Does that sentence confuse you?
I think some people think that if money is involved, kindness isn’t.
But that’s not true.
Give these 5 statements and quick read and see how many of them are true for you:
- I would rather shop where the staff makes me feel welcome.
- I am loyal to my hair stylist, housekeeper, improv teacher, shoe repair guy and other service providers, partly because they are such kind people.
- I love to refer my kindhearted friends to kindhearted service providers.
- I love it when a shopkeeper greets me by name, and when the server brings me water with no ice because he remembers that’s how I like it.
- I like it when businesses send me special coupons for being a good customer, or for my birthday.Â
Right? Me, too. Good.
Now — let’s revisit these with this question in mind:
If you are a small business owner, how many of those “kindness strategies” are you putting into action?
1) I would rather shop where the staff makes me feel welcome.
Do you have a way to greet new people and make them feel seen, heard and welcomed? (This is important in a bricks-and-mortar location, of course, but it is also important in your website, your emails and your social media interactions.)
2) I am loyal to my hair stylist, housekeeper, improv teacher, shoe repair guy and other service providers, partly because they are such kind people.
Do you have a way to guarantee that all of your interactions with your clients – as well as those of your staff and team – are grounded in kindness? Do you have templates? A process? Clear guidelines for client interaction?
3) I love to refer my kindhearted friends to kindhearted service providers.
Do you have a way to collect referrals from satisfied clients? Do you have a way to follow up with those referrals so they don’t slip through the cracks?
4) I love it when a shopkeeper greets me by name, and when the server brings me water with no ice because he remembers that’s how I like it.
Do you have a way to keep track of your clients’ preferences and interests? Do you have a way to let them know that they are not just a faceless number, but rather a valued member of your community?
5) I like it when businesses send me a special coupons for being a good customer, or for my birthday.Do you reward the loyalty of your longtime customers by offering them a special something every once in a while?I think you would love to be able to put your kindness into action in this way.And I bet it would make you a bunch of cabbage, too.So…if we took a day to create a customized, personalized plan designed especially for you and your business, complete with built-in “work time” so you actually got the thing done — I know that you could EASILY start to bring in an extra $2000/month or more.(Not with the “kindness strategy” alone, of course — that’s just an example 🙂
One-Day Online Intensive with Sam Bennett
Sunday May 22 @Â 10am – 5pm Pacific Time
check your time zone: www.WorldTimeBuddy.com
You will actually GET THE WORK DONE as class includes both teaching time and implementation time.
Discover how to:
– Patch the Holes In Your Profit Bucket
– Double Your Sales the Easy Way
– Break Through Your Invisible Income Ceiling
– Pay Yourself First (for real – not just in theory)
– Discover How YOUR Values Can Super-Charge Your Business
Plus you get:
1) One private follow-up session
2) One group follow-up session
3) A FREE ticket to “The Big Yes: How To Overcome Procrastination, Perfectionism and Self-Doubt and Make $10,000 (or More!) from Your Creativity” ($799 value), July 22-24 at the Westin LAX in Los Angeles, CA.
Go fill out the application questionnaire, even if you know that you do NOT want to do this workshop, simply because answering the questions will be illuminating for you.
—-> go here to check it out or use this link: http://sambennett.wpengine.com/make2000
And here is a new PDF I made for you of The Organized Artist Company’s values in case you want to use it to inspire your own work.
Just click on the image or go to this link to download:Â http://sambennett.wpengine.com/values.Â
You know that an extra 2000/month would make a difference to you.You know that I can give you the tools you need to do it.
Yours,
Sam.
P.S. I would love it if you wanted to share this with a friend — after all, your friends are the grooviest and they deserve this opportunity, too.
The Get It Done Workshop is like a delicious meal. It’s our nearly-legendary 8-week online course designed to get the creative person moving forward on their projects. We start next week.
Some examples of projects people have used The Get It Done Workshop to accomplish include:
– launched an online course
– finished book proposal
– started daily blogging
– cleared out clutter
– settled parent’s estate
– began painting again
– released a CD
But that’s the dinner.
And you want to know about the free dessert!
So here are the delectable bonuses that accompany The Get It Done Workshop —
- Instant access to the Procrastination Domination Starter Kit ($79 value) so you can get unstuck immediately.
