Are you challenging your customers?
Challenging your customers to think bigger/bolder than what they do/expect is the main driver to create greater impact. If you move them from mainly budgeting to creating, the scales shift. You raise the stakes. You raise their rewards. And they way you can price.
Will you push back?
Challenging your customer means you push them to think different than what they expected. In some sort of way, it’s about killing the deal early. It’s for them to make the business case for you to help. Might sound like this: “Sure. I understand. Would you let me push back on this? —- What about…” If there are red flags at this stage, you’re dodging a bullet. Red flags can look like: Why so many questions? You’re being difficult. Just send me your quote/proposal. Your price is too high. I…
A strong start
One of the best ways to start strong the new year is focusing on ONE thing. It’s the hard decision to make on what’s urgent and what’s important. It’s the hard decision to make on which is the one thing that needs your focus, so that your business thrives —or at least, starts to. It’s the hard decision to make on what criteria and judgement will lead all your efforts, policies, actions. Here’s to you on 2025. If your business is at the edge, what is the ONE THING that you can not stop or else…
Keep it to yourself
When you see something ridiculous in a negotiation with your prospects, keep it to yourself. Not. When you find things that deserve to be dug deeper, keep it to yourself. Not. When you feel that what you do should be priced higher, but it may rise push back, keep it to yourself. Not. When you think your idea might be great, yet someone might steal it, keep it to yourself. Not. You can always speak up. You can always ask. You can. Whenever you think you can or you can’t you’re right.
This is not a fight
Time and You. It’s not a fight. It cant’ be won. Sure, you want to do more stuff. But is it, though? What if you could do LESS, in less time? Time is nothing but a constraint. If it were a resource, you could use it at will, you could store it, you could buy and sell it. So, what to do instead? First, make your peace with it. It is what it is. And it’s ok. Second, grab a piece of paper and jot down EVERYTHING that comes to your mind you would/could/need to do this year. Don’t filter it. Just…
Execution is everything
That’s what you’ll find in most places and insights. “Execution is everything”. That’s a common (mis)conception. Knowing how to execute the right thing is everything. Execution can be done by anyone, meaning you can always find someone to do the thing (either by training or hiring). Coming with the different, bold idea is also something learnable. It takes more time, as it’s not a formula. (It’s about breaking them) You can even be amazing at executing the great idea. Yet if you miss the…
The fake intersection
There’s no intersection between personal and professional lives. It’s just one life. Within it, you have sides that are personal and professional. They work and influence each other. Work life is part of what makes life. Personal life is what makes life. Look for the harmony of them. It’s like a chord: a set of notes sounding at the same time. Sure, you could play note by note. Or something richer in chords. 🙂
The difference
What’s the difference between someone charging 300K for a job? And someone else charging 10K for the same job? Same specs. Same client. Same job. Same budget. Same timeframe. (and the client willing and ready to pay 300K without even flinching). Hint: it’s not the portfolio / previous work.
The difference is the risk
The difference between charging 300K and 10K to the same client, project, and scope: the risk. The risk to ask what’s important to them. The risk to make and deliver on a promise. The risk to stop thinking of what you can do, to start thinking of what they [truly] want. The risk to walk away. The risk to push back. The risk to be the expert. The risk to think big for them. The risk of looking dumb. The risk to put your money where your mouth is. The risk of helping. Fortunately for all of us,…
A core definition
Here’s a definition of creativity: It’s the ability to see (opportunity). You seeing that things / subjects / themes / applications from other disciplines can be translated into what you do is you being creative. You seeing different paths in your business, is also creativity. You seeing new/different paths in your practice with your clients, that’s also being creative. Just like originality. 🙂
