| Ever noticed
how some people just seem to attract success? There's you
bashing away at your business, doing everything the manuals
tell you to do and yet the person next door, doing seemingly
very little, has a constant queue at the door.
How is this possible? What's
the secret?
One solution can be to master
the power of attraction. Becoming attractive in business
may sound a little new age, but if you're big enough to
embrace the concept you're likely to be pleasantly surprised.
Irresistible attraction
is created when someone is being totally authentic in their
work and their life.
Huh? Ok, here's a real life
example: Put a toddler in a room full of people where only
one is proficient and confident in dealing with children
and see where the child is drawn. You guessed it!
Irresistible attraction
comes from being so totally, absolutely committed to what
you do and confident in your ability to do it, people (and
opportunities) are drawn to you.
So, put your current thinking
on hold for a few minutes and contemplate these five steps
to becoming irresistibly attractive.
1. Practice being 'Triple O' - Organised, Open and Optimistic.
Organised may translate into how quickly you respond to
things, how effectively you follow-through on your promises.
Doing what you say you're going to do, behaving as you would
like others to behave.
Open is about speaking the
truth; being big enough to say 'I don't know the answer,
but I'll find out'. It's about discussing the things you
may often shy away from - your fees, your profit margins,
your weaknesses. Being open means avoiding jargon; being
knowledgeable, without being arrogant.
Optimistic is the ability
to see opportunity where others see problems; to clearly
empathise with a client who has concerns and create a picture
of how things will look once you've performed your magic.
Optimists avoid gossip, they challenge beliefs, they see
a bright future and look beyond business cycles and talk
of gloom.
2. Be generous
Shock, horror! Generosity in business whatever next?
Being generous with your
time and generous with your advice doesn't mean you're doing
stuff for nothing; rather it's an avoidance of being hurried
or incomplete in your support. If a business opportunity
comes your way that appears not to suit you, think before
being dismissive. Be generous enough to take in what's being
said and try to find a solution even if it gives work to
others. You'll be remembered for your generosity and generosity
has a habit of getting repaid.
3. Shut up and listen
Like many of us mere men I suspect, it was something of
a revelation when I grasped the concept that women like
to be listened to. Often just that - listened to. We're
not expected to find a solution, indeed in many cases a
solution is not what is required. The same can be true in
business (and not just when dealing with women).
Listening to our clients
and customers is something we do all too rarely. Next time
you're in a conversation and you feel yourself jumping to
finish sentences or come up with solutions: STOP, SHUT UP
and LISTEN!
Try reflecting back what
you've heard, make sure you've listened intently and ask
questions to take the conversation further. You may feel
you have the answers (and indeed you may), but by listening
more deeply you'll be giving your clients much more and
you'll be forging a deeper relationship.
4. Develop the brand 'you'. I think it was in the movie
Wild at Heart when Nicholas Cage, after being asked why
he wore a snakeskin jacket, responded: 'I wear this jacket
as a sign of my individuality and my belief in personal
freedom.' Ok, I'm not suggesting we all wear silly jackets,
but we need to be clear on what our identity is; we need
to be clear on what our identity is; we need to feel comfortable
in our own skin.
If you feel a sense of 'disconnection'
anywhere in your business you'll not be comfortable. You
may hate gambling, yet be working for a gambling client.
Dislike junk food, yet undertaking work for a fast food
outlet. In the long term it won't serve you well, because
it's stopping you being you and others will pick it up.
Get clear on the brand 'you'
and be faithful to it.
5. Be a model
Best of all in the pursuit of the attraction principle is
to be a model business person to those around you. Don't
accept second best. Avoid unsightly confrontations at all
costs. Treat all with respect and humility. Never think
of yourself as infallible, don't view yourself as a star
and don't kid yourself that you know it all. None of us
do.
So what do you think, are
you prepared to give it a go?
This article was written
by Robert Gerrish who supports business owners on a path
to loving their work. His website is brimming with resources
for those going it alone in business. A great example is
his FREE report featuring 101 practical tips direct from
business owners.
Robert has owned businesses in London and Sydney. He is
currently working as a business coach helping fellow entrepreneurs
to succeed in their business. Robert has a background in
Marketing and Business development. He has columns regularly
published in several newspapers and business magazines.
Get this and more at:
www.flyingsolo.org
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