Article:
Are you running a Feng Shui business or a hobby?
The question
"Are you running a Feng Shui business or a hobby" is
an important one to consider, because it'll effect the results
you'll get. The points below will help you get clear on which
is right for you.
An
attitude of mind
You can run a very successful part-time Feng Shui business from
home, or you can sit in an expensive office and still be running
the practice like a hobby. The difference is in your attitude
and how that translates into your actions - do you see yourself
as a business owner? If someone at a party asks what you do, can
you confidently say exactly what you do? Do you take the job of
running the business seriously or do you just want the opportunity
to play?
Different aims
The aim of a business is to develop and grow, the aim of a hobby
is purely to enjoy the process, growth is not a priority. A business
has a plan, a hobby just evolves. Having a business plan is the
best way of helping the business develop and grow as you want
it to. It clarifies what your goals are, and focuses your mind
on designing your strategy to achieve them. However businesses
grow best when you're passionate about the service that you provide
clients.
Different expectation levels
Clients tend to have high expectations of a business, and lower
expectations of the hobbyist. However difficulties can arise when
clients are not clear about which you are. Integrity and authenticity
are important factors here, so that clients know whether their
expectations are realistic.
Different focal points
The business owner knows that a successful business depends on
him providing what his clients are looking for, as well as what
he wants to sell them. Businesses focus outwards on their client's
needs and inwards, on their values and passion, whilst the hobbyist
often focuses inwards, on his own enjoyment.
Attitudes to Marketing
If your focus is on profit, finding a constant stream of ideal
clients, or better still, being so 'attractive' that clients find
you, involves an initial investment of time and effort to develop
a coherent marketing plan. It then needs regular attention to
monitor what's working, to adjust your actions accordingly, and
to alter the plan to tie in with the ongoing development of the
business. If it's your hobby, you'd prefer to skip this part.
The business owner keeps marketing at the forefront of his mind,
realising that his business is marketing his feng shui services,
whilst the hobbyist looks for clients when he's short of work.
Setting boundaries
A business owner maintains very clear boundaries between their
home and business life, even if the business is run from home,
whilst the person with the hobbyist mindset doesn't. If you were
working in an office, you wouldn't spend time putting on the laundry
or watching daytime TV. If you had to take time off because the
kids were sick, you'd expect to have to make that time up at some
point - people running a business track their hours worked and
know that, although it's great having the flexibility of working
when you choose, to be successful involves commitment and dedication.
Financial planning
Planning your finances is essential for the business owner. This
means keeping proper accounts, claiming for all legitimate expenses,
preparing a cashflow forecast - again, the focus is on profit,
on the 'bottom line'. It also means keeping a careful eye on expenditure,
only spending what's necessary, whilst ensuring that you're investing
in the best tools of your profession. The hobbyist tends not to
want to spend this amount of effort on figures and paperwork.
Systems planning
The profitable business aims to run smoothly and achieves this
by investing time and thought in designing and implementing the
systems that allow it to purr along. The tendency for the hobbyist
is to cope with events as they arise. This could be enough to
get by on, but it could also deteriorate into crisis management,
which nullifies the aim of 'enjoying the process'.
Summary: It's all in the mindset
The person who has a business focus allocates time to work both
on and in their Feng Shui business, to plan for all aspects of
its development, including the fun and passion element, whilst
the hobbyist sets out principally to enjoy himself.
About
the author: This article is written by Annie Meachem, CEO of The
Feng Shui Marketing Center, www.fengshuimarketingcenter.com
and of Trellis Coaching, www.trelliscoaching.com.
Annie is an expert in Attraction Marketing and author of "Attraction
Marketing: How to Attract All the Perfect Clients You Want", published
by the Lean Marketing Press, and available from www.bookshaker.com,
Amazon, and many good bookshops.
She works with Feng Shui consultants and self-employed professionals
who want to spend more time doing what they love and less time
marketing.
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