It’s a great idea, so where is my money?
ByI’ve built it…so where are the clients? What to do when your business is empty…
I started a business. Everyone I talk to thinks it’s a fantastic idea…but I’m not making ANY money and I don’t have any clients. I feel like this is due to my own insecurity and lack of a clear plan.
I have a tendency to give up easily and not follow-through when things get tough, and then I feel like a big, fat, failure. How can I turn my great idea into something that is profitable? AND how to I keep going in the meantime (because I really want to give up)?
I uncovered this amazing quote yesterday (call it divine timing):
‘You’re not a failure if you don’t make it; you’re a success because you tried.’
There are a few red flags in this question.
- ‘Everyone thinks it’s a fantastic idea’. WHO did you ask? It’s wonderful if Granny, Uncle Ned and your BFF support you, but ARE THEY your ideal client? Are they actually the people who are going to buy your service/product? If they’re not, then they’re not buying. There is a process that you must go through BEFORE you start making money. If you skip that process, life is much harder, the money doesn’t flow and your phone doesn’t ring. This does not equal a happy business!
- You already mentioned a lack of a plan, this is leading to your insecurity…actually it’s FEEDING your insecurity. Planning is important because of the process you go through. You have an end point in mind and a set number of tasks that are required to get you there. Keep in mind that just because you have plans, doesn’t mean everything will go to plan! The actual plans are not as important as the process you go through. If you’re having trouble with this, I suggest that you find a coach to help you. Trust me, the time and energy you save floundering about aimlessly (not to mention the self confidence you gain) will make it worth the money. It’s a smart investment.
Don’t give up! I have felt that way before and the only thing that saved my sanity and my business was my coach! Resilience and perseverance are what separate people like Oprah and Louise Hay, from the average person. (And the lack of persistence/confidence is also the #1 reason so many business’ fail in the first 2 years.)
I know you can do it, if you have a clear goal and a plan, and you don’t have to do it alone! For more information, grab the FREE MP3 of my last Teleseminar: Fearless Failure How to rise above paralyzing fear, make bold decisions and find success every time.
Great post, Kimberly. A confidence builder I use quite often is my list of testimonials. It’s not what I think of business, it’s what my clients say.
I always thought it was overwhelming overhead that put young businesses out of business. I can definitely see how confidence and persistence will kill it too.
As I was first putting together my Raving Fans page on KimberlyEnglot.com, I remember thinking, “If EVERYONE had a page of ‘raving fans’ they could go to and read when they were feeling doubtful, the world would be a better place!” Thanks for mentioning that, Nick!
(High overhead will kill a biz quickly too! Those who are persistent enough will find away around it. There is always a way, just not as perfect as we imagine it.)
Love this site, the relevant issues Kim addresses and the value she provides each and every week. Keep up the great work, Kim.
Thanks Pete!
Those are some very kind words and I appreciate them