[NOTE: In case you’re wondering, this post is a follow-up to this (which received more comments than I’ve ever received on this blog. I’ll do my best to respond to each and every comment!)]
OK…so I’ve gotten a number of comments from readers about the “cliff hanger” in my previous email and blog post.
Sorry about that. I just needed to buy some time to collect my thoughts and feelings. I have been both excited and reluctant to talk about this. But since this year is dedicated to “brilliant revelation,” here goes…
When I first left my plastic surgery practice behind almost eight years ago, I never in a million lifetimes DREAMED that I’d soon be working with entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 companies.
Every once in a while, I think I’m crazy and delusional, having bailed out of medicine, just short of a decade of being in practice. But I believe that I’ve been blessed to help other entrepreneurs transform their lives and the lives that they touch.
For a while, at the end of business workshops and seminars I gave, I had to consciously make an effort to maintain my composure, because I was so happy to be able to touch peoples’ lives in this way.
Just today, I received a surprise on my doorstep from a client: It was a box of Godiva Chocolates with a note of gratitude: “George, A thank you for all of the amazing support you’ve given me and putting up with my stubborn self for so long. With gratitude.”
And for sure, I’ve learned and grown a lot!!! And made a lot of mistakes along the way!!!
So here is what I have been holding out on for quite some time…
I’ve been:
- Nicely asked
- Strongly encouraged
- Begged
- Pleaded with
- Ruthlessly, yet compassionately directed…
…to share my thinking, my strategies, and integrated approach for how to:
- attract and work exclusively with highly profitable and appreciative clients
- set fees and prices based on value (rather than hourly or “what the going rate is”), and
- understand and apply solid financial management principles and “best practices” in your business (even if numbers give you the heebie-jeebies.)
For YEARS, I’ve resisted getting this stuff out there on a large scale.
Now at the core, I’m first and foremost an educator. I really believe I was born to be an educator. I thoroughly enjoy finding ways to present material in ways that people can learn it, quickly and easily, regardless of their learning style.
But when it comes to this stuff, I frequently made the usual lame excuses like “It’s good, but no one’s going to care about it,” “I’ve got other priorities,” and “it’s just material I use with my premium private coaching clients.” Or try this one: “It’s obvious. Everyone knows this stuff already.”
And while I like to think it takes a lot for me to get embarrassed, I’m embarrassed to admit that, it took many, many years for me to realize and accept that I have a gift for taking high-level business theories and principles and distilling them into understandable and actionable strategies and tactics. And from there, I can drill all the way down to specific action steps and tasks.
I don’t know if it’s ignorance or naiveté, but I wondered for a long time what the big deal was, (again, since I figured that everyone could see the very same things that were so obvious to me).
To complicate matters, I’m a serious perfectionist (as you might expect from a plastic surgeon. I could spend hours in the operating room, trying to get 1 cm of skin to sit just right!)
I get a real kick out of trying to turn something good into something better, which translates into making things:
- Easier to understand.
- More practical.
- Less effort to apply in the real world.
- More valuable.
So I’ve come to accept that if I’m going to produce material for people to use, I can’t live with just slapping something together, like I’ve seen others do and succeed with that approach. As far as I’m concerned, it’s “give it everything I’ve got,” or don’t waste anyone else’s time with shoddy material or work.
As I said earlier, I personally go cross-eyed when dealing with financial numbers. UNLESS, I have a spreadsheet that does the work for me and spoon-feeds me what I need to know! So that’s what I’ve been able to do for the past 6 years — show clients how to select only the best customers, clients, and patients; integrate financial tools that tell you how the health of your business (and do the heavy-lifting for you); and make it easy and natural for them set their fees for service, programs, and products based on value provided. And all of this in support of a freedom-driven business.
It’s Time for Me to Play a Bigger Game
Like a lot of other people, I have a fear of being criticized. Yeah, sure I can act “transformed” about it and talk about how it’s all “perfect,” but the reality is, I still don’t like it.
But I also know from surviving not one, but two brutal and malignant surgical training programs (General Surgery, then Plastic Surgery), that being the target of severe criticism is survivable. And I get to choose whether to allow criticism to stop me from being a contributor in the world.
Come to think of it, I talk a lot about “playing a bigger game” in life. And holding back the material I have to share, the ideas, inspiration, and insights I come up with on a daily basis, is simply small-minded. It’s playing a small game.