“Inspiring, Doable, Engaging, Entertaining…It was very thorough!” – Anne
- A full year in The 365 Club ($120 value) which includes monthly open coaching calls with Sam plus daily inspirational emails plus about a grillion hours of exclusive recordings that you may listen/download anytime plus a very wonderful and supportive community on the private Facebook page.
“Sam beautifully supports the creative spirit. There are times she speaks a truth that you are not even aware exists inside you.” – Robin
- Two of my exclusive ebooks, “An Artist Talks to God,” and “Less Crazy, More Money: 52 Secrets to Running a Serene, Profitable Business.” ($40 value)
“Samantha’s program proved to me that we are all capable of greatness. I’m well on my way to creating a business plan for my feature film. I found my graphic artist and a website designer, and I have my first round investor list completed.” – Traci
- Free ticket to The Big Yes: How To Overcome Procrastination, Perfectionism and Self-Doubt and Make $10,000 (or More!) from Your Creativity event in Los Angeles in July — plus you can bring a friend for free! ($799 value) (you can discover more here: www.BigYesRevolution.com)
“I had an amazing time at The Big Yes! I loved Samantha’s stage presence: grounded, calm, real, funny, beautiful, brilliant, spacious, enlightening….I loved the structure: just the right amount of lecture, sharing, etc. to keep us alive and energized…I loved the food…I loved the venue–great hotel….I love how focused and energized, yet calm I feel now that I’m back home.” – Nancy
And there will be even more delicious treats — all for just $365 or three payments of $141 —Â and as usual, your satisfaction guaranteed or your tuition cheerfully refunded.
Go here to find out more and save your seat: www.MonsterGetItDone.com.
Here’s our curriculum (you know, the dinner : ) —
Session 1: Clarifying Your Goals
Session 2: Creating Your (Fun!) Personalized Project Plan
Session 3: BONUS Q&A Session
Session 4: Breaking Through Your Internal Barriers to Success
Session 5: Self-Promotion For Us Sensitive, Creative Types
Session 6: Teaching Our Shadows Grace
Session 7: The Beginning Of Wisdom
Session 8: BONUS Q&A Session
So if you’ve got something you’ve been procrastinating on, this is your super-wonderful-springtime-it-only-comes-once-a-year chance to Get It Done!
It’s the economy.
It’s your job.
It’s the boss.
It’s the Internet.
It’s him, her and them. (Especially THEM!)
You may be believing that the only reason you’re not moving forward on your project is because someone or something is in your way.
You’re pretty sure that you’d be just fine if it weren’t for those outside circumstances.
Or that person.
Or that group of people.
But here’s the problem: You can’t control them.
And they are NOT going to change.
Your job is not going to change.
That person is not going to change.
The condition of the world is not going to alter itself to suit you better.
So stop trying to control things you cannot control.
Let me say that again: STOP trying to control the things over which you have no control.
And quit giving those things so much space inside of your mind.
Just bless them, and, inasmuch as is possible, forget them.
Quit having imaginary arguments with them about how they should be treating you better.
Quit complaining. Entirely.
Instead, put as much of your focus as you can on the things you CAN control.
Namely: YOU.
You control how often you take a deep breath. You control the food you eat. You control the number of times you think loving, grateful thoughts.
You control the stories you tell yourself about you, your work and the world.
Shifting your focus from “out there” to “in here” will have an immediate and radical impact on your life. You will have reclaimed your power.
And here’s the wiggly bit — from that new position of power, you actually might be able to have an impact on the outside world.
My friend Jason has made a commitment to himself that every time he travels, he makes an effort to be the kindest person that anyone at that airport deals with that day. He considers it his personal mission to make traveling a gentler experience for himself and for everyone he meets. Pretty great, huh?
Simply by shifting his attention from the things he can’t control (TSA, delayed flights, crowded waiting areas, crying children) and paying strict attention to that which he can control (his attitude, his gratitude, his sense of humor, his breathing, his recognition of the Divine in everyone he meets) Jason manages to turn what can be a grueling experience into a blessing.
When you keep your focus “out there,” you are a victim.
When you keep your focus “in here,” you’re a transformational agent of change.
Little shift; big difference.
This little missive is #3 in a series of 7 that I’m doing to encourage you to Start Right Where You Are.
