Now's Your Chance

Rochelle Sanchez Tech Strategist for Entrepreneurs

How to be Authentic and Vulnerable

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Hey guys! Rochelle here.

I absolutely LOVE how so many of you have taken the leap into Facebook Live by participating in our challenges over in the group, Marketing Strategy for Tech-Challenged Solopreneurs.

There’s no avoiding it. LIVE video is where it’s at.

It’s real.

It’s authentic.

It’s vulnerable.

But more importantly…

It helps with SALES.

Here’s why:

Because people don’t buy out of support. Or because you’re pretty. Or because your dog is cute.

People buy because they CONNECT with you. They get attracted to your story. They love to see your REAL life, not the curated, photoshopped, edited version. THAT’S what sells your packages and gets you clients.

They buy from you because they like YOU. Even if you sell the exact same thing as 200 other coaches out there.

But… ya gotta work your way up to being completely vulnerable on the interwebz, right?

Where do you start? What if no one shows up? What if you make an idiot of yourself?

Start right here.

In my Facebook group, I’m asking my members to be brave and go live, following the prompts I post.

Some are fun. Some are deep.

(This one is DEEP.)

Valid from NOW until Thursday this week! (New prompt on Friday and Sat)

This one’s a doozy.

Go live in the group and tell us about a mistake you’ve made in your business in the past, and how it has HELPED you build the business you have today.

Then feel free to pitch your freebies, services, promos, and anything you want, at the end of the video.

“Whaaaaat!! Admit my mistakes?! Won’t that make me look like an idiot, and I already feel like a crazy fool going live on the internet without a revealing prompt like that?!”

Okay, hang on. Deep breath.

It can be anything.

The truth is that your ENTIRE life experience has been building you up to be able to follow your passion and present yourself with confidence to your clients through your work.

It doesn’t have to be huge and major. Just be real with yourself, and pick ONE mistake you’ve made when it comes to your business.

Here’s why I’m asking you to do this:

No one talks about mistakes. (Or if they do, it’s not until they’ve achieved some crazy intimidating 6 figure goal, and only THEN do they open up the curtain and admit what really happened behind the scenes.)

Truth?

No one is perfect.

Everyone has made a mistake. Multiple.

And ALL OF YOU are even more experienced and qualified to do your job because of those mistakes.

In case this freaks you out…

Going LIVE to talk about your mistake will accomplish the following things:

1. It will help your AUTHENTICITY level. It will make you seem more human, and people buy from HUMANS, not robots.

2. It will force you to admit (and possibly forgive) a mistake you’ve made in the past that you’re not quite “over” yet.

3. It will help you HEAL from that mistake. And forgiveness and moving on are always good things.

4. It will allow you to give yourself MORE credit for all of your experience. Because ALL of it is valuable experience — even the stuff that sucked.

5. It will inspire someone else who is struggling with that “mistake” right now to embrace it and see how it will help them, eventually.

I know this isn’t easy, guys. But I know you can do it. This is a safe place to admit that you’re human, and I PROMISE it will build your credibility, not tarnish it.

Be open, be honest, and embrace every single piece of your life that has led up to this point.

Will I see you LIVE in the group?

I believe in you!

Rochelle

The Down and Dirty on Running an Online Service-Based Business

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online business is hard

Hey guys!

💥Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all of my United States Biz besties! I hope you’re having a relaxing time with people you love. Thank God for my country! I love living here and I’m so thankful for the safe life I have thanks to our brave men and women in uniform. 🇺🇸

Who else is overrun with temptation to purchase ALL OF THE Memorial Day promotions? Somebody hide my wallet!! 👛

(Not that that will help. All CC info is saved into my computer.)

But anyway, moving on!

I’m going through my own transformation over here and wanted to give you all an update! 😀

I’m making the (somewhat painful) transition from being a service provider to being a teacher. I really love teaching and making my own courses.

Like, REALLY really.

I also had to take a hard look at who I want to work with and what I stand for.

Here’s where I’m at:

I feel like there’s a huge gap in the online business world between “normal” everyday people who are just starting out and the “big bucks” people who can manifest the shit out of anything within 30 minutes.

I know there isn’t THAT much of a difference, but there certainly is a divide.

I want to be that influencer to brings online entrepreneurship into my real world:

  • The world where people are standing in line at Home Depot.
  • The world where people are looking for the $0.99 cent gift bags at Walmart.
  • The real world where people really are suffering and unhappy and have no idea that all this opportunity exists online.

I want to be able to turn to a real-life friend and say “actually it’s totally possible” without her thinking I’m brainwashed and following a pyramid scheme.

I want to be able to manifest money for OTHER people.

That being said… I can’t do EVERYTHING.

So I’m still focusing on the technical aspect of online business + marketing strategy (the parts I LOVE! 💚💚)

The hardest part so far has been letting go of focusing on budget-strapped newbies.

I’ve learned that I can’t spend all my time convincing people that business takes money.

Not tons of money, mind you — I don’t subscribe to the “You have money mindset issues, so let’s put thousands on your credit card so that I can pay off the thousands someone made me put on MY credit card.” It’s a weird, neverending cycle that I just don’t get.

But yes, investing is crucial.

Probably even MORE important than that is the simple feeling of SURRENDER that it takes to sit back, say “I need help” and accept it when it arrives.

I like putting out crazy-affordable offers that directly solve peoples’ problems. Like right now I’m promoting my $97 course on Facebook Group promoting strategy and sweetening the deal with 1:1 skype calls, copywriting help, and email support for FREE.

It’s truly a package that feels close to my heart, and at least I know that I’ve put it out there.

