How can you expand your business and make more money…TODAY?

How can you expand your business and make more money…TODAY?

That was the question of the day .....what can you do right now, today.

One word to describe a one hour tele call with Patricia Drain…. WOW!

Patricia talked about a lot in a short time, but everything she said had incredible value to how business women can take their business to the next level.  What would you say the number ONE myth about women business owners is?  Patricia said that that my is that “we are not really as powerful as we think we are”.  The truth, according to Patricia is that we are powerful enough and when we recognize our potential and value, we can think bigger. 

Patricia Drain- Business Coach and Strategist, MSI (Multiple Streams of Income) Expert
Professional Speaker and Author.  And, the createor of the new global association for women
entrepreneurs....The International Women' Business Owners (IWBO). 

http://tinyurl.com/0612ch   

Are you thinking big enough about your business asked Patricia.  What a great question, and for some, it might cause a little bit of discomfort. Thinking big, I mean realllllllly big can be uncomfortable but, it is necessary to grow our business, and take it to new levels.  Recognizing you power and potential is important.  How about this to start your day?  Ask yourself Patricia’s living question:

Am I thinking big enough about __________ (my product, my clients, my offer, my prices/fees)?

I was on the end of my chair waiting to hear Patricia’s number one way to expand your business, she shared how she doubled, then tripled her revenue.  Market Consistently! By marketing consistently, weekly or daily, you will increase your business, build your list and expand your business relationships.  There are many ways you can market consistently, Patricia started by doing an e-zine, the added weekly Thursday tips of the weeks (with an offer), using videos, and staying in front of her clients and list. In fact, Patricia suggested that we are all probably closer to the sale, money and customer then we think.  Marketing consistently will take us further faster. One of the mistakes business owners often make is marketing only when they are slow or need more business.  This creates inconsistently and makes it tough to meet business and client demands, a consistent approach works best. 

Some other fabulous tips to boost your business are to:

#1 Know your numbers (know how many calls it takes to turn a prospect into a customer, your conversion rate, etc.).  I call Fridays my Vital Statistics Day- this is the day we look at our business numbers.

#2  Consider raising your fees

#3  Feel the fear and sell anyways.  Remember, it is not about you…. It is about them (your client, your customer, your subscribers, etc.)

Patricia created an organization called the International Women Business Owners (visit http://tinyurl.com/0612ch   to learn more, there is a link on that page to join IWBO about ¾ of the page down.  So appreciate Patricia’s generosity… she offered listeners the opportunity to register for IWBO through the above link for only $297.  What a small price for such great return. This group is for you if:

Patricia suggested that now is the time to get super clear on being able to describe your business…. In only FIVE words.  What five words would you use?  I’d love to you to post them on facebook or email me at charmaine@hammondgroup.biz.  That way I can help promote you!

So for homework…. Yes… stepping into action….

1)     Know your numbers

2)    5 words to describe your business

3)    Review your fees and prices, can you raise them?

4)    What is your marketing plan? What will you do to market consistently?

5)    How will you increase your list?

6)    Are you thinking BIG enough?

• You want more tools to grow your business
• You want to be around Big Thinking business owners
• You want to hear from experts who have built successful businesses
• You want to build your list with other business owners with whom you can identify
• You want to connect on a personal level with women all over the world

A Dragon With Heart

A Dragon with a Heart is one way to think about Arlene Dickenson, an incredible business woman and celebrity on the Dragon's Den television show.  One of my bucket list items was to meet Arlene, and on May 3 I was thrilled to meet her at the Alberta Women Entrepreneur Awards night. Arlene was awarded the Celebration of Achievement Award, one that was very well deserved.

Arlene Dickenson and I in Edmonton at the AWE Awards Event.

Listening to Arlene speak at the event was inspiring and affirming. One comment that really struck me was when Arlene talked about emotion having a place in business. One of the qualities I appreciate about Arlene as a business woman is her authenticity, and how she shows up in life... real.... and integral!  Part of that involves emotion. I have always struggled with the concept of leaving emotion out of business or checking emotion at the door. Business is about relationships, risk , responsibility, loss, success, all of which involve emotion. The key is to manage emotion and show up real, and it was affirming to hear Arlene say "how do you keep emotion out of business?"  The saying goes that people do business with those they know, like and trust. When you are authentic, and show up as the best version of you, you make it easier for people to trust you and build relationships that are key to business.

As a leader, how do you want to show up in business... and in life?  How you show up really matters.
I have read Arlene's new book Persuasion, and highly recommend it. The book is full of business advice and tips to help business women succeed in business, and in life. Arlene's authentic, down to earth writing style makes her so relatable. Check it out here, I highly recommend this book!





According to Alberta Women Entrpeneurs, there are currently "over 900,000 of the 2.6 million self-employed workers in Canada are women, with businesses that represent over $117 billion per annum of economic activity." Alberta Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is a not-for-profit organization that provides unique programs and services to women at all stages of business through advising, skills development, financing and networking opportunities, ensuring women entrepreneurs are supported and continue to establish profitable businesses that contribute to the economy.


For more information on Alberta Women Entrepreneurs or the Celebration of Achievement, visit http://www.awebusiness.com/