May 2020 Issue
New Leads Marketing & Advertising Jeff Heggie
How to Work with a Consultant Marie
Incontrera
The Fairy Speaks How to sprinkle positivity on negative views Latifah Kgosidintsi
Life of an INTROVERT 4 of 26
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As a mom of 5 kids I had to immediately adjust to my new normal. How was I going to plan to be with them all day? I needed help and I needed it fast!! I had to find the right scheduling system ASAP or I was going to have a major break down. Thankfully, for me and my kids, I found the right system that is perfect for busy entrepreneurial mom. Scheduling is an essential part of staying sane. Trust me I know!!
Website http://momlife.today Email elizabeth@momlife.today Instagram @liz.momlifetoday Facebook https://www.facebook.com/momlifetoday1/ 6 of 26
Busy Moms
How COVID-19 made me a better planner
The number of planners and digital tools to organize your daily schedule and keep you on task is countless. Knowing what system to use as a busy mom and entrepreneur can be overwhelming. I’ve never been able to find the right tool to help make scheduling an effective daily habit, until now. The recent worldwide pandemic found me waking up one day having to add being a fulltime teacher to three elementary school kids on top of my already busy life as a mom, a sales rep for Zyia Active, and an entrepreneur. It felt like going from three fulltime jobs to six fulltime jobs overnight! That first week was a disaster, and I quickly realized that I needed a better scheduling solution. I already had a stack of planners and to do lists, but they weren’t going to cut it. If I didn’t find a better system, I wasn’t going to last another week of the COVID 19 pandemic, let alone the whole quarantine. Thankfully I found Jordan Page’s Block Scheduling System. The Block Scheduling System works because it is specifically designed to help busy moms prioritize their many different responsibilities. It is a system that teaches you to break your day into 3-4 hour blocks, rather than hour-by-hour, to accomplish your tasks. By grouping similar responsibilities together, you will only be required to wear one “hat” at a time. This will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed during the day. Jordan’s system is simple, but amazingly effective. It has really helped me be more productive at home, and in my business. My favorite part of using the block system is the flexibility it allows in my ever-changing schedule. Let’s be honest, sometimes (or always) the day doesn’t go as planned. In the past it was easy to let those changes derail the tasks I wanted to get done. Not anymore! The flexibility of using blocks allows me to quickly adapt, and still be productive! I love it, and I’m not the only mom-entrepreneur who does! For more information on The Block Scheduling System check out Jordan’s blog post at www.FunCheapOrFree.com. Or if you are looking for more in depth productivity help, I recommend joining her online Productivity Boot Camp program – I have found it worth every penny. 7 of 26
To learn more go to https://keap.grsm.io/savvymagbiz
How To Work With A
Consultant
In my time as a consultant, I’ve worked with clients to get booked on podcasts, developing and securing TEDx talks, and building their online platforms via social media. Many of my clients have seen great success - some have had their Harvard Business Review articles go viral, have built their LinkedIn network into the tens of thousands, have been featured on hundreds of podcasts, and have had their TEDx talk be featured on TED.com, where they garner a staggering amount of views virtually overnight. As a consultant, the success of my clients is what gets me up in the morning. I genuinely care about each one of them, and part of the reason that I got into this business is because I wanted to feel fulfilled in my work. I’ve learned that nothing makes me happier than being able to celebrate a big win with a client - recently, when a longtime client’s TEDx talk was featured on TED.com, I literally jumped for joy in my kitchen. But the truth is that the success of my clients is due in large part to the work that they put into our working relationship. The success of any consultant/client relationship is like any other relationship that you have in your life - it takes two to make great things happen.
If you try and lose then it isn't your fault. But if you don't try and we lose, then it's all your fault.” Orson Scott Card 10 of 26
It’s important to remember that engaging with a consultant is an investment, and that your investment is not just a monetary one. Putting in the time with your consultant can make all the difference when it comes to the success of your engagement. So if you’re thinking of working with a consultant, here’s how you can ensure that your engagement is one that you both will remember for all the best reasons. 1.
