Soul Proprietor - You won’t know until you try

A long time ago, one of my elderly clients called me with the news that she had broken her hip. She would no longer be able to climb up my stairs much less drive across town to see me.

“I was wondering if you could do my reading over the phone?”

My reply: “I don’t know but let’s try.”

The reading worked so well that she told all of her friends and they stopped coming to the office too. It was more convenient to do it via phone. Since that time, my business has flipped and the majority of my work is phone or email, save for a handful of old time clients that I allow to come in-person.

It was the best thing that ever happened to my business. I wouldn’t have known the phone (or email) could work better for me and my clients if I didn’t try.

This is so important. Sometimes we may think something can’t work only to discover that it can. Other times, trying might reinforce that a method/product/offering/etc., isn’t right for us or our business.

For example, I stopped doing tarot parties and events a few years ago. Frankly, they never suited my introvert personality. Reading for large groups drained my energy and made me feel depressed. Teaching, on the other hand, is a whole other story – I adore teaching. Put me in front of any group for that – and I’m totally game!

Not that long ago, I got an invite for a fundraiser. It was a good cause and they assured me that I would be teaching, not reading tarot. So I said yes.

As soon as I arrived at the event, I got a sinking feeling that this was not going to be the case. While I set up, a few people wandered over to my table to ask if I was going to be giving readings. When I said I would be leading a tarot presentation, they frowned and walked away. More people came in and seemed to be disappointed…and you can guess how this was going to go.

When it was time for me to teach, I was speaking long faces. No one was interested in learning one thing about tarot. All they wanted was a tarot reading. Period.

So I cut the lecture short because it was a waste of my precious time to bother. And, like the pro that I am, I gave them what they wanted and started reading.

When my time was up, I began packing up immediately. One of the hard things about events is that you can’t possibly read everyone in the time allotted – and although the people get disappointed, they fail to understand that you are not paid any extra to hang around and do more work. One person ignored my boundaries completely and pushed forward, demanding a reading. I gave her a quick one card and sent her on her way.

By now, I was ticked off.

I got the heck out of there as fast as I could and headed back to my sanctuary. It took me three days to recuperate from this. That may sound dramatic to some but fellow introverts totally get this.

Lesson learned: events are not for me. Never again.

I wouldn’t have known this if I didn’t give it one last good college try. Doing that event sealed the deal.

In your business, never be afraid to try. It’s the only way to assess if something is right for your biz…or not. Always remember: the sweet spot comes when your clients love what you’re offering and so do you. You can’t know that until you try it out.

“The one who falls and gets up is stronger than the one who never tried. Do not fear failure but rather fear not trying.” ~ Roy T. Bennett

Blessings,

Theresa