They Say THAT, But it Might Mean THIS

You know how there's all this business advice out there that gets repeated like it's the be-all end-all?

(And yet humans are filled with unlimited creativity and no two businesses are exactly alike. Hmm....)

Maybe you've heard things like

...You've got to focus on list building first!

...Grow your following, or you won't be taken seriously!!

...Never let a prospect off the phone until you've CLOSED THAT SALE!!!!

With so many competing priorities and a lot of alarmist rhetoric out there, is it any wonder we get stressed out about doing the wrong things or develop major FOMO around not doing the right things?

Deep breath...

In my opinion, these are all bullshit and were dreamed up to help people sell courses.

After all, nobody's going to buy a course if you say, "It's different for everybody."

No. So instead what they (basically) say is, "I'd like to make a lot more money than you can pay me if we work 1-to-1, so I'm going to tell you that I've figured out these universal tricks that work for everybody. Hurry and buy now, because I'll NEVER offer this magic pill again!"

Luckily, you're not the kind of person that rushes into things just cause everyone else is doing it...

You'd rather do what works for YOU, instead of creating a carbon copy of someone else's biz.

So if you think you want to reject the hard sell, launch a Facebook group from Day 1, say "screw the following (for now)," or focus on something other than list building, I say ... Go for it. It's totally doable.


Jenna

Let me introduce you to some people who’ll GET you

You know how you love love love your friends and family dearly, but they don’t always totally GET you?

You hope they’ll be supportive, but then you get hit with a question like...

... Isn’t it a little unrealistic to think you can quit your 9-5 though?
… But who would actually pay you to work at home in your pajamas all day?
… What are you complaining about? You’ve got a great life!

Or something along the lines of, "Your neighbors do it, and your neighbor’s neighbors do it … so why can’t you be happy doing it, too?"

That’s exactly why you need to click this link and join The Uncommon Way Community before you even finish this blog!

(Did you do it yet? C’mon, action steps!)

Because the longer you surround yourself with those voices rather than the voices of people that are actually doing the things you care about, the harder it will be to transform your life.

We don’t care how audacious or crazy or unrealistic your ideas seem. This is a place for people with big ideas and an inner voice telling them that somehow it’s ACTUALLY POSSIBLE.

We’re betting you can do it … because we’re also making it happen for ourselves. F*ck conformity!

Here’s what you can look forward to when you join us:

MAKE IT HAPPEN MONDAYS: Build in some accountability by setting a goal for the week, and/or share wins/challenges from the past week.

TRAVEL TUESDAYS: Where are we planning on escaping next? Share tips or ask questions.

WHAT IT'S ALL FOR? WEDNESDAYS: We're giving ourselves this freedom for a reason, right? Share what motivates you, or something you did this week that was a great use of free time.

SHARE THE LOVE THURSDAYS: Got some inspiration or a big a-ha this week? Have a tip or something to offer the community (promo allowed)? We want to hear!

FEEL GOOD FRIDAYS: Share all the little ways you march to your own drum. Challenge us to think differently! What makes you YOU, and not your neighbor and neighbor's neighbor?

VISION SUNDAY: It's time to think BIG. Big dreams, long term goals, what's on the horizon. Reaffirm it each and every week, or see how it transforms over time...

Plus I’ll be jumping in with lots of free advice on building a business FAST, talking your boss into a telecommuting arrangement, moving overseas to a lower cost of living … and will even let the cat out of the bag about the world’s best chocolate now and then :-)

Can’t wait to join you in your big escape.

Jenna

Ambition . . . or Groupon?

I’ve got this really fun friend who’s a total Groupon fanatic. And whenever she scores a deal, I get a text.

Normally my answer is, "Thx but no." I mean how many 5-day trips to Taos can a girl take when she’s got a toddler and a business?

But today I said yes to a wine-tasting lunch in Manitou Springs, a cute historic gold rush town nestled in the mountains not too far away, honoring my New Year’s resolution to get myself out of my cozy green office chair and take advantage of the fact that I became an entrepreneur.

(Hence the ice skating, the pottery lesson and the cannabis massages … but those are Groupon stories for another time.)

Anyway, by taste #4 we found ourselves talking about an acquaintance who is just as driven as me and has a similar grand vision for her life.

