Dear Conscious Entrepreneurs,

Are you as inspired by the Olympic Athletes as I am?  It’s been amazing to watch as the best of the best in the world demonstrate mental and physical excellence.  It reminds me that there are no excuses for doing less than my best and that true excellence is possible if I am committed to it.

How does one achieve excellence? Ask the athletes.  Each one will tell you that is a combination of intense mental and physical training that creates champions.  By carefully choosing their thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions (physical training), they are able to achieve magnificence.

And this is how you will do the same.  You are capable of more than you’ve ever dreamed.  The reason we choke up when we watch an Olympic athlete achieve greatness, is that we recognize a piece of ourselves in them.   It is the piece of ourselves that dreams big and doesn’t ever give up, no matter what.  Olympians represent the best version of ourselves.  From their example, we can follow their formula for success and start setting our own records.

On your mark….get set….GO!

How to Create Olympic Results
By Carlene Ashby

“Every choice moves us closer to or farther away from something. Where are your choices taking your life? What do your behaviors demonstrate that you are saying yes or no to in life?” — Eric Allenbaugh

Your Thoughts + Your Beliefs + Your Emotions + Your Actions = Your Results

Out of the millions and billions of circumstances, people, events that are occurring in your life and around the world, there are only four things you are in control of: Your thoughts, your beliefs (which are really just thoughts you think over and over again), your emotions and your actions.  That’s it.  Everything else is out of your hands.

Therefore, it makes sense to be precise about the four things you can control and choose them carefully.  This is the only way to be successful in life.  That may sound like hyperbole, but it is not.  If you do not take control of the only four things which you are able to control, it will always seem as if life is happening to you.

People who do not take responsibility for their own thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions are destined to be perpetual victims of circumstances. You are the captain of your own ship; therefore you must choose your course carefully or simply be thrashed about by the ocean of life until you eventually become washed up.  Sorry to sound harsh, but I won’t lie to you or sugar-coat the truth.  We get enough of that in life.

So, based on the above equation, ask yourself this question, “based on my results, what are the thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions that are working for me or not working for me?  For instance, if your results right now are not enough clients, not enough time and not enough money, what are your thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions that match those results?

Prosperity Assignment:

On a fresh sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle.  On one side, make a list of the results in your life that you are not happy with.  Doing this will help to create clarity about what results you would like to create.  On the other side, make a list of the results you desire.

On another sheet of paper, divide the page again.  On this page, write a list of the thoughts, beliefs and emotions that you have that are not supporting you.  If you get stuck or confused, look at the list of undesired results you created on the previous page.  Ask yourself, “What must my thoughts, beliefs and emotions be to create these results?  Be brutally honest with yourself and take your time.  On the other side, make another list of the actions that you are taking that are creating your undesired results.

Now look at your second list with your unsupportive thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions.  Which of those thoughts, beliefs and emotions are you willing to let go of?  Are you willing to replace them with new, supportive thoughts and beliefs?  Excellent!  Cross out the thoughts, beliefs, emotions and actions you want to release.

On a new sheet of paper, (I know, I know, this isn’t a tree-friendly exercise) write a list of the results you desire.  Be specific and think BIG!

On another sheet of paper, create a list of the thoughts, beliefs and actions you would need to think, believe and do in order to match those results.

Post these last two sheets of paper where you’ll see them daily.  I put mine on my bathroom mirror so I read them a few times a day.

Make sure you put your required actions in your daytimer or electronic organizer so that they get done!

Happy choosing!

Carlene Ashby
Conscious Marketing and Public Relations Expert, B.Com., MSLC
Co-Author of Manifest Success Vol.2 Motivation, Momentum and Miracles
FREE Conscious Marketing and Business Tools at www.Prosperity-Through-Purpose.com
“Gain the Mindset, the Marketing, and the Map for Success”
1-888-KEY-2-WEALTH

How to Create the Know, Like and Trust Factor with a Marketing Funnel
By Carlene Ashby

People do not buy from people they do not know, people they do not like, and people they do not trust.

In this article, we will create ways, through marketing, for your ideal clients to get to know you, like you, and trust you and eventually become clients.

In order to use marketing to help people get to know you, you must create a Marketing Funnel.

