5 Major Steps to Get You Closer to Success

June 20th, 2007 by Cristina Favreau

I was on a complimentary call by Alexandria Brown tonight where she shared 5 major steps she took that helped her build a 7-figure online business and that you can do too. I, of course, will share those 5 steps with you:

  1. Operate from where you want to be. If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll get the same results you always have. Shift your mindset and start making decisions based on where you want your business to be. Your environment is important. It’s said that you are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most. So who are you hanging out with? Surround yourself with successful people who share the same mindset you have (or want).
  2. Stop marketing 1-to-1 and start marketing 1-to-many. Build your audience. It’s been said the WHO is more important than the WHAT. Who is your ideal client? It’s important to clearly define your target since they are easier to gather and you can continually create programs and products specifically for them. You don’t have to have a huge, expensive website to accomplish this; only one page will do. Concentrate on lead generation activities offline (teleseminars, printed articles, mail campaigns, interviews, etc…) and online (pay-per-click, online article submission, ads, directories, blogs, etc…).
  3. Create information products. Believe it or not, you know something other people will pay for. Don’t get discouraged by others who seem to offer the same thing you do. Your product will have your own viewpoint, your own style and will be different because it comes from YOU. Anything from ebooks, teleseminars, audio CDs, workbooks, membership programs, etc… There are tons of options.
  4. Invest in yourself by attending live events and workshops. This is called “immersion learning” because live events take you away from the usual distractions and out of an environment you’re accustomed to. Live events open your brain and release your creativity in ways online/virtual events or self-study programs can’t. Plus, live events are great places to network and receive speaking invitations. Attending live events also increases your value.
  5. Modeling. Don’t reinvent the wheel, there’s no reason to create new things. Find a mentor who lives the life you want to lead and follow them.

Ali sounds like someone I would get along with swimmingly. I like her approach and style of teaching. Listening to this call impressed on me that there are steps I need to take but aren’t, for whatever reason (there’s always a good excuse, right?). Of these steps, I’m not sure which one I need to start doing the most, so instead of letting that stall me, I’ve decided to concentrate on step #3 ‘create information products’ (if you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ll know this was the obvious choice for me). I’ll let you know how that’s working out.

What step do you feel needs most work in your business so you can start experiencing the success you’ve always wanted? Will you do it? Let us know how it goes.

Category Entrepreneurship, Success | 4 Comments »

  • http://www.summitprofessionalcoaching.com Tammy Landau

    I am working on #3 too. I like what Ali says about not being discouraged if someone else has created a product “like yours”. Alot of times people give up at that point thinking “what’s the use someone else is selling a product that’s just like mine”. I have given up before based on that judgement. But it is true that your product (even if similar) is different and has your personal brand or mark on it. There are people out there just waiting to get their hands on your creation. My own creation(s) should be ready by September and I can’t wait. When is your product going to be ready?

  • http://www.cristinafavreau.com/ Cristina Favreau

    Thanks for joining the conversation, Tammy. I can SOOO resonate with what you’re saying. I too have given up on a few projects (or have been discouraged by others) because “it’s already been done.” While I don’t want to copy something that’s already out there, I do want to put my own spin on the topics I’m passionate about.

    I’d love to say that my next product will be ready for September, but I think it’ll be more like mid-October.

    By the way guys (Tammy, I think you know this already), did you know that January and September are the best times to launch a new product? It’s true!!!

  • http://powerfulbusinessnow.blogspot.com Jenn Givler

    Great post Chris – thanks for sharing this information. I love Ali Brown :)

    I just want to chime in and say that I was just talking about something similar to point 3 on a networking group the other day.

    I think trying to be “unique” is where lots of new entrepreneurs get hung up – and even give up. And I agree with Ali has offered.

    You speak through your business in your own unique voice – whether you’re creating a similar product, or creating a marketing message.

    If we sat at our desks all day long and tried to think of some way to be absolutely completely different than everyone else – we wouldn’t get anything accomplished!

    I believe that the “uniqueness” that we have as entrepreneurs comes from a combination of who we are and the niche we serve.

    For example, I know a web designer who serves the fantasy and sci-fi writers niche. Yes – she does the same thing as many other web designers, but when she serves her particular niche, she speaks to them as a web designer – but also as someone who understands their business and their industry language.

    When she writes marketing messages and products, she does them in a way that really connects with that particular industry.

    So – when discussing this quality of uniqueness with clients, we talk more about who they serve through their business and less about how they are specifically different than everyone else out there with a similar business.

  • http://www.cristinafavreau.com/ Cristina Favreau

    Jenn, thanks so much for sharing your experience on this topic. I love what you say:
    “If we sat at our desks all day long and tried to think of some way to be absolutely completely different than everyone else – we wouldn’t get anything accomplished!

    I believe that the “uniqueness” that we have as entrepreneurs comes from a combination of who we are and the niche we serve.”

    The challenge I’m finding with clients (and frankly with my own business) is to clearly verbalize the differences and to articulate with words a Unique Selling Proposition.

    I’d love to continue this conversation in a separate thread and hear how others are doing it!