At least half of my clients encompass the fear of success. They are afraid of the expansion and growth of their company. I know this is something I struggle with, and I have a mentor who's helping me process my fear. I'd like to share some examples as to why people might fear success, along with tips and strategies that have helped me move past this fear.
Remember, challenges are also growth opportunities. They are an opportunity for you to be better and do better, to reach your potential because that is where the growth really is. Growth comes from challenge and being uncomfortable. Remember, if you have bigger problems, you are growing, and you are expanding.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-get-over-your-fear-of-success
You listen to this podcast because you want to make money. With your goal of making money, one action item you need to really move on is to let others know you exist. Show people how you can solve their problems and let them know your shit is real!
Why You Need to Put Yourself Out There
Put yourself out there and just go for it. Stop living up to other people's expectations and creating actions that only create happiness in others. When you play to other people, you're just putting your own dreams on the back burner.
Resonate with Others to Get Results
Resonate with people to get the results you want to see in your business growth. Have you put content out there, and it hasn't worked? There are a specific method and action steps you put out there to make people move to buy your product. This action step is a skill you can learn, and we teach you that skill set in our course, Persuade to Profits.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/promote-yourself-and-your-business-with-confidence
There's so much financial flux going on. I see many of you looking for opportunities in this changing economic world, which is why I'm focusing this show on how to make money quickly - the legitimate way.
Your Homework to Make Money
I'm going to start giving homework on these podcast episodes. I want you to think about the big problems being created right now? With everything we have going on, what kind of work experience and toolset do I have that can help others solve their problems? Create a set of solutions to three issues that you're seeing. Get creative, start brainstorming, and work through your list of ideas.
Once you've made a list of solutions, make sure to check out our class, How to Start a Coaching Business in 2020.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-make-money-quickly-the-legit-way
There is a time and a place to use debt. Besides buying a home and student loans, debt can constructively be used to make a calculated move in your business.
Let's stop listening to society about debt. Clearly, society doesn't know what it's doing, and that's why so many people have problems. Another false belief is that we think our entire lives revolve around our credit score. Although this is an integral part of your financial life, it's not your whole economic life.
What I Learned From Paying Off All My Debt
I was the person who would try and pay off all my debt in full every month. However, I didn't leave with myself with enough cash. And let me tell you when shit hits the fan, money is what's king, and cash is what matters. My lesson that I learned is that cash flow is more critical than your debt.
We're taught to pay off debt and to rid yourself of the shame of being in debt. So we use self-inflicted torture, such as eating rice and beans, to save as much money as we can to pay off our debt.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/your-debt-repayment-plan-is-ass-backward
Certain aspects of building a business seem like they're very far away. However, you want to start thinking about these business elements to avoid problems and mistakes down the road. The earlier you start being proactive about specific business areas, the better off you will be in the long term.
Moving from self-employed to business owner and CEO is a transition of epic momentum, process, and energy. When done correctly, with the right mindset, it will set you up for ultimate business success.
Getting Into a CEO Mindset
I was getting into that CEO mindset, learning to leverage systems, my knowledge, and people.
When I created content for myself full-time instead of creating content for others, I ended up benefiting by making more money for myself than I did making content for other businesses. That was a switch - to build a business model that gave me more time.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/self-employed-to-ceo
You may know someone who has become a coach because they've given others advice and are good at it. They may have fallen into coaching or consulting, and now they are trying to figure out how to make this a sustainable business. They may be trying to figure out how to build their online presence.
Many people join my Persuade to Profit program when they reach this spot. When they join, I hear many stories from what they've encountered with previous programs online. I listened to a story from a new member this morning, where she was a part of another business training program, and the sales tactics that they were teaching her were all about manipulation.
Why You Should Take Money Seriously
From the beginning, people are in business to make money, period! Some people get mad when I tell them they have to make money. I run a business, and I plan on helping a ton of people, which requires many resources. It would be best if you thought about this big picture from the beginning of your enterprise.
