1) Our hotel is 90% sold out

2) The event itself is over 80% sold out

3) There is no other event that has happened in our industry like this

4) YOU want to make money. Make a difference… and being wildy creative doing it… I know you do.

So- come, play, don’t wait…. www.bethechangeevent.com

I feel so very grateful for my clients. I am super lucky to work with them, but even luckier that they allow me to love my work. We had a friend come up to us recently and ask how we were attracting such successful clients…. it’s an easy answer: We make certain you are serious about biz, then we focus on biz and not fluff, we give unyielding support, and then we party hard! I love you Hell Raisers!

Every participant got to share their message from stage and hone their presentation skills. It was a fast track to clarity! Really fun….now I am off to my two Hell Raiser groups (private client Master Minds) to go deep into their six and seven figure businesses…most of these folks have coached with me 2-3 years and we are just getting started. Then, my LA tour stop- will I see you there? Lots going on – Hell Yeah!

If it were easy everyone would do it.

If it were easy no one would need me (or many of you.)

If it were easy you probably wouldn’t be reading this.

And not only is it not easy- some of it can be hellish. I talk to lots of you each day via calls, emails, social media and I hear the tough stuff. And listen, I get it. I go through the tough stuff, too. That launch that failed, the employee that quit, the client that bailed, the nasty email… there are days you can feel like you are going through hell. I thought since you ended up there not on purpose you might want some directions out of there.

Directions from Hell:

1) OK, let’s start here. If you are going through hell- don’t stop! That’s the worst thing you could do. You never want to pull up a chair and sit at that table. It will feel like the right thing to do is throw in the towel, but this is just a big red firey flag (joke intended) saying- don’t stop here! Keep moving.

2) Get out as fast as possible- look for the exits. I read a great quote today that said: “We all come with baggage. Find someone who loves you enough to help you unpack.” Here are the best exit plans:

a) delegate- sometimes others have a better view point of the exit
b) stop thinking- don’t try to figure out how you got there (yet)
c) see if you have any ideal clients there- sometimes what appears to be “hell” is actually just an opportunity to stretch
d) get factual- work from truth and not emotion. Emotion will never allow you to see the exit.

3) Once you find the exit get a drink of water. Pause, rehydrate, and analyze. I keep saying business is math, metrics, science, and numbers… get clear on what didn’t work and what happened.

4) Tell the story. We never go through hell unless we were meant to teach about the trip. Don’t wallow in what happened or whine about getting lost. Just make the mess your message. Find a way to market it. People love that stuff!

Hope this helps to turn your hell into a hell yeah!

A few days of R and R was just what I needed to take time to reflect on last year and all the good stuff that happened… that is what I love about reflection: the life happenings that seemed hard, the challenges, the shocks…they all are brilliant lessons with some distance and some clarity.

I love what business teaches me. My greatest classroom has been my office. My greatest teacher has been my clients and my team. Here’s to an amazing 2012 with lots of frozen beverages! ;-)

We often get so busy marketing, strategizing, and serving that we don’t take the time to identify our core values for the business. I think this is one of the most important visions I have created for myself lately and when you can stay on track with your business values, you naturally help more people and make more money. It is really key to have them in writing so that you can be reminded of your purpose. We all get busy, overwhelmed, and frustrated. When your mission gets marginalized by life, you can revisit these and get back on track.

Here are the values of Team Suzanne! I am proud to say that I strive to work and live by these daily as does my office and support team:

1. Always more. Provide all that we can to change people’s lives and businesses. More support, more help, more love, more gratitude, and more accountability. Keep providing MORE.
2. Gratitude. Take time in every transaction and with every client to be thankful.
3. Equality. Treat every client, customer, and subscriber with the same high level of support, service, and love no matter what package or program they participate in.
4. Own it. We are 100% responsible for all that happens at Team Suzanne. The good, the bad, wins, losses, mistakes, and opportunities. Own all of it.
5. Model. Be a model for those we serve by never giving up, always learning, and supporting people unconditionally.
6. Think Big. Playing small does not serve anyone. We can only help more people if we are raising our standards, our vision, and our own bar for success.
7. Play. What’s the point of anything if not fully, deeply, and richly enjoyed. Play more!
8. Be fearless. Even in the face of uncertainty and possible failure we do it anyway. Embracing fear is the key success component.
9. Ask. Always ask what our clients and customers want. Be on a continual quest to over serve.
10. Honesty. Tell the truth even when it loses us money, time, or resources. Be an open company that values integrity.

A defined and specific set of values can be one of the best ways you serve your clients, market your services, and change the world!

About a year ago I had just moved. I kept thinking we need to get some things organized … but I kept putting it off.

Boom — the mail arrives on a Wednesday and in it is this postcard. Why did it get my attention?

I was in pain. I needed help and there it was in front of me. I went on to call this organizer and spent thousands of dollars with her. She was wonderful and efficient. She, in turn, joined my 10k program to build a new business of her own and we developed a wonderful relationship.

THAT direct mail postcard generated almost $20,000.

Marketing Sherpa recently released a chart that shows that direct mail is still considered an important part of any B2B marketing campaign. It may not have the “flash” of the latest social media trend, but it works.

So … think about shaking thing up a bit and send some direct mail. As much as I love Jaime, her postcard wasn’t that great, but it still worked. Here are some tips to make yours super effective.

1. Keep the message simple.
   One pain solving statement like: Are the boxes still not unpacked? or Still can’t fit in your jeans? or Not enough clients to keep the doors open?
2. Give a specific call to action.
   Do not tell the reader ten different steps to take or give options. Make it like a road map and very directional. Examples: For a free consultation ($400 value) before January 1st call: or Email X in the next 7 days and receive a free gift of X
3. Make it pop!
   Once I put a photo of myself holding a roll of toilet paper. Dan Kennedy put himself in a vintage cartoon car or consider a cool piece of art- anything that pops and makes you stand out and get attention.
4. A few mailers are better than one.
   Consider following up and have a series of mailers as opposed to just one hit.
5. Get diverse and creative.
   Think packages, postcards, envelopes, odd size postcards, or any other variation. Mix it up to get more attention and get more opens.

People ask me all the time … Which marketing methods work?

Answer: ALL if done well.

Combine direct mail with email marketing with video with social media….make it all a strong strategy and systematic. Lots of different touches always work!