Consider the Value You Bring to the Table

If you’re having trouble wrapping your head around the idea of packages, you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs who have worked traditional jobs struggle with this concept.

That’s because when you’re working for someone else, you’re forced to watch the clock. You must be present for a certain number of hours. This may mean being a cashier for 8 hours. Even if the store is completely empty, you’re still there.

Stop Filling Your Hours

If you’re not careful this mindset can transfer over to your business. You show up to your laptop or tablet each day, with the knowledge you’re going to be there for eight hours.

The problem is that creating a client’s website only takes you two hours. So you just fill the other six hours with busy work like checking the news, posting to social media, and hanging out on forums.

Then at the end of the day, you scramble to get the website published and send out an invoice. You may feel like you’ve worked all day but you really didn’t. You stretched a simple project into the time available.

Focus on Your Value

Instead of focusing on time, start looking at the value that you’re providing. It doesn’t matter if you made that value happen in two hours or twenty. If the project only needed four hours of your attention, then complete it in that time-frame and turn it in. Don’t wait by the clock just because you feel like you have to.

As an entrepreneur, you’re in control of your time. If you believe it’s valuable, your clients will pick up on that and have more confidence in you!

Your Skills + Experience = Value

Service providers can sometimes think in terms of what they can do, like writing a sales page or setting up the tools to seamlessly automate a client’s marketing.

But it’s not just about your skills. It’s also about the experience you carry with you and your ability to get the job done correctly. There are dozens of ways to do most tasks.

Your client can get overwhelmed wondering which path is the right one. With your experience, you can guide them to the action that will help them achieve their goals.

Imagine a client comes to you looking for web design services. There are plenty of ways to start a website but they’re stuck. They don’t know which option is going to serve their needs.

You listen to their request and ask probing questions. You get an idea for their vision and understand what features are essential to their website. Then you create a WordPress site for them.

You didn’t only make a website for them. You showed them which option is the best one based on their needs and that knowledge is worth a premium. You saved the client countless hours of frustration, streamlined their decision, and gave them valuable insights. That’s worth far more than just your hourly rate!

At first, it might feel intimidating to create a package with a large price tag. But keep in mind that your experience and expertise are priceless.

What Services Could You Create a Package Around?

I'm sure you all remember my friend the graphic designer. She loved what she did. She totally enjoyed creating images for her clients to use in their marketing and advertising campaigns. But she was beginning to max out the amount of time she could spend on her business,. There are only so many hours in a day. So she began looking into packages.

Maybe you’ve heard of packages—some service professionals create a package that allows them to sell their skills for more money. This lets them to continue to grow their income without spending all their time at the computer. If you like the sound of creating a package in your business, read on for tips to get started…

Think about the Service Requests You Get

If you’re a website designer, do you get requests to put together snazzy sales pages complete with beautiful graphics? If you’re a virtual assistant, are your clients always begging you to set up their mailing list in AWeber or ConvertKit?

Grab pen and paper quickly. Write down the top 5 tasks your clients ask you to handle. Would you like to turn one or more of these tasks into a package? What might that look like to you?

Focus on Your Favorites

As you begin looking for tasks that you could turn into packages, make notes of your favorite ones. You’ll want to build an offer around the services that you most enjoy so that you’re excited and eager to sell your new package.

Don’t try to design a package around tasks you hate doing. You’ll dread the work and have difficulty closing sales. Clients will be able to sense your unhappiness and be less likely to work with you.

Rate Your Services

Once you have a list of projects you love doing, try rating each one on a scale of 1-10. One is the type of task you hope to never do again. Ten is the task that makes you sit back and think, “How AMAZING is it that I get to wake up and do this every day?!”

If you haven’t been working long as a service provider or if you’re frustrated with your work, you may not have any projects that rank a 10 for you yet. You may discover that most of your projects rank just a 5.

This can be a wake-up call that you want to change up your offers or find clients that are a better fit for your business.

Get Feedback

You can also share your task evaluations with a fellow service provider or a business mentor. Let them take a peek and give their advice. Maybe another service provider will show you that your service is great fit but you’re not attracting the right clients.

