The Importance of Saying NO
In my previous blog post I’ve asked you what would you need to learn in order to take your business to the next level.
It was great to get your answers. What struck me most was that most of the things that you mentioned all had to do with Personal Development and not about business!
It’s as if the most challenging factor in your business is… YOU!
I was delighted to read it due to the fact that I’ve always said that your business will only be as big as you!
One of the biggest obstacles most solopreneurs have is their inability to say NO to people.
This is even stronger when it comes to women entrepreneurs.
Are you one of those women who has hard time saying NO?
It doesn’t matter how confidant you might be, it doesn’t matter how assertive you’ve taught yourself to be, somehow in our gene pool there is this part that wants to please everyone and serve and help ALL humanity.
As women we are raised on the notion that we need to support and help our fellow brothers and sisters on planet Earth. We are being rewarded for being “nice” and “good girls” for going far and beyond everyone else in helping and supporting different causes.
No wonder that as we grow old we build our self-esteem and notion of success based on how many people we’ve helped and how many projects we agreed taking on our plate.
This trend in business can be a blessing and a curse. Yes, your business will profit and grow when you serve and help as many people as possible. However, that does not mean that you need to work with ANYONE!
Unfortunately due to fact that you were raised to say YES to everything and jump to help anyone, you are willing to work with anyone that has a pulse and a wallet.
This habit of saying YES to every client that comes your way is not going to serve you in the long run.
First, it lowers your self-confidence when you are not aligned with your values and purpose, when you take everyone.
Secondly, your perceived value for your marketplace is lowered when you do not differentiate yourself from others.
There has to come a time when you’ll have to decide that a new client or a new project just isn’t a good fit. You know the ones I’m talking about.
You can feel it in your whole body even in the first meeting. But, that voice from old times that sits in your head is saying to you: “hey, they said they would pay”, (usually after lowering your price) so you took the work.
It can be frightening to do, but nothing will be better for you or the prospective client than your ability to size up a project and decline it if it doesn’t fit.
You can save yourself the headaches that you know come with trying to make what you do fit into someone else’s view of what you. Another funny thing about this approach is it makes you even more appealing.
When you turn a client down for the right reasons, suggesting that maybe someone else has a better solution, your credibility will skyrocket.
In fact, the prospective client may transform right before your eyes as you demonstrate that you are so trustworthy you won’t simply take their money and run.
Of course in order for this strategy to be of any value to you, you must know, without a doubt, your precise ideal client profile and the unique value you have to offer. With these two things in hand you will always be able to say no and grow your business.
Now, I’m curious….
Who is your Ideal Client?
Share with us in, the comment box below, who is your Ideal Client and what value you give them?
As a thank-you gift for your comment I will send you my a video ‘Start Saying NO‘ from the course “Women Do Business Differently”.
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Have a magical week! Vered
Have a magical life, Vered
