If you are an impact-making coach, healer or expert, then chances are that money is not the only thing that made you become an entrepreneur. Likely, having fulfilment and joy from working with clients, is what makes your clock tick.
A “Business with a Heart” is where personal development and business are connected. So that the impact you are creating is also aligned with your heart. By listening to your inner self, your business will give you more flow, passion and freedom. In what phase is your business? Does it align with your heart?
Entrepreneurs are creators of freedom
As entrepreneurs, we are creators. We create our own work and lifestyle. Plant an idea as seed and grow a business out of it. So that we can create impact on many people. We use our fertile ground and take care of the sprout. As the plant grows, so does our freedom. By giving it water and the right nutrients, it becomes healthy and strong.
Like planting a tree, knowing the different phases of a business makes it easier to let it grow. It helps us to focus on the essentials. Do the right action at the right time. And burn less money in the process.
Start with connecting to your heart
In the early phase, everything is possible. You don’t know what seeds to plant and don’t know what ground is the most fertile. It is the most difficult phase in your business. In the beginning, you don’t have a product or service yet.
So how do we get more clarity? A good place to start, is you. Articulate your grand vision and mission. Think about why you want to bring this big idea into the world. What are you passionate about? Who will have impact from it and why? Make a connection with your heart.
Clarity comes with action. By serving clients and learning from it. There is no quick fix. Act quickly and don’t overthink. You get plenty of chances to adapt and improve. But don’t forget to schedule thinking time in your agenda. So that you stay aligned and improve your actions.
Build an audience with giving real value
After deciding on a direction, it’s time to get your feet wet. Pick out seeds that you have used before. So that you can somehow predict what fruits will grow out of them. Build on your experience, talents and knowledge. And start sowing in the fertile ground that you have chosen.
It can be fun exploring new ideas and finding opportunities, while interacting with people that you enjoy. It is time to start building an audience to connect and serve. Learn about their challenges and the results they want to achieve. Immerse yourself into their worldview.
You are likely the ideal client you want to work with. Think about that when you create content that is worth looking at. Building an audience is done by providing value, in a consistent way. By speaking their language. Connected and aligned with their thoughts, needs and expectations.
Create a business launch pad with co-creation
Okay, so you have an audience that likes you. Invite them to work with you. An offer is nothing more than doing systematically what works to help your clients solve their problems. To give them real value in exchange for a pricing that aligns.
I like to co-create with my ideal clients. It’s an excellent way to get ideas for new offerings. You get direct feedback and earn money in the process of learning. Need to have more visibility? Do a joint venture with entrepreneurs that are complementary.
Create a predicable system to get customers from your audience. One customer at a time. Until you know what works. You are creating a launch pad for your business.
Increase your impact as entrepreneur
Once you have a predictable system in place, then you can scale it. If you find ten customers with the same method, then you are also able to get one hundred or one thousand. Although it may require that you adapt your system. The more people you help, the greater the impact you can create.
A business model is a visual representation of your system. It consists of the different pieces that are required to be in business. Your solution is only a part of it. A business model makes it easier to document and predict if your business is realistic.
Most coaches start out with doing 1-on-1 sessions with clients. Although, it gives them a lot of value, you cannot scale it well. There are other business models that can be used to help more people in the same timeframe. For instance, doing group sessions or create courses and online programs. Take some time to discover what business models align with you and your lifestyle.
Enjoy the ride and keep listening to your heart
Building a “business with a heart” is about acting and connecting with your audience. But also, to listen to your heart. Growing a business and personal development go together. You will experience more passion, energy and freedom from your business.
There is no need to rush to scale up when you are not ready. Enjoy every bit of going down the road of creating an impact for your audience. Listen to your inner self along the way.
Are you ready to create and grow your “business with a heart”?
Steven Poelmans
Steven Poelmans has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs and companies to build scalable products and grow meaningful businesses. He decided to restart his career and founded The Freedom Story Academy to support impact-making coaches and entrepreneurs worldwide to rewrite the way they work, live, and breathe and help them to structure and launch online services.
Steven Poelmans
Steven Poelmans has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs and companies to build scalable products and grow meaningful businesses. He decided to restart his career and founded The Freedom Story Academy to support impact-making coaches and entrepreneurs worldwide to rewrite the way they work, live, and breathe and help them to structure and launch online services.
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