"I just don’t get it," my friend said. "All those things . . . the partner, the children, building a business, leaving a legacy . . . aren’t they just unnecessary anxiety? I’ve got enough anxiety just from my cat! I’d much rather just play around on my phone searching for Groupons!" she laughed.

And that’s a perfectly fair decision . . . except that thx but no.

I’d go through (and have gone through) crazy discomfort to avoid the anxiety of NOT pursuing my dreams.

So if you feel like you’re at a crossroads (or you get there in the future) . . .

. . . maybe you’re wondering if you should start a business / family / marriage or wondering if you should continue with one . . .

Let me ask you this:

Which feels worse for you … the status quo, or the discomfort you’d have to move through to change it?

And which feels better . . . who you are when you’re changing, or who you are when you’re staying the same?

Sometimes the most difficult decisions just need the right framework, and then the answer becomes crystal clear.

Here’s to being clear about what you want and what it’s worth to you,

Jenna

How to Conduct Market Research for a New Business

How do you know that your online service-based business will actually MAKE MONEY?

• Yes, it's because you have a positive mindset.

• Yes, it's because you want it SO badly.

• Yes, it's because that's just part of your character -- to be tenacious and to problem-solve.

But, let's get really “left brain” here for a minute…What proof do you have that your business will ACTUALLY make money?

If you're like my clients, you've done your due diligence and market research.

And part of that market research is actually making money, so that’s your proof right there!

Now, you've probably heard about some business coaches that only work with people that have a business up and running and are already making a certain amount of money.

Or some coaches only focus on one specific type of business-building (something that the coach is especially comfortable with, like building lead magnets or creating website copy).

But I like to work with all kinds of entrepreneurs in all different stages of their business.

And we NEVER proceed to anything else unless we’ve fully researched, vetted and actually tested the business.

That’s why my clients are able to grow their businesses so quickly! They have a strong foundation and proof of concept, so you won’t see them struggling for years to get things up and running, or unfortunately, close up shop.

That's why market research is KEY.

You don't waste all that time (and MONEY!) building a glossy website or spending forever in Facebook groups before you even know if people are going to be willing to hand over their credit card to you for that service that you offer.

By doing this in the beginning, it will help you:

1. Figure out what business to start.

2. Get really clear on the RIGHT small business idea.

Truthfully, the most successful and profitable online business ideas all start with this critically important step.

So, how do you conduct market research for a new business, so you can make money as an online entrepreneur?

Here are 3 steps for how to do market research before starting a business:

1. Online research

Go ahead and Google to see what kind of competition is out there for you. A lot of online entrepreneurs have this misperception that if other people are doing what they thought about doing, then they shouldn't even bother.

But the opposite is true! If you see that there are a lot of people providing the kind of solution or service that you want to offer, it's actually a really GREAT indicator that there's a demand for it. You can always improve upon the service that somebody else is providing.

Also, start researching the search terms that people use around your topic, and you can look for Google and YouTube search terms that'll help show you there is a demand for a solution to that specific problem.

2. Talk to REAL people on the phone

When people are typing online, they're able to edit what they're saying. But when they’re having a conversation, the real truth comes out!

That’s why it's so valuable to talk to people directly.

First, reach out to some people that have businesses similar to what you’re considering for mentorship. Let them know that you just have a couple of quick questions and you would appreciate it so much if you could take five minutes of their time. You want to find out things like what advice they have for you or what they wish they had known when they first started that would have helped them move forward so much faster.

Then, you want to talk to people that would be potential clients, and you want to find out from them:

A) What’s the gap between where you are and where you want to be? (How do THEY describe what they're going through?)

B) How does that make you feel?

C) What would an ideal solution look like?

D) How would that change things for you? Why is it so important?

E) What has made this difficult for you to solve on your own?

F) How much would you be willing to pay?

3. Make an offer

If you've been actively listening to these people and getting clear on what it is they want, what problem they want solved, how they perceive that, and how they describe that… You should be able to turn that into an offer, present it to somebody, and have them say ‘YES.'

If you're just starting out, you may not have the testimonials (or the “social proof”) to really prove that you are able to deliver the solution you promised, and so you may be charging a low price in the beginning…That's okay!

