How far would you go to be successful?

by Greg Milner on 02/09/08 at 11:56 pm

Old joke: scientists have started using lawyers in lab experiments, instead of rats. They discovered there are some things that even rats won’t do.

Lawyers and rats aside, what will you do, how far will you go, to give yourself a better chance of success?

A couple of years ago, I flew half way around the world to attend a single seminar. At that event, I listened to a man who had many ideas I could use, but one that was pure gold. I diligently wrote it down, and flew all the way home again.

That one idea, and the action I took to implement it, was responsible for no less than a tripling of my business over the next two years. If I hadn’t taken that trip, made that effort, invested that time (and a considerable amount of money), I’d still be in business…but held back by ignorance.

Most salon & spa owners will suffer this ignorance for their entire business lives, simply refusing to do the things that successful salon owners have proven time and again to be profitable.

We all know that we have to educate ourselves – and then implement that education – to be successful. Yet most of us just don’t do it. Wierd.

For those who DO take the action, the rewards are often instant. Like our very first South African IC member, Fairoza Tippens of Bella Rosa H&S Clinic in Cape Town. Like hundreds of South Africa salon owners, Fairoza’s desire to be a part of the Inner Circle program had been hampered for years by their country’s lousy exchange rate. The South African Rand ain’t exactly a world currency powerhouse, which means that when converted into dollars, IC membership is pretty pricey.

But that didn’t stop Fairoza. She bit the bullet, took a 12 hour flight to Sydney for the recent Road to Riches Super Conference, joined the Inner Circle program, and flew all the way home again. Fortune favors the brave. Fairoza got home and took immediate action. Here’s how she writes of the experience:

Fairoza Tippens flew all the way from Cape Town to Sydney to attend the Road to Riches Superconference and enrol in the Inner Circle program.

"Hi Greg,

The seminar was far better and "hit home" more than any other I have attended or books I’ve read. Thanks.
As soon as I got email with my Inner circle membership password i immediately logged on. For months I’ve been reading (the Success Strategy newsletter) and often closed in frustration as I could not enter the Inner Circle area. So you can imagine my delight when I went through most Inner Circle links. I received the Toolkit Friday morning on my way to work, opened it and took out the Fast Start Audio CD and played in my car. It was storming and I new some clients would cancel on me due to the bad weather - which the 3 out of 4 cliets booked did.
"As I sat all alone in my salon, frustrated, I remembered the interview you had with Dan Kennedy (yes i read it, twice in one week). Took out my diary and wrote: ‘Target/ Advertise to those who are least and last affected by a bad economy’.

" I new I wasn’t busy the next day, although being Saturday, so I thought I had nothing to lose by being bold. So, I used the cheapest and fastest way to get in clients quickly - SMS. I sent the sms to about 12 wax clients and 7 facial clients.

"I wanted the wax clients to start doing facials and using products and I wanted facial clients to do more waxing other than the usual lip, brow and under arm. I got 2 bookings within seconds of sending the message, then my phoned died. Without my charger I finally put my car to good use and rushed home in the storm. Put my phone on charge and had received a further 3 replies.

"5 clients = R1000.00 on my day off. I know, not much of a reply but at least I have 5 facial clients next Saturday and no one cancelled on me due to bad weather. After a long day, I finally sat with the Toolkit and was surprised to see the example used (in the Toolkit) were similar to mine. And, by just going through your Inner Circle links (in the Members Only area) I’m amazed, I finally get it.

"Imagine what I’m going to do when coached. I know my text message can be improved but for the first time since opening my salon a year and half ago I feel optimistic!!! It couldn’t have come at a better time.

Regards, Fairoza."

That’s the kind of action that gets results, time and time again.

At that same conference, we spoke with many, many Inner Circle members getting even better results…. here’s just a few of them:

Rating 3.00 out of 5

A post by Greg Milner

The odd idea, a bit of prodding, a nudge here and there, a little fun, and the occasional dose of brutal reality. Greg is co-founder and CEO of Worldwide Salon Marketing, a writer, direct response marketing consultant, specialist marketing systems adviser and coach. He (sometimes) accepts private consulting clients.