If only a handful of people are brave enough to dig in and get things done this month, that is perfect.

If I’m overrun with 1:1 calls, copywriting edits, and a hundred personal emails to read each day, then that is perfect, too!

(This is my version of loving my life and being at peace with whatever God throws at me.)

How about you? Are you truly at peace with how you’re running your business?

Update me!

What has been the hardest lesson you’ve learned in your business, lately?

​I believe in you!

Rochelle

shiny object syndrome

Something else you might like:

 

How to Deal with Insults, Triggers, and Shiny Object Syndrome

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What comes to mind when you think of the words “Shiny object syndrome?”

Something like this:

  • All over the place
  • So many things, but never finished
  • Giant list of things to do that you’ll never catch up on
  • Fear of Missing Out (FOMO)
  • Oooo, exciting and helpful resources for FREE or cheap!!
  • Can’t keep focused on one thing so I never get ANYTHING done 100%

Mostly bad stuff, though, right? It’s something that’s better to NOT have.

In the online business industry, if you’ve got shiny object syndrome then you’ve got a PROBLEM, not a gift. We all agree on that.

So yea, what happens when a high-digit multiple figure coach gets on a live group coaching video call, and openly says when it’s my turn,

“Rochelle, I feel like your business is a shiny object business.”

Not a compliment, right?

And yet… I wasn’t offended.

I’ve been told by my life coach (a different one, not this particular business coach) that I’m really good at being self aware, which is something other people don’t pick up so easily. I think that’s why I can be so feisty and spicy and not give a shit what people think.

Okay fine, most of the time I don’t care. I don’t like hurting peoples feelings on purpose but I also don’t like to caudle and pretend it’s okay to hide and stay safe in your little “broke as fuck” bubble. Blame it on the half-horse half-man #sagittarius personality. 😉

Two lessons learned from the “almost insult”

#1 Getting triggered and questioning yourself isn’t always a bad thing.

I did have a moment of “who the flip are you to say that,” but only for a split second. Cause in a way she was right. I can bust out a mean freebie in very little time and get people to sign up for it. That’s exactly what a lead magnet is. If your lead magnet isn’t shiny, no one will notice it glinting in all the BS out there. Just sayin’.

But I also know I provide value that’s so much more than just a one-off shiny object for everyone. In fact, I’m CONSTANTLY telling people to stop signing up for every freebie, stop getting suckered into high ticket packages you weren’t already searching for. I know that if people stick around and take my advice, major shifts can happen.

It actually felt pretty good to re-affirm all that to myself while I consider her words. Re-affirming something inside yourself is always a good thing!

 

#2 You gotta have a thick skin and some MAJOR big-ball confidence to hack it as an online entrepreneur.

Going into business for yourself is NOT for the faint of heart. You can’t let every offensive thing on the internet offend you.

Also, not everyone is out to get you.

Not everyone who says something offensive is evil.

And… your triggers are your responsibility.

There, I said it.

Jack Canfield once used the analogy in a workshop where he said “If someone came up to you and said, ‘You have green hair,” would you be offended?”

The answer, of course, is no. Because you know it’s not true. (Unless you have green hair, in which case, awesome! And you still wouldn’t be offended.)

Same goes for when people say things that trigger you.

If it’s not true, it doesn’t mean a damn thing.

But if it triggers you, that’s probably something to look into.

By the way, that analogy is something I learned back in 2013 from the Audio CD “Maximum Confidence by Jack Canfield” {affiliate link} and, I know people throw this a lot, but it changed my life.

That audio book made me quit my cushy high paying, fully benefitted job in Napa (yes, that Napa) and dive into my first venture as an entrepreneur.

It’s powerful stuff.

It’s a little corny at times (what old recording isn’t, ya know?) but if you can get past that, it’s a REALLY good one to keep on hand.

Takeaways:

Be confident in your decisions. If you don’t feel confident, ask for help. If you don’t know who to ask for help, start with me because obviously. 🙂

And if you’re not in my free Facebook group yet, get in here: www.IamTechChallenged.com

Okay, time for Behind-The-Scenes stuff!

Some changes are happening in the Now’s Your Chance universe (that’s my business name, by the way). I truly believe everyone deserves a chance to make money in a way that makes you feel good.

It should feel good to do the work.

It should feel good to market yourself.

It should feel good to private message someone and tell them what you do, without feeling like a slime ball.

My specialty is in getting you up and running so you can get to that point. Even if you feel like you’re totally lost, uber distracted, and maybe suspect you might be distracting yourself from the REAL issue by staying buried in all the tech crap.

Two things to consider if you think you may want to work with me:

The $97 Convertkit Setup will be increasing in price. If you’re not familiar, it’s where I do all the setup for your first email sequence, PDF lead magnet, and landing page in Convertkit, PLUS I give you a custom video walkthrough of your account, how it works, and baby steps on what to do next. But you can only get it for $97 until April 30th, so if you’ve been waiting, then now’s the time to jump! It’s moving up to $197 next month.

Don’t freak out.

If it’s not the right time, it’s not the right time. Don’t worry. 🙂

Also: Enrollment for Super Besties in Business is CLOSING on April 30th. This is your last chance to get in for $147 for all-up-in-your-business, “nearly 1:1” mentoring with me through June 30th, plus access to the mega library of resources AND everything I produce between now and June for FREE. Deadline to snatch that deal is April 30th as well.

By the way, yes, I will be relaunching Super Besties later this year. But it will be a different format, named a different name, packed with MORE resources, and yes, cost more. But Super Besties will get an exclusive “lifetime access” discount AND an opportunity to make some affiliate commissions when I launch that.

