Showing up is part of the job description for a small business owner.
It’s up to you to let people know what you’re up to and how you might be able to help them.
“Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.” Brene Brown
And this isn’t a part-time gig or something you get to when you have more time (which you know you will never happen – more on that in a minute).
This message from the Universe landed in my email inbox as I was writing this post:
“Stephanie, here’s a little “Inevitability Test” to check on the progress you’re making toward achieving any particular dream.
You’re pretty much doing something about it, every single day.
Whoohoo, The Universe”
So what are you doing to show up in your business?
I’ve got some ideas for you, but before I share them it’s important to emphasize that I’m not suggesting you do all of these things.
My intention is not to overwhelm you or add another to do to your list.
It’s about simplifying and focusing in on a few things that you want to do really well and do consistently.
Because consistency builds trust and people do business with people they trust.
And consistency also increases your profitability.
Ways to Show Up
There are so many ways you can show up consistently in your business. Here are some ideas to get the ball rolling.
1) Be a guest on podcasts. Self-made billionaire, Cindy Eckert of The Pink Ceiling, is still a frequent guest on podcasts. Why? Because she knows that showing up will help spread the word about her business.
2) Attend networking events consistently and follow up with people you meet.
3) Write a blog post: daily (hello Seth Godin), weekly, twice a month, or monthly will keep you in front of people.
4) Post helpful and engaging stories on Instagram several times per week.
5) Go Live on Facebook every week with helpful information and answer questions.
How you show up is not as important as the fact that you actually do show up.
Choose something that feels good for you that you know you will follow through on.
And of course it’s important to show up in places where your ideal clients hang out.
And if you think you don’t have time to show up as often as you’d like it may be time to take a closer look at how you’re actually spending your time.
You can find out by tracking your time for two weeks. Capture your activities in 15-minute increments for fourteen days and then check out the numbers. A handy (and free) tool for doing this is Toggl.
My challenge to you is to show up and share your brilliance on a consistent basis.
And when you do show up, be the most you, you can be.
“Showing up fully exactly where you are is the fastest way to get where you want to go!” Marie Forleo
Remember, this isn’t about you. This is about them, your audience. The people you serve, the people you can support with the knowledge and information you have.
And in addition to showing up, you will also want to share your offers.
Use the Pareto principle of 80/20. Eighty percent of the time share relevant and valuable information. Twenty percent of the time share your offers.
In addition to showing up, you can make it your intention to connect with one person per day.
It can be with a new person, and old friend, a potential client, anyone really.
And whatever you way you commit to showing up, you may find that by creating this one habit, you see improvements in other areas.
This is what Jeff Haden calls: “…the improvement ripple effect: How focusing on improving one thing, no matter how small, naturally leads to improvements in other areas.”
“The willingness to show up changes us, it makes us a little braver each time.” Brene Brown
I hope you’re feeling inspired to choose a way to show up repeatedly and start making it happen.
© Stephanie Ward
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR NEWSLETTER OR WEBSITE? You can, as long as you include this information with it: Stephanie Ward is the Marketing Coach for Entrepreneurs who want to set create meangingful and prosperous businesses. Grab your FREE copy of the special report ‘7 Steps to Attract More Clients in Less Time’ plus business building tips, at: https://www.fireflycoaching.com.
How do you show up in your business?
Share your thoughts and questions below in the comments section.
I respond to every single comment.
Great article, thank you, Stephanie!
I found out that showing up regularly on my yoga mat has a huge effect on the progress of my training. I also read that Michael Phelps made the decision to show up 7 days in the swimming pool, whereas his competitors only trained from Mon – Saturday. The extra day of showing up gave him the lead over his competitors. Today he is the most decorated athlete in Olympic history.
Let us all show up more often!
Thank you for your feedback, Jana! Thank you for sharing what works for you. Indeed, amazing things will happen when we all show up more often.