Start Right Where You Are is a lovely, live, 6-week teleclass that starts next Friday, Oct. 16th. It’s only $197 (payment plan available) and, as usual, “satisfaction guaranteed or your tuition cheerfully refunded.”
Here’s where you can go to find out more about it: www.StartRightWhereYouAre.com.
And here’s where you can watch the straight-from-the-heart preview event:
http://app.webinarjam.net/replay/608/7cfca59ac1/1/0
Which got these responses:
“awesome very helpful answer – so joyfully actionable. I’m on it!” – K.
“totally laughing out loud” – C.
“Yep! I even snorted” – T
“love that reframing – actually brought tears for honoring and being authentic..” – K.
“very emotional…. thank you Sam” – S.
When was the last time a webinar made you laugh AND cry?!!?
Plus there’s a special offer that’s only good for the first 50 people who take advantage of it, so listen SOON, OK?
So just to recap, here are your opportunities:
1) Spend 15 minutes right now working on a project that is dear to your heart.
2) Watch the “Procrastination & Desire” video here:http://app.webinarjam.net/replay/608/7cfca59ac1/1/0
3) Check out Start Right Where You Are at www.StartRightWhereYouAre.com and see if it feels like a good fit for you.
And please write me back and let me know how it goes for you, OK?
Remember: The World Needs Your Art.
“My teacher told me I had no talent.”
“My partner isn’t very supportive.”
“I’ve failed before…”
One of the reasons you aren’t moving forward on your projects is because you got your heart broken.
You’ve gotten bad reviews, lost money, chosen bad partners, been scorned, laughed at, put down, fired, misunderstood, tricked and rejected.
And that old pain still hurts.
But guess what?
We ALL have experienced that pain.
Moving past the pain is what turns you into a great artist, because it forces you to learn about fragility, about limitations, about foolishness, ambition and trust.
Once you release the idea that you (alone) have been victimized, you can start to dive into the infinite subtleties of human dynamics.
You can start to realize that everyone in your life genuinely thought they were doing the right thing. They honestly believed that they were helping you, protecting you, teaching you something important.
No matter how misguided, they were doing the best they could with the information they had at the time.
Just as you were.
And are, still.
Your creative life is not supposed to be an endless hopscotching from one lily pad of success to another, any more than every romance is supposed to end in happily-ever-after.
Being a creative genius is about falling down 8 times and getting up 9.
Or, more accurately, falling down 8000 times and getting up 8001.
Every single person – and certainly every single artist – can tell you toe-curling stories about their agonizing failures and impossible obstacles.
So…it’s not just you.
I know your heartbreak has been painful for you, but it’s no reason to stop working.
In fact, the first thing I would recommend is for you to make some art about that heartbreak.
Make a story/song/dance/picture about that humiliated student, that wounded daughter, that neglected performer, that bad review, that unwise bargain.
And then…perhaps you can spend 15 minutes on your project.
“It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” – Tom Hanks as Jimmy Duggan in A League of Their Own, screenplay by the great Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel
This little missive is #2 in a series of 7 that I’m doing to encourage you to Start Right Where You Are.
Start Right Where You Are is a lovely, live, 6-week teleclass that starts next Friday, Oct. 16th. It’s only $197 (payment plan available) and, as usual, “satisfaction guaranteed or your tuition cheerfully refunded.”
Here’s where you can go to find out more about it: www.StartRightWhereYouAre.com.
And here’s where you can watch the straight-from-the-heart preview event:
http://app.webinarjam.net/replay/608/7cfca59ac1/1/0
Which got these responses:
“awesome very helpful answer – so joyfully actionable. I’m on it!” – K.
“totally laughing out loud” – C.
“Yep! I even snorted” – T
“love that reframing – actually brought tears for honoring and being authentic..” – K.
“very emotional…. thank you Sam” – S.
When was the last time a webinar made you laugh AND cry?!!?
Plus there’s a special offer that’s only good for the first 50 people who take advantage of it, so listen SOON, OK?
So just to recap, here are your opportunities:
1) Spend 15 minutes right now making some art about one time when you got your creative heart broken.
2) Watch the “Procrastination & Desire” video here:http://app.webinarjam.net/replay/608/7cfca59ac1/1/0
3) Check out Start Right Where You Are at www.StartRightWhereYouAre.com and see if it feels like a good fit for you.
And please write me back and let me know how it goes for you, OK?
Remember: The World Needs Your Art.