I’ll remind you again in my Saturday email. 🙂 I just don’t want to catch you off guard, since I know that investing money takes time and a certain comfort level to accept the help you need right now.

shiny object syndrome

Okay.

Deep breath. I know that was a lot of information for one blog post.

Whatever you do, feel confident in your decisions. Don’t let people trigger you. Do everything you can to make sure this business you’re building feels AMAZING so you can keep it up and make lots of money, long term.

I believe in you!

Rochelle

shiny object syndrome

Business Advice for Middle Class Newbies Who Aren’t Rich (Yet) and Shop at Target

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Hey guys!

Normally you see me around doing #TechieTip posts and going live to talk about mindset and marketing strategies that don’t feel intimidating.

But I thought I’d stop in and reveal a little more about myself.

Can we get real with each other and admit that our lives are not that glamorous?

I’ll go first.

*deep breath*

I am not rich. I’m a middle class girl in a boring suburb where the only thing that’s open after 9:00pm is Target. I shop on Amazon and filter my search so that I only get products with free shippin. When I go out to eat for a special occasion, it’s probably Applebee’s instead of a ritzy 5-star place that serves you half-cup portion sizes for $180. Sometimes I go all out and go to Olive Garden (and yes, I do ask for refills on the bread sticks). I always use a coupon when I shop for art supplies at Michaels, because, well, they ALWAYS have a coupon available. So why not.

Uh, what else?

(I’m trying to show you how normal and real I am, just fyi)

Today my errands included:

  • Phone calls with students
  • Dropping off a dusty corner shelf and an old office chair at the Goodwill (Did you know they recycle anything they don’t re-sell? Pretty cool!)
  • Dropping off my second generation Kindle (it literally only holds a charge for about two hours now) so I can get a $20 credit with Amazon to buy the Kindle Paperwhite (I saw it at Staples while chair shopping and fell in love. It’s so cute and small!)
  • Mailing my business renewal license with my city, which is 3 months late. What normally costs me $50 for a business with zero revenue (yes, you read that right — zero revenue last year! I had a LOT of expenses) actually costed $90 because I’ve been procrastinating and the fees stacked up. I mean, I just didn’t get around to it! #normalright?
  • Filling out a form at my doctor’s office to get medical records transferred.
  • Going to Costco to get my membership card. I’ve been grocery shopping at Walmart for the past two years because it’s new, not ghetto (yet), and right next to my house, but I’m a little burned out and needed a change of scenery.

Okay, what’s with the MAJOR off-topic vibes, right?

… honestly?

Because the stuff you see on this blog is exactly the kind of stuff I send to my email list. I consider all of my subscribers my BESTIES, but the only way I can honestly feel like I’m being real and “best friend-like” with you is if I’m completely open and real.

So here’s some more realness for ya!

Business Advice for Middle Class Newbies Who Aren't Rich (Yet) and Shop at Target

(There’s a method to my madness, I promise)

Maybe you hear about people leaving their jobs and becoming crazy rich.

Maybe you’re tired of your friends messaging you and trying to sling you into their wraps, shakes, and closet parties.

I’ll level with ya — they kinda get on my nerves, too. But some of them really do make it big and are able to quit and retire all their second cousins. (That was sarcasm but you get my point, right?)

What’s the difference between them, and you?

How come you both live in a middle class suburb, but you’re stuck in traffic for two hours a day while they work from home?

Because they’re real people who saw the opportunity and hustled until it worked for them. There are SO many ways to make a business work, but you have to do it in a way that feels good to you.

These people are no different from you and me, with our middle class tract homes (my house model is exactly the same as the one fives houses down) and eating at Rubio’s or Chili’s for a family birthday.

Most of them don’t open up about how totally UNGLAMOROUS their lives are. So while I’m not super stinkin’ rich from self employment (yet!), I’d like to help you realize that the entrepreneur lifestyle isn’t as far off as it seems.

How much of this feels normal and relateable to you?

• I work from home. My first three businesses didn’t take off and I ended up in a lot of credit card debt through that learning process (and I don’t mind!)

• I have four cats living in my house right now (one is sort of “on loan” but she’s my sweetheart so I don’t mind). I know what each of their poop looks like, and I can’t have any more cats — not because I don’t want any more, but because I just CAN’T clean up any more poop!

• I know which streets to avoid at 3:00pm when I know the traffic jams are the WORST because that’s school pick-up time.

• I have an developmentally disabled autistic brother named Robert (my baby 30-year-old brother) and he basically goes everywhere with me. I may not have kids but I kinda do, with this boy. I love and hate that autism is so mainstream now. Growing up, everyone got that “what-the-huh??” look on their face when I said he’s “autistic.” Nowadays most people can tell before I even introduce him. (It’s probably the bunch of strings that fall out of his pockets or his headset that gives it away)

Anyway, my point is this:

I am a normal, real, middle class person back here, behind all these emails or blogs you read from me.

So are you, behind the facade you put up when you’re marketing your business.

I spend a lot of time mingling and watching in Facebook groups, and it’s pretty easy for me to see who’s new and who’s not.

I can tell it took you two days to write that post, make that video, or write that email.

I know you’ve got talents and skills, but you’re using the same language as everyone else because, well, you sound exactly like everyone else.

I can tell, because you probably ran it by your friends, re-wrote it, got distracted by REAL LIFE (maybe you have lots of litter boxes to clean, too), had to run some errands like the ones I shared above, and about seven more things, right?

You’re okay. You’re normal, and you’re perfect. No matter what your house looks like or how much poop you clean up every day.

Your ideal client will love you no matter what you say.

That’s why I have confidence in myself as I write this VERY UNGLAMOROUS sneak peak into my life.