Perhaps your business coach can point out projects that might be better suited to your strengths. Lean in and listen to the people that are rooting for you to succeed. Let them help you discover new paths that you may have overlooked.

Take your time and think through your package. You want to design it so that you’re only taking on projects that light you up and fill you with joy.

Ready to expand your business without expanding your hours? Join the Multiple Streams Of Income Challenge. Click here to join the group and get ready to see what you can add to your business without giving up more time.

My Thoughts On Becoming Confident In Your Business

Self-confidence is critical to success and happiness. And yet we all struggle with it in some way. You probably saw my 2013 post on the subject. If not, you should read it. Healthy Self Esteem = Healthy Business.

But I realized that it's been eight years since I wrote that piece. And in the era of the pandemic and all the ensuing turmoil, anger, and yes...even outright hate...our self-confidence may have plummeted. If you were one of the many who became unemployed or lost your business; if you're struggling to pay bills or provide for your family; your belief in yourself may be at an all-time low. Understandable.

So I wanted to share some thoughts on becoming confident again. Confident in your own abilities.  Confident in your dreams and plans. Confident in your future.

To be truly confident, you have to let go of what other people think of you. And you have to let go of how others treat you. 

Self-confidence is a state of mind. But it's a state of mind that you can manage. That doesn't mean you always have to explain yourself. You don't have always "stick up for yourself." When you are truly confident in your self, it just shows. You are who you are. It doesn't matter if your business failed this time. It doesn't matter if you are struggling to keep it going. It doesn't matter if you aren't where you thought you would be by now. And it definitely doesn't matter what anyone thinks or says about it. What does matter is that you are true to yourself and just keep moving forward as best you can. Stop wasting time on people who don't deserve it. You are YOU. And only the BEST people get to be around YOU!

Now is the time to figure out your next best move. Do you need to go back to work to get some income while you rebuild? So be it. There's nothing wrong with that.

Do you need to scale back a bit while you regain your footing? Okay. That's better than quitting.

Do you need to pivot to a different business model that's more feasible now? Not a problem. Adaptable businesses SURVIVE! 

So whenever you are feeling a little down...

Whenever someone you know is giving you grief over a failed or struggling business...

Whenever you...or they...think it's time to give up on the life you want for yourself and your family...

Stand tall, put your shoulders back, pick your head up, and say "So what? I am going to keep living my life and building my dream."

(By the way...that's a classic power pose. Roll your shoulders back to straighten your spine. Widen your stance a bit. Lift your head and your eyes. This slight shift instantly gives you an air of confidence. Not only will you look more confident to those around you. You will FEEL more confident. Isn't it great how body language works?!)

Hope you found this useful. Don't forget to get on my mailing list! I promise I will keep you pumped up, up-to-date on all the latest tips, tricks, and trends, and be your biggest cheerleader...after yourself, of course!

If You Are Still Trading Time For Money, You Are Limiting Your Growth

Trading hours for dollars limits your growth. It's not entirely your fault if you are. That's how most of us were raised. We had a job that required us to work a certain number of hours for which we were paid a set amount per hour worked. So it's natural that even when we started our own business, we were trading time for money.  

When I started my social media marketing business, I started by offering my services as a content creator. I wrote articles, short reports, and ebooks for my clients. I also created graphics and social media posts. As I grew my client list, I started bumping against a common problem for freelancers - a lack of time.

Offering services gave me space to grow as I started an online business that was truly my own...not network marketing or affiliate marketing. I learned about what my audience wants and how to deliver it. I had the chance to experiment with different projects and discover what my style is.

But as amazing as doing service work is, I still faced a serious limitation - my time. I could charge for the hours I work, but there are only so many hours in the day.

It’s true that you can learn to work faster. But if you're trading time for money, you’ll eventually hit that hard limit on what’s possible, just like I did. That means your potential and income will cap out - unless you change the way you offer your services.