Establish expectations. During the beginning stages of your engagement, be sure to have a frank conversation about expectations on all sides. It’s important to discuss your expectations as the client, whether the consultant can meet them, and whether they are realistic. It may sound funny, but it’s a lesson that I learned the hard way. For instance, if a client wants to hire me to grow their social media following from zero to thousands in just a few months, I know that I cannot fulfill that expectation. As the consultant, it’s my job to be honest about this expectation - why it’s unrealistic for me to fulfill, what I do think is realistic in the timeframe, and how I will do it - this way the client can decide whether they’d like to move forward with the engagement. Failing to establish and solidify expectations on both the client and consultant’s parts can lead to an unsatisfying engagement and working relationship for both parties - and a whole lot of wasted money on your part. 2. Put in the work. Even if you hire a consultant for a done-for-you service, working with a consultant takes work, and the more work you invest into the engagement and relationship, the better your outcome will be. My most successful clients are always the ones that keep in close contact, respond to my requests and questions, and communicate ideas. These clients are the ones who sometimes take up more of my time than others, but they’re also my favorite ones to work with, because they’re smart about honoring their investment with me. And the results speak for themselves. This is often the difference between a “good” engagement and a great one. 3. Beware of scope creep. It’s a funny-sounding term, but scope creep can happen in even the best-intentioned consultant-client relationships. According to PMI.org, scope creep is defined as adding features and functionality (project scope) without addressing the effects on time, costs, and resources, or without customer approval. Many great consultants, myself included, have a blindspot when it comes to scope creep because they genuinely love their clients, love working with them, and want to see their projects be a success. And it can be a blind spot for clients as well. As the project progresses, an unforeseen need may pop up, or the project may grow in an unexpected way. Most good consultants understand that things happen and needs can change as a result of the project evolving. So if you think the scope of your project may be changing, the best thing to do is let the consultant know so that you can both evaluate your agreement and decide whether it should evolve with the project. 4. Do your research. Before hiring a consultant, it’s always a good idea to check references, ask for work samples, and take a day or two to sleep on it. Remember that hiring a consultant is not a small transaction and that you will be building a working relationship with this person. A great consultant can help you transform your business, and that’s not a decision that should be made lightly. Marie Incontrera is the Founder and CEO of Incontrera Consulting, a full-service firm that helps entrepreneurs, executives, and thought leaders build their brand via social media, podcasts, TEDx, and more. Find out more at incontrera.com.
Twitter @marieincontrera Instagram @marieincontrera LinkedIn in/marieincontrera/ Website: incontrera.com Email: marie@incontrera.com 11 of 26
The Fairy Speaks How to sprinkle positivity on negative views I am Latifah Kgosidintsi. A 21 year old lady doing my double major in Psychology and Administrator at the University of Botswana. Besides being a full time student, I am a Body Positivity Activist, Plus Size Model, Stylist, Designer and Entrepreneur. Growing up as a highly enthusiastic and optimistic young lady who's aim is to help individuals stay true to themselves and what they believe in, I have been working through different platforms to assist individuals reconnect to their innate body wisdom so that they can have a more balanced, joyful, self care based relationship with themselves. I grew up in a society where body shaming is quite common. Boys and girls are ridiculed on a daily basis because of the type of body they have as well as the kind of dreams they have due to societal standards.I am one of these youngings who have been shamed because I'm fat and the fact that I am PASSIONATE about fashion and pageantry. Fashion, pageantry, modeling and the likes are believed to be for thin/slim people. With the overflowing optimism in me, i grew to see things from a different angle and became fearless in the pursuit of what sets my soul on fire. I started doing what I love regardless of the harsh words society threw at me. I've been living to spread awareness about body positivity, being the fashionista/stylist that I am with the intention to prove society wrong about how our bodies aren't there to limit us but to spark the hidden talents within us and make us thrive! That's when the name "Thee Plus Size Fairy" became mine. A fairy is believed to be that tiny creature with a big heart that brings a smile on people's faces and that's what I saw in myself, a fairy. I grew.. continued modeling, joining pageants and later started my own online fashion store(Fashion Café) to style ladies of different sizes to help them look good whenever they step out. I'm strongly for the quote "Happy body, Happy Mind". The minute you dress up, look good and feel good, a healthy mind is stimulated which radiates positive energy. Seeing people step out in style fills me up to the maximum. Reminds me of how a friend of mine always emphasizes on how we should STOP looking like our problems, Lol. 14 of 26
