Channelone.TV: The Little Scrap of Paper that Saved My Butt

Thursday, January 28, 2016

The Little Scrap of Paper that Saved My Butt

Mel,

In 2001 I stood at a crossroads. The company I had helped build was sold. And I was offered two choices…

Parachute out of the Dilbert Cube with a nice buyout…or
Stick around and work for the new owners.

I hemmed and hawed and pondered and analyzed.

My wife, Laura, did not. “Take the money and run, Perry! You’ve always wanted to do your own thing, now’s your shot!”

But did I have the chops to make it as a freelance consultant?

I thought I did. But all my big successes had come while I was working “for the man” within the safety of the warm and fuzzy company cocoon …not out on my own.

In fact, the Amway stuff I’d done on my own had yielded a big fat goose egg of nothingness. Gut-punching rejection to the umpteenth power.

So, I wouldn’t exactly say I was Mr. Swaggering Bravado when it came to hanging out my own consulting shingle.

But I took Laura’s advice and made the leap.

And those first few months were…exhilarating, sure…but also anxiety-ridden.

But one little scrap of paper kept me sane through those first few nail-biting months.

On a 3x5 index card I had scribbled twelve things I knew I could do to make money.

If I couldn’t get a client to let me do those 12 for them…I could do them for myself!

So, when I’d walk down the stairs each morning and sit staring at my monitor wondering when the money was going to start showing up…every time my chest started to tighten when I realized I need to make $9,000 this month but only had $3000 on the books…every time my pits started to wreak from the flop sweat...I’d pull out that card and remind myself of all the things I could do to make dollars show up.

It was my little Swiss Army Knife for Anxiety Reduction.

When I’d look at my options, my pulse would abate…my breathing would get deeper and more regular…I’d be able to focus…and get to work.

And whenever I’d get stuck…whenever I needed to pull a rabbit out of the hat…I’d whip out that card and look at it.

And I’d always come with a new idea for making cash appear.

That little Swiss Army Knife card saved my hide more than a few times.

Because when you’re a freelance consultant, there is no worse feeling than “trapped animal” syndrome. You know you need to make money show up, but because your panicking and hyperventilating, all you can see is a few feet in front of your darting eyes. All you can see is the path straight in front of you…and it’s barred up and blocked off!

But the best feeling is when you know you have options. Clicks on your dial. When you know you have 9 or 10 different ways to solve one problem…

7 different ways to make clients show up

15 different ways to make money from every client

13 ways to negotiate for higher fees

Options. Alternate paths. New ways forward.

It’s all about having more blades on your knife…and pulling out the right one at the right time.

And that’s what my Swiss Army Knife for Consultants gives you.

A simple tool to whip out whenever you feel “stuck” and need to make money show up.