The fastest way to build a business is to build it slowly.
I’ve noticed a pattern for solopreneurs — where many of them are in a hurry to get results in their business or practice.
People think all you need to do is create a website, do a couple Facebook ads, and then you have all the clients rolling in & all the money in the world.
If it were that easy, everyone would have been doing it already.
But it’s not that easy.
To be clear, I’m not saying that you cannot get certain results in a couple of months; but just know that building a sustainable business takes time.
This is especially true for those who want to build an authentic business; without the high-pressure selling and manipulative tactics to force people to buy.
Yes, there are things that could potentially fast-track your growth and help you get results quicker — such as joint ventures and collaborations with other businesses who already have an established audience.
But if you’re not doing those things; and you want to build an authentic audience yourself, you just have to be patient.
Here’s the short version of an enrollment conversation I once had with a prospective client:
- Client: “I’ve been a life coach for 7 years, and I deliver great results for my clients. But I’ve always struggled with marketing & lead generation; and therefore I never have enough clients or make sufficient income to sustain myself. Can you help me?”
- Me: “Yes, I can. I’d love to.”
- Client: “Okay, so what next? What are you going to do for me & how long are we going to work together?”
- Me: “I’ll help you do ABC & XYZ. It’ll take us about 6-9 months to set all the mechanisms in place and prepare you for long-term success.”
- Client: “Oh, that’s too long. I totally understand the value you’re proposing; and I can see how what you’re offering is going to help my work; but I was hoping we could do it in a couple of months — maybe 1 or 2 months maximum. I’m not sure I can wait for 9 months.”
- Etc.
- 2 years later, they’re still at EXACTLY the same place as when you first met.
Do you see the irony here?
This person has been struggling for 7 years without much progress — that’s about 84 months of their life.
Yet, they cannot invest just 9 months to get the results they want.
And maybe that’s why they’ve been struggling for all these years because they try something for 1 or 2 months; claim it doesn’t work, and move to the next shiny thing.
This endless cycle makes them think they’re busy and productive and doing valuable work — yet they’re not making any progress whatsoever.
That’s my call to you today — take it easy & build your business slowly.
Identify the core and most important activities that will help you generate the kind of results you’re looking for.
Then focus on those activities for as long as it takes.
Some things just take time and you need to give them the time they deserve.
Don’t start a business because you’re desperate or in a hurry to get clients next week.
If you really do need to generate income right away, please consider getting a job.
It might be a good idea to take on a part-time job which covers your bills while still allowing you the time you need to build your business on the side.
That way, you’re not desperate & under pressure to achieve instant success in your business.