Your Ideal Clients – Part 3
I hope you started working on becoming an Ideal Client to (some of) your providers.
Just in case you didn’t start yet (or you missed it today)… CLICK HERE to do it NOW.
Remember – this week’s assignment is answering a different question in the process – each day.
- Did you give the process a try?
- Do you have any question about the process?
- Did you get stuck anywhere?
- Do you understand the difference between being loyal to a brand and being an Ideal Client?
This is your opportunity to ask any question related to this week’s implementation assignment – to make sure you get the maximum out of it.
It’s also a golden chance to help someone else – by reading their question in the comments below – and offering them an answer, an idea, an encouragement…
If you have any question regarding this week’s implementation assignment or you need some support – let me know in the comment box below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
If you can offer an answer or support to anyone – please reply to their comment below.
Top Commenters – last 30 Days
Your Ideal Clients – Part 3
I hope you started working on becoming an Ideal Client to (some of) your providers.
Just in case you didn’t start yet (or you missed it today)… CLICK HERE to do it NOW.
Remember – this week’s assignment is answering a different question in the process – each day.
- Did you give the process a try?
- Do you have any question about the process?
- Did you get stuck anywhere?
- Do you understand the difference between being loyal to a brand and being an Ideal Client?
This is your opportunity to ask any question related to this week’s implementation assignment – to make sure you get the maximum out of it.
It’s also a golden chance to help someone else – by reading their question in the comments below – and offering them an answer, an idea, an encouragement…
If you have any question regarding this week’s implementation assignment or you need some support – let me know in the comment box below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
If you can offer an answer or support to anyone – please reply to their comment below.
I am looking forward to celebrate your progress and results on Friday (I’m curious to hear what solution you’ll come up with).
Until then…
Live fully, stay awesome,
Nisandeh
329 comments
Dear Nisandeh and Vered,
How can I/ What can I DO to become YOUR ideal client?
718 comments
Thank you for asking, Maru…
From almost every way we look at you you’re more than ideal client. You’re a Dream Client.
* You’re having a big vision;
* You want to make a difference;
* You follow the program as instructed, without loss of enthusiasm (even when things don’t go your way) AND you seem to get results (even if slow and small - as you’re just starting);
* As much as we can see, you implement like crazy (this is so rare);
* You come up with tons of good questions, and when you get a feedback - you’re grateful and get to work.
All in all - fantastic… keep it up.
The one thing that I changed this year (with the WOMB program) is that I refuse to do marketing anymore.
And I want my clients (like you) to bring my next clients.
So, any actions in that direction (and you came up with a few already) that will bring new and valuable clients in contact with us - would be the final act of love…
We don’t have anything set in stone yet, but we’ll probably ask anyone who wants to continue to the next programs with us (especially those that include mentoring) to refer some new clients to the next WOMB round.
But if you want to go big, and get more than a few - I’m sure we’ll find a way to make the advanced programs (which are a lot more expensive) more aforradle - so, as I mentioned WIN (for you) WIN (for us) WIN (for your friends/community)…
Just think about it, and when you have some ideas I’m happy to setup a Zoom call and discuss possibilities…
Thank you for asking.
329 comments
Thank you so much for your answer Nisandeh!
I want to go big and get you an obscene amount of ideal clients. 😜 A bombastic final act of love 🎆❤️
May I return the question and ask you:
What do YOU want?
Based on your answer I can start using the Idea Generator to come up with some tailored ideas.
And off course I would love to have a Zoom call to discussion the possibilities!
477 comments
Hey Maru, when it comes to ideal clients and building a credible relationship: I'm still waiting for a response from my July 13th email. Did you miss it or what is the cause of this?
329 comments
Hi Marcel, I am sorry but I did miss your email! Last thing I knew from you was that you were going on holiday. So to see you are back! Let’s pick a date for next week to talk about your nice podcast project 🙂
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Soy consciente de que, Maru. I love to hear from you next week.
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Gracias Marcel. I will write you privately to pick up a moment.
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Hey Nisandeh,
yesterday I found out, that I am not interacting, when the product is an onlinecourse.
There is something that makes me feel like a neglected child. I consume and then I move further, like with any other commodity.
I still need to find out what this insight means for me but:
What if my onlinecourse-clients feel the same without knowing?
