As we reinvent ourselves during this recession, I believe this is a good time to dig into ourselves and pull out that secret dream, idea or desire that could be a blessing to you and bless others at the same time.
Every week I get someone sending me their new cd or the book they just wrote. I also get people trying to sell me a travel service, weight loss program, nutritional juice, or some kind of business opportunity.
Then there is the flood of requests for donations to help upstart new ministries.
I am a big believer in selling a good product or service. I also know that you need to believe in what you have to offer.
However, the place where most people fail is in how to let the world know what they have to offer. In other words, how do you attract people to what you have to offer? This is so much better than chasing people down who may not really be interested in what you have to offer. I call this attraction marketing.
I recently received an email from someone that said:
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“I told God on Saturday, 3/28 that I was finished trying to do what He called me to do because in spite of all of my efforts over the last few years, nothing was coming to pass.
God spoke that I he would use me to bear witness of Him all over the world and directed me to begin writing, so I self-published the first book in 2006 with little results. I thought that perhaps I needed better exposure and began investing in every promotion that I could but still had little or no response.
God led me to come to your concert at ———-, so in obedience I came, but told God that this will be last time that I would go to anyone’s meeting because after 29 years in Christ I was tired of watching others find their destiny while my heart was broken over what seemed to be constant disappointment, setbacks and failure. You see, I thought that you were just going to sing(smile). Within 45 minutes of your ministry and testimony, I was in tears because I knew that God was speaking directly to me.
I was just about to cancel all of the promotional and networking efforts that I was involved in and forget ministry all together unless God himself, supernaturally made something happen. During the meeting I came to the altar, you layed hands on me and God renewed, restored and began delivering me from every obstacle in my way. I know that we place a great emphasis on material and tangible blessings but God not only renewed my vision but my joy! God flooded me with both His love and His faithfulness to His promises. I am confident that it will come to pass just as He said, not because I deserve it but because He is faithful.
I plan to forward you a copy of a recent promotion and would consider it a blessing if you would pray over it according to the scripture ” if two shall touch and agree concerning anything it shall be done by my Father in heaven”.
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Unfortunately, I predict that unless she realizes that she’s still going about it all wrong, she’s still doomed for failure.
This is my 19th year running my own ministry and business. I love the fact that I decide what I want to do and with whom I choose to work with.
As a matter of fact, I’ve never used the word “my job” or “I’m going to work” in over 19 years. To me, it’s not what I do. It’s what I am. It just so happens that it’s also how I make my living. I’ve been singing, writing and speaking long, long before I ever made a dime doing it.
I did it because I loved it and the pa
yoff was that people told me they were blessed too. Wow! “That is still just so amazing to me.
It wasn’t always that way. I’ve learned from great mentors, as well as from my own failures and successes.
This woman who wrote me is going to fail unless she learns how to effectively attract people who will see her as a credible resource. She may blame God or the economy or people or not having enough money. Just from reading her note, I can tell what her biggest problems are and why she is bound for failure.
I hope this doesn’t offend you, but sometimes we have to do less “God told me” talk. We need to realize that God has provided other things we can personally do to better position our product, our music or our message.
No one can guarantee you success. But there are certain things we do that will guarantee failure.
Stay tuned and I’ll tell you what you shouldn’t do in my next note, and what you can do so that you don’t fall into the same trap. Talk to you in a day or 2.
You matter,
Alvin
