Of course that meant I had to really face up to the fear of "revealing" myself in public.
Now, those who know me well, know that I can talk underwater!
So what’s the big deal?
Well, I didn’t want to just talk at people, I wanted to share my message with clarity and confidence in a way that would inspire, inform and give value to my audience. All being well, when they needed services such as mine the added bonus would be - they’d remember me Sounds great doesn’t it?
"Getting Naked"
But I still had to get naked in public! Yikes, it was feeling like those dreams we’ve all had, there you are up on stage or out in the streets in your birthday suit, amongst the wide-eyed fully clad public, all gawking right at you! Did I really need to put myself through that?
Get Help
To get things moving more quickly in the direction I wanted to go, it had to be done. So, Yes I needed to do it. There was no way I was getting through it alone, so with a good coach and a public speaking mentor to help me shape up, front up and speak up, I put myself out there.
The first few big audiences had me sweating and fretting - but talk by talk I've grown into a place of confidence and joy in my public speaking and now I’m calling back to the universe - "bring it on" - I love connecting to each new group and sharing my life and business with a wider circle.
Get a Winning Attitude
The "can do" attitude keeps inspiring self-confidence and more can-do attitude – which is very useful! And it brings exciting rewards.
I want to share one of mine with you, because it could be benefit you directly.
I've been invited to be MC at The Tough Love Luxury Business Boot Camp
on the Gold Coast in March, which is an exciting opportunity.
The boot camp is for anyone who wants to create successful events, seminars and workshops; and use speaking to enhance their career/business.
These 2 skills are a must in almost all career choices – to check out the great package Margaret Gill and Samantha Richardson have put together click here to download brochure
So, to summarise how we can make the most of our opportunities in 2009 here are the
6 Keys to Stepping Up and Moving Forward:
• Recognise the Signs
As in "Good News" above, those unwanted feelings of frustration, irritability, fear and stuckness - are always a sign that its time to let go, move on, step up - so don't deny them or run from them, turn around and step through them!
• Get Naked
Let’s not hide anymore - being open with self and others is the most amazing way to grow and really experience what you want in life.
Practice openness with self and others
• Stop the Struggle
Don't struggle alone - get help from someone who’s been there!
Battling along on your own is futile. Whether you know what you want and can't get there on your own; or you can't decide what you want and need
• Clarity and Direction
Get help - coaching, counselling, mentoring,
there is always someone out there who has the experience and knowledge you need – and is just dying to share it with you. Not getting help = self-sabotage!
• Winning Attitude
No need to play small. Stand up loud and proud, be who you are, go after what you want. We're here to grow and shine. As we do that we naturally attract what we really want to give and receive in life.
• Celebrate every step!
As above - I'm well over the old tall poppy syndrome! How about you? Our growth and achievements, no matter what they are, benefit us and everyone around us. The ripple effect reaches farther than we can imagine.
We deserve to celebrate and honor ourselves and each other every step of the way!
Its all in our awareness, attitude and action.
Introducing Leonie Marks
Leonie is a Coach, Mentor and Astrologer who helps women to gain the clarity, confidence and practical tools to move to new levels of success in their careers and businesses. “I’ve always known my purpose was to help others to achieve their dreams. My journey began with years of intense study and training in Nursing, Psychology, Counseling and Natural Therapies. However, the real power of my work comes from having “been there and done that” in my own life. Having achieved my way into a complete burn out 10 years ago - I’ve had to dig deep for the wisdom in what I thought I knew so well. That’s when my real “education” began. Now I love helping others to master that process and move forward with confidence”.
Leonie is the founder of the “Come Unstuck” and “Business Stardom” programs. Her clients and students benefit from her genuine, down to earth approach and her continued practice of applying the spiritual principles of life mastery in her daily life.
Leonie lives and works in the beautiful Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia.
www.LeonieMarks.com
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
How to Make More Money Running Your Own Speaking Events & Workshops
Click the heart to hear me talking about the bootcamp
Event Details
How to Make More Money Running Your Own Speaking Events and Workshops Luxury Bootcamp
Dates
Friday 20 March 2009 - Sunday 22 March 2009 (Monday optional 1:1 sessions)
Friday
6.30PM - 7.30PM
NETWORKING COCKTAIL PARTY
7.30PM - 9PM
DINNER (register your interest)
Saturday
9AM - 12:30PM
SAMANTHA RICHARDSON PRESENTS “Event In A Box”
12 Easy Steps To Creating And Running A Successful Event
1:30 - 5PM
MARGARET GILL PRESENTS
“How To Harness The Power Of Workshops And Seminars To Get Known And Get More Clients”
Sunday
9am – 5pm Hands On & Feet On Workshops
Choice Of Samantha Richardson Or Margaret Gill
*Limited To 10 People In Each Workshop
Monday (Optional)
One On One Power Hour With The Presenters
Your Event Up Close And Personal Business Mentoring (Your Choice Of Topic)
HOW TO REGISTER
Click here to visit the Evolution Events Website to register
WHAT IS IT?
Are you nervous about organising your own events or speaking in public?When you know how to do both (run and speak at your own events) you open up all sorts of wonderful opportunities to make more money and get better known as an expert in your industry.
This Luxury Business Boot Camp is just what it says a hard talking, solid advice, downloaded from our hearts to you, business building weekend.
Both presenters are passionate about helping people grow successful businesses and we see workshops and seminars as a really important aspect when you have knowledge to share with others. So our main aim is to see you leave with all the facts you need to get your workshops and seminars happening - it’s that simple!
What's more we will help you feel confident speaking in front of your groups, by sharing firstly what you need to do but more importantly pointing out what you don't need to do. The latter part is something that will rarely occur where people tell you honestly what you can't see.
We are prepared to share what we have learnt so you don't have to endure the tears both of us have encountered at the cliff face of live events!
HOW TO GET MORE INFORMATION
Click here to download a brochure for the event
FREE TELESEMINARS
Margaret Gill will be running two free teleseminars to let you hear for yourself what will be on offer at the live event. These teleseminars on their own will give you a LOT of free information about speaking and did I mention its free!! (NB: Different info will be taught at the live event)
You can get more details about the free teleseminars here:
*********************************************************************************
FREE TELESEMINAR #1:
How Learning to Speak Can Grow Your Business
How Learning to Speak Can Grow Your Business - Listen here:
MP3 File
*********************************************************************************
FREE TELESEMINAR #2:
Seven Steps to Speaking Success
The Seven Steps to Speaking Success - Listen Here:
MP3 File
*********************************************************************************
BONUS TELECLASS #3
Why Speaking Works
Why Speaking Works - Listen here
MP3 File
*********************************************************************************
Not sure what a teleseminar is - then click here
VENUE DETAILS
MARINA QUAYS INTERNATIONAL John Lund Drive,
Hope Island, QLD 4212
P: (07) 5530 1999
E: stay@marinaquays.com.au
www.marinaquaysinternational.com.au
HOW TO REGISTER
Click here to visit the Evolution Events Website to register
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