Got An Empty Swimming Pool?

Guest Author Bernadette Doyle -
Several years ago, I was on a holiday at Club La Santa in
Lanzarote, a sports resort where there are lots of fitness
classes scheduled throughout the day. One lunchtime I was
lounging by the pool in a perfect position to observe the
following scene as it unfolded before me.

An aqua aerobics class was scheduled for midday. Shortly before,
the instructor arrived, set up her music and waited for her
participants. There had been a big party the previous night, and
I did not predict a huge turnout for the class. But when it got
to midday, not a single person had turned up.

I saw the instructor walk towards the music system, and guessed
that she was about to pack up and leave. To my surprise she
started her music and started her warm up, calling instructions
to an empty pool.

I was stunned. It must have taken some courage to lead an empty
class. But I was also impressed by her commitment. As far as she
was concerned, she had been booked to lead the class, and just
because participants hadn’t turned up, that wasn’t going to stop
her from showing up and doing her bit. She didn’t run around the
pool trying to rally support and persuade us up from our sun
loungers. She just started the class.

Years before I had even considered the phrase ‘client magnet’, I
was witness to this demonstration of client magnetism. Because
after a few minutes, the combination of loud music plus the
spectacle of an aerobics instructor shouting instructions to an
empty pool pulled a few curious observers. A couple of them got
into the water and joined in.

Before long at least 10 people had joined the class. The
instructor didn’t care how many people turned up, she had
decided that nothing would stop her from fully showing up and
giving 100% commitment to the class. In doing so, the instructor
became a powerful magnet who had her vision of a full class
manifest before my eyes.

This memory was a big inspiration for me when I was preparing
for my first paid teleseminar. As the date approached, only two
people had registered for the class. Of course I was tempted to
cancel, but then I remembered that aerobics instructor and
realised that there is something very powerful about following
through on our intentions.

I ignored the little voice inside that said ‘who are you to talk
about being a client magnet when there are only two people in
the class?’ and stayed committed. And then a funny thing
happened…

On the day of the teleseminar, as I was making final
preparations for the calls I received not one, but two enquiries.
The second call came just 30 minutes before the teleseminar was
due to start! This felt like a lot more than coincidence, and it
felt like just as the instructor attracted participants through
her willingness to show up, that my willingness to show up was
acting as a magnet too.

Fast forward a few short years, and since that bumpy start
teleseminars have become a very important part of my business.
From a starting point of just 4 people, these days I’ve had over
950 people register for a single call. But I can’t help
wondering what would have happened if I had given in to that
temptation to cancel? Would I have ever mustered the courage to
try again?

I’m sharing this story for two reasons. First, I want to ask how
often do you set an intention and then cancel it due to apparent
lack of interest? Are you really showing up? Or are you waiting
for clients to show up first? Maybe you’re the one who needs to
demonstrate commitment before you can expect clients to do so.

Second, it’s a word of encouragement to anyone who is feeling
how I felt when the day of my first teleseminar approached. Keep
going! Don’t give up. If you’ve said you were going to do
something, then follow through on your word. Recommit to your
project and trust that whatever happens is perfect for you. In
my first year of business I was tempted to cancel a course
because I was barely covering my costs.

I proceeded anyway and one of the participants went on to refer
thousands of dollars of business to me over the next 12 months.
The truth is, you never know what’s around the corner. But if
you give up this time, you’ll be tempted to give up the next time
things get tough, and the time after that.

I’ll wrap up with one of my favourite quotes, one that I live by
and it has served me well, “the moment one definitely commits
oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events
issues from the decision, raising in one’s favour all manner of
unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no
man could have dreamt would have come his way.”

(c) Bernadette Doyle, 2008.

Bernadette Doyle publishes her weekly Client Magnets newsletter
for trainers, speakers, coaches, consultants, complementary
therapists and solo professionals. If you want to get clients
calling you instead of you calling them, then sign up for her
free weekly e-zine at http://www.clientmagnets.com