The power of pressing pause

This week’s must-read

It’s difficult to name a single aspect of life that can’t be made better from a moment’s reflection to consider; is this action/task/email/meeting/thought process taking me where I really want to be?

As columnist Ingrid Moyle writes of the annual client Christmas card dilemma:

“Stop and think about why you are doing it and what your actions may communicate. Are you sending cards from rote or a sense of obligation, or do you genuinely want to create a moment that matters for your client?”

Soloist Life

What business assumptions underpin your business? Juli Stertern-Gill shared hers “I was taught very early in my working career that I needed to ‘start at the place I wanted to be at’… I honed my product and positioned myself at the top of the market. I was in demand. I never bargained, and I never discounted….The people who questioned if I was cheaper for cash never understood that if they wouldn’t work for free, then I wouldn’t either, and were also never my customers. My customers were awesome. They valued me and the product I created for them.”

New and renewing members…

This week’s wise new members are My Virtual Marketing Manager, Cycle Tours Global, Geelong Dentist Clinic and ProChatwhile we are rapt to have LGM Advisors, Bad Credit Car Loans Dana Lightbody and Fiona Hobbs Virtual Assistant back again for another year.

Listen

Dr Tom McKaskill has authored over thirty books on business strategy and is known internationally as Dr Exit. In this week’s podcast episode he shares his take on the challenges and opportunities for soloists.

In case you missed it…

Make it clear how your business differs from the competition to give your customers a reason to choose you, writes Jo Macdermott in her article on discounting fees, which has been shared over 100 times.

Productivity

Avoid one-way streets by asking your client: “Before we go any further, can I just check that this is the most important thing to you right now, because if it isn’t, what is?” Ben Paul on the attributes of a great sales conversation.

From the forums

Kitchen benches, garden sheds and dining room tables are favoured soloists workspaces: “I wonder how many online empires would crumble if customers knew where they actually operated from?” chuckles @GregM. Where do you do your best work?

Inspiration

“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because a long time ago, someone planted a tree.”

Les Brown, via Flying Solo columnist, Vanessa Emilio.