This is just market testing. You want to demonstrate that a few people will say 'yes' to your specific offer, so that you can prove it's worthwhile to move forward with your business (and gain some testimonials in the process!).

If you aren't sure exactly how to package that offer, you should check out the video where I share three of the top business models my clients are using very successfully to grow their businesses. (You can watch it here.)

Here’s to market testing that will lead you to a really SMART business,

Jenna

P.S. If you’d like my support in helping you and your business grow so much more quickly and easily than if you were to do it on your own, go ahead and schedule a FREE call with me. Together we’ll map out a personalized roadmap that will help you build the right business for YOU.

How to Get Clients for a New Business

Where can I find CLIENTS?

When people join my Facebook group, Women Taking The Leap, I always ask them “What is your biggest challenge at the moment?” Aside from figuring out what business to start, the answer I receive A LOT is…finding clients!

Acquiring clients is THE MOST important aspect of your business, so I want to share a few tips that you can use for finding more clients and approaching potential clients effectively. Mastering how to find potential clients AND how to approach potential clients will help you grow your business fast!

How to find more clients and approach potential clients effectively

In-Person Networking

This is the most overlooked category!

(I think it's because it's a lot easier to hide behind a laptop and just do some messaging and/or a paid advertisement!)

But the truth is the most EFFECTIVE way to make a sale and interest someone in your business services is to let them see and hear you. This will help them know and TRUST you so much more quickly than those other methods!

A few things you can do include:

1. Attend Meetup groups.

2. Start your own Meetup group.

3. OR, here's a challenge for you…. send out 50 messages to people you already know asking if they know anybody that would be interested in your service! Chances are somebody will know somebody!

When you're starting out, don't discount the beauty and power of meeting face-to-face!

Online Networking

I’m going to break this category into 2 mini tips:

1. Set your focus on relationships

Whenever you see somebody you can connect with, don't automatically think about the sale. Assume they might know a potential client that will need your services! It allows you to approach them in a more personable way instead of trying to turn everybody into a client.

Focus on how wonderful it is to be able to build networks online with people that you wouldn't normally meet in your hometown, and how they may know somebody that needs your services. (You can also be on the lookout for people that would need THEIR services!)

When you come recommended, even if they're just saying, 'Hey! I know a person,' chances are that person is going to put you in a higher category than somebody else they just found online. That’s just basic human nature!

2. Think outside of the box

When you're looking for where your clients would hang out, sometimes the best place to find them is not in a group dedicated just to whatever their problem is.

Here's a good strategy for how to find other places your clients are hanging out:

On the search bar in Facebook, type in “groups joined by people who like,” and then insert the name of a page your audience would be interested in. If you are a health coach, for instance, you can insert “groups joined by people who like” and the name of a Facebook business page of a well-known health coach. Then you’ll get a list of results, and you want to click on “Groups.” Scroll down the list and you’ll probably start noticing some similarities … like maybe those people belong to foodie-type groups.

Let yourself to just be there and be present in some of those groups before you make an offer. It’s really similar to meeting people in person … you don’t want to just walk up to somebody and blurt out your offer before you’ve introduced yourself.

Once you’re ready to make an offer, try to find a way to get them onto the phone. Because if you can't meet with them face to face, you can at least transmit through your voice that you're a person that can be trusted and that knows their stuff! Doing that is much more powerful than messaging back and forth. Take that extra step to get them a little closer to you!

(For more detailed info on making that initial offer and why it’s important to talk on the phone, check out my video The Birthday Cake Strategy for Getting Clients.)

Paid Advertising

I consider this the least effective for people starting out.

Since people can’t see you and speak to you directly and aren't getting that real-time visual and emotional feedback, your messaging has to do all the heavy lifting. That means you need to be SO on-point and perfect in order to capture their attention. And if you’re not at the point where you have really tight messaging and copy, your money can disappear right down the drain.

However, it's not impossible…

You can do some fast testing to figure out what kind of offers and language is important for your customer. Then, you can give them a lead magnet or freebie that's so irresistible to them that they will give you their email address. That will provide you with further opportunities to get them onto the phone, and then have a REAL conversation with a REAL person, which is what this all comes back to in the end!