Packages Are the Key to Getting Paid Better for Your Time

Packages work like this: you create an offer like designing 25 graphics, which may initially take you about 10 hours to do. Rather than charging an hour rate for 10 hours of your time, you put a price on the package and a client pays that – having no attachment to the amount of time you’ll put into it.

As your skill increases and you get to know your client’s needs better, you work faster and faster and still get paid like you worked for 10 hours. That’s the power of packages. But that’s not even the best part. Clients love packages too. They like having a clear price and task list to say “yes” to.

Packages Aren’t Really about Time or Money

As an entrepreneur, you don’t just have your skills to offer. You also have your experience and knowledge. When a client purchases your package, they’re paying for all that you bring to the table, not just your time.

Your knowledge is valuable. Your experience is priceless.

When you understand this, your eyes are opened to the incredible impact of your work. It makes it easier to charge more for your packaged services and gives you newfound confidence when speaking with potential clients.

Packages are Perfect for Everyone

The great thing about offering a package is that it can work in just about any industry and for any type of service professional. It doesn’t matter if you’re a copywriter, graphic designer, coach, or another kind of freelancer.

When I began offering packages, I was surprised at how quickly some of my clients said “yes”. I’d been worried that my clients would think my skills were less valuable if they were packaged but I found the opposite was true. I have never been more in demand!

Watch for Your Champions

The Dream Giver is one of my favorite books. It tells the story of Ordinary, who dares to leave the Land of Familiar and pursue his Big Dream. As he overcomes obstacles and challenges on his journey, he meets Champion. Champion is a character that also once chased a dream and now encourages others to do the same.

This story illustrates an important truth—every dream seeker needs to be surrounded by champions. Champions are dreamers who didn’t give up. They kept going even in the face of pressure and ridicule from others. Here’s how to build your own network of champions…

Look for Your Dream Team

Sometimes, we don’t see what’s right in front of us. Maybe you’ve had a dream to get healthy and lose weight for years now. Every month, a co-worker invites you to visit his gym as a guest. You’ve always said no because you were too busy listening to the voices who discouraged you.

Many times, life moves champions into our path right before we realize a dream. You have to look up and look around for these people. They’re usually the ones that are positive and upbeat. They’re challenging themselves and pursuing BIG goals. They’re not threatened when you go after what you want because they know that growing together is powerful.

Double Up

For every naysayer in your life, you need two champions to drown out the doubtful thoughts they plant in your mind. Sometimes, the champions will be people like you that have similar goals. Sometimes, they have drastically different goals but they still believe in and support you.

For those of us who are Christians, Jesus is the ultimate Champion. He is our Advocate and friend. He fights for us on days when we’re too weak to fight. He believes in us even when we feel lost and alone.

Make an Effort to Connect

As you’re looking for champions, make sure you’re willing to reciprocate. Just as you want people around you that you believe in you, you need to believe in others. Listen to their dreams, remind them that they can succeed, and motivate them on the hard days.

Care for your champions. This might be as simple as texting a friend to check-in, writing a “thinking of you” note to a champion who’s been feeling discouraged, sending a care package, or meeting up in real life (or virtually) to chat.

Humans were designed for connection. As The Dream Giver illustrates, we’re not meant to travel this journey alone. Take the time to surround yourself with champions and love on them whenever you get the chance!

Taking A Stand Creates an Invitation

I had always wanted to become a motivational speaker and author. Once my military service was over, I dreamed of writing a book about my experiences and touring the country as a speaker on women in the military. But then came a traumatic divorce, a sick child, and the dream was pushed to the back of my mind. I thought about a few topics that I felt passionate about and even jotted down proposals and book outlines. But life always "happened". Still I never gave up on my dream and promised myself that if the opportunity ever came, I would grab it and go.

Then I met Ken McArthur. He hosted marketing events. I had retired from the military and was working as an event planner. I was excited when Ken hired me to coordinate his events. I was even more excited when one day, after working with him for several years, he invited me to speak at one of his event. .

The seminar led to more speaking engagements...and more contacts. Eventually, it led to the publisher and editor who would help me bring my book to life. 

