What stands in the way of growing your business? The usual response is to do with external factors and things that are beyond your control, such as the economy and lack of buyers. This may be true to a degree and yet often what is required to grow a business is for you to grow as a person. You can continue to look outside of your business for the reasons that stop it growing or you can look inside your business and to yourself to see what it would take to make it grow. 

There are many ways that you may need to grow personally in order for your business to flourish and one of them is being able to truly connect with potential clients. You can probably list many things that you need to do and get right before you can start meeting with potential clients. This list may include a perfect brochure, sales letter, presentation or website. Yet again these are external and surface things. Yes, all of these things do need to be right and professional, yet many people hide behind these things before putting themselves out there and connecting with clients. 

You need to be out in the marketplace for people to truly get to experience you. After all, people buy people and not the glossy brochures. When you put yourself out there consistently you will be continually learning and growing. The opportunity to learn about yourself, your market, and what your potential clients need will enable you and your business to grow faster. Your marketing materials will evolve more easily and be reflective of the needs of your market. Instead of guessing what your market needs, you'll be there in the frontline experiencing it. 

Potential clients want the opportunity to connect with you as a person, an individual rather than just be impressed, which can be very surface. They want to see what you're really like, what would you be like to work with and get a sense of what's important to you. There needs to be a connection and in order for this to happen they need to experience you. There are many ways for you to put yourself out there rather than hide behind your desk, brochures or whatever else you justify to yourself that needs to be done first. You can be visible by: 

These are some of the ways you can put yourself out there and most importantly, it's about spending time with people, listening to them, discovering their needs and being your true self. Different ways of being out there work for different people and you're here to discover which ones work best for you. You'll only know this by experiencing and trying them out. 

Ask yourself, "What do I need in order to put myself out there more?" Listen to your responses and work out a plan of action in order to have what you need. Take steps forward each day that enable you to participate more. 

Perhaps you need more confidence, and this is built by taking action. Take an action step that is small enough that you'll do it and enough of a stretch for you that you'll build some confidence from actually having done it. 

Let them experience the real you, not some impressive person or a perfect image. Stop hiding and be the person who is willing to connect with others in a meaningful way. You and your service won't be right for everyone that you meet and that's okay. "Some will, some won't, so what, who's next". It's about having an attitude that keeps you moving ahead rather than getting stuck. 

What do you want to change or improve in your
personal and professional life?