Many people do their business because they like it, but that's not a business. That's more of a hobby. So do you have an expensive hobby, or do you have a company? If you have a business, there is a focus on money and revenue.
I want you to start thinking about what types of resources you are going to need for the future because I want you to avoid problems in the future. I want you to start thinking about pricing yourself for profitability from the beginning.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/entrepreneur-baby-steps-to-scaling-your-business
If you've built a "successful business," and you are working 24 seven, have no time to yourself, and can't even pay yourself a salary, something is off. I have multiple six-figure businesses that are scaling to seven. Even though we're making the same amount of money, I'm working fewer hours. I pay myself a salary.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/your-business-isnt-successful-if-you-cant-pay-yourself
We have clients who come from differing religious backgrounds, many of whom are Christian-based. Many of these clients have struggled with the idea of making money. I grew up Catholic, and I don't remember hearing that Jesus doesn't like money.
We're living in a world that emphasizes being socially conscious, which is excellent. However, many people equate being socially aware of having a low-income lifestyle. Who said you had to be anti-capitalism to be socially conscious?
You may have a big heart, want to change the world, fight for social justice, and I am 100% with you on this subject. However, some of you are too busy fighting instead of thinking strategically.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, go to https://www.amandaabella.com/jesus-the-market-capitalist-with-integrity
You can make money easily and have integrity. You don't have to compromise your values or belief system to make seven figures. Know that you aren't a bad person if it's easy for you to make money, even if it's not so easy for other people to make more income.
My New Money Mantra
My new mantra is: I want to work easy and smart because I've worked too hard for long enough. I've been leaning into this philosophy, even when it makes me uncomfortable. I seek out smarter ways of working; I gain confidence and get more strategic about money. At this point, the money starts flowing more fluidly.
Listen in to find out:
https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-work-smart-instead-of-hard
Money is All Around Us
There's always money all around us that changes direction every day. Even now, in the worst of circumstances, money is available. You may be struggling in business from allowing the craziness of the world to get to you. Or maybe your business model isn't working as a result of the pandemic. Perhaps you lost your job, and you don't have another job lined up.
I know many of you who are reading this blog might not be in a good position right now. However, there are still people making money, and you can create income as well. No matter what economic climate, there is an opportunity to bring in cash. I want to give you some tips to get into that mindset. Start finding solutions to your income issues.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/make-money-in-any-economy
I'm obsessed with sales because the sales process changed my life so much! When I started, I had no idea what I was doing, and I wasn't very good at closing. Once I understood how to have that conversation, ask for money, negotiate, and deal with objections, I could then successfully close the sale. I do believe this is an essential skill set that will move you forward in your business.
Selling Feels Awkward
Anytime you are working through a learning process, you don't quite know what you are doing or how to execute correctly. Similar to riding a bike, you're going to wobble, fall over, and sometimes scrape your knee. You may even be falling over the place! That's a good learning process that everyone, even experienced salespeople, has gone through at the beginning of their sales training. Initially, you won't be very good at sales until you've learned the tools you need to sell and practice, practice, practice!
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/overcoming-rejection-in-sales-part-2
Rejection is Part of Sales
Rejection is part of the game. Once you realize that rejection is a normal part of sales, you will feel liberated! One reason why people may be so scared of rejection is that they are people pleasers at heart. When you're a people pleaser, you want everybody to like you, and that makes rejection very hard to deal with in business.
Additionally, there are those of us who don't want to be risk-takers. These people want to be safe and stay average. They want to avoid risk, not screw up their money, and especially avoid risky situations. When you avoid risk, you will inevitably stay away from situations where you might get rejected, and therefore, miss opportunities. Putting yourself out there for a chance or opportunity is scary and pours fear into your heart. When you work past to the other side of your fear, you’ll free yourself and make your sale!
