This isn’t kindergarten any more kids! Hoping you are now at the stage of business development where you must step us as an expert and really SHINE.

After coaching hundreds and hundreds of people, I have identified some of the stages that business owners move through. See if you can identify where you are…

1. “Let me at ‘em” stage. This is where you just start your business and are so eager for customers and clients. Here you find that what you do is schlep around giving folks samples and free sessions, trying to get buzz and some visibility built up. For some, this lasts a few months, but sometimes business owners get stuck here for years. Not good. The signs that you are in this stage are a lack of revenue, excitement when clients call, but not much luck converting them into paying clients. Oh, and you probably don’t really have a market plan or calendar operating in this stage either. Hopefully after awhile you move into stage two…

2. “Oh, crap….this isn’t working” stage. Sorry to be crude, but sometimes that’s how it feels. This is the stage of being a business owner where you realize that you trying to do everything is only leading to overwhelm and big time burn out. This is where you begin to realize that the only way to be happy and prosperous is to get a team of folks to help you. The goal – you do what you do best, and let others handle the tasks that you either can’t do, shouldn’t do, or someone can do better. So, my pretties….if you are doing your own books (unless you are a bookkeeper!) creating your own web pages, writing your own copy, and managing your own database – you are stuck in this stage and will reach a point where there just isn’t enough of you to go around. My suggestion – find small ways to outsource and delegate so you can do more things that bring in money. This is where the true entrepreneurial freedom begins to emerge….and then you get to the next stage.

3. “I wish I knew what I knew” stage...which can then go into the Sally Fields moment at the Academy Awards where she stood up and said, “You like me, you really, really like me!” Pardon the bad metaphor, but my point here is this is where the fame and glory and expert status resides. That and the chance to become much more financially profitable, reach more people, and make the business a leveraged one.

Let me elaborate.

After awhile of doing the work of gaining confidence in stage one, learning how to think like a business owner in stage two, the task of stage three is to become a content expert. That’s where the global nature of all of this comes into play. No longer do you need to serve one to one, but with our virtual world and online communities, you can serve many, many people. But they have to know you, and you have to step up and claim your expert status.

But how? I remember I used to know that I had sooooo much good stuff and wisdom inside, but had no idea how to get it out. The experience of wishing I “knew what I knew” really kicked in when I had my first expert interview, and after being asked about 15 questions by the interviewer, I went…”Dang, I know a lot!” Now, I’m spending much of my time ‘birthing’ the content I have and can see that this is the next step to more success.

My top three ways to “know what you know” and fully embrace being the expert that you are include the following –

1. Decide that you are an expert –Yes, it’s just that simple. So many of us wander around playing small that we miss the opportunity to really help the clients we should. Does your ego get a bit ‘wonky’ at the thought of calling yourself an expert? Let me ask you this….if your child had a life threatening brain tumor, wouldn’t you be VERY GLAD that the neurosurgeon doing the surgery knows what an expert he is! It’s not about ego as in “better than” but it’s about discovering your gifts, owning your gifts, and then sharing your gifts.

2. Have someone interview you- Unless you are a prolific writer and can do brain dumps, it’s far easier to grab a friend (or your coach) and have them ask you questions. Here’s how….I’d suggest that you use Audio Acrobat or recording software. Think of the top ten problems you solve for your clients. The interviewer can start asking you what you do, how you show up, and the results you get. You’ll be amazed at how the answers roll of your tongue. It’s also very affirming at the end when you hear yourself in the light of expert mode. Another idea – do a teleseminar. You can make this for free, record it, and then begin to share what you know.

3. Release your content- Are you tapped into the world of Social Media? If so, you can put your content on Facebook, LinkedIn, Blogs, YouTube, Twitter, and a host of other places. Think about this – you are now at the stage that in order to successfully market, you must create new content regularly. Add it into your marketing plan and make sure you schedule regular releases of your great ideas, insights, and ways to solve problems.

As I’ve been saying lately – the world needs what you have. Now is the time to get creative, play big, be bold and get your message out there! And as always, I’m here to support you.