Intuition: Your secret success weapon for starting your own business


Clients who start an e-business often seek mentors who will share their secrets of success. You'll hear stories like these:


"I wrote articles to dozens of online ezines and built my business in six months." "I called five friends, offered to give them my services for free, and the rest is history." "Speaking engagements and networking - the only way to go."


When you dig deeper, you'll find that what really worked was not process but spirit. For example, "Anna" built a personal coaching business by writing articles and "Kevin" failed when he tried to follow in her footsteps.


Why? Anna has a warm, bubbly style that draws her readers, even when her articles are sprinkled with grammar mistakes and her spelling gets as creative as her ideas. Kevin has a style that grows on people over time and his warmth comes through in person far more than his writing.


Kevin might learn from "Jerome," who built a successful business with a combination of speaking, teleclasses and a very brief ezine. Jerome has yet to write a single article. However, Jerome has a focused message that comes through clearly and draws potential clients.


Most important, both Anna and Jerome followed their own intuition. They might consult briefly with a marketing coach but they never follow advice blindly. For guidance, they turn to their own inner wisdom.


Intuition does not send messages in an information vacuum. You'll get clearer messages if you understand not only marketing but also your own specific target market. If you've been successful in sales or consulting, or if you've survived and thrived in a large organization, you know how to read people and situations.


You'll get even clearer messages if you realize that intuitive guidance changes, and sometimes shuts down altogether, during a life transition - just when you need it most. If you're not sure what to do, move slowly. Focus on "why" rather than "what." And when you listen to mentors, capture their spirit, not their formulas.


Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. is an author, career coach, and speaker. She works with mid-career professionals who want to make a fast move to career freedom. Visit her site http://www.movinglady.com or call 505-534-4294. For her free ezine, visit http://www.movinglady.com/subscribe.html


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