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/overcoming-rejection-in-sales-part-1
Why Your Call to Action is SO Important to Get Warm Leads
Many times, clients and new business owners I talk to are missing one essential key aspect of a marketing system. And what I've noticed is they were missing this one aspect of a marketing system that would make their lives and their sales a lot easier. The component they are missing is to have a call for action. Additionally, they need easily accessible information on how to purchase or sign-up for what they are offering from their business.
First, you need a call to action
You'll notice that I almost never post anything on social media without a call to action. When you join me on my live video there's an offer for you to join a free class that I'm doing at 2:00 PM EST the same day I have my live video for aspiring coaches and consultants. Now that you've indicated interest, you're a warm lead. I have basic information on what you like, along with your contact information, and that helps warm up sale leads.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-get-thousands-of-warm-leads-for-free-part-ii
There are three building blocks for a business to be profitable: The system, the influence, and sales.
Many of us start with influence by posting content on social media, except you have zero systems put in place. You don't know what you're selling or to whom you're selling. You most likely are not priced for profitability and don't understand the customer process.
Another issue that might occur is you may have systems, but no one knows who you are. Likewise, you may have a system and influence, but you don't know how to sell your product or service. You don't understand how to have that conversation and how to close. Also, you may lack a sales process and aren't sure how to talk about money. How are you going to deal with objections? On what platform should you prospect for new clients?
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-get-thousands-of-warm-leads-for-free-part-1
Hitting Massive Walls in Your Business
I was unemployed ten years ago. I understand what you're going through and my team. We know there's a lot going on right now and why businesswomen and men need valuable information now, more than ever. I decided we're going to give you free workshops. Look for the free classes tab on my website and sign up for all of them today! We have different subjects like how to start a coaching business, how to improve your sales.
How Perfectionism Blocks Money
There are many reasons why perfectionism blocks money. Let's start with you, in particular. To make money, you need to be OK with making money. It sounds so simple, but in reality, many people aren't OK with earning high-dollar income. If you enter into business transactions and your concern is about being liked rather than respected, you're not going to make any money.
Nourish Yourself
I'm nourishing myself because I've forgotten to take care of myself in this crazy time. Those of us who are perfectionists, we have forgotten to feed ourselves because we've been too busy nourishing everybody else. Pivot and ride this next week on a different energy vibration, a different tone. Be back in the saddle and focused on the task at hand.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-overcome-perfectionism-part-2
What is perfectionism? Perfectionism is the refusal to accept any standard short of being absolutely flawless. A business owner looking for perfection may work with the mantra of a project that is entirely perfect, and all put together before launching their product or service off the ground.
Overachieving as a Form of Perfectionism
I know clients who always want to get another certification. They think if they attain more certifications, they will have more credibility and will be perfect. New entrepreneurs want to know if they need an MBA or certification to start. Do I need to go back to school? That's perfectionism.
Skill Sets You Need to Succeed
You could be horrible at what you do, but if you know how to market and sell, you'll still make money. I don't recommend that because that's super unethical, but it's the truth. Focus on learning to build your sales and marketing toolbox. Finding out how to build relationships and creatively market your product or service to create and publish content is a better use of your time than spinning in circles and not making a decision to move forward.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-overcome-perfectionism-part-1
Part II of my conversation with Shelton Marchman.
We dive into business credit essentials and why they are so vital if you’re looking to build your business. Many people start their business without a tax ID number or setting up an LLC.
In this episode, find out what elements are essential to have in your business, why you should have a separate business entity, and how having a Sole Proprietorship can set you up for personal disaster.
Shelton explains how you can obtain an EIN or tax ID number for your business, how you can set up your business income and assets as a different entity than your personal assets. He and I talk about examples of companies who have walked through the credit process correctly and others who have made mistakes with their credit.
We will also dive into how you can achieve credit terms with your vendors, to build up your credit with vendors and eventually move your credit score higher up the scale. I’ll also talk to Shelton about the types of credit cards you can access with your business.
