After the filming for Home Business Brains was done, Alan Kaplan and I spent a couple hours at Cafe Ronda talking about life and business as rain drizzled down on the New York skyscrapers.
One of the insights Alan shared was how working from home can actually be an obstacle to success.
Here’s why:
If you work from home, you can achieve a certain level of success. You might earn six figures a year and enjoy a flexible schedule.
For many self-employed folks, this may be just fine.
But what Alan realized is that working from home — and staying inside that “home office bubble” — is really a self-centered perspective.
You see, there will come a point in your business where if you want to grow any more you will have to shift your focus away from you and toward other people.
Once you shift your focus and involve other people in your business, that’s when magic can happen. It’s about vision… sharing that vision… and
Making Other People’s Success Your Success.
This is not an easy transition to make — changing your focus from SELF (and personal profit) to PEOPLE (and how you can help them).
One way Alan is tackling it is by traveling more and actually meeting people face-to-face. So far, it’s been amazing for him. He’s formed business partnerships, gotten new ventures off the ground, and he feels more energized than ever before.
Like Alan, I love face-to-face meetings. There’s something about meeting in person that can’t be duplicated by email correspondence or phone calls.
Sure, it requires more effort. But often the pay-off can be huge.
Example #1: I’ve traced more than $60,000 in copywriting fees to a single seminar I attended in fall of 2005.
Example #2: I’ve traced more than $15,000 in profit to a small seminar where I met Michel Fortin, Ray Edwards, and John Anghelache. (Ken Calhoun and Rick Butts were also there.)
Example #3: I’ve established “pick up the phone and call ‘em anytime you want” friendships with people like Dave Bernstein, Ray Edwards, and John Anghelache.
Are You a Real Person?
If you are a service professional, and you’re running your business 100% online, you can be easily mistrusted and ignored. That’s because so long as you’re online only, you’re a virtual person. You have no strong connections with your customers and promotional partners.
Furthermore, I don’t know if YOU are really YOU! Off the top of my head, I can think of at least three online businesses where the primary product spokesperson is not a real person.
On the other hand, if you get out there and meet your customers, clients, and promotional partners, you’ve now elevated your business a notch. You’re a real flesh-and-blood person! And, as such, easier to trust and much harder to ignore.
Here’s a secret: You can’t duplicate real life. And real life happens in four dimensions: heighth, width, depth, and time.
Every time I connect with another human being in the real world, we’ve got a real connection (instead of a virtual connection). There is a certain level of trust, shared experience, and friendship that happens automatically. These are things that are hard (if not impossible) to duplicate online.
Step into the Light
There are people out there who need you. People who would benefit from knowing you on a deeper level than online only. And those same people can benefit you as well.
So if you’ve been holed up in your home office — a self-imposed hermit — then step out into the light. Go participate in some meetings where you live. If you’re adventurous, register for a seminar, book a flight, and go meet people.
It may be a foreign experience for you… possibly a little intimidating at first… but I promise it will change your perspective and improve your business — if you let it.
Remember: Success is not about having the most “friends” on Facebook or the most followers on Twitter. It’s about forging deep and meaningful relationships with people — and finding ways to really help each other.
-Ryan M. Healy
P.S. My friends Ray Edwards and “DJ Dave” Bernstein have built AMAZING businesses through the simple practice of going to seminars. And now they’ve created an audio training program called Seminar Strategy Secrets.
Originally, it was only available as a physical course for $297. But they just recently “digitized” it… AND lowered the price to $97.
If you’re planning to attend a seminar, I highly recommend this program. It walks you through what to do BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER the seminar to get the best results out of your investment.
Think about it: You’re already investing anywhere from $500 to $2,000 or more to attend a seminar. Don’t you think it’s worth an additional $97 to make sure you get the highest ROI possible?
You can learn more about Seminar Strategy Secrets here:
http://rhealy.hifiwebguy.hop.clickbank.net/ <======= My blatant affiliate link.
Now, if you’d rather not use my affiliate link, you can also go straight to the sales page here:
http://www.SeminarStrategySecrets.com <======= NOT my affiliate link.
Either way, check it out. ;-)
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- Attending a Business Seminar? Here’s a Simple Travel Tip
About Ryan M. Healy
Ryan Healy is a direct response copywriter. Since 2002, he has worked with scores of clients, including BoostCTR, Alex Mandossian, Terry Dean, and Pulte Homes. He writes a popular blog about copywriting, advertising, and business growth, has been featured in publications like Feed Front magazine, and is a regular contributor to WordStream.com, BoostCTR.com, and MarketingForSuccess.com.
