5 Simple Steps to Building your Personal Development Plan--Darnyelle A. Jervey

If you were to survey 100 six and seven figure entrepreneurs, I’m almost positive that over 85% of them would say that among their secret weapons to success, includes taking time away from working in their business to spend time on personal development.

I can recall when I was an employee and the company I worked for made it part of our goals and performance appraisal to spend a specific amount of time each year to grow personally.

Let's be clear, growth in business is contingent upon growth in life. They are connected and to make a commitment to your personal growth and development is a catalyst for an amazing business transformation.

My personal recommendation is to get away from your day to day business activities every 90 days, or once a quarter. That way you can gain clarity and perspective from others. This will help you shift what must be shifted in your business so your next quarter is massively productive.

So, I have another recommendation for you. I recommend that you create a personal development plan because I know “what gets attended to gets done”.

Think about a simple trip to the grocery store...when you have a list, you're focused and on purpose and purchase only what is on your list. When you do not take the time to plan for your trip and hit the store "willy nilly" you buy a whole bunch of stuff that you already have or don't really need. I'm sure that the same happens for you. So to ensure that you don't attempt to grow your business "willy nilly" creating a personal development plan will help to ensure that you will actually get what you need to achieve your business goals and reach your next level.

In preparation for 2012, let's create your first or next personal development plan:

1. Get clear about your year's business growth goal. Get to a quiet place and list what you would like to accomplish over the next year. What is your income goal? What is your client goal? What products or events do you want to create and launch?

2. Determine what you will need to achieve the goals you listed. What training, guidance, mentorship, etc… are needed to achieve these goals?

3. List the people (mentors, coaches, seminar leaders, joint venture partners, etc.) you would like to help you achieve your goals this coming year. Visit their websites and find out what they're offering that could meet your needs. Find out the dates when they are holding an event that you can participate in.

4. Create your plan by taking a sheet of paper and making four quadrants, one for each quarter and list all of the options you found to develop personally throughout the next year. List them all and then go back and pick the four that will best suit your business goals. Or, you can find a mentor and join their mastermind program, most masterminds offering quarterly mastermind retreats every 90 days.

5. Make a non-negotiable decision to complete your plan in the next year. When you do, I am very confident that your business growth will have increased as a result of your personal growth.

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of IncredibleOneEnterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio CD "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com.

Why I Recommend Investing In Yourself to Grow Your Business--Darnyelle A. Jervey

If I had a dime for every solo-preneur that has told me that they can’t afford to invest in themselves, I’d be a millionaire without ever selling a product. Sadly, many believe that making an investment in themselves is a liability when their business is not yielding a profit. On the contrary, I hold the belief that investing in yourself is what unblocks the client pipeline and sends a surge of ideal client prospects who are ready to buy at your virtual door. It is at those moments where your faith is activated and the result is growth that to many may seem unexplained.

I stood in the spot where you are standing and I can tell you that even as I wrote out that first check, I was scared. After all, there’s no guarantee that the return on my investment will be profit, right? While that is true, it is seldom the case. Why? Because of the law of circulation, also known as sowing and reaping. When you sow – by investing in yourself through the work of another, you’re telling God [Universe] that you want to experience the abundance that He has reserved for you. And, He brings it forth.

Think of the farming analogy. You want to raise a new crop, so you plant a seed. Before you plant the seed, you make sure the ground is fertile. Then you plant the seed, cover the seed with the fertile ground, water it and when you’re not watching, it sprouts and leads to a field full of your new crop.

Now, let’s transfer this analogy to your business. First you check the ground to make sure it is free of weeds and rocks – the ground is your mindset, your money consciousness and your desire to stop letting fear keep you from moving ahead as you would like. You do some personal work to break up the foul ground and prepare it to receive the good seed, so that the seed immediately takes root. So you get your ground right, and then you plant the seed. The seed is the person you hire – a coach, mentor, consultant, etc – who knows what you need to know and commits to helping you get it. And then you water the seed – you pay attention and implement what they give you to do because your mindset is one that is focused on productive, positive thoughts. And as you implement and take consistent action on the tasks outlined, you see the seed sprout and ultimately create a new crop – an increase in your business which comes in the form of new clients, new strategic partnerships, products, signature talks, etc. Why is investing a good way to grow your business?

1. You are your best asset. When you sharpen your iron, it makes you more potent in the market. You will be able to withstand those who aren’t being sharpened and grow your business.
2. School is never out for the pro. Successful entrepreneurs are constantly learning a new skill and improving the products and services and results they offer their clients.
3. It’s an activation of faith. Nothing says faith more than investing when money is not plentiful. It also helps to ensure that you are going to do what is necessary to yield the results. When you don’t have money to waste, you don’t waste it.
4. You tell God that you are ready for more. It’s almost like tithing – when you tithe to the people, places and organizations that inspire you and add value to your life, you naturally experience an increase. Investing is inviting more into your experience
5. No investment, no increase or as I’ve also heard it said – no risk, no reward. You can’t win the game if you don’t play in it.

