Is Your Business a Business or Are You Volunteering Your Time?

First of all let me say, there is nothing wrong with being a volunteer!! I have volunteered a lot in my life and always will. Right now I am a Disaster Mental Health volunteer for the Red Cross and I am Program Chair for a non profit for women divorced and/or widowed. I put a lot of time and energy into these two and I love doing it.

That said I don't believe you want to be a 'volunteer' when it comes to your business. At least I surely hope not.

Being an entrepreneur, owning your own business is a job. It's not a job/job because you are working for yourself. But it's a job in that you need to be getting paid for the work you do.

It's not a hobby. A hobby is something you do that you love, but you don't get paid to do it. Gardening, knitting, surfing or whatever suits your fancy. It's just something fun that you could do all day. (Well, maybe not knitting!)

When you own your own business, whatever it is, not necessarily a coaching business, the goal is to do what you love, serve others and... earn a living.

I know it can be hard 'asking' for a client to hire you. In the real world they are not going come flocking to your door. (Like my mom used to tell me, 'men are not going to come flocking to your door, you have to go out and meet them') Sweet. Same concept.

The reality is you do have to market yourself. That is just the sweet truth, though it may not sound 'sweet' to you.

It is what it is. You are not a used car salesman, you are a professional with programs and services and gifts to offer to people who want and need you. But if you don't market yourself, they will never know you exist.

You HAVE to network. You HAVE to be on line in some fashion. You HAVE to be visible. If no one knows you exist, you will never, ever have a business.

That may be a harsh reality for some of you but I don't want you to kid yourself.

And when you meet people who you think might be a fit for a client for you, you need to follow up with them. You need to let them know how you might be of service to them. You need to step out of your comfort zone.

And I know how hard that can be for some of you, but if you don't do that, you are back to volunteering or having a hobby.

If you really in your heart of hearts, want a successful business, get out of your box, out of your comfort zone, step out and hire a coach. Trust me, you cannot do this alone. It's just too hard. It will cost you more in the long run and take you much longer to build the business you want to build.

Cheers to you and your entrepreneurial pursuits!