“I’m so busy…I just don’t have the time.”
“Now is not the right time…maybe later.”
“I’m not ready yet.”
You know your projects are important to you…but you just can’t seem to find the time to work on them.
Or maybe you feel like there will be some time in the future….once the kids are in school, or once you lose 10 pounds, or maybe after the holidays….
Or you honestly believe that you are not yet ready to begin. You need another certification, or maybe a training, or you just need to feel more ready.
I hear this all the time.
And in all love, I gotta say: BALONEY.
You DO have the time. You’re just spending it on something else.
And I guarantee there is no time in the future when it will be more “convenient” or a “better” time to begin.
And you are ready.
Believe me, the fact that you have had the idea tells me that you’re ready. If you weren’t ready, you never would have thought of it.
Look, we all get the same 24 hours.
Nobody gets more and nobody gets less.
And I know you have real demands on your time…the job, the kids, the spouse, the parents, the community….but I bet you can find 15 minutes, right?
So do that.
Commit to that right now.
Put your hand on your heart and say this pledge:
“I promise that I will spend 15 minutes every single day, 365 days a year, on my project, starting right now.”
And then set your timer or the alarm on your phone and do it.
Even if you just stare at a blank piece of paper for 15 minutes – that’s great!
Or maybe you want to meditate or pray or breathe or stretch or dance or play with polymer clay or embroider a flower on a scrap of fabric or compose a few bars or write just ONE SENTENCE of your memoir….
Whatever the project is that you know would make a difference in your life, spend 15 minutes on it right now.
And then do that again tomorrow.
And the next day.
And then – and this one might be hard because somehow doing more than 3 in row of anything can be a little challenging – you’ll want to do it again. And maybe give your a little reward (like a nice walk around the block or a phone call with an old friend or a nice swim….) just for being so good and brave.
This little missive in one is a series of 7 that I’m doing to encourage you to Start Right Where You Are.
Start Right Where You Are is a lovely, live, 6-week teleclass that starts next Friday, Oct. 16th. It’s only $197 (payment plan available) and “satisfaction guaranteed or your tuition cheerfully refunded.”
Here’s where you can go to find out more about it: www.StartRightWhereYouAre.com.
And here’s where you can watch the straight-from-the-heart preview event:
http://app.webinarjam.net/replay/608/7cfca59ac1/1/0
Which got these responses:
“awesome very helpful answer – so joyfully actionable. I’m on it!” – K.
“totally laughing out loud” – C.
“Yep! I even snorted” – T
“love that reframing – actually brought tears for honoring and being authentic..” – K.
“very emotional…. thank you Sam” – S.
When was the last time a webinar made you laugh AND cry?!!?
Plus there’s a special offer that’s only good for the first 50 people who take advantage of it, so listen SOON, OK?
So just to recap, here are your opportunities:
1) Spend 15 minutes right now on a project that means something to you.
2) Watch the “Procrastination & Desire” video here:
http://app.webinarjam.net/replay/608/7cfca59ac1/1/0
3) Check out Start Right Where You Are at www.StartRightWhereYouAre.com and see if it feels like a good fit for you.
And please write me back and let me know how it goes for you, OK?
Remember: The World Needs Your Art.
“This has been terrific! So much info…I know I will want to review. Thank you so much Sam and Jessica!” – C.J., Oregon
 “Thank you! That was amazing.” – Linda
 “Very useful….” – S.S.
Everybody LOVED this totally free, nothing-to-buy-here call with me & my faboo lawyer, Jessica Olmon from Vero Law Group.
Listen or download this great conversation here:
http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=63796728
As promised, Jessica and I kept it real and used only normal language — so there’s lots of wisdom without any off-putting, overwhelming technical stuff.
Mostly we talked about:
– Trademarks
– Copyrights
– Plagiarism
– Non-Disclosure Agreements
– Contracts
We certainly weren’t able to answer all of the questions we got, but we were able to address a number of the biggest concerns, so give this a listen as soon as you can, OK?
We want a world that is safe and prosperous for creatives — so we offered this training because we love you and want you to be better informed.
If you want to join Jessica’s email list, you can do so at: www.VeroLawGroup.com.
—–> Go HERE to listen/download this valuable, plain-talk legal info for creatives: http://InstantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=63796728
Here’s to your THRIVING new year!!