I personally recommend that you make investing in yourself and your business a budget line item. As a rule of thumb, I encourage you to invest at least 10% in yourself over the course of the year. Those investments can be attending events, working privately with a coach or consultant, joining a mastermind, joining an organization or association or anything that could get you closer to your ideal clients. Once you invest, create a plan and implement what you learn. When you implement, you will be sure to reap a harvest that allows you to live a life that is in line with your desires.

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of IncredibleOneEnterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio CD "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com.

5 simple steps that lead to more successful selling conversations--Darnyelle A. Jervey

Let’s be clear; it is as honorable to sell as it is to buy. Even though most business owners are aware of this fact, they still struggle with asking the most important question after the solution has been presented to the problem their ideal prospect has. Now that question, which can take many forms boils down to this: when would you like to get started? Some might say that asking it that way is too blunt and I’d say that they are chicken, not fully convinced of the value they add and clear that they are THE solution that their prospects need to once and for all solve the problem.

I recognize that selling occurs every day and somehow most would say that it’s easier if money doesn’t have to change hands. I say, why? You can convince your spouse that the movie you desire to see is somehow better than the one they desire to see but you can’t show your prospects that the solution you offer is better than the others offered in the marketplace and that they should pay you to get access to it? I’m not buying it and hopefully you won’t either as you learn my simple steps for helping to make your selling conversations more successful.

1. Set an intention before your conversation. Get quiet and clear and see yourself closing the sale and welcoming a new client into your business. What will it feel like when they enroll in your program and pay your well positioned rates? Write that positive, life affirming feeling in your journal. Start your conversation by expressing your gratitude for them wanting to meet with you. Keep your energy high and assume the answer will be yes.
2. Gain a clear understanding of the problem they are experiencing and help them to understand why they need to solve it now. Is the problem costing them money? Use a portion of the conversation to show them how much the problem is costing them so they can feel a sense of urgency to find a solution. Hint: you’re the solution!
3. Transition them from pain to promise by highlighting your solution for them with clear, measurable results NOT step-by-step processes. They want to know what they can expect when the problem has been solved not the exact way you’re going to solve it. You will lose them in translation if you don’t focus on the outcome, transformation, overall benefit or results.
4. Ask them for the sale. After you’ve walked them through your best option for them, the option that encapsulates their problem with the best possible solution in the most reasonable amount of time so that the solution is clear, experienced and no longer a hindrance, ask them if they are ready to stop the pain. While you may not use those exact words, you must use that level of conviction and confidence that in your solution lies their redemption.
5. Celebrate your new client. Collect their payment information, celebrate their decision and start solving their problem so you can get a killer testimonial or success story to bring more new clients into your business.

Selling is as honorable as buying and when you start with these simple tips, you will find yourself closing more sales and welcoming more new clients into your growing business. They’re waiting on your solution, it’s time you unleashed it!

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of IncredibleOneEnterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio CD "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com.

4 Ways to Avoid Being a Commodity So You Get Paid for Your Incredible Factor--Darnyelle A. Jervey

1. Stop competing
Because you have clearly identified your ideal client (your audience of one) there is no need for you to compete with anyone else also in your industry. As an example, there are thousands of marketing coaches but few of them focus on mindset, marketing and money-making strategy the way that Darnyelle does.

By defining and unleashing your Incredible Factor, delivering your “Secret Sauce” and “Signature Business Move” to your ideal client and marketing your Incredible Factor Signature System, you are no longer going to blend in with the crowd. Instead, you are going to stand way out and get more people to take notice to the way you offer results for your clients.

2. Say you specialize
Tell people, “I specialize in…” when talking about your services. People are accustomed to giving more respect to specialists. You’ll automatically have more authority when you describe yourself in this way. And, it helps them to understand the investment it will take to work with you because they expect to pay a specialist more.

3. Raise your fees
Regardless of what you are charging now, it’s probably not enough. So raise your fees. Whatever your highest rate was, it is now your lowest. Take a deep breath.

You may opt to allow current clients to continue at their current rates and raise your fees only for your new clients.

4. Ask every client for a testimonial or success story
If someone experiences a breakthrough because of you, ask them to put it in writing, in audio or on video. Make it a point to ask for the testimonial as soon as they experience a breakthrough. You can ask them if you can use what they told you over the phone or would they like to send you a formal testimonial.

When highlighting your clients via testimonials, always ask if you can feature them. A “feature” allows them to be prominently displayed via your website for all of your website visitors to see, which is a win-win. You win because they are singing your work’s praises; they win because they may attract clients and prospects to their products and services.

Assignment:

1. Step 1: List all of the ways that you stand out from your peers in your industry:
2. Step 2: How can you create marketing materials that highlight how you stand out?
3. Step 3: Do your products and services focus on how you stand out? If not what adjustments are necessary?
4. Step 4: How would your clients say that you stand out? Ask every client you’ve worked with this year for a testimonial

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of IncredibleOneEnterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio CD "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com.