It’s happened a number of times to me now. I meet someone or some across a business which provides a product or service that I see as needed and that I might want to recommend. And then they go out of business. Or they stop doing that thing. And it’s often before I’ve really had […]
The Power of Sticking Around Long Enough Read More
This is a blog post I’ve been meaning to write for years. Fairly often, in workshops, the question (and it’s a very good one) comes up: “What if I can’t guarantee a result?” That question usually emerges from the shiny palace of conversations about creating guarantees, and better than risk free guarantees, doing clever and
What if I Can’t Guarantee a Result? Read More
Business is like a staircase which it’s best not to skip any steps. One of the things that can put us squarely and repeatedly into what I call The Meantime is not understanding what stage of business we are at (or even that there are different stages of business). A classic blunder is for people to
The Four Stages of Business Growth Read More
What is the core metaphor of your business? I’ve consistently seen that the thoughtful use of metaphors in your marketing can make a huge difference in terms of clarity and impact. In this, likely lengthy, post you’re going to learn about a number of ways you can use metaphor and symbolism in your business.
Metaphors in Marketing: The Power of Uncovering Your Core Metaphor Read More
How to create an instantly memorable, attention grabbing business name that gets people talking I’ve been wanting to write this blog for so long. It’s about what to name your business. Your business name matters. A good name is memorable and easy to repeat which gives you good word of mouth. A good name can
Clarity is everything in marketing. A while ago I wrote a blog post about the importance of developing a clear platform. Your platform is what you’re known for. It’s another way of talking about ‘brand‘. It’s the heart of slow marketing (but also the basis of fast marketing). The challenge that I lay out in
your platform in a single page Read More
Mike Rowlands, a Vancouver based marketing and branding expert is asking a group of thirty positive change makers one of the hardest questions they’ve ever been asked. He’s a very fun fellow but the question is serious. “If you closed up shop tomorrow, who would miss you? And why?” We’re all sitting in a circle
Who Would Miss Your Project If It Died? Read More
I met Mark Volmer, of Hidden Gem Healing in 2011 at some point. And I had the experience of instantly liking and trusting him. There’s something about people who are so comfortable in their own skin (not posturing or collapsing) that it has us all relax. He ended up coming to one of my weekend
case study: hidden gems Read More
A quick thought . . . The direction of your niche is determined by your wounds. The form of your niche is determined by your natural gifts. Those things you are most naturally best at, that come without effort are what you should build your niche around. The tone of your niche is determined by
your wounds, gifts and nature Read More
I’ve said it a lot of times: your deepest wounds are often the doorway to your truest niche. The things you’ve struggled with and overcome are places you have not only credibility but also capacity to help others. If you’re going to be a guide for people, best to pick a terrain you’re familiar with
six reasons why niching can heal you Read More