Back in my parents' extremely '80s living room (brown walls and all), I would clutch my hairbrush microphone and perform in front of our Sony sound system, lip-syncing to Hold On like my (pretend) career depended on it.
I'd study the adorable childhood pics of Wendy, Carnie, and Chyna sprinkled throughout the CD lyric booklet, which tugged at nostalgia for the adults but riddled children like me with thoughts & questions like:
"Oh, they were little kids? They have all known each other forever? Well, I'M a little kid! I have friends! I can be a pop star, too!"
Ahhh, the delusion.
But also... what a gift.
Spoiler: I didn't become a pop star, but I did become a music teacher for a very long time. And today? I sing in a cover band for funsies. (No record deal here, and that's quite all right! 😆)
This brings me to the business lesson of the week:
To build something great, you actually have to be wildly delusional.
I hate the cliché, but it's true: If you think small, you'll stay small.
And the longer I'm in business, the more I see another cliché ring true:
Your network is your net worth.
So even if you weren't born with:
👉 A silver spoon in your mouth (I think we call them "nepo babies" now?)
👉 Parents determined to make you famous (coughtaylorswiftcough)
👉 Famous parents who already have all the connections (WILSON. PHILLIPS.)
...that doesn't mean you and I aren't capable of building powerful relationships.
You might just have to start from scratch.
It takes some courage (er, delusion?)—and a system. (More on that in a sec.)
Because connecting and networking with people who feel way out of your reach is uncomfortable (and sometimes feels impossible).
Imposter syndrome sets in. ("Who am I to reach out to this 8-figure coach and offer my services?")
Resistance fiercely shows up. ("Ehhh... I think I'll just post and ghost on Instagram instead of directly reaching out to someone I think is my ideal client and following up.")
I TOTALLY get it. Those can be my two biggest mental blocks, too.
So what's the solution?
It's not just goals, but it's...
....
......
........
..........
Systems! Processes!
And most importantly 👉 The actual follow through.
Ugh, I know, I know. It's not a sexy answer. But it's the one that works. The successful biz owners swear by it.
One of the systems I'm starting to swear by comes from this book I'm currently reading, which I highly, HIGHLY recommend if you're a creative or service provider. (That's an affiliate link, BTW. If you are going to buy this book, you can support me by buying it through that link! ❤️)
The system is called the "Network of 90". The process is simple:
- Make a list of 90 contacts within your network
- Reach out to 3 people each business day
- Move each person the bottom of the list once you've contacted them
- Rinse and repeat—forever and ever, amen
And that's it!
Well... kinda.
The key isn't just to stay top of mind but more importantly, it's about adding value.
Send them an article you think they might like. Wish them a happy birthday. Make a connection between two people you think should meet.
Do this daily (5x/week)—with consistency—and I guarantee you'll start to see results.
Want a spreadsheet to make it easy? I made one for you! (Well, it was for myself, but why not share the love?)
Click here to make your own copy. (BTW, please do not request edit access. All you need to do is make a copy and it's all yours.)
There's a few other tabs in there, which you can delete or keep. (If you're curious to know who the "List of 20" is for, reply to this email and I'll be happy to tell you!)
So no, you may not have music royalty in your blood. But with some structure, a lot of heart, and a bit of delusion?
You will go much further than you think you can, Reader.
Just keep this formula in mind:
Delusion + (Systems + Processes) = BIG, ACHIEVABLE GOALS
Now get out there! 🎶 And just hooooold on for one more day... 🎶
Sorry. Couldn't resist. 😬
With love and hairbrush mics,
Rachael
P.S. I've got a new package I'm playing around with, called A to Z Email Marketing. It's for the established business owner who JUST NEEDS TO EMBRACE THE EMAIL REVOLUTION, MAN.
What I do is listen to your goals, then complete the research and strategy, write the emails (in your brand voice, of course), AND set them up in your Email Service Provider.
If that sounds like something you're ready for, just hit "reply" to this email and we can talk more about it in a no-pressure call!
P.P.S. One more time: Here's the link for "Book Yourself Solid for Creatives." 😉 (And here's the reminder that it's an affiliate link!)