And yes, I did send this email to ALL of my subscribers. Not just certain segments. You ALL get this message, today.

Here’s the deal:

I don’t have a cash shopping spree to share with you.

I don’t have a “yay this my third month in a row of hitting five figures!!” celebration.

I know this:

I have no idea why I got charged 78 cents for a postage stamp at UPS today. I paid it because I was embarrassed that “Forever” stamps might actually be 78 cents now and I’m completely out of the loop. (I checked Google — they’re not. It was just an outrageous price hike)

And I ALSO KNOW:

You are a Godsend to someone out there, even if you have a cluttered house, say “um” a lot, or have any other imperfections. Your clients will understand and stick around BECAUSE of those imperfections. But you have to be real with them.

Deal?

Take some pressure off yourself, let your guard down, and just write an honest email to people who showed interest in you. That is exactly why they opted in! To hear from YOU. Not to hear you regurgitate everything you’ve heard “works best.”

If you’re going the email list route (and I hope you do!), don’t be afraid of unsubscribes. When I sent this blog to my email list, a handful jumped ship and I expected that — I get personal in my emails and I don’t mind people stepping out if they’re just not interested.

That’s cool with me.

But if you’re here for the long haul — you know, the dirty, “ugly cry” moments, the months where you launch an NO ONE buys, the wasting of money even after you finally find the courage to invest in your business — then welcome.

You are my bestie. <3

And I believe in you!

Rochelle

P.S. I’d love to hear a little bit about you, from behind the scenes. What did you do today? No matter how mundane or ordinary (uh, re-read this post if you think I’m only about flashy lifestyles, right?), I want to hear from you. Tell me in the comments below how your middle class life looks like on a day to day basis.

Something else you might like…

Simple Tech & Sales: Free Workshop for the Tech-Challenged

Why I Use Google Keep Every Day

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The ONE Free Tool That You Should Use Every Day

I’m kind of obsessed with Google Keep, just because I seem to be a scatterbrain sometimes. I have a million thoughts, and if I don’t write them down, they’re lost forever. So Google Keep is my favorite, above Trello and Evernote and even Google Docs.

I made a nifty little video run-through for you! Check it out:

 

I use Google Keep for the following:

  • Saving ideas that come to me when I’m out and about, and away from my desk
  • Stocking up on promotional posts so I don’t have to come up with them from scratch on Facebook
  • Storing affiliate links for when I invite people to try Convertkit, or buy the tripod I use and love. (Yes, these are affiliate links!)
  • And remembering random things, like where I parked at the airport.

Watch the video and see what I mean!

Your turn! Do you use Google Keep yourself? Or did you opt into one of the many other options out there, like Evernote, Google Docs, Trello, or something else?

Whatever you’re doing — if it works for you, keep it up! Focus on the thing that will move your business toward more sales and don’t worry about all the other tools you might be missing out on. You do YOU.

I believe in you!

Rochelle

Something else you might like…

Simple Tech & Sales: Free Workshop for the Tech-Challenged

How your email list works with Facebook Groups

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Hey there!

You’ve probably heard by now that you either need to:

  1. Start an email list
  2. Start a Facebook group
  3. Do both.
  4. Do neither.

So helpful, right? *eyeroll*

It’s not all fluff, though.

Curious about how your Facebook Group and your email list can work beautifully together?

4 Surprising Reasons to Start Your Email List

4 Surprising Reasons to Start your email list (That No One Wants to Talk About)

 

#1 Your group … sucks.

Sorry to say it! But come on. We’re all real people here. You’ve done the work — you’ve tried your best to build relationships. You’re welcoming new members. You’re posting awesome content.

Crickets.

(It will get better, I promise, don’t give up on it.)

So maybe right now you secretly enjoy someone else’s group more than your own, right?

So now what happens? You go out to other groups. You post really good content. You respond to comments, leave encouraging messages, and add to the community in other groups. But what happens when other people in other groups are interested in what you’ve posted?

They go to your profile. Then to your Facebook Business page. And then from there, they either get distracted or they sign up for your very freebie and end up on your email list.

Ta da! New tribe member with YOU as an expert on their radar! (And if you set up your list right, they also automatically got an invite to your group!)

Your group may not feel like it’s poppin’ and the best thing ever, party and confetti 24/7. And that’s okay. An email list is simply another way for them to get to know you and learn from you.

 

#2 People like to write back.

You guys.

People really DO write back. And if they don’t write back, they end up telling you on Facebook (yes, sometimes via your group) that they love your emails. 

For example (these are real people who said these things to me, by the way):

email list, mailchimp, aweber, convertkit

 

And ya know what else?

It’s easier to keep emails organized than visiting 5 Facebook groups, writing back to 18 private messages, and trying your very best to book a discovery call with SOMEONE.

It really is.

Here’s how I keep my emails organized:

I open my email

I see a response, RE: ____ (title) and then I read it, usually on my phone.

If it’s a quickie response, I respond immediately.

If it’s a longer response, then I put a star on it. Later when I’m at my desk, I open the “Starred” folder and respond to each email.

That’s a heck of a lot faster than using Facebook and getting lost in all the cat videos and introvert comics on my news feed. It’s a lot more organized, too. 🙂

 

#3 People are getting kind of sick of groups…

There’s a group for EVERYTHING and EVERYONE these days. I’m not saying the power of Facebook groups is gone, but I AM saying that it’s a lot easier to respond to someone’s comment by saying “I have a freebie that I made on this exact thing! It’s right HERE.” than it is to convince them to join yet another “business clarity and confidence with empowerment” group that they’ll probably forget about next week.

