Guest Post by Lori Kennedy
My life changed March 8, 2012. It also happens to be my sister’s birthday but that’s not why my life was changed on that specific day almost two years ago now.
I’ll spill the beans on where I was March 2012 so that you can have your own life-changing day too. First, I want to get into how you can have everything you want in your professional (and personal life) without ever having to learn any ninja email marketing tactics or figure out how to get 30,000 people to LIKE your Facebook page.
I’m not saying those things aren’t important because trust me… they are, however, without THIS philosophy being at the core of your business none of the emails, the opt ins, the word smithing, the sales copy, the nice graphics… none of it matters.
My life-changing day happened when I was pretty close to rock bottom. I just had my second kid and my marriage was in the toilet. I kinda sorta had a business (hobby) and I was making money but at that point it was still just a big idea with no foundation.
Since I was able to make money without knowing what I was doing, I knew I needed help. I realized that if I was ever was going to dig myself out of my BIG hole, be financially independent and live the kind of life that is congruent with my values I needed some serious help.
Of course I got expert mentoring and coaching from Bedros and Craig.
I remember handing my application to Diana (B’s wife) to join their 100K Mastermind Group, spending money I didn’t yet have and freaking out that my Visa card would be declined was both the scariest and best day.
Sure, I got the exact steps I needed to take my big idea online, to write sales copy, to grow my email list and to make 6-figures in one year. Yes, I got all of that AND was able to pay the remainder of my Mastermind fees off. That was a good day.
Even though both Bedros and Craig often teach on the mindset shifts that are necessary in order to have and enjoy success, they quickly get over shadowed by the shiny objects flying at you in the online world.
The way you think about yourself, your business, and the people around you is not airy-fairy stuff that only hippies and yoga guru’s preach.
To be truly successful it takes a network of people across all disciplines to help you get to where you want to be.
When I first heard Bedros say, “Come with a giving hand” something clicked. No one likes to be pitched or sold. We all have a what’s in it for me mentality. We are all busy hustling.
Think about it. Why would I waste my time helping YOU to build your business when you’ve done nothing to help me?
My business growth relies on my ability to add value to other people’s lives before asking for something in return. In fact, I’ve come to realize that the philosophy of come with a giving hand actually feeds my soul.
Maybe it’s because I was so used to giving away my expertise for free that it doesn’t really dawn on me to expect anything in return. It just feels good to do it.
See, if you aren’t where you want to be in your business or even personal life then maybe it’s time to stop expecting others to help you (no one will build your business for you) and start adding value.
The wise old owl (Rick Kaselj) in our Mastermind Group shared with us that the BIG reason he’s been able to get so many people to jump on board his launches is because of his reputation and his ability to add value.
When Joel Marion came to our Vegas Mastermind meeting, Craig shared the story and read the email that Joel wrote over 10 years ago. Joel listed specific offers detailing ways he could add value to Craig’s business without ever asking for anything in return.
You never know who is watching you and if you have the “come with a giving hand”philosophy doors will open for you because people will want to work with you.
If you asked me two years ago whether or not I would be hired as a consultant for online product launches or an author of nutrition manuals for online product launches that are not my own, I would have laughed and said… what’s an online product launch?
Come with a giving hand and the law of reciprocity will reward you.
Social psychologists use this law to basically say that when someone does something nice for you, you will have a deep-rooted psychological urge to do something nice in return.
There is a caveat to this though… you can’t go into the ‘adding value’ thing with any expectations of it ever being returned. That’s negative karma… it doesn’t work.
So, how can you come with a giving hand and add value so that you can get to where you want to faster then you ever imagined?
Tip 1: Research the person’s business and identify specifics on how you can help them.
It’s annoying to get an email from a newbie offering up help without being specific. I’m not going to waste my time replying to them and having to ask how they can help me or what they would like to do to help me.
When reaching out to offer value be very specific. List 2 to 3 ways you can directly add value to their life or business.
For example: I just approached several new affiliates for my upcoming WOW! Professional Certification V 2.0 launch that is starting next week. I took time to research each one of their businesses and offered to do a promo with them in December or January because my current offerings lack social media tools or video trainings.
In one sentence at the end of the letter I mentioned that I had an exciting launch coming up that would support their current offerings. The email wasn’t all about me and my launch and why they should promote it.
Tip 2: Don’t ask… just do it.
This is similar to tip # 1 but remember that we are all busy. It puts a smile on my face when I get a guest blog post with hosted pictures in my inbox rather then an email with a intro and an offer to do a guest blog post. The offer requires me to respond and say yes… it my takes my time to do that.
Think about the value you can provide and just do it… don’t ask or wait to be asked.
Tip 3: Bank good will.
Remember that the law of reciprocity has a caveat… doing 1 nice thing for someone doesn’t automatically mean that 24 hours later you have the right to ask for that ‘favor’ to be reciprocated.
Craig says you need to bank good will.
Be the person with integrity and know when you’ve banked enough good will to ask for help. Work on building a real relationship with someone before cashing in.
When you operate from a place of adding value first you become known as THE person everyone wants to work with. Take it from me… I’m just a girl who went to Fitness Business Summit March 8th 2012 and changed the course of my life.
If I can do it… so can you.
