Day 12: Selling

I just finished editing episode 23 of my podcast (Honest Convos with Carin & Marcia).

For the past 3 episodes we focused on selling.

I actually love sales.

But it’s wild how nuanced it can be selling a product for a company versus selling your own services.

While there is pressure to sell a product for a business because you want to validate your salary (and/or make commission) , selling a service for yourself can be so emotional.

Who will truly benefit from what it is that I offer and where are they? What if I’m hired and the expectations differ from what they say they want? How are they going to recognize the long-term ROI when it takes time to build up to it? When is it going to be less of a struggle to get clients?

From selling patented laptop accessories to closing a $1.242M custom home last year, the difference between selling for someone else or for myself, is that I am intimately involved in every aspect of the delivery of the sale.

That is both empowering while also being overwhelming.

I think one of the biggest issues solopreneurs and service providers run into when it comes to selling is the expectation to fix problems in a very short amount of time.

At least, I think that’s my problem. I mean my tagline for NOVA Business Agency is “Short-Term Support for Long-Term Success”.

I came up with that tagline because I wanted my contracts to be project based and have a clear scope of work that would streamline systems to increase growth for a business.

Sounds simple, right? I mean, I think it could be. I just haven’t focused on finding my niche. Despite having an idea where I want to move forward.

You’ve heard the saying “the riches are in the niches” right? It’s a lovely sentiment because when you niche down and are able to repeat the value you provide, you have more happy clients and data. Sounds blissful!

I’ve always been so envious of experts. People who know exactly what it is they provide. The results they get. The outcomes.

While I don’t doubt that I can cause transformation in business owners lives, it typically comes from a round about way. And not being able to have a repeatable system or formula…correction: not creating a repeatable system or formula, really impacts my self esteem.

Because what I provide varies from person to person. I’m working with the human. Not the business owner, the mom, the leader, the community member, the daughter/sister/aunt. You get it.

Trying to quantify the unquantifiable is my Achilles heel. And trying to produce results prior to working in a formal capacity is impossible. If people have told you that you’ve changed their life but money hasn’t been exchanged: how do you sell that?