Plus, there’s something to be said about someone who goes through the trouble of clicking, reading, entering their name and email address.

That takes more intent to follow you and keep tabs on you than someone who just hits the “Request to Join” button.

And in case that’s not clear…

Intent is GOOD. That means you’re triggering something in them and you already have their attention as a go-to expert. Good!

 

#4 People DO want to talk to you privately

By sending your community an email, you have the opportunity to invite them to engage in 1-on-1 conversation with you. Simply by hitting reply.

Sometimes when you’re running a group, you lose touch with what people need and what they’re struggling with, right now.

They go silent.

They get busy.

Or they feel like they don’t fit in because everyone in the group is talking about something ELSE (funny jokes, planners, shows they don’t watch, politics they’re trying to avoid) and they figure,

“Oh, I guess I don’t belong here.”

(And you go “Nooooooo!!!”)

But hey, there’s a way around that!

Sending a simple email to your community that says “I know the group is crazy busy, but I still want you each to know that I’m here to support you. Reply to this email and let me know what you’re working on, and I can hold you accountable and even steer the direction of the group to be more inclusive.”

How comforting would it feel for YOU to receive that from a guru you admire?  

That kind of email reassures the overlooked, outcast, sometimes bullied members of your tribe that they matter to you, even if their experience in your Facebook group hasn’t been stellar 100% amazing. You’re not here to curate the best group on the internet. You’re here to help and answer questions, and a simple email is a great way to invite people to raise their hand.  

Now — should you start an email list in addition to your Facebook group?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yeeeesssss.

And since I know you’re wondering — Do it in Convertkit if you can afford $29 per month. Yes, there are a lot of good options out there, but Convertkit is my #1 choice because of how simple it is. If you can’t afford $29 per month then grab something cheaper, but know that it probably won’t work as well and take you three times as long to set up and troubleshoot. #justsayin

Your turn. I want to hear from you! 

Comment below and tell me about your Facebook group! Do YOU have an email list? I want to know about it.

Something else you might like…

Simple Tech & Sales: Free Workshop for the Tech-Challenged

Everyone Hates Email & Why That’s a GOOD Thing

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Ahhh, tis the season for pro-Facebook Groups and anti-Email List!

Maybe some of these look familiar to you:

  • OMG I hate email
  • I rarely read any of my emails, honestly
  • I unsubscribed from EVERYTHING this weekend
  • No one opens my emails except my mom
  • People aren’t even RECEIVING my emails and I’m paying for this!

Am I right?

Okay, I’ll level with you. Email is not for everyone.

And yet… check out ANY online guru/expert/celebrity in the online marketing space and they will praise THE LIST as the main money maker.

(and that’s what I’m assuming you need right now — a method to market your services and make money, right?)

Everyone Hates Email Now & Why That's a Good Thing Mail Chimp Convertkit

Today I’ll challenge you to look at it a different way and consider your ideal client:

Is she on Facebook all day, with nothing else to do? Probably not.
Is she extremely pessimistic, at the forefront of the “Nothing ever works I hate everyone” crowd? Again… I doubt it! You wouldn’t want a client like that.

Is she exhausted, working a day job, overworked, sick of her jackass boss, and appreciative of some encouragement during her break?

Yea, actually.

Is she buckling down, hard working, and thankful she signed up for your freebie that has ALREADY helped her a ton?

Yep.

Is she happy to be on your list and hearing from you?

Most definitely.

See, the email list is not dead. It is exactly the comforting, educating, and encouraging love note that your ideal client already wants from you. (Or if you’re me — it’s occasionally just the rant or sarcastic release she needs)

All it takes is you being yourself, being honest, and helping YOUR people.

And you know what… writing to the your list is FUN.

I’d love to help you get your list started!

Next week the experts at Convertkit are running a 72 hour challenge to help you build your list to 100 people in 3 days if you register for the free challenge using this link (my affiliate link): http://mbsy.co/gPnLn

Here’s how the 72-Hour Email Challenge Works:

  1. Once a day for three days you’ll get an email from ConvertKit with specific instructions to grow your list.
  2. If you complete the challenge, you’ll be entered to win a year’s subscription to ConvertKit!
  3. You can participate in the challenge even if you don’t have a business, blog, or website
  4. You won’t be required to pay for anything! You’ll get FREE access to ConvertKit for 30-days if you need it.

Yes, I’ll be participating along with you!

And because I’m your biz bestie I’m throwing in MORE bonuses:

  • If you complete the challenge and decide to stay with Convertkit, you’ll get access to my Super Besties mentorship for the month of March, when we’ll be diving deep into list building — Rochelle style. 😉
  • You’ll also get access to my “Turn your Facebook Group Challenge into Your First Opt-In” eCourse, that walks you through every step I took to create my current freebie — the 7-Step Simple Tech & Sales Workshop for Tech-Challenged Entrepreneurs.

(I know, the titles are long, but at least you know what they are, right?)

Use this link to qualify for these bonuses and let’s get you up and running!

Sign up for the FREE List Building Challenge Here: http://mbsy.co/gPnLn

I believe in you! You in?
~Rochelle

Something else you might like…

Simple Tech & Sales: Free Workshop for the Tech-Challenged

Behind the Scenes — for Subscribers only ;)

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Hey guys!

Here’s my deal. I’m trying my very best to own up to how I feel about everything in my business (a big thanks to my mastermind Own It for leading me to this frame of mind!). You know, like how I decided to be the one person in the universe who doesn’t have her own Facebook group. Or how I do tech stuff but I refuse to be a VA.

One thing has been bothering me a LOT.

