How to Succeed by Standing Out
In the world of business it can be incredibly tempting, and common, to compare yourself to others in your industry. I am guilty of this and need to constantly remind myself to get those thoughts out of my head when they creep in.
I am not the first, nor will I be the last, to tell you that you need only rely on the things that already make you unique in order to set yourself apart from the competition.
I realize that if you have no clue what those things are, this advice feels more like total frustration than actual help. It's ok. I've been there and I can help.
First things first, you do not need to be just like that person who is the rockstar in your line of work. Copying everything about them will never feel fully aligned with who you are, it will be a farce you constantly have to work at to maintain, and will just lead to burnout.
Plus, when you are authentic, it shows. People pick up on authenticity and they appreciate it. It's so often for all of us not to show up with authenticity in our lives that it's refreshing when we see people who do. And when people know you are being your true self, it gets them to "know, like, and trust" you that much faster.
Are you a yoga teacher who can't yet do a bunch of impressive inversions? Great!
Are you a photographer who hates shooting weddings? Perfect!
Are you a hair stylist who wants to focus on really cutting-edge styles and colors? Wonderful!
It may sound really cheesy, but if you pour your heart and energy into the aspect of your work that you really love and feel inspired by, it will show, and it will resonate with your ideal clients.
There will always be people who want to try yoga but feel very intimidated because they think it will be super challenging. If teaching in a challenging format doesn't align with you, you can teach gentle yoga and you'll amass a following of clients who want a gentle practice.
If you really want to do gorgeous boudoir photography, then shift your focus to that and reach back out to past brides to see if they'd be interested. If your heart and focus are there, and you provide a quality service and experience, you'll get an army of women who want to book with you.
If you’re tired of doing traditional hair styles, go to workshops to learn about new techniques and products. Recruit friends and some current clients to practice on, and create a portfolio of your work. Soon enough you'll be the person people will want to go to for their "mermaid hair."
I realize it seems almost counterintuitive to narrow your offerings to increase your business, but I assure you it's not. It's also important to remember that you are not going to be offering the ideal service or product for every single person. You just aren't.
If people want a business consultant that's going to show up in a Mercedes with Jimmy Choo's and a Chanel handbag, well there are plenty out there. But it certainly isn't me, and that's ok. The client who would want to hire that person, probably isn't my ideal client anyway. But plenty of people are comfortable with someone in jeans, Toms, and a relaxed attitude.
And by showing up exactly as who I am, I'm always attracting the perfect people who will resonate with me.
Think about what you love doing so much in your business that it almost doesn’t feel like work. You don’t have to have all of the answers yet, but just start here, get curious, and begin taking steps to do more of this kind of work.
Give your clients a reason to return! If you make them feel welcome, build a relationship with them, show them you really want to listen to their needs, and tailor solutions just for them (even when it might mean they spend less initially) they will feel compelled to return. If you have a bookable service, and it makes sense to rebook at the completion of a service, then do it! If you have supplemental product you sell to go along with a service, make sure you offer it. If you offer specials just for returning clients, make sure you find out the best way to contact them, and record their info.
