I’m Not That Special
Do you ever say, “I’m not that special”?
Whether to yourself when you hear someone give a great intro at a networking event, hear the bio of a successful person in your industry, or read about the accomplishments of a well-known and highly respected person? I know I do.
I confess to having “Accomplishment Envy”, and in the past it made me insecure about my own abilities and what I offer to my clients. You can believe this envy negatively impacted my ability to sell with confidence!
Recently excellent coaching, new tools like the Fascination Advantage Assessment™, and client successes have been dissolving “Accomplishment Envy” for me. I am more able to appreciate my own gifts and accomplishments as I apply them in my business.
Every marketing coach and course tells you that you need to know your “differentiator” - what makes you stand out in your market, what draws others to you, and how to communicate your unique difference.
When you don’t think you’re that special, it’s all too easy to avoid this essential key to your marketing communications and client attraction strategies.
Let’s change that now.
You do not need to be the most successful coach on the planet, the most extroverted mortgage broker, or the best salesperson of health care services to have a unique differentiator. Nor do you need a million certifications, numerous awards, or a college education to make a difference in someone else’s life.
What you need is a willingness to affirm your value, your gifts, and your desire to serve others through your work. Your background, your experiences, and your talents are your calling card to more clients, affecting more positive change, and more income in your business.
To break it down and to get to your unique differentiator, consider your answers to these questions. Be sure to write them down for a deeper dive into your differentiator.
Your background.
- Where are you from?
- Did you move around a lot or live in one place during your growing up years?
- Is your family new to this country or have they been here for a long time?
- Where were you educated?
- What did you study?
- What are some common threads in your interests since you were young?
- How does your background influence your business today?
Your experiences.
- What led you to do the work you do today?
- Was there a single turning point or a gradual coming together of your interests into your
- current business and services?
- What jobs did you do before you began your business?
- How does your former work experience inform your work now?
- What do you particularly love about what you do now?
- What is the most satisfying aspect of your current work?
- How have your experiences enriched you and what you offer your clients?
Your talents.
- What have people told you that you are good at over the years?
- What activities do you find the easiest to do? (This is a really good clue to your talents!)
- What special training have you sought out or been offered through your workplace that you use today?
- Where have you put in 10,000 hours? This question refers to Malcolm Gladwell’s finding that mastery in just about anything takes 10,000 hours (about 10 years) which he writes about in his book, Blink.
- What would you do for free if you weren’t running a for-profit business? (Another talent clue!)
- How do you apply these talents and interests to your business today?
Look at your answers to see the picture that emerges here. This is your story. It impacts you, your clients, and your sales every day.
- What are you proud of?
- What are you working on to improve?
- In a few words, what stands out to you about your answers?
- In what ways do you perceive yourself differently now?
Doing this exercise gives you a deeper appreciation of yourself, your talents and interests, and your unique differentiator. No one has traveled the same road as you have.
Now for the application:
How can you work what you’ve discovered into a brief story to include in your intro at a networking event?
What can you say to a prospective client to communicate your understanding of his/her situation that you can help with?
What details can you include to inspire your listeners at a presentation so they know you have faced challenges similar to theirs and are just the person to help them address these issues?
Let me ask you now, “How are you special?” I’ll bet you have your own unique answer to that question now. Now go share it with others! You never know whom you will inspire or enroll as a new client.