Stated simply — I don’t like how people act one way in one group, then another way in another group. And I’m active in a LOT of Facebook groups, so I see this pretty often.

In one group, people will be like “I’m so confident and happy! This is the life of my dreams! You can have this too if you’ll just believe in yourself!” and then in another group they’ll be like “Oh my gosh guys this is so hard and I feel like a dumbass like WHAT am I doing wrong, and I feel safe here so I’ll share what’s really going on.”

I just don’t get it.

I feel everyone deserves to hear the honest answer (the second one). Don’t you?

I mean I understand feeling safe, and only sharing what you’re comfortable sharing. And it’s none of my business how other people run their business.

But I CAN stay honest and transparent myself. And try my very best not to do this thing that annoys me about other people.

So! I’m starting a new thing to see how it feels. Basically a behind-the-scenes look at what I’m up to and how things really feel on the other side of business.

What’s the password? It’s the one I sent out to my besties (aka my email list subscribers). Join us using the form below if you want the password!

Some stuff covered:

  • My messy notsuitablefortheinternet room
  • The two masterminds I’m in
  • How I plan to make $5,000 before the end of the year
  • Paying $40/hour for a virtual assistant
  • And whole lot of honest personality

Update me! What are your end-of-year business plans? Reply in the comments at the bottom of this page!

 

Filed Under: BESTIESONLY | | Published

Promoting for Black Friday? Where to start??

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Inhale and exhale.

Okay there’s a little mini panic going on right now because, let’s face it, everyone wants to make money this weekend. It’s Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday and we all wish we could *POOF!* magically make our offers and discounts and incredibly tempting specials just appear.

But it takes a little setup and planning, doesn’t it?

And that’s tough when it’s Monday and all the stuff is happening THIS FRIDAY.

Yea, I feel you.

So here’s a little roadmap to set you straight, in case the overwhelm is setting in:

How to promote your product and put it up for sale (the basics, for newbies)

shopping-cart-1504623

Pick ONE!

Step 1: How do I want to tell them about my product?

  • Promo threads in other peoples’ facebook groups
  • Posting in my own facebook group
  • I’ll send private messages, individually
  • Emailing my list
  • Posting on my Facebook Like Page
Why it’s important to know this: There are varying strategies for the different places where you can promote your product. You don’t need ALL of the above. You only need ONE.
Pick ONE!

Step 2: How will they learn about the DETAILS of my product, so they can decide if it’s right for them?

  • I’ll make a long post in my group with all the details
  • I’ll make a long post in promo threads in other peoples’ groups with all the details
  • I’ll send ALL the details in an email to my email list
  • I’ll write ALL the details in a post on my Facebook Like Page
  • I’ll explain ALL the details on a landing page on my website (Leadpages, Optimizepress, etc.)

Why it’s important to know this: Again, there are varying strategies for the different places where you can promote your product. You don’t need ALL of the above. You only need ONE.

Pick ONE!

Step 3: How will I accept their money for my product, once they’re convinced by my awesome details that it’s right for them?

  • I’ll make a paypal button and give the link in a social media post
  • I’ll install a paypal button on my landing page
  • I’ll make a button on my landing page, and that button will lead them to an product page within my separate shopping cart (Samcart, shopify, square, moon clerk)

Why it’s important to know this: See a pattern yet? There are varying strategies for the different places where you can promote your product. You don’t need ALL of the above. You only need ONE.

Make sense?
If you pick and choose your options based on how YOU want to promote your product, you may not even NEED an email list. You may not need Samcart. You may not need Leadpages. And this breakdown didn’t even take into consideration facebook ads, right? You can still make money without all the techie stuff.

Start with ONE of each and go from there. 🙂

Last Chance! Pilot Member Pricing for the Tech-Challenged

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Hello my tech-challenged entrepreneur friends. 🙂 I hope you’ve had a wonderful month of October and you’re ready for the awesomeness of my favorite time of year — The Holiday Season! Yaay!

Not to freak you out or anything, but it’ll be Christmas before you know it, then New Years, then the big ol’ “everybody’s launching something!” shabang that’s bound to happen in January. That means you better get your shizzle together right NOW so you don’t panic when it’s January 3rd and you should be slapping together ANYTHING to make a free challenge and email list and fix the Paypal fiasco you’ve been ignoring for weeks.

Yep. Time to buckle down.

This month, I experimented a bit. And then I loved what happened so much that I quit my job.

In three weeks of my Pilot Members Tech Support group, we covered a whole lot of all the tech you need in your business, but makes your head spin.

  • The pros/cons of the tools you’re considering now vs waiting until later.
  • Email service providers (and why you should choose one over another)
  • How to set up a paypal link to accept payment without a website. 
  • How to create a challenge.
  • How to use Canva and Picmonkey to create free graphics without an expensive graphic designer.
  • And more!

In addition to that, I even extended their October membership into November so they have extra time to implement. See, it pays to be one of Rochelle’s Pilot Members. 😉

become a pilot member now

This weekend is your last chance to join us at the introductory rate of $21 per month. Starting November 1st, membership goes up to $97 per month. Get all of your questions answered by me, personally, with a video walkthru and super transparent, sometimes blatant honesty when it comes to marketing tools and business tech (things like how I’m pretty miffed about Aweber and never recommend it to anyone, ever).

Check out the video second video below for a sneak peak preview into how the group works!

As a Pilot Member, you lock in the $21/month membership fee for LIFE as long as you keep your membership. That’s a whole lot of savings, plus first dibs (and additional discounts) when I offer new services.

That includes a super secret tech mentorship that will take you from zero to LAUNCH in January next year, for a very small, limited number of lucky folks. First dibs go to Pilot Members!