So my question is: What can I do to make my onlinecourses more special, give a sense of belonging, and been seen?
Besight asking questions, asking to participate, giving more value - they all did, but it did not make me move.
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I bet they do, Cornelia.
You already mentioned to me several times, that your audience is not very engaged with your online content.
You will attract people like you…
So, until you’ll change yourself, you’re probably gonna get the same type of (none engaged) people.
First, you should start realizing the importance of having people engaged.
Imagine organizing a party, and no one talks to each other…
You can have the best music, food, guests, theme… but no one wants to come back to the party.
Relationship is about engagement… and you like your aloofness.
I’m sure you’re very friendly and engaged with your friends and family, but, for some reason - you’re not willing to extend this to the rest of the world.
Second, what could help is if you could stop thinking that there is a specific way to get engaged.
I don’t go on blogs normally and comment to strangers…
Just like I wouldn’t go in the street and see a stranger, and offer my opinion about what I see.
So my way of engagement - I will use forums and put on full-on 2,000-3,000-word thought-provoking articles, and encourage conversation by asking question(s) and responding to each comment.
Not too different than the way I do with my own blog posts, but on completely different topics of interest.
I would often even create a 30-day challenge (for myself), where I would post an article (or a question) every day and stir the conversation on a platform that has nothing to do with me or my business topic.
Everyone has its style, but if you will not CHOOSE to actively engage with people online, the chances that many will actively engage with your content online is pretty slim.
At least that’s my experience (and limited understanding of how the laws of the universe work).
139 comments
Thank you Nisandeh!
Not just Food for thoughts, I know what to do.
Thank you!
718 comments
Wonderful to hear, Cornelia.
Would love to hear when you’ve done it and what did you learn in the process.
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A statement does not ask a reaction. A question does. Do you ask your student questions they find interesting? What else triggers interaction? Check this program for a lot of options, including saying what you want to happen, make introductions, remind people, fixed interaction moments, rewards,.. ..
111 comments
Being an ideal client is for the benefit of my suppliers isn't it? I guess the more or the more often I buy, the more I might fit in their concept of being an ideal client. And that is not always in my favor.
What do you think of the idea of choosing ideal suppliers instead of trying to become an ideal customer?
This way I can choose my own standard of ideal supplier and of course there is a form of loyalty in that.
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Becoming an ideal client has nothing to do with the benefit of your suppliers, Rudolph.
A client-supplier relationship is like any other relationship, like your intimate relationship with your wife, your parent relationship with your daughter and any of your friendships.
Would you say that by becoming the Ideal husband you are doing it for the benefit of your wife, and the more you do it - it will be less in your favor?
Or that by becoming an Ideal father you will do it for the benefit of your daughter, and the more you do it, the less it will be in your favor?
My favorite provider in the whole world today is our gardener.
He’s working on our garden since the beginning - about 7 years ago.
When I met him he was in his early 20s and was already the head garden designer of Loro Parque - the biggest, most famous park on the island, and well known around the world.
I chose to become his ideal client and the first thing I did was making him my partner.
I never give him an assignment (although I have a list of these - every two weeks when he and his team arrive).
The list is always a discussion list… based on how can we do/get the maximum from our piece of land within the harsh conditions and budgetary limits we have.
He loves it, because I’m coming with all these crazy ideas he has never thought about, he gets to play with a big and difficult piece of land and see it grows in front of his eyes.
A few months ago, after almost 7 years, I told him that I don’t accept his fees anymore, and that he must raise his prices by at least 20%. He was chocked and told me “more people should be like you in the world”.
We usually have a consistent schedule, so he knows in advance when he comes and what type of work he’ll need to do… but sometimes there’s a special project, and he’ll show up on weekends, sick, with extra team members, bring some special material or plants that I think he might have had to “bribe” someone to get them…
Oh… and the bottom line…
His work bill is 300 euros a month for 3 people working 6 hours twice a month… (and him and his team needs to drive 2 hours in each direction from his place to mine).
He gets paid more than this just to answer an email or a WhatsApp question from the gardening department in Loro Parque…
He keeps telling me that our garden is his most loved creation.
It’s a love story… you understand?
Long story… but please read between the lines.
It’s all about building relationships.
And ideal clients as well as Ideal Providers are those you actually want to invest in building relationships with.