Choose a Business Card with Travel Perks
When choosing a business credit card, look for cards that can earn you points with travel perks such as Chase Venture or American Express, who have tremendous perks for small business owners. Make sure to have your credit card account under your business name, not your personal name. This way, you're building credit for your business, not your personal credit.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/final-steps-to-setting-up-business-credit-shelton-marchman
Shelton Marchman is author of Give Me Credit for Trying. He has been a business credit expert for the last two decades. Today we are going to chat into how to use debt to leverage your business correctly.
Consumer debt and business debt are two different worlds. You don't want consumer debt as this type of debt isn't useful. You definitely want to pay down consumer debt and get yourself out of that unfortunate situation.
When you want to start building wealth, your views on credit need to change. If you're going to wait on cash or plan to have cash on hand for everything, it's going to take you a lifetime to get results. As Shelton brings up in this article, he doesn't know of one business that's never had to leverage credit. When you use your credit, remember to learn to use it properly.
Entrepreneurship and Debt
Shelton's advice for entrepreneurs is to go into debt. "I don't know a single person who has successfully navigated entrepreneurship without taking out some debt. Honestly, if you make less than $200,000 personally, I don't know how you would navigate your entire life without having some debt. Whether it's a car, a home loan, or something like that, you know, some people think it's all cash. Debt is a tool. You don't want to be paying for that vacation you took to Cancun for the next five years. However, if you're buying something, that's going to help you to build credit, then that is a good move."
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/using-debt-to-leverage-your-company-with-shelton-marchman-part-1
Michael “Coach Burt” and I talk more about thriving in a crisis economy, by starting with a driving factor some of us have experienced - it's called prey drive.
Prey drive is a drive inside of you that is typically activated by an external factor. A prey drive competition can activate a prey drive, a fear of loss, losing connection, or debate.
Your prey drive is the mindset that kicks in when you feel you are losing out on something important to you, so you go into prey drive and create a higher level of what you were going to previously present or show to others.
What Business Owners Can Do to Thrive Despite Challenges
Coach Burt advises business owners who are doubtful about the current economy. "Remove any consideration or hesitation that people are not spending money because that will prohibit them from taking action they need to take, then activate prey drive. Move to an explanation of your service, selling your system, followup, and the extraction of referrals. Next, move to the person of interest."
Coach Burt hasn't strayed from his system; he has only increased the intensity by making more phone calls, engaging at a higher level with current clients, and working better for his top 25 associations.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/activating-your-prey-drive
My mentor, coach Michael Burt is going to discuss sales in a crisis environment.
I've joined his coaching program, and, as a result, we've got more clients, more residual income, and we were able to hire a sales team.
Your Product or Service Isn't Going to Sell Itself
When you have a powerful primary skill, there are all kinds of problems you can solve with that skill, and people compensate you for your expertise. If you can prove to another person that the small investment they put into you is going to give them a considerable return, then you're going to be able to sell something. You have to do the selling, your product or service isn't going to sell itself.
Many business owners expect either social media or the sales page of their website to do all the selling. In reality, this is just one part of the puzzle, which is what I teach in my Persuade to Profit program. You still have to talk to people and sell, mainly if you're doing high tickets, which is what my program focuses on.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-your-business-can-thrive-in-a-crisis-economy
I'm never comfortable, but look, part of the mistake I see in many business people, and they've admitted it, they got comfortable when their company was excellent.
I saw many business owners online who could be making a killing right now. They could have started pivoting their businesses three years ago. That's what we started doing in the event of a market correction. They'll admit, they're comfortable, they thought everything would be great. That's a lesson I have learned one too many times, the hard way. You can not allow yourself to get comfortable.
This isn't just coping. This is a conversation for those that are hunters. When we talk about people getting comfortable, here's what I see from the small business, medium, large enterprise. Our sweet spot we work with is typically a minimum of eight to 10 million or one to 300 employees. Even in those companies, people are comfortable, and it's because they're not hunters. We've gotten too comfortable in just having leads fed to us or having a business.
A hunter mentality starts at the top. As a CEO, I'm a hunter, I'm looking for where I can hunt. Our next remarket will be hit and run. We're going to see the difference between the marketers and the salespeople because the salespeople are going to win.