I’m Seriously Considering Doing This
Despite my fears, hesitancies, and perfectionism, I am seriously prepared to pull back the curtain and show you just about everything I know about pricing your services, programs, and products based on value, along with the financial principles and “best practices” you need to make the most profit and cash flow from your business AND make the greatest contribution you can make – all while making it more fun. Freedom – Contribution – Prosperity!
I’m “threatening” to share business success paradigms that I’ve only shared here and there, and with my highest paying clients, but have never blended value-based pricing together with my financial analytics skills and “diagnostic” approach to getting clients who are both profitable and rewarding to work with.
Because of my challenges in starting my plastic surgery practice, I was inspired to become the business guide and mentor that I wish I had had way back then. And I would have LOVED to have had this training 6 years ago, when I was just getting started in working with entrepreneurs.
If I Do This, It Will Be A LOT of Work
I’m excited about sharing this stuff with you, but I’ve been around long enough to know that my small projects quickly get out of hand and turn into major-league endeavors.
I’m only going to take this on if there’s enough interest.
Here’s where I need your help. I want to know…
- What do you think?
- Should I do this?
- Would you be interested?
- Would anyone you know be interested?
Your feedback and thoughts are absolutely the fuel that keeps me going.
And I don’t want to even think about taking this project on, unless there’s enough of you who think this would be valuable and worthwhile for you.
Anyway, if you have a second, please leave a comment below, letting me know what you think. It would mean a lot to me.
To freedom, contribution, and prosperity,
George
have faith. trust yourself. keep it simple. do it.
Richard,
I like your simple advice!
And it’s sound advice.
Stay tuned!
George
George –
You have more energy and channel more wisdom than a herd of other coaching professionals. Everything you’ve put out there…for me or for others adds MASSIVE VALUE. Whether it is a big idea or a simple gentle observation – you have a gift in teaching others through your experience and story. Thanks.
SO, my response to your request for feedback, is that you owe it to yourself do put the information together. Like anything else you’ve done, you know that your personal learning curve explodes as you do it; and then as you share your info you so wonderfully guide your clients it would be criminal to hold back.
Like Nike, George just do it. It is time.
Blessings.
L
Lynden,
Thanks so much for the encouragement!
I’m going to count on you and everyone else who has responded or is following these developments to continue providing your input, ideas, and words of inspiration.
George
Dear George,
First let me say thank you for sharing your thought process about whether or not you have something worthy to share with the world. I could hear myself in your voice and it is so much easier to hear the insanity (no offense) when listening to someone I admire say it.
So, I HAVE BENEFITTED FROM YOUR WISDOM ALREADY.
Having said that, here is my honest thinking about what you should do about this:
Give Give Give
Do it Only for Yourself and Care Not if Others want you to do it or say they think it will be useful.
If it would be valuable to you, a part of healing some remnant of the unworthy you, fun, liberating, interesting and deeply satisfying to you as an expert/ professional/ gifted practitioner then DO IT.
if it would not bring any of these experiences to your life then who cares what any of us think.
I will look forward to hearing what you decide.
In the meantime, happy summer and take good care,
Lori
Lori,
Thanks for your thoughts.
I’m all for GIVE, GIVE, GIVE. I just want to make sure there are people out there to RECEIVE, RECEIVE, RECEIVE! 🙂
That’s my challenge: Trying to figure out what I could give that others can use.
I didn’t want to take a guess this time.
Thanks for being part of this exploration!
George
Dr George,
Three short words….GO FOR IT!!
Your coaching and support over the years has been invaluable. Your instruction, ability to help us see clearly the opportunities and challenges ahead, while maximizing our profit is a good part of why we are successful and have grown more to more than 300% since this time last year. And that is consistent revenue from clients we love working with.
GO FOR IT!
Jeremy
Jeremy,
Thanks for your kind words.
IF I go for letting loose on this next thing, whatever it turns out to be, then I’m going to need YOUR SUPPORT, to pull this off successfully.
Why? It’s because I don’t see many other people integrating the training of 1) pricing your services, programs, and products based on value, along with 2) the financial principles and “best practices” you need to make the most profit and cash flow from your business, along with 3) how to make the greatest contribution you can make through your business.
The paradigm that I have to share with others is kind of “the road less traveled.” And that concerns me because I don’t want to be like the guy selling the very first fax machine.
You’ll need to remind me that there’s a place for the integration of these principles and concepts in the world AND help me spread the word.
Deal? 🙂
George
Yep, it’s time! I don’t have the energy anymore to build my business (cancer survivor and all that jazz) but I would refer you to folks I know who need help building their businesses! Thanks for keeping the principles and ideas simple to understand. I truly enjoyed listening and participating when I was able!