And now, some straight talk….

So often when people say they’re having problems finding clients or they can't get in front of their clients, the truth is they really are in front of their clients; their clients are EVERYWHERE. The problem is they're not getting their attention!

Those two things are TOTALLY different: finding your clients versus actually capturing their attention.

That's really where the perfect messaging comes into play. (I have a video on messaging you can watch right here!)

Here’s to wowing your audience and turning potential clients into paying clients!

Jenna

What Kind of Online Business Should I Start? - The Top 3 Online Business Models

If you were given a personalized roadmap of EXACTLY what to do and in what order to start a profitable online business, you would do what it takes to get your business up and running in no time. Am I right?!

BUT, when you research tips and tricks, you get an overload of info trying to convince you what the next best thing is to build your business. It can get so overwhelming, especially since…you’ve never done this before!

And so you’re really left scratching your head, asking, “What kind of online business should I start?!”

• Do you sell an info product?

• Do you become a coach?

• Do you run a course?

Ugh, too many options!!! How do you get clear about what to do?

I feel you! I remember being there myself.

So, after building a few businesses and having the privilege of helping other people build their businesses, I want to share with you three top online business models that have been BIG money makers for my clients…

AND let you know how to decide which is right for YOU!

Whether you’re passionate about social media or branding or you’re wondering how to set up an online coaching business, at least one of these models will probably work for your business niche. Whether or not they’ll work for you is a different story … really, no two businesses are created equally. It’s all about using your strengths and the market conditions to find the best way forward.  I’ve worked with ALL types of clients, and for each we’ve been able to find an online business model that works for them!

Ready to dive in? Let’s go.

The best online business models of 2019

1-1 Coaching

This is a very popular business model and the one I chose for my current business. It starts with offering 1-1 coaching, transitions to providing group programs, and then shifts into creating courses that run on autopilot (seeing money come in on your phone as your traveling in Bali?! YES PLEASE!)

This model is great for those who are entering a market where coaching is already accepted, who feel ready to learn how to make direct sales, and are really interested in providing stellar quality results for people (you’ll get great testimonials this way, too).

It gives you the flexibility to adjust in real time as you’re working with someone and learning the business. You might not have a huge plan in place in the beginning, but you can course correct as you go!

Once you’re more comfortable with sales and getting clients, this model will generate a good amount of income which will help you jump into other endeavors like paid traffic through Facebook advertising or hiring a team.

A quick caveat: this model has you go through a steep learning phase. To charge premium prices, you really have to get good at knowing exactly what your customer wants and how to have those uncomfortable sales conversations on the phone. Knowing how to tell them why you are THE BEST for the job is key!

Group Programs

My second model begins with offering group coaching, first, then moves into offering 1-1 coaching. You can then transition to creating courses.

The idea is to start a short-term group program that offers very definitive stages and deliverables for your members. For this model, you charge each member less than you would 1-1 coaching but still generate similar revenue since you have a higher volume of clients.

From there, you can seed your offer for 1-1 coaching during the group program and convert a few people into clients for your 1-1 coaching services at the end. This will ease you into the sales process since your clients will have gotten to know you over the course of the program.

This model is good for those who need help getting comfortable with those tough sales convos (we’ve all been there!) and acquiring clients 1-1.

An issue with this model is finding volume traffic if you don’t have a large following (especially in the beginning when you don’t want to be spending on paid advertising). Also, it can be difficult for some people to work in a group. Clients might not speak up as often or contribute as much as they would 1-1. People tend to be more dedicated and work for bigger results when they pay more! You, as the consultant, will also have more to juggle in group settings with answering client questions, keeping engagement up, etc! And lastly, it takes energy to launch a program. You’ll be in heavy sales mode for a couple of weeks and then roll straight into a program, and that can really drain your energy.

Done-for-You Services  

This last model has proven to be SUPER successful for many of my clients.

In this model, you start with Done-for-You services. Instead of coaching your client on how to do a service, you actually DO it for them! Once you have built up solid testimonials you can shift into a consulting phase and from there, start creating courses.

Once you start coaching/consulting for this service, you can take a few different paths.