If you get frustrated with all the tools and options and you have a LOT of questions regarding the tech behind your business, you need to get in here. Don’t wait until the price goes up. Become a Pilot Member now!

become a pilot member now

Filed Under: Featured | | Published

Canva vs. Picmonkey for Beginners

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Why use Canva or Picmonkey at all?

(You know, versus hiring a graphic designer or using something more professional like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator.)

  • Both are web-based tools (you can access them from anywhere if you have an internet connection)
  • Both have a free version
  • Both are simple enough to learn in less time than it would take you to learn how to use an Adobe product

Why choose one over the other?

Deciding Factor:

Use whichever one you feel most comfortable using, and that you actually find FUN. Forget what all 30,000 results in Google say. Try one. Try the other. See which one you keep coming back to and that is the one for you!

Canva

Pros:

  • Popular right now
  • Lots of templates
  • You can save your work for later

Cons:

  • Your designs end up looking just like everyone else’s on the internet
  • Overwhelming choices

Picmonkey

Pros:

  • Simple, fewer choices
  • All free, no surprises.

Cons:

  • Lots of ads in the free version
  • Can’t save your work (in the free version)

 

Business Tech for the Totally LOST!

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Register by October 7th to get 78% off | Become a Pilot Member in our October 2016 group!biz-tech-totally-lost

This is for you if:

  • You feel overwhelmed about your tech tools
  • You’re interested in the full process of getting started to having a finished, active funnel that’s ready for your next challenge, webinar, etc.
  • You’d like to pick an expert’s brain get unlimited feedback and tech support
  • You want to be able to set up an email sales funnel yourself without a virtual assistant
  • You want in on some epic freebies and future discounts (how about 78% OFF, for starters?)

What you’ll get:

  1. A full 31 days to ask as many questions as needed. And you’ll see that you’re not the only one with those questions. 😉 
  2. A month to implement what you learn, plus accountability to get those tasks off your to-do list and DONE, once and for all!
  3. More in-depth video training and the opportunity toa sk additional questions and see video responses on any missing pieces. 
  4. Behind-the-scenes access to every step I take in creating my FIRST opt-in freebie for my brand new business, code named Epic Freebie – A list of pros/cons for choosing your basic starter tools.

Expect some PDFs and screenshots to make it as beginner-friendly as possible!

Grab your seat with Pilot Member Pricing at $21

(That’s 78% off my projected $97 monthly fee in 2017. I mean. Come on.)

You in? Let’s do it!

Click here to register

registernow

 

How an Introvert Gets a New Job

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Heyyyy!

Remember how last week I told you I had some stuff to share about being an introvert?

The truth is: I like being home. I’ve been embarrassed of that and avoided admitting it because I grew up with the idea that the whole point of being an adult is to get a long-term job, benefits, and work in a corporate setting for 40 hours a week and enjoy my paid vacation time.

Well, I guess I’m just not wired that way.

Like I said — I like being home. I like hanging out with my autistic brother who can’t talk. I like watching TV and cuddling my cats and doing arts and crafts with the same TiVo movies playing in a loop. I’m pretty close to having Ant Man memorized, ya’ll.

I like being home. I don’t like being around people that I HAVE to be around.

I started embracing that (even more than usual) and BAM. I ended up quitting my current job and getting offered a new job that will be mostly remotely done from home.

BAM! Me and the kitties and no annoying coworkers chatting away and being nose-y about my personal business?! WHAT!

Yea, I gave up the fitness coaching. That was tough. And I’m still kinda having withdrawals over it (btw if you missed my last newsletter announcing the “shut down” you can check it out here)

But it turns out that that doesn’t bother me as much as it used to. And by “giving up” something I didn’t feel super-hella-inspired-awesome-sauce about (anymore), I made room in my life for something new.

And BAM. I got contacted by a new recruitment company (different from the one where I’m currently assigned) that asked if I’d be interested in a full time position doing work very similar to what I do now. I told them I would only be interested if their client was willing to let me telecommute.

They said in the four years they’ve been working together, the client has never hired anyone remotely, but they’d try.

And yea, I got what I wanted!

I love it when that happens!

They’re hiring me to do the same type of work, work from home, for more than 50% more than what I make now. While working 40 hours for someone else from my home office isn’t the DREAM-dream I’m working toward, it sure is close. And I’ll take it. My current job was starting to make me kinda miserable anyway, so it was time for a change.

And to top it off, I’ve had three phone calls and several email conversations with even more possible leads that could get me to that “permanently working from home in my yoga pants covered in cat fur” state of being that I’m craving. Nice, right?

So this week’s uplift for you is this: Know what you want, be okay with wanting what you want, and ask for it. You’ll get it eventually.

I knew I wanted to work from home, I asked for it, and I got it.

I’ll give you more details next week. I start the new job on the 9th. 😉

Your turn!

What do you want? Are you openly willing to admit you want it? Are you ready to ask for it?

Hit me in the comments, yo. I miss you. Let’s catch up.

 

Love,

Rochelle Sanchez

 

Money blocks, Introverts, and Tour de France

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Checking in! I’ve been up to a lot lately. Did I gain weight because of all of it? I dunno. Did I lose weight? I really have no idea. I threw away my scale a while ago so it doesn’t matter. 🙂

What have you been up to? Hit me in the comments and gimme an update! I’d love to hear from you.

As for me, myself, personally (#DisneyReference!), I’ve spent the last few weeks not giving a crap about my weight (obviously), letting go of money blocks, freaking out over Tour de France, and tuning into my buried and neglected inner introvert.