Cheryll,
Yes, I recall you went through chemo a several years ago.
Depending on where this goes, I need you to help connect what I product with the people who are ready, willing, and hungry to apply it to their businesses and dreams. 🙂
George
As I’ve often said, George, when we’re given a gift, or we possess a special talent, if we don’t use it and share it, we don’t get to keep it. You are a rare individual with knowledge that helps so many of your clients, friends and those who just trail the breadcrumbs you leave all over the world. Your generosity is well established. But if this is one more “secret power” you have that can turn others’ experience of the vision realization process into something do-able, I say yes, please share. We always want more. It’s a human characteristic, but to give more, ah, that’s very special.
DeBorah
DeBorah,
This part is awesome and hits a spot for me: “…if this is one more “secret power” you have that can turn others’ experience of the vision realization process into something do-able…”
It brings up the imagery of a ‘superhero’ in a fun, playful way!
Here’s my challenge: I can apply this “secret power” in some many directions, it’s like a search light flashing through the skies. But that’s the opposite of what I recommend for myself and my clients; I tell them to focus like a laser. So I want to hear from people, other than myself, about what interests them, what would be useful for them. That way, I can understand what to build, instead of building something first, then seeing if others would find it valuable.
Having said that, I do see angles on lots of things that I wish I had an opportunity to learn when I was just starting out in business. I’d do a lot of things differently, for sure. These pearls of wisdom and action are what I most enjoy sharing with others.
Thank you for taking your time to encourage me.
George
Hi George,
Given your definition of ‘business freedom,’ I am replying with a question: Do YOU want to do this? Does it make your heart sing and your gut relax? If so, you will produce a great product and attract an engaged audience. Go forth and prosper!
Hi Theresa,
Good to hear you weigh in!
You know, you asked a great question!!
Yes, I’d like to do it. Yes, it would make my heart sing and my gut relax.
But so would a lot of other things…
If I move forward on this, I’m NOT doing it for ME. I’d only do it for US.
Yes, this may sound trite, but it’s true for me.
On previous undertakings that have been exciting for me, I’ve spent hundreds and thousands of hours creating articles and other knowledge-based presentations and trainings, only to find that not many other people cared about the material.
So this time around, I wanted to hear from the people who resonate with my philosophy, my way of thinking and seeing, about whether to move forward on this. Or not.
Either way, getting all this encouragement is and has been important to me. I’m more in my element when I can dialogue with others, whether by phone, chat, webinar, social media, or blog threads.
So at the least, I’ve discovered that this is a fun way to engage with the people I am here to serve.
George
Randy,
Thanks for weighing in!
There is a distinction between “hard coaching” and “soft coaching.”
“Hard coaching” means providing guidance on quantifiable things like numbers, analytics, and other data and information.
“Soft coaching” means providing guidance on things like “life direction,” “values,” “goals” and so forth — the foundational things that you didn’t like going through with me.
I have the ability to work at both ends of the spectrum and most of everything else in between. I readily see how to blend the qualitative and the quantitative in practical ways for everyday use.
But here’s the interesting thing about your comment:
You’ve pointed out a key element that I’ve been holding back on for years. I’ve realized recently that, while I have been working with clients for years, using a blend of “hard” and “soft” coaching, I haven’t really “owned” this ability. For me, It’s kind of like: “Heck, what’s the big deal? Doesn’t everybody see the world that way?” You know?
And that’s just a disservice to everyone, for me not to own my value in this way. I’m done with that. That’s why I declared this year’s theme to be “Brilliant Revelation.” It has multiple connotations.
So I’m prepared to unveil the next iteration of this ability. And a “low-hanging fruit” way for me to do that is to address this thorny, seemingly mysterious issue of “pricing based on value.” The principles I teach are based on both the qualitative (how do you measure ‘value’?) and the quantitative. (Yay, I get to whip out my spreadsheets!)
For me, this is a lot of fun. As I’ve written in my emails and responses to comments, I just want to make sure that other people see value in me providing this kind of information.
For instance, there are a lot of books out there about “Pricing”, but I don’t see many “experts” out there providing real-world practical training on how to apply these principles in the trenches. That worries me. I keep wondering: “Why not?” “Am I seeing that others aren’t?”
So rather than me going crazy in my head, I figured the smart thing to do is find out from the people who really matter (i.e., s the people I’m seeking to help), whether what I’m seeing, thinking, and sensing is “on target.” Or not.
So your comment is very helpful and encouraging.
George