1. You can coach those same clients on how to move forward with doing that Done-for-You service.

2. You can start consulting a whole new set of clients on how to provide that service.

3. You can teach other up-and-coming service providers how to do the service you’ve been providing.

A few really popular businesses that use this model are web designers, social media managers, and copywriters.

This business model is perfect for people who feel comfortable delivering a result but may not feel as comfortable teaching. Or, their market is hungry for someone to do the service for them, but they do not want to learn how to do it themselves.

It’s NOT ideal for people that find it difficult to deal with people that are demanding and want to see multiple revisions … or if the work itself is tiring when you have to do it over and over again.

Interested in figuring out if one of these business models would be a fit for you and appealing for your potential clients … or if you should do something else entirely?!

Schedule a call with me! We can talk about what steps you need to take to launch your dream biz.

Plus, you’ll get a feel for what it’s like to work with a business coach!

Here’s to getting crystal clear on what kind of online business you should start,

Jenna

Can't believe I'm on camera doing THAT

Ohh I do NOT love having my picture taken!

I spent years as a travel blogger, and from alllll that time there are probably only a handful of photos of me. 

I'm usually the one BEHIND the lens! 

(Big mistake, I now realize in retrospect. If someone's going to be interested enough to check back and follow your adventures, they want to know who's actually having them!)

Even now that I've done more video work, webinars and (eek!) Facebook Lives, and spent time coaching myself through the discomforts of being visible and putting myself out there, it still feels ... weird ... to plaster my face all over my website. 

But that's exactly what I was up to all afternoon yesterday as we prepare to update The Uncommon Way...

Not just getting photographed, but getting pictures IN MY HOUSE! With my dog, and my baby ... and all my STUFF.

At times I felt my mind wandering down a dark path (People will judge me!), so I took a deep breath and a sip maybe three of wine, and focused my thoughts on the amazing opportunity it is to open up, show the real me (spoiler: travel obsessed), and thereby find common ground with people I've never even met in states and countries far away.

And you know what? Thinking of it that way actually made it ... kinda fun. Who knew?! 

Meanwhile, my husband documented the whole thing on his phone ...

...making sure to capture all the living room furniture moved around...

...and me juggling a baby that refuses to be put down and a puppy that still gets jealous...

...until those times when the baby really wants nothing to do with me because there are LEMONS within arm's reach!

...and I really can't believe he snapped an image of me doing this ... but it was too funny not to share with you all.

So yes that's me, smearing mayonnaise on my orchid plant. Because there's absolutely nothing better for making those leaves look super green and glossy. (Credit for this secret goes to my German landlord.)

And there you have it. The kind of things that will never make the final cut for the new website...

Here's to turning the lens on yourself,

Jenna

Afraid you're not cut out to be an entrepreneur? Read this.

So there was this girl.

More than anything she wanted to escape the soul-sucking 9-5 life that she saw her parents and everyone around her living. And then one day, she got fired.

“This is it! THIS is going to become my rags-to-riches story, where I pull myself up from my lowest low and launch that amazing business and never ever have another J-O-B!”

Except ... it didn’t happen.

Before long she was waiting tables, struggling to pay bills, scrambling to find another 9-5 (ANY 9-5!) ... and that business never got off the ground.

Which made her feel like crap. 

She cried over it, thinking maybe she just wasn’t cut out to be an entrepreneur …. Maybe she’d only ever be a worker bee, taking orders from somebody far less talented and thinking about what might’ve been...

Fast forward a few months, and she’s making more in her business than she ever did in her job. She loves her work, her clients love her ... it’s a total frickin’ love fest.

And here’s what changed...

She stopped trying to do it all on her own and got a COACH that could show her exactly what steps to take in the right order.

Now she no longer thinks it’s about character / savvy / luck / grit / passion etc. etc. etc.

It’s about having the right tools. (And then yes, also about grit and all ... but mostly about the guidance and support.)

If this is anything like you...

...If you’re doubting that you have what it takes

...If you think maybe it’s something to do with YOU

...If you think those people that are ‘doing it’ did it all on their own without outside help

Don’t.

Your dreams CAN happen, and every single one of us totally non-special people that have said goodbye to our jobs is living proof.