111 comments
Thanks Nisandeh for your reaction. I fully agree with you when it comes to your exemple with your gardener. As I yesterday posted, ideal client-suplier relationships are on a personal base.
What I was thinking of are providers like banks, telecom, etc. Conflicts, disapointments about service always finds place with that sort of companies. How can I be an ideal client for them, other then for exemple buying the newest mobilephone every year?
718 comments
I can try to answer that, Rudolph, but I wonder if it’s relevant.
Remember, the purpose of this exercise is to put yourself in the shoes of YOUR ideal clients, and see if you “deserve” them, by being one yourself.
Since your product is not a commodity (like a mobile phone), or a known brand (like Apple), then I would look for becoming an ideal client for small provider(s) - someone like you…
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That is quite a lovely story.
And indeed, read between the lines.
A story to think about.
Thanks
376 comments
What a beautiful love story. And food for thought. I love the way he goes about delivering his service and the fact that you acknowledge the value he offers you by calling him your favorite provider and saying that he should increase his price with 20%.
Come to think of it - I’ve never asked my providers what their ideal client looks like. I wonder if they have ever actively asked themselves this question. In the future, however, when entering into a relationship with a supplier I like working with, I’ll ask what is needed to become one of his ideal clients.
366 comments
I need to leave Belgium. That's insane. Totally get the no longer accepting the fees. Have had to do that several times as well. It is a thin line, and you don't want them to go out of business. That being said, that is indeed how you deal with (young) experts. Thank you for telling, it is a great way to delegate responsability while keeping the reigns. Should have made that into a system. Epic fail on my end. Great teaching.
477 comments
Dear Nisandeh and other participants,
I write a personal message via LinkedIn to managers with whom I am linked. This is an action item of what I'm going to do new on 15-07-22. I ask them to choose a leadership topic about which I ask them questions. I also mention that it takes half an hour and that I write down their answers. I have already sent 6 of them and no one wanted to participate. What else can I do before approaching the other 32 managers on my list that they are participating?
718 comments
You’ve sent 6 messages and no one wanted to participate…
Just to clarify, “no one wanted to participate” means - you got an answer saying, “no thank you, not interested” or you just didn’t get a reply back?
And… when you put yourself in their shoes and imagine getting that message on LinkedIn, would you respond to it…?
With a little bit more information, I’ll be able to come up with better ideas.
477 comments
Thank you for your first response, Nisandeh.
One manager has now promised to cooperate when he returns from vacation. He indicated that he will also retire immediately after vacation. I translate this that he will have time to work on this in the coming period.
One response was just, thank you Marcel and the others didn't respond at all.
If I put myself in their shoes, I would consider what it will bring me and what time it will cost me. What I fill in for them that results is that they are seen as a manager by choosing a topic that they would like to share with other managers.
In the meantime, I also collect answers from my ideal customers and in them I read an important statement: "Managers are in danger of getting stuck in their behavior!" If I include this, I expect managers to be curious about what other managers are doing. Managers who are stuck are not curious. So how could I arouse their curiosity to participate?
718 comments
That’s a good question, Marcel…
I suggest you do the Idea Generator about this question… it should be easy to come up with many ideas.
Then… after you’ve exhausted your own ideas - you can use the Brainstorm On Demand function of this program and ask for some more people to help you brainstorm.
Then pick the best ideas and try them out…
We used to send small plastic gifts with a short message to top managers with impressive results (e.g. a tiny 50-cent children magnifying glass, with a card said - in the tiniest font - if you find it hard to see your company’s profit without a magnifying glass - we’d love to help)
We used to send a €50 bill torn in half and tell the recipient that when they’ll meet us to a 15-minute coffee to hear something we believe can help them we’ll bring them the other half of the bill.
Promise them that by spending 5 minutes with you - you’ll be able to ask them the one question that will get them unstuck - EVERY TIME.
Etc… etc…
477 comments
Thank you so much, Nisandeh and of course what else…the Idea Generator!
A first idea that came to my mind while waiting for your response:
Are you stuck and not interested in information about leadership? Then don't respond!
If you want to know how other managers think about leadership, please respond.
Don't worry, I'm not going to sell you anything. Curious? Then respond to this message and you will quickly find out what a manager can do for you and you for managers.
I am now going to work on even more ideas and who knows, maybe I will meet the other participants through a brainstorming session. First of all, I will call on my buddies today at 5 pm with my ideas.
