The Next Act of Freedom

When you decide to start your own business a couple funny things happen. It’s like this one single decision all of a sudden shifts your world and a new landscape is scooted in from across the stage while the curtain is coming down for an intermission. We see new lights being positioned and feel a new costume coming on us in a flurry of activities for the next act. It feels exciting and fresh and you can’t wait until the curtain lifts again so you can show everyone.

The curtain goes up and with a big smile on your face you’re about to say your first line only to realize the house is empty. Not a single seat is filled.

Does the show still go on?

While I felt like I had rehearsed what to say and was prepared for anything I didn’t plan on no one being in attendance. I didn’t plan on no one not showing up when they said they would. I hadn’t thought about what I would feel like sitting among the scripts, props and costume I’d put on to give them a perfect experience and they weren’t there to see it. There is nothing more harsh in business than a no-show or lead that isn’t really leading anywhere near a sale.

It seems so easy.

It was the perfect situation.

Have a great product and service.

Let people know about it and they will buy it. .

Simple.

Despite the simplicity though many of us struggle with growing a thriving business that has a nice flow of customers, fresh leads and sales. We follow all the advice about consistency, brand positioning, online content management and more and yet the return on those activities is not stellar. We get that desperate feeling in our belly. We feel the need to do something quickly so we can turn it around, get some momentum and boost the bottom line. We invest in training, books, seek mentors and shamans. Sometimes we wonder what we just spent our money on because the results are still not shifting.