If you're not doing everything you can to build trust with your potential customers, then your web site is losing money 24/7. Fix this problem fast with the HONESTe Online Trust Seal -- proven to increase conversions by 17.6%. Click here to learn more » |
{ 20 comments }
Hi Ryan,
I completely agree. Here I sit in my nice home office making money, but you know what? It’s miserable. There’s no one around. I want some change, I need people. Both people who think like an entrepreneur and some who don’t. A variety.
And when I say “entrepreneur” types I DON’T mean those guys trying to make a life outta selling someone else’s pills, or someone else’s stupid juice product. I want to be around people with “REAL” businesses and “real” services that provide a unique value to people (and don’t have ANYTHING to do with real estate or financial services, I am so sick of that crap, too). I hate it when these guys here in St Louis get around me and all they can talk about are their stupid juice, pills, and real estate brokerage.
What ever happened to the days where people actually created new and interesting things themselves?
Or people who *gasp* actually MANUFACTURE something, like say, high-end leather luggage. Whatever, just something real.
As for me, I’m in the info business and I create all my own stuff; I’m not pawning off someone else’s crap, hoping to make a lousy percentage.
It’s no physical product gig that’ll last generations and passed down to children, but at least it’s not Mona-Vie or whatever.
Rant over :)
Hi Ryan,
I completely agree. Here I sit in my nice home office making money, but you know what? It’s miserable. There’s no one around. I want some change, I need people. Both people who think like an entrepreneur and some who don’t. A variety.
And when I say “entrepreneur” types I DON’T mean those guys trying to make a life outta selling someone else’s pills, or someone else’s stupid juice product. I want to be around people with “REAL” businesses and “real” services that provide a unique value to people (and don’t have ANYTHING to do with real estate or financial services, I am so sick of that crap, too). I hate it when these guys here in St Louis get around me and all they can talk about are their stupid juice, pills, and real estate brokerage.
What ever happened to the days where people actually created new and interesting things themselves?
Or people who *gasp* actually MANUFACTURE something, like say, high-end leather luggage. Whatever, just something real.
As for me, I’m in the info business and I create all my own stuff; I’m not pawning off someone else’s crap, hoping to make a lousy percentage.
It’s no physical product gig that’ll last generations and passed down to children, but at least it’s not Mona-Vie or whatever.
Rant over :)
I absolutely agree with you. In fact, I am so glad you wrote about this because I was beginning to wonder about myself. I have been participating in several online courses where forums have been provided. I actually get “finger-tied” because, often, I cannot feel a connection. I see the words others write and I understand the meaning from a purely intellectual perspective but I don’t feel anything for the others on the forum. This is also a dilemma for me as a therapist who needs (as in bring in $$ while I am changing fields)to build an online practice. I don’t feel the connection that I used to with clients who came to my office when I had a private practice.
So, I will get used to it, I suppose, and online therapy does have its upsides. For example, many people are not able to physically be at a therapy appointment. Some have childcare considerations. For others there may be dynamics of fear and shame that come into play and they are simply more comfortable not being “seen” by a therapist. Although a case could be made that people having these issues are the ones that ABSOLUTELY should be showing up in person, the fact remains that many would not seek help at all were it not for the anonymity of the internet. In this type of case, treatment might involve helping the client to release enough of the shame that he or she could actually meet me face-to-face.
Anyway, I obviously connected to this post. Thanks.
Speak soon,
Arieljoy
I absolutely agree with you. In fact, I am so glad you wrote about this because I was beginning to wonder about myself. I have been participating in several online courses where forums have been provided. I actually get “finger-tied” because, often, I cannot feel a connection. I see the words others write and I understand the meaning from a purely intellectual perspective but I don’t feel anything for the others on the forum. This is also a dilemma for me as a therapist who needs (as in bring in $$ while I am changing fields)to build an online practice. I don’t feel the connection that I used to with clients who came to my office when I had a private practice.
So, I will get used to it, I suppose, and online therapy does have its upsides. For example, many people are not able to physically be at a therapy appointment. Some have childcare considerations. For others there may be dynamics of fear and shame that come into play and they are simply more comfortable not being “seen” by a therapist. Although a case could be made that people having these issues are the ones that ABSOLUTELY should be showing up in person, the fact remains that many would not seek help at all were it not for the anonymity of the internet. In this type of case, treatment might involve helping the client to release enough of the shame that he or she could actually meet me face-to-face.