So now I am a speaker and an author. Maybe not exactly how I had first envisioned it. But perhaps as it was always meant to be. 

Most rewarding is knowing that I have inspired others. My daughter and her husband are working on plans for their consulting firm. My grandson is busily taking steps to create a clothing line. 

When you chase a dream, you're taking a stand for yourself and that’s powerful. It creates a beautiful invitation to others. In fact, your path might just inspire your border bullies before long. Here are a few tips for sharing your journey…

Explain What You’re Doing

When I first actually started writing my book, I discussed it with my husband every week. We'd talk about how much I had written, what I was struggling with, and  what I was doing to finish the book. 

I wanted to share my journey with my husband. I also liked the accountability that it provided. Although he would ask questions and worry about things like the cost for the editor, I didn’t let them hold me back. I realized his doubts weren’t about me—they were his own limiting beliefs. I wanted to inspire him to challenge them.

But I wouldn’t choose to share my story with someone that was toxic. I have a relative that’s negative no matter what I say or do. I didn’t share my journey with her.

Welcome Transparency

As you tell others what you’re doing, don’t be surprised if they’re inspired. I knew my grandson had been listening to me when he brought up his passion for art and design and his desire to create his own fashion line. 

When a friend or loved one starts talking about their goals or ambitions, don’t become the border bully! Offer to support them any way you can. For my grandson, I invited him to artists and designers I know and have offered to help him with his marketing..

Be Patient

I recommend letting people open up naturally. In the past year, I’ve learned that no two journeys are just alike. My daughter's path to her consulting firm and my grandson's path to being a designer look entirely different than my path to becoming an author and speaker. That doesn’t mean one is better than the other.

A person who’s just beginning to understand concepts like personal growth may not be ready to wade into deeper waters. They may not be able to commit to pursuing a BIG goal right away. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t support them. Remind your loved ones and friends that you believe in them and are rooting for their success.

How to Respond to the Border Bully

I started network marketing back when it was all about home meetings or "seminars" at hotels and restaurants. I frequently traveled for these in-person events. I loved meeting new people and connecting with friends when I traveled.

But my husband at the time was not always supportive. He comes from an older generation (yes, he was a BIT older than me). He had a much different upbringing. He didn't approve of a woman out alone at night. He thought it was dangerous.

Whenever I had an event to attend, he would pepper me with questions. “Who’s driving? Is your friend coming? Where will you be and when? Who will you meet up with?”

Responding to a border bully—even a well-meaning one—can be a challenge. You want to stay kind without losing your cool. Here are a few tips to help you out…

Look for the Nugget

I knew I could easily dismiss my husband's concerns. I could try to negate everything he was saying. But instead, I looked for the valuable nugget in his concern—that someone should know where and when I would arrive at my destination.

I recommend thanking border bullies for their input then answering their questions. “But only give enough information to be kind. I told my husband who I was meeting. I also gave him the phone number of a friend ot two who was atending with me as well as the contact information for the location the event was being held at. He was comforted but not overwhelmed by the details of people and places he did not know.

Ask for Support

Most border bullies just want to support you. They may show this by asking lots of questions (like my husband) or pointing out potential problems, and giving you unsolicited advice and suggestions. Don’t get upset or walk off in a huff when this happens.

Instead, you could patiently say, “Oh, thanks for letting me know about that issue. If you were in my shoes, how would you solve it?” By following up with a question, your loved ones feel like you value their opinion and they’re more likely to become your biggest cheerleaders.

It’s OK to Walk Away

Sometimes, a border bully can’t be supportive. No matter what you say or do, they can’t understand why you’re following your vision or chasing that dream. They may make cutting remarks or constantly make you question yourself.

If someone can’t respect your dream, it’s OK to walk away. This might mean limiting your time around that person, keeping your dreams to yourself, or avoiding contact for a while. This doesn’t mean that you don’t love the border bully; you’re just limiting the impact they can have on your goals. Border bullies are easier to deal with once you know what to say and do. Let them know that you hear their suggestions or concerns and thank them. They’ll feel appreciated and heard.