subject: Why My Business Took Off After Dropping 50% [print this page] Why My Business Took Off After Dropping 50%
2 years ago I felt like the bottom had dropped out of my business, the financial market had fallen apart impacting my coaching practice. Financial advisors were reeling from the market drop and concern for their clients (not to mention their own financial future). Assets and revenues were down, confidence was lost and expenses were cut. As a result my coaching practice took a big hit. While this seemed like the most difficult year of my business it became the tipping point to living the dream. What happened over the next year would transform my business in a way I had always envisioned. It's funny that it took a crisis to make it happen.
As many financial advisors headed for the hills, my revenues dropped 50%. This loss of business caused me tremendous stress and anxiety, instead of thinking big, following my vision I was counting pennies (or at least that's how it felt). I became worried about our financial situation at home, my own Citigroup stock (our college funds) went from $45.00 per share to under $3.00. I was losing sleep while more of my clients (financial advisors) stopped focusing on growing with more concern for survival, investing in a coach for growth was not a priority.
After almost 12 months of what felt like "scraping by" I finally decided I needed help. I started working with two female coaches from Canada. While my own revenues were down I was investing a large sum (money I didn't think I had) in hopes that these coaches could help me turn things around. This wasn't a quick fix and things didn't turn around overnight but the changes I made totally transformed my path to success. This was the best investment I have made in my business.
The first thing that happened was we began to look at things differently. In addition to the market volatility I had experienced some additional events that I had perceived and accepted as disappointments. While I saw these events as a negative, my coaches helped me to recognize the value and benefits these events would have on my business. While I saw these situations as roadblocks they saw them as guiding me to the path I was meant to take, and they were right.
It wasn't easy letting go of these events, in some ways I had embraced these situations as personal failure, I realize now they were actually indications of my strengths and value. I learned more than ever that when you are unique and different, willing to speak out against the norms most people want you to fit in, fall in line as this makes THEM feel safe and validates their way of life. Falling in line has never been my strong suit.
As I was processing these events (or at least my perception of these events) my coaches began to learn more about who I was and what I was really meant to do. They questioned me, challenged me and forced me to face my own fear of success. As a result I took some bold steps, continuing to invest in my dream and vision of my future. Today my practice continues to evolve, my Your Pink Office Website allows me to focus on my passion of helping the female advisors, my new seminar Savvy Women Invest ON PURPOSE is designed to help both male and female advisors attract and connect with the affluent woman. And lastly my focus and expertise with seminars have allowed me to develop an alliance with a nationally renowned company (watch my website for exciting announcements) that will elevate my business to a new level.
Today, not only has my business model changed but so has my attitude. While I have always been a strong optimist I allowed the nay-sayers and pessimist of the world to impede on my business and vision in life. You have often heard the phrase "Your attitude determines your Altitude". It's not easy staying focused on a dream and a vision, it's not easy staying focused on what you know is right when the pressures of day to day life continue to squeeze their way into your psyche. But, when you know your purpose, believe in yourself and have a plan and a vision there truly is no limit to what you can achieve.
