by Ann Evanston | Aug 20, 2017 | Business Strategy, Mental Mind Shifts
The Internet, and especially social media, has greatly changed how we can market and network in our businesses. In 2007, I made a significant change in my target market and I needed to find them. Using the Internet and social platforms allowed me to connect with people I would not otherwise meet.
I also developed techniques that allowed me to connect with people in this “strange place” that we were all figuring out! Back then I had tremendous success with being social first. Fast forward 10 years and social media platforms and what is happening on them has changed dramatically. Most of them were private back then and now they’re not. The goal of making money is not only for the company, but for many companies the people using the platforms.
For a period of time I was still running with the old mindset of “build relationship, be social, get to know people, don’t over share what you sell.” And guess what? It was getting me nowhere in terms of growing my business. See, I had to change my mindset about marketing on these platforms. I had to look at what successful small business owners where doing.
I had to stretch my comfort zone and be willing to try something that would make me uncomfortable, something, because of my closed mind, I was judging negatively. I’m a big believer if something makes me uncomfortable I need to expand my mindset in order to grow.
So what was the technique? Simply private messaging people in connection with the project I’m working on, or share what I have, to see if they’re interested. Now, I still do my homework and use personalized language to connect with things that they’re involved with, or doing, or sharing on the platform. I do not just send a generic message to every single person I’m connected to that means nothing to them.
My goal 10 contacts a day. As a result of that I’ve had an increase in sales that’s been dramatic in 30 days! In addition, I reached out to a couple heavy hitters and through a conversation after the private message they are giving me opportunities that will be mind blowing for my business! Beyond what I asked for!
Do you need a new mindset about what you’re doing in creating connection and potentially growing your business at the same time?
[Tweet “Success is dependent on a “yes” Mindset. Where can you think more “yes?””]
by Ann Evanston | Aug 19, 2017 | Mental Mind Shifts
Eggplant parmigiana in my Italian family is a huge tradition. It is a recipe that has been passed down verbally for decades. The only way you know how to make it is if you get in the kitchen and learn from the women who have come before you! It has always been a heavy, saucy, cheesy winter meal.
Growing our garden, Earl decided we needed to grow eggplant. See he loves my family’s eggplant parmigiana so he wants me to make it! We started growing eggplant and guess what we learned. It isn’t in season in the winter, LOL. It is in season in the fall! Months before we “always make it.”
This time of year it’s warm here, and although I love my family’s eggplant, it’s so heavy! That’s when I realized if I value eating seasonally and very fresh, and I love my traditions of my family, I need to change my mindset about having parmigiana when it’s hot!
So I made a lighter version that was Just as delightful and yummy! And guess what I actually think my grandmother would be quite proud of it and enjoy eating it with me!
by Ann Evanston | Aug 18, 2017 | Mental Mind Shifts, Self-worth
My entire career has been about sharing stories as well as teaching others to share their own stories. It’s in drawing out stories, as well as listening to stories. Even more so, it’s been about teaching people how to change stories from their past so that their life is more of what they wanted to be.
I am always searching in my own life for stories that I need to rewrite and change. For example, last year I rewrote a story of being bullied as a teenager by a group of girls several years older than me. I realized that story had become a belief system for me (what I call a “truth”) where women were untrustworthy, mean, would lie to you, and stab you in the back.
When you have stories like that, and they become your truth you live under that belief system. You will continue to fulfill the prophecy and attract that to you, over and over.
And I did with women. Over and over they proved my belief right. Until I rewrote the story.
🏼Do you have a story about being broke?
🏼What about distrusting men?
🏼Or maybe about being smart or pretty?
There is another part of uncovering your stories and that’s the positive side. We have stories that become our truths which lead to our purpose while we’re here. I recently uncovered what happened to make why storytelling so important for me.
[Tweet “Always believe that your story matters. It can inspire and heal others!”]
Knowing that drives me even further to continue my work, and motivates me to share more about stories. It excites me to see the alignment. It is why I am so passionate about the Unscripted eBook series, and having your stories. Email me to learn more.
Oh, you want to know my story to find my path? Maybe another post! LOL
by Ann Evanston | Aug 12, 2017 | Relationship
I am an alpha female without a doubt! I’m independent thinking, do things my way, don’t mind being in charge and have no problem speaking my mind! I am married to an alpha male. Which means he’s pretty much the same way, LOL!
As an independent alpha female, I have always believed that love is about two whole healthy individuals coming together because they’re the best selves they can be in a relationship. And the other person wants them to be their best self. I absolutely have that. I’ve realized though that the truest form of love does have a form of interdependence.
I realize being with my true love, we have a deep soul connection. When I am apart from him I feel differently than when I am close to him. Yes, I still feel the heartstring that connects us even when apart. I am a better me when he is close. Our energies are intertwined.
Dammit!
As an alpha female I do not want to feel that! And as somebody who loves being deeply loved, I love feeling it.
[Tweet “Alpha females can experience deep soul connection.”]
by Ann Evanston | Aug 9, 2017 | Influence Factor
In my programs on becoming influential, I make a distinction between influence strategy, and negotiation. In America, we are quite comfortable with the idea of negotiation, even in the workplace. Negotiation is where you go in willing to give up certain things in order to reach a middle ground so that you can move forward with some type of solution. Often with negotiation, if the apposing person or group is not interested in meeting you in the middle, you walk away feeling it was a loss.
Influence is the strategy of creating buy-in. Influence is about taking steps towards having people lean in, say yes to your idea or solution, and want to be a part of achieving it.
[Tweet “Influence strategy and negotiation are 2 different things!”]
More often, negotiation is an event: we sit down at the table, we try to make it work, and if it doesn’t we move on. Influence is a process. It is about knowing ultimately your desired outcome, and then following the process towards planning small wins in order to eventually get people in agreement with making that desired outcome happen. Influence is for when you have more time. Negotiation is for when you have less.
Do you influence others to lean in and say yes?