Find a coach / mentor / circle of friends that have “done it.” Get that support and get it DONE! Because it’s totally possible. And it’s killing us to see you think that it’s not.

-Jenna

P.S. This is the true story of a client, but it can be your story if you just do one simple thing: schedule a time when we can talk about exactly what you need to do, in what order. (Or message me on Facebook ... it's all good!) ​

My sleazy Hollywood director story

On a breezy summer afternoon I was walking home from my corporate job in New York City, completely lost in thought.

A man came running up from behind and stopped me. He was an Academy-Award-winning writer and director, and he wanted to cast me in a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Everything about what I just wrote is true, except probably the part about him wanting to cast me.

When we finally met up to discuss it in a ritzy midtown hotel bar (our afternoon meetup at Starbucks got postponed when his flight was mysteriously delayed), what ensued were hours of debate about why I wouldn’t accompany him upstairs to a hotel room so we could begin working through the character development in private, immediately. I needed to “get raw” and “vulnerable,” and how could I possibly draw on the innermost parts of myself in this public setting?

Until the recent slew of allegations about producer Harvey Weinstein it never occurred to me that perhaps I could’ve or should’ve reported his behavior. In addition to bringing up this old memory, the stories in the news have me and many others reflecting deeply on the nature of predatory behavior and how we react when confronted with it … and not for the first time.

Like so many other women, this wasn’t an isolated incident in my life, nor was it my worst. I’ve got flasher stories. Cosby-esque stories. Prank caller stories. Grab-‘em-by-the-pussy stories. Inappropriate clergy and authority figure stories. And the list goes on.

So what does all of this have to do with The Uncommon Way?

Uncommon decisions and uncommon acts of courage.

It’s worth recognizing that people who choose to speak up and speak out in any context are making a brave and uncommon choice.

Most of my stories went completely unreported. Sometimes I thought no actual crime had been committed, or it wasn’t bad enough, or it was just part of the culture I was visiting. Sometimes I never really got a good look at the person, or questioned my own agency, or felt ashamed or fearful or exhausted. I also internalized the “boys will be boys” messages all around me, especially in my younger years.

Which it turns out is all very, very common … and predators bank on it. In the aggregate, we know it’s what emboldens them to continue preying on other people down the road. But when it comes to our individual stories, it’s not always so easy to see black and white.

Let’s step back even one step further.

We need to recognize that silence emboldens every person or group that tries to assert power in any context. There’s a corollary with even the most benign forms of suppression in society. No matter how much we recognize that, say, peer pressure is collectively detrimental, how often do we actually speak up in the moment that it’s occurring?

Life is a series of decisions. And each time you choose the discomfort of speaking up and using your voice, you help turn something that’s uncommon into something more everyday. You make the world better, less afraid, safer, and richer.

For every time you’ve made the uncomfortable decision to speak up, thank you. And if there’s something going on in your life for which you’re considering doing so now, I’m behind you 100%.

Here’s to taking uncommon stands,

Jenna

Are you willing to pay rent for what you want?

Once there was a man who decided to live life by the motto that “It’s better to be fooled than be suspicious.”

If someone took advantage of his trust, he brushed it off and reasoned that his loss was simply ‘rent.’

Rent on what?

On his ideals, on his faith in human nature. He figured it would cost him more to live life as a suspicious person, cutting himself off from opportunity, than to live openheartedly and pay the occasional cost, i.e. rent, to maintain his convictions.  

Ever since I first encountered him (he’s a character in the E.M. Forster novel Howard’s End, by the way), I’ve been fascinated by his story.

While I’m a big fan of setting boundaries, I’m an even bigger fan of taking risks.

What about you?

… Is there something you’ve been holding back on, because you fear the consequences?

What, exactly, have you got to lose? Will it be as devastating as you might be imagining, or is it merely a rent payment? Maybe what you’re doing is far more costly than a little rent payment now and then.

…Or did you try something in the past, only to get burned?

Maybe you need to stop being so hard on yourself, brush it off as a simple rent payment, and get back to living your life.

As we head into fall, often one of the most productive times of the year, it’s worth thinking about your choices. 

Will you go for it, or hold yourself back?

Here’s to calculated risks,

Jenna