[CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED] Career Conundrums - Part 2 http://ezezine.com In this issue, more Career Conundrums raised by you, my readers. CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED! From Turning Point Strategies and Lyle T. Lachmuth Please do FORWARD Creative Careers Unleashed to Interested colleagues in your network. You’ll find links to join and leave this newsletter at the end. CAREER CONUNDRUMS -- or How to Spend Your Summer Creating the Life You Want First, I must apologize for missing the July 15th issue and the delay in getting this issue out, as well. Unfortunately something around my trip triggered a flare up of my Fibromyalgia and I’ve been grappling with that since the beginning of July. Here goes with this issue… ======================================================================= HOT LINKS Richard Nelson Bolles companion site to What Color is Your Parachute --> http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/ Explore your interests. Discover your Occupational Type. Are you an Artistic, Investigative, Social, Enterprising, Realistic, or Conventional type? --> http://www.careerkey.org/cgi-bin/ck.pl?action=choices Recapture your zest and your life. Learn how to Manage Your Energy™ http://www.uc.dianalindstrom.com ======================================================================= CAREER CONUNDRUMS I asked what your greatest career challenge is. Here’s what one reader said, “$$$ is the greatest challenge!” Since most of my readers are sole practitioners, offering personal services I’m going to assume that’s the case for this person. Here’s some thoughts based on that perspective. 1. Are you charging what you’re worth? Unfortunately, when starting out many professionals tend to set their rates too low. They might think “How can I charge a lot since I’m just starting out.” But, that’s false logic because most people I’ve met often start with an incredible base of experience, knowledge and skills. Worth a lot more that they think. How do you know what to charge? It’s really not that hard to find out what the competition is charging. Seek out their marketing material. Call them up and ask. Or, have a friend call them up if you’re concerned about ‘exposing’ yourself. I remember one time quoting a fee for a team building retreat and the internal HR person said, “Wow. You charge less than I do for work I do outside the company.” Boy, did I wish I’d done my homework on that one! Remember that the key is how your clients perceive the value of your service. If they feel they are getting value they will pay more. What can you do to provide greater value? You can offer different hours than others. You could make yourself more available, say by Instant Messenger or e-mail. You provide access to special information on your web site that the ‘normal’ visitor doesn’t see. So, at the risk of stating the obvious, you can make more money simply by raising your fees. What else can you do? ======================================================================= QUOTES "The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way… people look at reality, they you can change it.” – James Baldwin “Nothing can change until we acknowledge what is – as I have learned over time.” – Jane Fonda, My Life So Far ======================================================================= CAREER CONUNDRUMS – continued #2 Use The Multiplier Effect Most consultants, coaches, therapists, and healers start out by providing their services one on one. That’s great, but they quickly run across their own limits. There are only so many hours in a week. One way to solve this – and increase your income – is to look at running groups. For example, I’m helping a therapist client put together the promotional material to run a series of weight loss classes based on imagery and hypnosis and rebuilding self-trust. Even a small class, run for say 4 to 6 sessions, can create a decent income. Groups can come in a variety of forms. They can be straight forward workshops or a program built around a topic with group interaction and ‘homework’. I find that programs that allow group interaction and that encourage participants to focus on ‘real-life’ problems are much better sellers that those that just offer information. Also, it seems that sessions that run in the 9 – 12 range and allow in depth examination of a topic are also more saleable. Don’t think about just offering classes locally; consider the possibility of offering teleclasses. If you want to keep your costs down you can start by running classes at a local college or something like the Learning Annex. Here in Calgary, the public school board also offers continuing education classes. Perhaps yours does to So, look for ways to get groups together and you’ll increase your income. One more answer in a minute… but first a word from a valued affiliate. ======================================================================= DO YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE ENERGY? Do you drag your self through the day? Do you wake up tired? Go to bed exhausted? Has your life lost its zest? Sadly you’re not alone! More than 20,000,000 Americans and 1,000,000 Canadians lack the energy they need to live their lives. Are you one of them? You can get your energy back. And, you can add more zip to your life. I know because I did. And, I did it through the simple, easy to learn, tips shared with me by a wonderful colleague Diana Lindstrom. Diana knows what it’s like to have to carefully watch every step and monitor every move. You see Diana is a Post Polio Survivor. If she doesn’t manage her energy… she doesn’t walk! She doesn’t get out of bed. And, she doesn’t get to do what she loves. Over the last year Diana was kind enough to share he story and her secrets with me. And, now you can learn how to manage Your Energy™ Read more about the Manage Your Energy™ program here: http://www.uc.dianalindstrom.com ======================================================================= CAREER CONUNDRUMS - continued #3 Create Products The best way to give more people an opportunity to experience your talents is to create products. This can include: newsletters, reports, e-books, videos/DVD’s and tapes/CD’s. Many independent professionals share information through newsletters like this one. And, many are complimentary. But, you might consider charging for your newsletter. After you’ve published a number of issues you can package your newsletter into a Special Report or a small or large format e-book. Other media may be more appropriate for the topic you have in mind. For example, the therapist I am coaching will be developing a CD that clients can use to teach themselves self-hypnosis for sleep related problems. Having products you can give away or sell adds value to your practice. The products can create a passive revenue stream that will enhance you income and your image. I hope these brief tips have given you some things to think about. See you September 1st, Lyle Lachmuth MSOD, CDP, CRT (Hons) The Unsticking Coach (TM) Your Talents > Your Career >> Your Life >>> Your Way! Turning Point Strategies Box 72140 RPO Glenmore Landing | Calgary, AB CANADA T2V 5H9 T: 403-390-4768 | E: LyleTLachmuth [at] Gmail.com =================================================================== ABOUT THIS NEWSLETTER Join or leave this list here: http://home.ezezine.com/72/ Past issues here: http://home.ezezine.com/72/ PRIVACY POLICY: I collect your name and contact information solely to enable me to send you this newsletter and other information on a periodic basis. I will not rent, trade, or sell your name and contact information to anyone, at any time, for any reason! CAVEAT: CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED and its publisher, are not engaged in providing therapy. This newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. CREATIVE CAREERS UNLEASHED may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety only, including copyright, legal, and contact information and with live links. Copyright 2005 Turning Point Strategies and Lyle T. Lachmuth