Just recently, I have become involved with a new group
of business professionals. On the surface, the members of the group
provide extremely diverse services including:
A Feng Shui Practitioner who consults
with private and business clients to promote harmony and success in
their homes and offices to enrich their personal and professional lives.
A Career Coach who works with individuals
experiencing career transition to provide guidance, a plan of action,
and resources to achieve career goals and life direction.
An Attorney who practices Collaborative
Law, which is a process whereby both parties and counsel commit
themselves to resolving their differences justly and equitably without
resort or threat of resort to the courts.
A Financial Planning
Specialist with a solid traditional economic background who works
with clients to define and prioritize their financial goals, and then
develop, implement, and monitor a custom-tailored plan to achieve those
goals.
A Clinical Hypnotherapist
and Registered Nurse who specializes in all phases of
self-improvement, specializing in pain control, relief of surgical,
dental, and medical procedure anxieties, post-operative healing,
phobias, stress reduction, weight control, and smoking cessation.
A Licensed Massage
Therapist, Reiki Master-Teacher, and Personal Fitness Trainer who
incorporates a wide range of wellness modalities in pursuit of optimal
health.
The final member, yours truly,
a Certified Master's Astrologer who works with clients to assist
motivated individuals to enhance self-understanding, help make
better-informed decisions, and prepare a meaningful strategy for the
future.
Despite the rather diverse
specialties of the members, we were brought together by our common (or
perhaps an uncommon) desire to consistently and energetically
create value for our clients.
As we discussed our individual
practices with the one another, it became obvious that we have much more
in common than we might have initially thought. As each of us meets with
clients or potential clients, we must be able to:
Educate and clearly explain
the services that we offer - A component of this process often
involves the correction of inaccurate or unflattering stereotypes that
may commonly be associated with our profession.
Discuss and assess how
our services can be of value the client
Describe what distinguishes
our service from others
Establish realistic
expectations - Clearly communicate how our services can be of use to
the client by a shift in perspective that is consistent with their
personal goals
Emphasize the importance of
the client's active participation and involvement in the pursuit of
their own ultimate success
Even though the group has been
together for just a short time, it is refreshing and enlightening to be
able to discuss the ways we can best reach and interact with our clients.
We're also learning from one another and building an active list of
resources that includes practitioners who can provide complementary
services to our clients.