I'm strongly for the quote "Happy body, Happy Mind". The minute you dress up, look good and feel good, a healthy mind is stimulated which radiates positive energy. Seeing people step out in style fills me up to the maximum. Reminds me of how a friend of mine always emphasizes on how we should STOP looking like our problems, Lol. However, having hands on many things is not easy more especially because I'm a full time student. There are times where I feel discouraged, impatient, sad and worried. Entrepreneurship is a bumpy journey bringing with it alot of mixed emotions. There are times where I also feel so thrown off by how there's just so much to do within a short period of time. The feeling would make me want to give up without looking back. But all this is conquered by one thing! Literally one word, Passion! Passion will keep you up all night no matter how exhausted you are. Passion will make you walk through the storms and not get defeated. Passion is the one that will make you find ways to make everything work no matter how impossible it seems. If you love something whole heartedly, you fight. That is why I always encourage people to seek what sets their souls on fire because inspiration Comes from Self within.
Balance equals time. You can never go wrong with Time management. That's how I basically work things out. I have my to do list ready always. Everyday planned out. I prefer a daily planner since I have school and tasks may pop out of nowhere unexpectedly and ruin my schedule. I allocate each task time and try hard to stick to the plan. Planning is underestimated yet very essential. As an entrepreneur you have to wake up with a plan daily. That equals productivity on it's own. I pick certain dates where I make deliveries, schedule meetings, content creation as well as perform at school. One more thing that keeps me on track is that all platforms I'm on a linked to each other. Psychology Student - Body Positivity Activist- DesignerModel/Pageantry Queen - Stylist - Entrepreneur - Digital
Email: tifahkgosidintsi@gmail.com Contacts: +26774643654 / +26773485623
Twitter: plus_size_fairy Instagram: thee.plus.size.fairy/ Facebook: thee.plus.size.fairy/ 15 of 26
It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform. Roy T. Bennett
www.behindthesceneexpert.com melissa@behindthesceneexpert.com
New Leads Marketing & Advertising 18 of 26
Business owners today are in the fight of their lives. The global economy is in shambles, they have no additional revenue sources they can tap into for financial support during lean times – and perhaps worst of all, marketing and advertising just don’t work as well as they used to. In fact, for many small business owners, marketing isn’t producing any results for them at all... and their financial situation is growing more desperate by the day. As a business owner or entrepreneur, if you’re struggling right now to generate more leads and clients for your business, and you need to find immediate ways to dramatically increase your business’ bottom-line revenue, over the next few issues of SAVVY The Business Magazine I’ll show you how I can help you make all of these problems disappear forever. Over the next few issues, I’m going to give you back door access to a series of powerful business growth strategies that are some of the most powerful revenue-generating strategies ever created. So let’s get started. More Leads – Marketing and Advertising Let’s face it. The major hot button for most small businesses these days is the ability to generate leads. All small businesses want more leads, but few of them know how to successfully attract customers to their business. As a coach, I have in-depth knowledge and skill when it comes to generating leads. So here’s the process I use to do this. If you’re like 99% of the business owners I speak with, you may often feel lost or overwhelmed as you try to navigate through all the various options available these days. Websites, social media, SEO, email marketing, Facebook, pay-per-click and so on. Let me do you a favor right now and completely remove that overwhelm from your life forever. Are you familiar with the 80/20 rule? For business owners, it means 20% of what you do every day is generating 80% of your total annual revenue. In other words, you’re only doing a few things daily that makes you most of your money. I can tell you specifically what makes up that 20%, and that’s all you really need to focus on. There are 5 areas that make up that 20% - leads, conversions, transactions, pricing and profits. To show you the potential impact we can have in these five areas, I use a tool called a Profit Growth Calculator. Do you by chance know the exact number of leads and sales you’ve made over the past 12 months?
