Getting Started
My Process With Prospective ClientsFit matters.
An important aspect of working with a client for me – maybe the most critical piece of the puzzle – is this: do we fit? Do we have a connection that allows our work together to be easy, productive, and enjoyable? It’s something that you might not explore if you’re only looking for someone to occasionally complete a few simple tasks for you, but it’s critical if you want to work closely with someone who gets you – someone who’ll take the time to learn your business inside and out and develop the same vision for its future that you have.
Discovering if there’s that fit takes some time and effort. It’s the opposite of speed dating: how can you know if someone is perfect for you and your business if you’ve only spent 10 minutes chatting with them? I have a four-step process for exploring that connection with you, one that I have used with all my clients, which I’ve outlined below. Click the + signs on the tabs for more details about how each step works.
Step 1: Virtual Coffee
I’ve found that 10-15 minutes is usually long enough to know whether we feel comfortable moving ahead together.
Step 2: Let's Assess
Step 3: Where Y'At?
(If you’re wondering what “Where Y’at” means, it’s a way folks in New Orleans sometimes greet one another to ask how things are going. If you haven’t yet seen my Random Facts page, you’ll understand more once you’ve been there.)
Step 4: Dig Deep
If this connection feels good to us both, we’ll meet once more to dig deeper into topics like communication, collaboration, privacy, and trust, using the conversation to uncover anything that might get in the way of a sensational partnership.
This call generally takes an hour or so, though often we’re really enjoying the conversation and we go longer here.
And Then... We're Off & Running
Want To Chat?
Not ready to talk yet?
If you know you need help but aren’t sure where to start, here are a couple of ideas to get you clearer:
- Start by taking a look at this terrific article by Anastacia Brice for help in learning what you can delegate.
- Think about the systems and processes that you already have in place in your business. Are they working? If not, why not? And if you don’t have any, where do you need them? What’s slipping through the cracks?
- What are your goals for your business over the next year? What might get in the way of you accomplishing them? Make a list of where there are gaps in your knowledge, processes, resources, or just plain ol’ motivation.