Getting fired from my 2nd job over 36 years ago was the best thing that ever happened to me.
As I strode out of my boss’s office, young and resolute, I swore I’d never have a boss again…
But I also had no idea what I was going to do.
So, I started with what I do best: Listening.
I knew I was good at organizing, and in New York I was surrounded by creatives who seemed a bit disorganized. Seeing their endless piles of bills and paperwork, a little voice inside said, “I can help with that.”
So I listened. And that’s how I got my start as a “professional organizer,” landing my first clients at $15 an hour.
But then I noticed that the same clients couldn’t do their bookkeeping - and therefore had no idea whether they were earning enough.
Again, I heard a little voice inside that said, “I can help with that.”
So, I listened - and offered basic bookkeeping services.
Once I got my clients’ books in order, a bigger problem surfaced: they weren’t making nearly enough money!
Most of them did little to no self-promotion and were always stuck in a feast or famine cycle.
Again, I heard a little voice inside that said, “I can help with that.”
So I offered to do their self promotion for them… which led to a stint as an agent…
And eventually, as I kept listening - to my clients and to myself - I started to see that I could take my business where I wanted to, as long as it was in response to the needs of the market.
When a designer asked me to coach her because she couldn’t afford to have me do her marketing, again, I listened…
And that’s how Marketing Mentor was born.
The point is…
If you listen to the market, your ideal business will find you.
And it’s through listening this way that you will get clarity on the kinds of clients you want to work with, too. They might even give you an idea that’s better than the ones you have for yourself!
And now we have AI - perhaps THE best listening device ever created - to help us listen both within ourselves and externally. I’ll expand on that at my Potential Clients on Tap LIVE event coming up on May 29.
In Minisode #3 of my “Where Are All the Good Clients?” series, I expand on how to listen to the market and find the clients and work that you truly want:
Listening so that your ideal business can find you requires…
- Self-trust
- Exploration
- Putting yourself out there
- Getting feedback
And the willingness to do all of the above before you feel “ready.”
Start by choosing a direction based on your interests, curiosity, and what you care about… then let yourself get swept up in the flow, as I did.
It might take some time, but it doesn’t have to take 36 years.
To speed it up a tad, I’ve been developing a way to use AI to help you listen to both the market and yourself… then locate clients that are a perfect fit for you.
I’ll tell you all about it at my Potential Clients On Tap with AI LIVE Event - on May 29 from 12-1pm ET.
Over 900 creative professionals are already signed up to hear how to use AI to find more and better clients!
You’ll also hear about my brand-new course on using AI to help you drum up a list of clients anytime you need them… and get access to some amazing bonuses and discounts only available when you join live!
It’s completely free to join - sign up here.