No! That’s OK... let’s plug in numbers for a make-believe business. Let’s say your business generated 1000 leads in the past year... and your average conversion rate was 25%. Let’s also say your customers bought what you sell 10 times throughout the year... and they typically paid on average around $100 per purchase. Finally, let’s say your profit margin per sale is only 25%. Notice at the bottom that you’re earning $62,500 annually. But, look what happens if we simply increase each of these 5 areas by a meager 10%. You would see your annual revenue almost double from $62,500 to over 6 figures. By the way.
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Most business owners would KILL to almost double their revenue, wouldn’t you agree? Now, watch what happens if you could increase each of the 5 areas by 50%. Your business would skyrocket from $62,500 to almost half a million dollars annually. Now, you may be thinking 50% gains in each of these 5 areas would be next to impossible. Let me assure you, a 50% increase is possible, and I’m going to prove it to you right now. When asked, most business owners tell me “word of mouth”, or more often than not “referrals”, are how they generate leads. Referrals are obviously an excellent lead source. In fact, it may be the best one by far, but the problem is you never know when you will get them. They’re not reliable and you certainly can’t generate them whenever you want. 99% of businesses today do have a website. Do you know for sure how many leads your website generates every month? Do you know for sure how many sales your website produces every month? Can I show you why your website isn’t generating leads or closing sales for you. Here’s the key to successful marketing. You MUST be able to enter the conversation taking place in the head of your prospects. Or, another way to look at it is to be able to address the number one question on your prospect’s mind at just the right time. So how do you do this? It’s actually quite simple when you know and understand the The conversation prospect’s mind points. There’s a don’t want... and don’t have.
that’s taking place in EVERY revolves around two major problem they have, and they there’s a result they want but
Now believe it or not, there is actually a marketing formula we follow that takes these two points into account and spits out a message so compelling it practically forces your prospects to buy what you sell. It’s called the Conversion Equation, and it looks like this – Interrupt, Engage, Educate and Offer. The Interrupt is your headline – which means it’s the first thing someone sees when they visit collateral, or hear you speak. When someone asks you what you do, it’s the first words out of your mouth. That’s your headline... and it MUST address the problem your prospects have that they don’t want. The Engage is your sub-headline – which is the second thing your prospects see or hear. It MUST address the result your prospect wants but doesn’t have. The Educate is the information you provide... either verbally or in writing... that presents evidence to your prospects that you and your product or service are superior in every way to your competition. Unfortunately, MOST businesses aren’t different from their competitors, and that’s why you MUST innovate your business to create what we refer to as a market-dominating position. You MUST make your business unique... it MUST stand out from the crowd. It MUST make your prospects say to themselves that they would be absolute idiots to buy from anyone else but you – regardless of price. And finally, the Offer. You MUST create a compelling offer that makes it so irresistible your prospects can’t turn it down. But, here’s another critical fundamental of marketing. Because of the saturation of marketing messages these days, most prospects have become numb to most marketing. 20 of 26
Following our Conversion Equation can dramatically overcome this, but even with this powerful tool in play, it will still take multiple “touch” points before your prospects will buy what you sell. For most businesses today, it takes anywhere from 20 to more than 100 touch points before a prospect makes their buying decision. Following the Conversion Equation reduces the touch points to somewhere between 5 to 12 points of contact. But here’s the key... most businesses don’t follow up with their prospects at all, and this provides a HUGE window of opportunity for ANY business that does follow up... to position themselves as the dominant force in their industry. But, in order to have the opportunity to get your message in front of your prospects 5 to 12 times, you MUST find a way to collect their contact information, and that’s the purpose of your Offer. Most businesses offer something that only appeals to prospects we call NOW buyers – prospects ready to make an immediate purchase. Unfortunately, NOW buyers make up less than 1% of the total number of prospects that are in the market to buy what you sell. These businesses typically offer prospects a free consultation, a discount, a coupon, a free assessment, a complimentary quote, or the biggest mistake of all... CALL US! For most businesses, all of their marketing material... their website... their business card... all list their phone number as their sole offer... and that ONLY appeals to that 1% of NOW buyers. The remaining 99% of viable prospects are “investigating” and gathering information about what you sell. They’re searching for information because they want to determine who is offering the best value. You see, prospects DON’T shop price – they shop VALUE! The only reason prospects consider price is that most businesses don’t give them any other value proposition to consider except price. Remember what I said a moment ago about making