Listen in to find out:
• Why you should be a hunter
• How hunters will win in the new market
• What to do when deals aren’t coming in to your business
• Why you shouldn’t let the COVID storm take you out
• Why everyone has something to sell
• Why you should have a fiscally fit company
• How others got comfortable when business was good and how this is coming back to bite them financially
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/ladawn-having-fiscally-fit-company
LaDawn Townsend and I chat about the characteristics you need to move forward on her show. These attributes and actions are vital to you, the entrepreneur, so let's jump into my talk with LaDawn Townsend.
LaDawn Townsend is the CEO and founder of the Voss group, and its mission is to grow your bottom line. Voss is a strategic advisory firm based in the United States with a large footprint internationally, currently expanding to the Middle East and Asia. "I deliver solutions to companies saving them over a million dollars in payroll, increasing revenue by 25% within four months, improving shipping and logistics by 42%.
Should You Sell Your Business? Recession Compared to Pandemic
LaDawn answers this question "What do I do? Your time to pivot is now. This is your time to get off your bum and make your mark in your industry."
The last recession of 2008 was not the same situation we have today. This was the same old bullshit of sorry financial markets and millennials being hit with one crisis after another. I'm wondering why we are still having the same damn conversation ten years later? Did no one learn their damn lesson?
LaDawn and I were the middlemen between candidates and fortune 500 companies. I saw people get laid off, so in 2013 I quit. I figured I might as well do my own thing because I saw the business world starting to shift and move online. Now people are vying to get online. Six months later, I launched my book with Amazon's bestseller status and ended up doing content marketing for the likes of Discover, Wells Fargo, Capital One, and TransUnion. I became known as a financial expert. I'm a minority woman; statistically I should not be where I am if you pay attention to statistics, which I don't do. Are the statistics, right? Only if you let them be right.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-prepare-pivot-adjust-and-move-forward-with-ladawn-townsend
Part 2 of my discussion with Chief Financial Officer, Carla Titus of Wealth & Worth Within. We dig into the topic of mindset.
Here are the top money mindsets or beliefs that have helped me throughout the last crisis and this crisis to make sure business is always thriving.
Struggle Is An Opportunity to Overcome
Instead of seeing the struggle as an opportunity to overcome, take action, and understand that making money is not as hard as people think. Once you start prioritizing and dedicating your time to the next step in your business, you're going to realize that money is coming without reworking and reselling.
Listen in to find out:
What I did not realize during the last recession, was that I was going in blind and putting one foot in front of the other. People were looking for information on money, and I was providing them this service, and that led to income.
That is how we create value. People are ready to pay to either fast track a solution or learn something that they don't want to figure on their own. There are free resources on the internet, however; it might take you a hundred hours to learn a new skill someone could easily teach you in a few days. You'd rather pay someone who can help you to figure out your issue quickly or coach you in the right direction. You can also purchase an efficient system they have created that you can directly implement and see results. Opportunities show up in many different ways.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/carla-wealth-worth-within-prosperity-in-recession-economy
My Journey of Resiliency:
Talking about my failures gets big fanfare as a result of a lot of bullshit in the online space. Many people faking and pretending everything is hunky-dory when their reality isn't. In life, there are going to be challenges. From working through my problems, I have become a big believer in the idea that our journey is about resiliency. Whether in business or my personal life, I have realized that my journey is about learning to become the best version of myself. In doing so, you have to take on the challenges in life. A life without challenges is a life without growth, and this is where self- mastery comes into play.
My Personal Journey Includes More Failures Than Successes
I most likely have more failures than successes from the last ten years of my life. Despite this fact, what most people see is my business making good money. And although I have some big wins, there are many mistakes and failures in between my successes. I think that's the part you guys are craving - the authenticity, the times in between my big wins.
Listen in to find out:
For more information, visit the show notes at https://www.amandaabella.com/how-to-turn-failures-into-successes