366 comments
OMG. ^starts searching for plastic magnifiers online^
477 comments
Dear people,
in this question hour a question for you as a participant. This is a very spontaneous reaction where I think out loud. If you followed my question and answers, I'm looking for a way to get managers curious to participate in an interview about a topic of their choice about leadership.
Suddenly an idea came through the idea generator that I spontaneously want to share with you to hear who is interested in this:
If they participate, they will receive or have a chance to win a free offer from you. I see the win-win because the first thing that came to my mind was a professional photographer who gave away a free profile picture for LinkedIn. Who among you thinks: "Hey, this can also draw attention to what I do. Of course I also offer this the other way around. Or do you know someone from your network who can benefit from this?
Who is interested?
323 comments
Hey Marcel, I do not get your question.
Are you asking if some of us have a service that you can give away to managers to make them curious to have a talk with you (and as such it is mutual for all parties)?
477 comments
Thanks to our consultation with the buddies yesterday, I am able to arouse the curiosity of the managers. I'm going to try it out today and if this works then I have great news for you. That would be my first visible success and then I'll have something to celebrate tomorrow.
If it doesn't work, I'll respond like Thomas Edison: I've learned another new way, why it doesn't work. He learned 1000 times how a light bulb didn't work. So I still have a long way to go 😜
215 comments
Hi Marcel, I don't think t would be a very good thing to offer others' services in order to get respondents (for one thing it raises questions, for another it disperses their attention), but let's touch base (email) to see if I can help formulate a message that might convert a bit better.
477 comments
Hi Machiel,
You know what assume means 😉. I don't want to offer services, but a request to managers to choose a topic that they find interesting. I ask them questions about this topic and make a blog of it. So I don't want to offer anything but share knowledge between managers! I will gladly accept your offer to look at the message.
329 comments
As explained in the assignment page, my sleeping coach firmly refused my ideas and proposals to scale her business. She insists in staying small (not even wanting a website). She did not allow me to become her ideal client.
I feel so frustrated about it! Her genius and life transforming method will help only a few and then go with her to the grave. 😖
Should I gently insist? Should I leave it?
At the moment we do not speak, she was so upset and me quite hurt…
What would Nisandeh do?
718 comments
Go back to the core question, Maru…
What do YOU want?
Your “want” cannot be for someone else to change.
It’s not in your power, and it’s a recipe for disappointment, frustration and heartbreak.
Figure out what you want to achieve and go for it.
Let her go for what she wants…
Maybe she’s in your life to make you the greatest baby sleep coach in the world…
By showing you the way, and getting out of your way…
🤷🏻♂️
329 comments
Thank you Nisandeh,
These days I have discovered that I don't want to become a baby sleep coach. I do not have that vocation. If I would go that way, I would loose interest and motivation very quickly. My compelling WHY is in entrepreneurship.
When you ask: what do you want? This is what I want to achieve:
- I want to become great at entrepreneurship
- I want to build several businesses that provide great profit and above all, great contribution to the world
- Concerning the Baby Hotel, I want to be a connector between experts, parents and companies
- I want a business that accompanies the lives of my ideal clients for generations
- I want to build my own legacy
Thank you for helping me find out and to let go
718 comments
Perfect, then go and find the next great baby sleep coach, that actually want to make a difference.
This person(s) is out there…
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I promise you I will! My accountability buddies already sent me some great candidates. I am so excited! Thank you, I love this Q&A sessions!
376 comments
WOW Maru some insight you’ve got there. I tell you, looking at my daughter and her husband and many young families with them, there is a big need for a sleeping hotel. So please do whatever I takes to make it happen because this is a niche and I’ll like to support it.
I love you WHY to become an entrepreneur with multiple businesses which accompanies the lives of generations to come and thereby building your own legacy. Being a CONNECTOR finding the right cause and resources to connect is a very important role. Love to read more about how you go about it.
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From the depth of my heart, thank you Marie-Louise! You have no idea how much your encouraging words mean to me! <3
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You might want to spend a small amount on taking the wealty dynamics test. Will give you answers about what kind of business to start and what role to fulfill in it.
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WOW Sin! I will definetely take the wealthy dynamics test. Never heard of it before. You are full of awesomeness! Thank you so much!