your business unique – creating a market-dominating position? Most businesses don’t do that, and since they... and all of their competitors... look exactly the same, prospects are FORCED to shop price. So, with these fundamentals in mind, let’s see how your website stacks up to them. Let me tell you about a website we recently revised for a child psychologist so you can see what I mean. His website was typical for his profession. He had a very generic headline – Parenting Advice and Resources from Dr. John Smith He has to have a headline like that because he’s attempting to be all things to all prospects. Basically, this doctor helps parents deal with adolescent problems. He had a list of the 9 areas he specialized in – emotionally disturbed kids, behavioral problems, teen pregnancy, peer pressure and so on. So, let’s compare this site with the fundamentals we just discussed. First, you MUST create a market-dominating position. This doctor could actually create 9 of them by simply positioning his specialty in each of his 9 individual areas of treatment. For example, let’s say he decides to start with the top condition on his list... emotionally disturbed kids. These are kids that yell, scream and constantly have a highly belligerent attitude toward their parents. They scream at them and are known in some cases to threaten the parents. These kids can’t be reasoned with and these poor parents have NO clue how to deal with this situation. So, here’s what this doctor needs to do. Forget the website completely – this doctor needs what we call a squeeze page. 21 of 26
Remember the second fundamental – you MUST enter the conversation taking place in the head of your prospect. There’s a problem they have they don’t want... and there’s a result they want but they don’t have. This is where we implement the first two components of the Conversion Equation... Interrupt and Engage. The headline is the Interrupt and it must address the problem they have and don’t want. We started with a new headline – Are You Sick and Tired of the Yelling, Screaming and Belligerent Attitude of Your Child? Does that address the problem these parents have and don’t want? Would you say that’s a 100% bullseye? Now, for the Engage which is the sub-headline. It MUST address the result they want but they don’t have. We used – Now You Can Discover the Secrets to Controlling Your Child and Instantly Restore Peace and Quiet in Your Home. Would you say that’s bullseye number two? Now, let’s look at the third Conversion Equation component... Educate. On the doctor’s original website he had a short video, because he’s trying to appeal to all prospects, his video said this – “Greeting parents. I want to welcome you to remarkable parenting. You will find tons of great information here with hundreds of pages of articles.” Think how ridiculous this sounds if I’m one of these parents with a kid that has a belligerent attitude. Do I want to read hundreds of pages of articles? Or, am I searching for a specific solution to a specific problem? Do you see why most websites these days are basically a total and complete waste of money? They don’t address the things your prospects are truly looking for. Here’s the new script we created for this doctor. “As a parent, are you struggling to gain control of your child's attitude and emotions? Is your child yelling and screaming at you, while often displaying a belligerent and sometimes threatening tone that no matter what you do or try... you just can't seem to get under control? My name is Dr. John Smith, and I help parents like you every day learn the techniques that will solve these frustrating and destructive behavioral patterns once and for all. In fact, let me prove it to you. Enter your first name and email in the box to the right, and I'll send you a series of 60-second techniques that will immediately restore peace and quiet in your home.” Think that just might get more prospects to respond to this message? And that brings us to the final component of the Conversion Equation... the Offer. Look at the doctor’s original offer. His original site was offering a free consultation. The only prospects that will accept that type of offer are those NOW buyers. Remember, they’re less than 1% of the total number of prospects looking for this type of help. When your offer is to “call me,” that basically says “let me sell you” to your prospects. We are so used to getting nonstop sales pitches these days that we resist calling anyone with every fiber of our being. This type of offer is called an incentive offer, and incentive offers only work for common purchases, emergency situations and impulse purchases. And remember, most prospects don’t buy until they have 22 been of 26 exposed to your messaging somewhere between 5 to 12
So, let me ask you this. Do you think we could get similar results for your business? How many leads have you generated in the last 12 months? How many leads would you estimate you’ve generated this month? How many of those leads requested your offer? If we could create a similar process for your business... and offer compelling information to your prospects just like we did for the child psychologist... do you think more prospects would respond? By what percent? Could we conservatively agree that a 10% opt-in rate is easily a no-brainer? Do you realize just that one change alone would double your current sales revenue? And that’s assuming we don’t increase your number of leads or your final conversion rate... which we will. If you said your last month’s revenue was $25,000... then just this one change alone adds an additional $25,000 to your bottom line. But consider this! That additional revenue is NOT just a one-time increase. That’s revenue the business will generate year after year after year.