Anyway, I obviously connected to this post. Thanks.
Speak soon,
Arieljoy
Ryan,
I think it’s interesting that Dan Kennedy says he speaks and gives seminars NOT for the gate fees. He does it to support his business. That if he wasn’t out on the road, his business would wither and fade.
Your premise is right on the money!
Ryan,
I think it’s interesting that Dan Kennedy says he speaks and gives seminars NOT for the gate fees. He does it to support his business. That if he wasn’t out on the road, his business would wither and fade.
Your premise is right on the money!
@Greg – I’m energized by people, so I need to have that people connection weekly. One way I do this is by having a standing meeting. Every Wednesday at 6 a.m. I meet a couple buddies for breakfast. I love it.
@Arieljoy – I agree. It’s hard to have strong connections with forum participants until you actually meet them.
@Kevin – I didn’t know that about Dan. Thanks for sharing!
@Greg – I’m energized by people, so I need to have that people connection weekly. One way I do this is by having a standing meeting. Every Wednesday at 6 a.m. I meet a couple buddies for breakfast. I love it.
@Arieljoy – I agree. It’s hard to have strong connections with forum participants until you actually meet them.
@Kevin – I didn’t know that about Dan. Thanks for sharing!
Hey Ryan,
Good point. One great thing about talking with someone “live” and “up close” is it at least nudges each person to be more truthful and forthcoming. When you’re reading and writing words, some of the facial expression translation is lost. So things have a greater risk of being misinterpreted or not believed at all.
It’s much easier for me judge character and “read” someone when I meet them face to face. By way of example…once I met you (Ryan) I realized you’re truly who you purport to be online. You’re unashamed of your Christian faith, and you talk like you write.
Hopefully I gave the same impression, and that’s what I strive for whether I’m writing or talking.
To your health,
Tony
Hey Ryan,
Good point. One great thing about talking with someone “live” and “up close” is it at least nudges each person to be more truthful and forthcoming. When you’re reading and writing words, some of the facial expression translation is lost. So things have a greater risk of being misinterpreted or not believed at all.
It’s much easier for me judge character and “read” someone when I meet them face to face. By way of example…once I met you (Ryan) I realized you’re truly who you purport to be online. You’re unashamed of your Christian faith, and you talk like you write.
Hopefully I gave the same impression, and that’s what I strive for whether I’m writing or talking.
To your health,
Tony
I recently consulted with an internet marketing coach, a veteran of the business. He said if I wanted to grow my business fast, I was going to have to get some speaking engagements :) He said that’s how all the big guns in internet marketing build their lists so fast, yet they don’t mention that in their products.
I recently consulted with an internet marketing coach, a veteran of the business. He said if I wanted to grow my business fast, I was going to have to get some speaking engagements :) He said that’s how all the big guns in internet marketing build their lists so fast, yet they don’t mention that in their products.
@Tony – Definitely. Writing is easily misinterpreted. Trust goes way up meeting somebody in person.
@Dr. Michael – Yes, public speaking is one thing all the “big guns” have in common. It’s also one thing most online business people won’t do.
@Tony – Definitely. Writing is easily misinterpreted. Trust goes way up meeting somebody in person.
@Dr. Michael – Yes, public speaking is one thing all the “big guns” have in common. It’s also one thing most online business people won’t do.
I agree with you 100% here Ryan. Working from home sounds like the ultimate dream, but the reality is it’s not always the ideal situation.
I get out to a couple of seminars a year and meet with people both in person and virtually through Skype conference calls on a regular basis. It makes a huge difference to actually get out and talk to people one-on-one and get to know them beyond their forum “handle”.
I’ve also considered renting an office close to home so I can actually go to work – and by extension “come home” at the end of the day. When the office is just down the hall, it’s too easy to slip in there at night to just get one more thing done.
I agree with you 100% here Ryan. Working from home sounds like the ultimate dream, but the reality is it’s not always the ideal situation.
I get out to a couple of seminars a year and meet with people both in person and virtually through Skype conference calls on a regular basis. It makes a huge difference to actually get out and talk to people one-on-one and get to know them beyond their forum “handle”.
I’ve also considered renting an office close to home so I can actually go to work – and by extension “come home” at the end of the day. When the office is just down the hall, it’s too easy to slip in there at night to just get one more thing done.
