Another exciting couple of weeks unfold as we focus on increasing the value we bring to big thinkers and entrepreneurs, especially those in regional and isolated locations.
You'll see our success tip below comes from a dear friend in a very remote location indeed, who has built an international business - in her bare feet!
Ellen Bathgate and I took the opportunity to pop to Sydney to see some friends in action on stage, Jo & Rick Harrison speaking at the "What Women Want" event - I was also curious to see who else we'd meet! I'm currently doing a little research for my coming book and discovering inspiring stories of successful entrepreneurs across regional and rural Australia, so it was awesome to meet people who could connect me with these quiet achievers.
Meeting Kurek Ashley was a highlight, and if you've heard him speak or had a conversation with him, you'll totally understand that. When I met Kerri Pottharst in Orange earlier this year, she shared how Kurek had coached her and Natalie Cook to their unforgettable Gold Medal win at Bondi Beach in the 2000 Olympics Beach Volleyball. I'm now 3/4 through Kureks Best Seller "How Would Love Respond" which is incredibly profound.
Janet Beckers, who I've attended a number of seminars with, was also speaking and it was great to catch up with her. I loved hearing Janet speak about how she choses the option that scares her the most - this approach has opened countless doors for her and propelled her business rapidly. I so relate! Outside the comfort zone is where the best discoveries are made.
Another huge highlight was a board-breaking exercise! See the blog "Busting through Limitations" to read more and see the fun Lyndon had with the video of the brief moment of impact!
We're also revamping Create the Life Club to make it more supportive for members to achieve their goals, and connect more with like-minded people. We gathered a few local members last week and shared ideas and opportunities and give members a chance to meet one another which was a lot of fun and really inspiring.
So if you know some really successful regional entrepreneurs who inspire you; please let us know as we would love to connect with them, encourage them and invite them to share their story.
In other news, Lyndon & I spent last Thursday celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary, with an awesome platter at Newtown Providores and researching for the Best Seller project!
Lyndon spent last Friday with Ethan at his first ever school athletics carnival, catching up with other parents and watching Ethan and his friends participate in the track and field events. Ethan came home with a string of achievements, from 100m - 1500m races... then I took him off to soccer and watched him score a goal and help his team win the game. His energy is amazing.
Have an amazing week - uncovering opportunities, busting through limitations and creating the life you want.
Cheering you on,
Lyndon and Kerrie
PS.
We've also started a group on Facebook called Entrepreneurs in Regional and Isolated Areas, so if you're on Facebook please find us there, share your opinion and connect with others!
Todays Success Tip Comes From Dr Miki Swart
Dr Miki Swart is based in Sheffield Beach, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. She says "You can’t really call it a village, because we have beach on the one side, about two lines of houses and then sugar cane fields. Really stunning."
What do you see as the benefits of your rural location?
Definitely lifestyle… you get control over your time as there aren’t the kinds of demand that you would find in the city. The second biggest benefit is that you get to very quickly create a name for yourself, with such a small community, people get to know you and what you do and, provided you work in integrity and are good at what you do, you become known as the expert in your field. An inspiration to regional entrepreneurs is that we have in the radius of about 30kms from where I live, six coaches. All six coaches have successful businesses. I believe that being out here really challenges us to think out of the box, make use of technology and think international. Many of the business men and women in our regional area have international businesses.
What challenges have you faced in building your business there?
My biggest challenge has been my age and my style. I am 23 years old, although I started this particular business when I was 20. This challenged both my perception and the perceptions of some of my potential clients. I held my first workshop when I was 20. I got all dressed up for it: skirt, tailored jacket and deliciously uncomfortable high heeled shoes. I stood in front of a room and coached a group of thirty women all over the age of 35, with children, husbands and businesses. I could see their faces full of doubt as I stood up to address them… that doubt disappeared as soon as I opened my mouth. I learnt something huge that day, people don’t want my age or my image, they want what’s in my head, they want my skill. I had to re-visit my vision of what I wanted and who I was… since then, I have held almost every workshop barefoot, in my baggies and a hoody, not in a conference room, but on a veranda overlooking the ocean or a tree-covered café.
I’m known as the bare-foot coach around here. Actually, it’s almost insane, I would never have thought it was possible that people would love it so much. By really honing in on what I want and my own style, I have niched myself so clearly. I am demanding, have high expectations of my clients and hold them entirely accountable to change – but we hold our sessions with fun, a touch of informality and the encouragement to be whoever we want to be. Strangely enough, being entirely true to myself, I begin to attract more and more business. I am servicing a market who DON’T want the suit and tie deal.
This is a huge insight for any entrepreneur… there is ALWAYS a market that wants what you’ve got, that want your style and your strengths and your personality. You need to be clear about what that is and position yourself in a way that people know the benefits of working with a company with your specific take on things. You need to know your values and communicate those clearly in your marketing so that you attract the kinds of clients who want what you have. In this way, I am truly blessed. To be 23 years old, running my own business with seven income streams and to know exactly who I am and do what I love is a blessing. To have had a family who support my truth and to have had forms of coaching from childhood to guide me rather than tell me what to do has lead me this place of power and ownership of my time and life. It’s the dawn of a new age really, because I believe more and people will begin to live like this… to make the market suit you and not you suit the market… to live your passion and attract clients who want who you REALLY are.
Exciting stuff!
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