Are You Pushing Clients Away?

We all want to be successful designers and have great jobs, terrific clients and plenty of money to flow into our lives. Unfortunately, we sometimes subconsciously block the flow that comes naturally into our lives. We have adopted attitudes and behaviors that stop good clients from finding us, which blocks the flow of money from coming into our lives.

Recently in my coaching conversations I have heard… “I have a new client this week, but she doesn’t want much. I think that it will be just a little job. All I get is little cheap jobs. Nobody wants to spend any money these days. People just don’t spend like they used to.”

OR… “I have a lots of potential jobs out there. If I got all of them I would be fine, it would be great, but, I just don’t know what is going to happen. What if none of them come through?  Then what am I going to do?  I am just going down the drain.” I hear enormous “scarcity” in that type of self-talk.

Do you realize that if you focus your thoughts and energy on scarcity, that is what you will create more of in your life? STOP and check in on what is going on with your relationship with money. Remember that new opportunities, new clients and new money need to be acknowledged and celebrated without regard to their size or your interpretation of their quality. Little jobs are fine. This is how you get new clients to trust you.

People are being cautious with their money these days. Your client wants to see some value and results before committing to larger projects. Little jobs are OK… You must teach your new client how valuable your service is in creating an environment for them that is beautiful, functional and emotionally supportive. You must teach them to rely on your expertise and buy from you.

When you expect to see abundance in your life you will begin to see the enormous opportunity and value of developing a good relationship with a new client who may follow you and refer you to others for many years to come. Here are three tips to help you get rid of scarcity thinking.

TIP #1 – Stop giving yourself “not good enough” messages. The more you do this, the more scarcity you invite into your life. Instead, start asking the universe for what you want. Replace that old message with “ I will attract great clients and plenty of money and will serve my clients well.”

TIP #2 – Consider what the value of a good client will be over several years. How many times will they buy a new house and need you to work on it?  Then there is their vacation home and a referral to your client’s brother who has an office project that needs your help. Each client you have is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars if you take good care of them. Slow down and appreciate the opportunity. Get to know your clients and build the relationships that will pay off in the long term.

TIP #3 – The eyes that you choose to see your situation determines the outcome. It is your choice. You can see a world full of ever-expanding opportunities to explore, grow into, and create an abundant life. Or, you can make a conscious choice to see the world as place of shortages where there is never enough to go around. If you go this route, that is exactly what you will find. I happen to like expanding opportunities and abundance. Staying aware of what we have to be grateful for always creates a  positive mindset. From the place of positive mindset, Believing in the Possibility that what you want can actually happen, causes you to take Action, which will create the actual Results that you are looking for. 

Terri Taylor, IDS Professional, ASID, IIDA, IFDA, is President and Creative Director of Taylor Design Group and Design Biz Blueprint. She is a frequent speaker and guest lecturer at design conferences and interior design colleges throughout the country. She speaks on a number of topics related to the business of interior design, including: business practices, sales, marketing, motivation, leadership, success and personal growth.

 

Ms. Taylor is nationally known as an interior design business expert and coach who teaches and mentors interior designers to help them create successful design businesses.