Oh and wearing makeup again. Makeup is always a good idea. 🙂

Let’s get started.

joy & fireworks

Letting go of money blocks

You know that feeling when you’re about decide to do something that will make you unhappy?

Run away from it.

RUN.

Especially when you’re trying to overcome the mental block that will either strengthen or weaken your winning streak and this ONE decision could be the breaking point.

I had a big wake up call on July 3rd when I went to buy my usual haul of fireworks for my family. Every year I’m that cousin who brings a santa claus bag (literally, I arrived at my aunt’s house and she said “Santa Claus!”) filled with a variety of fireworks. We watch the city’s fireworks show together (with glow necklaces, this year!) and then play around with a thrilling post-show of safe-and-sane hand-lit fireworks, sponsored by me. 🙂

I had a mini struggle buying what I want to buy versus following the sad, low, scarcity mindset that whispered, “Maybe don’t buy what you want after all. Maybe it would be better to lay low this year. Maybe you don’t deserve it. Maybe you haven’t worked hard enough to spend this money on yourself and your family.” I must have flipped that fireworks flyer over and over about ten times before whipping out my debit card and going with my gut.

Needless to say, I spent a good $160+ and we had an awesome time in the aftershow. And I set a future goal of going all out with $300+ in fireworks and possibly doing a multi-night firework shabang. Wouldn’t that be awesome??

And yes, it was totally worth it.

The point of paid time off, national holidays and awkward family get-togethers is to ENJOY yourself. There’s always this surge of happy energy when the potential to have a JOYFUL day reaches epic proportions. This typically happens when our favorite team wins (whichever one it may be), on weddings days, during long-awaited family vacations (with the family you love, not the one you’re obligated to pretend to love being around), and of course — on national holidays.

Keep this in mind the next time you get an opportunity to really enjoy yourself.
And hint: it’s not only during the special occasions named above. If you spend more time listing your setbacks, stressors, and lack of something, then it’s time to re-group and admit what you really want your life to feel like. Because hiding away in your house because you’re afraid of germs and judgement is not why God put you here.

The next time you want to enjoy yourself?

Enjoy yourself.

Ignore the snippy comments.

Dismiss the instagram tags.

Tell the devil to go fuck himself with his constant reminders that you’re barely making, have no time, and need more money.

Buy the shoes. Eat the cake and barbeque.

And yes, you CAN pull off those sunglasses. Wear them with confidence!

If you need me, you can find me on the couch watching Tour de France and furiously texting my introvert friends as Froome attacks and Quintana misses it (holy shit, right?).

If you’ve ever wanted to try being a cycling fan, now’s a great time to start. Grab a cowbell, put on a bike-related t-shirt and join me on twitter.

If you want spend your money, then just spend it. As my “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” daily calendar says — money is energy. You have to let it go to allow more to flow back to you.

Let go! Have fun! I believe in you!

Rochelle

Coming up on the blog:

  • Embracing my buried, overlooked introvert, and a recommendation for those of you who struggle with shyness, creativity, and a lack of direction in how to express it. (Spoiler Alert: it’s Jennifer Gabiola)
  • Rebellious Faith: How skipping church gives me more faith and hope.

When’s the last time you had some GENUINE FUN on purpose? Comment below and share with me. I’d love to hear from you!

Why I gave up architecture to be a CAD drafter

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This blog post was originally published on LinkedIn. Let’s connect!

What better inaugural post could I write than the one that explains why a cum laude B.Arch gal like me is doing AutoCAD drafting and general graphics geekery and techy stuff instead of climbing the ranks?

I’ll be honest with you — I really did intend to become an architect. At one point. That’s why I chose University of Oregon over UC Berkeley, because I wanted a professional, accredited degree to fast track my way to that “AIA.”

But desires change! And thankfully, it happened sooner rather than later for me.

It turns out that I’m actually really good general graphics geekery and techy stuff. And I enjoy it a LOT. And I’m fast. And if I’m not fast, then I invest in educating myself to use better techniques because I’m just not into taking 6 hours to complete a drawing that really only takes 2.5 hours if you have the right information and skill set.

Here comes the real truth, though. You ready?

It also turns out that I don’t have a passion for design and building. And I was never really that good at it, anyway. My final reviews were never as amazing as those of my classmates, and I cared more about the people, culture, and community of the site than the design itself.

Yes, I was very successful in school. I was really good at getting great grades and doing well academically, as I always have been. Sure, cum laude, yada yada. Sure, 3.83/4.0 GPA and president of this and that and never pulling an all nighter for my entire gig as an architecture student.

That last one should have been a BIG hint that I wasn’t in the right field. All-nighters are applauded in architecture school! I got some flack for planning ahead and sleeping instead of cramming.

Go figure though, speed and efficiency are my best attributes as a drafter now. If I don’t have to charge for an all-nighter 8 hour session of AutoCAD lovin’ then I won’t.

Yes, the architecture and construction industry is changing the world and filled with talented artists. And it took me a few years to figure out that I don’t really want to become one of them.

Yes, structures are fascinating, and the time, energy, and love that go into creating them is a remarkable process. To this day I can’t walk into a new building without analyzing it. Other people look for the directory and map, and I can’t help but critique it and think “Why did they face it this way? Oh, they went with the expensive floor. Not enough shading, though. Boy that is an ugly vestibule.”

But ultimately, becoming an architect wasn’t for me.

The lesson is this: I gave up architecture to be a drafter, and I’m proud of my short commute, quiet life, and ability to pay for all of my student loans doing only the kind of work I like doing — AutoCAD drafting, general graphics geekery, and techy stuff. And I’m pretty damn good at it.

YOUR TURN: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned from choosing your profession?

Filed Under: Featured | | Published

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