A marketing funnel is the process that people go through as they get to know you.  The majority of people enter and fewer make it down to the bottom- like a funnel!  As people work down the funnel, they will get to know you by having experiences of you.  In their first encounters with you, you give them ‘No-barrier’ offers.  This includes an ezine, a free audio, a free ezine, etc.  Most people will take this offer.  When people see you, hear you, read your words, speak with you or have any sort of contact with you, they gradually get to know you and become familiar with you.

The second step of the funnel is a low-barrier offer, such as an intro Teleseminar, a free intro workshop or an inexpensive item up to $20.  It should have a low barrier of entry and not require too much effort.  Whatever the item is, it should provide huge value.  Under-promise, over-deliver!

When you offer them great value while asking nothing in return and help them solve their problems, they will like you.  Come from purpose, come from service, and you will be well liked.

The next item in the funnel should be an extension of the previous and be slightly more expensive.  They are still getting to know and like you, so give them something to purchase that is priced at $25-200, depending on your target market.  A teleseminar series, an online coaching program, a home-study program or a small sample of your services could work here.  The key again is to provide more value than they expect.

People trust people who are genuinely like them, people that they can identify with.  This means that it is very important to be completely authentic, so that you only attract those who are really ideal clients.  If you are phony, you will attract phony people.

People also trust people who follow through with agreements.  Be a person of your word.  When you break agreements with yourself or others, you destroy trust.  Be sure to keep your word and deliver more than you promise.

Your next funnel items should be increasing in both value and price, ending with your highest-priced items which may be your largest package, private coaching or instruction.

Your Prosperity Assignment:

To build up your ‘know, like and trust’ factor, what can you offer?  Most people are missing the top and the bottom of their funnel.  The free and low-cost items and the priciest package.

1.  Draw your funnel and divide it into at least four horizontal parts.  In the top of the funnel, write in your free item that people do not have to put time or effort or money into.  It can be anything that will provide your clients with value.  You could start a newsletter, offering high-value, content rich articles that your ideal clients would be interested in.  You could do some public speaking, you could run teleseminars, you could join host networking groups, you could start a group on meetup.com etc.  Choose one of these or one of your own, and start it today!
2.  On the second level, write your low-barrier product in.  (Free to approx. $20)
3.  On the third level, write your low to mid priced item in.  (approx. $25-$200)
4.  On the Fourth level, write in your mid-priced item that they would naturally purchase after the last item (approx. $200-$500)
5.  On your fifth and sixth levels, have your higher-priced packages.  Very few people will purchase your sixth level, and it should be priced that way.  If everyone could purchase it, it would have no prestige.
6.  Market each step at the point that you’d like your clients to take that step.  For instance, if you are a life coach and  first level is an ezine, then market your second level, an intro teleclass, then in that teleclass, market your 6-week teleseminar, in that teleseminar, market your first level one on one coaching package, then offer them your second-level package and so on.

Follow these steps and not only will you attract clients, but you’ll keep them and turn them into raving fans!

To brainstorm on building your know, like add trust factor, email me at info@Prosperity-Through-Purpose.com or call 1-888-KEY-TO-WEALTH

© Copyright 2010 Carlene Ashby

What Does Your Package Look Like?
By Carlene Ashby

So you want to increase your sales this year? Well that’s simple.  Package yourself correctly and stop selling yourself short!

Oh, sure, you say, but how do I come up with a package people will buy?

Here are some simple guidelines to help you create packages that will appeal to different levels to clientele:

1.  Create 3 or 4 levels of packaging that increase in price and value.

Your packages should start with a good entry-level price that can get people through the door, but can be added onto in the future if they want.  The second and third package should have similar offerings with different price points, one being more valuable and more content-rich.  Most people will purchase one of these two. The fourth is your most expensive and luxurious package that fewer people will purchase.

2.  Name your packages with catchy names.  This one speaks for itself.  Some people choose Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.  Try coming up with names that are industry appropriate and clever.

3.  Create Payment plans if it is appropriate for you and your industry.  Sometimes, even if others in your industry do not offer it, it may work well for you because it’ll be a selling feature that makes you unique.

4.  Check your prices by checking your competitors and asking your peers and colleagues for their constructive feedback.

5.  Choose one package to promote heavily and get to it!  Promote it everywhere and ask your friends, family and clients to do the same!

If you’d like a second opinion on your packages from a marketing perspective, feel free to drop me an email anytime at carleneangela@hotmail.com

© Copyright 2010 Carlene Ashby