@John – Thanks for the comment. I’ve considered getting an office space as well. It’s a tough decision to make. When it’s snowing here in Colorado, I would prefer not having to drive to an office.
The upside, though, is that we wouldn’t need as much space at home. Smaller house = less money. So the cost of the office space is off-set by money saved on a house.
One idea: Find another solo-preneur to split the cost of a small office.
@John – Thanks for the comment. I’ve considered getting an office space as well. It’s a tough decision to make. When it’s snowing here in Colorado, I would prefer not having to drive to an office.
The upside, though, is that we wouldn’t need as much space at home. Smaller house = less money. So the cost of the office space is off-set by money saved on a house.
One idea: Find another solo-preneur to split the cost of a small office.
Ryan,
This is my first time making a comment here and I gotta compliment you on your theme.
The comment bubbles clearly and uniquely note who’s saying what.
For anyone looking for an example of how to explode your business through networking look no further than Harlan Kilstein.
This guy went from a nobody to a somebody real fast.
In his Value Based Copywriting Seminar he talks about an NLP technique he uses when he uses to get strangers to trust him at “Hi, I’m _____.
He calls it the unconscious hello.
Here’s my notes I took about it…
The technique is to replay someones greeting right back to them. Mimic physiology-head tilt, smile, replay his hello right back to them. What does that mean to him on a sub-conscious level? I’m a friendly.
He knows he can trust me. On a subconscious level in less than seconds, he knows he can trust me so what I’m gonna do is anchor that feeling by looking off over his right ear.
Now anytime I want to speak directly to his sub conscious, all I need to do is turn and look over his right ear. And that same feeling of trust comes back. Total time expended: 10 seconds.
What does this mean? Because you’re a friendly, they trust you and they open themselves up. Literally within minutes they’ll start sharing every aspect of their life with you.
The Steps…
ONE: Put yourself in neutral state. Because if you don’t you’re contaminating the scene of the future crime. Go up and say hello. Pay attention to what they’re doing with their face, with their eyes, with their head or with their shoulders.
Whatever they do, do it right back to them. What’ll happen is there’s this flash of recognition and then they’ll smile or do something else. Copy whatever they do. Typically they’ll smile.
When you’ve gotten that second acknowledgment from them just look over their right ear. This anchors it. Whenever you want to communicate you’re a friendly, you do this and it triggers the trusting part of them. And you’re done. You got it.
People have really unique hellos. People never accuse you of copying them.
Mighty powerful technique. This won’t work unless you start doing this every single day.
Note Taking Nerd
http://www.mynotetakingnerd.wordpress.com
Ryan,
This is my first time making a comment here and I gotta compliment you on your theme.
The comment bubbles clearly and uniquely note who’s saying what.
For anyone looking for an example of how to explode your business through networking look no further than Harlan Kilstein.
This guy went from a nobody to a somebody real fast.
In his Value Based Copywriting Seminar he talks about an NLP technique he uses when he uses to get strangers to trust him at “Hi, I’m _____.
He calls it the unconscious hello.
Here’s my notes I took about it…
The technique is to replay someones greeting right back to them. Mimic physiology-head tilt, smile, replay his hello right back to them. What does that mean to him on a sub-conscious level? I’m a friendly.
He knows he can trust me. On a subconscious level in less than seconds, he knows he can trust me so what I’m gonna do is anchor that feeling by looking off over his right ear.
Now anytime I want to speak directly to his sub conscious, all I need to do is turn and look over his right ear. And that same feeling of trust comes back. Total time expended: 10 seconds.
What does this mean? Because you’re a friendly, they trust you and they open themselves up. Literally within minutes they’ll start sharing every aspect of their life with you.
The Steps…
ONE: Put yourself in neutral state. Because if you don’t you’re contaminating the scene of the future crime. Go up and say hello. Pay attention to what they’re doing with their face, with their eyes, with their head or with their shoulders.
Whatever they do, do it right back to them. What’ll happen is there’s this flash of recognition and then they’ll smile or do something else. Copy whatever they do. Typically they’ll smile.
When you’ve gotten that second acknowledgment from them just look over their right ear. This anchors it. Whenever you want to communicate you’re a friendly, you do this and it triggers the trusting part of them. And you’re done. You got it.
People have really unique hellos. People never accuse you of copying them.
Mighty powerful technique. This won’t work unless you start doing this every single day.
Note Taking Nerd
http://www.mynotetakingnerd.wordpress.com
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