Jeff Heggie Business Development Coach www.JeffHeggie.com 23 of 26
Five Ways Journaling Can Help Manage Your Anxiety and Depression During the Coronavirus Pandemic It is impossible to do anything right now without hearing the words "coronavirus” or “COVID-19.” Social media and news sites can't keep up with the ever-developing updates while stores and online retailers are running out of household items like hand sanitizer, toilet paper and bleach wipes. The developing panic is real! The world is basically on lock down and we have no idea for how long. And for people who already struggle with anxiety disorders and/or depression, the daily reminders and updates about coronavirus sweeping the globe is only adding insult to injury. Journaling can be used as a therapeutic approach to anxiety and depression. Putting pen to paper can provide an uncensored outlet for people to write down their thoughts and feelings freely, allowing them to gain control over their emotions and perspective about their problems, and also formulate more appropriate ways to respond to the world. Here are 5 ways that journaling can help manager your anxiety and/or depression. 1. Boosts Your Mood – If you really want to boost your mood, keeping a gratitude journal is where it’s at. All you have to do is once a day, preferably before bed, write down what you’re grateful for today. It might not seem like much but it’s very powerful for going to sleep, thinking positively about your life. 2. Increases Your Sense of Well-Being – As you write out your thoughts, you’ll start seeing issues from a new angle just because you’re opening your mind to think about it. This is going to make you feel more capable of dealing with whatever happens. 3. Promotes a Sense of Calm–Writing your feelings down can make what you are facing to seem less horrific so that you can feel better. Plus, you can look back at days you thought life was "over" and see better days after. If each time you have that anxious feeling you choose to write in your journal how you are feeling and why, you’ll start to control it better. 4. Provides solutions. There are tons of journal prompts for anxiety and depression (I’ve shared a few below!) that are designed to help us think outside our comfort zone, and as we write, we inevitably start to come up with solutions to our problems.
5. Helps us gain perspective. Journaling offers a deeper glimpse into our minds. It helps us understand why we react to things the way we do, and the more honest we are in our writing, the more perspective we gain.
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Journal Prompts are amazing for helping to get your ideas and creativity flowing. They also act as therapeutic guidelines to tackle targeted emotions or stress points in our lives. Here are 15 Journal Prompts for Anxiety and Depression. Copy them into your journal and get started, one at a time. 1.
Today, I am thankful for…
2.
My favorite accomplishment is….
3.
I am anxious when….
4.
I felt sad when….
5.
What is one thing I wish I could change…
6.
My happiest memory is…
7.
What’s been bugging me lately?
8.
Make a list of 15 things you love about yourself…
9.
My favorite body part is…
10. One way I could love myself more is…. 11. My Childhood hero was ________ and I am similar to them in these ways _______. 12. What is your best quality? 13. Write a letter to one of your parents. (You do not have to give it to them.) 14. Make a list of 10 quotes that inspire you 15. Make a list of 20 things you are grateful for. One thing that can really help you make your journaling work is to learn how to keep one effectively. Make some journaling rules, do it every day to create a habit, and keep it private unless you decide to let a therapist see it or you decide to use it to help others.
The POWER of Journaling will be released in 2020 as well as her journal collection for breast cancer survivors, caregivers, tween and teen girls, womenpreneurs and prayer warriors. If you’d like to connect with Michelle, you can email her at michelle@vmscommunications.net or on social media!
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