FIND CLIENTS BY SAYING NO

Dear Friends,

Lately I've been thinking a lot about saying "no." Saying "no" to the things I don't want to do and "yes" to the things I do.

Since I'm writing a book, have a full client schedule and want to eat strange new food with friends, I've had to pare down all things unnecessary. Whenever you begin to market yourself in an already full schedule, a place must be carved for all that it entails. I'd like to suggest that you find room for more "yeses" by becoming intimate with the word "No."

Warmly,

Susan

1. Nourish your secret inner life.
"If we have little idea of what we really want from our lives, or what a soulful approach might mean, then often the only entrance we have into soul comes from the ability to say a firm no to those things we intuit lead to a loss of vitality....But in the continuous utterance of the no is a profound faith that the yes will appear....One way to come to yes is to say no to everything that does not nourish and entice our secret inner life out into the world." David Whyte, "The Heart Aroused: Poetry and the Preservation of the Soul in Corporate America." If you're longing for something to say yes to other than another pile of paperwork, this book will help keep your heart in your work—or get you out of work that doesn't have heart. Order it at: http://www.amazon.com. Keep in mind what you're trying to accomplish when you're marketing yourself so you can use your inner and outer resources most effectively.

2. Say no to whatever doesn't thrill you.
In the course of every week I say no to people who want to hire me for media coaching or marketing strategies. Not because I don't think they have something to offer, but because it doesn't thrill me. Over time, less and less people who I'm not interested in call me. This week I've brainstormed with a career counselor on discovering the type of clients with whom she wants to work. She has extensive experience in the corporate world with Fortune 500 companies and is shifting her business to include artists and entrepreneurs who are thoughtful and passionate people. I invited her to focus on the qualities of the people she wants as clients versus their profession. If you're inclined, start your own list today. She continues to work on a detailed list and already two new potential clients called her last week that suit her criteria. To create a swifter transition from her business background to attracting a more creative clientele I suggested she offer her services free to her artsy friends.

3. Say yes to the clients you want.
By actually having the experience she wants right now she is saying "yes" to the type of future clients she desires. If it's media exposure you want call up a friend to act as a reporter and interview you. If you want an article to appear about you mock up a few points and paste it in that specific publication. Put it up on your bulletin board where you can see it daily. If it's more clients you need then find some friends who fit the bill and give them some of your expertise. To further your knowledge C.J. Hayden's book "Get Clients Now!" will help you get things moving. You can order an autographed copy at http://www.GetClientsNow.com. C.J. also has a newsletter packed with ideas. Subscribe at the website above, or email her directly.

4. Discover the secret of saying yes to a happy life in three words.
The best way I've ever heard to say no to what you don't want and yes to what you do is this: An American journalist asked Gandhi, "Can you tell me the secret of your life in three words?" "Yes," said Gandhi with a twinkle. "Renounce and enjoy."

My agent Patti Breitman and her co-author Connie Hatch, (also two wonderful clients of mine) penned "How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty and Say Yes to More Time, More Joy, and What Matters Most to You." Called "An ultimate tool kit for reclaiming your time without hurting feelings," this is one book you will want to say "yes" to. Order it at your local bookstore or through http://www.amazon.com. I took the class and learned techniques I use on a daily basis in my work and personal life. I keep a few of those phrases taped to my computer. Invaluable!