The first 6 years of my professional career I sold premium products working for someone else. 11 years I have been running my business offering value adding services.

The latter can be difficult and stressful. There are many 'tests' to challenge our determination and resilience as business owners. Many ups and downs.

When I recently thought about who I easily relate to, it is business owners that are in the market of offering valuable experience, knowhow and insights to the benefit of other people and organisations.

Call it the services-based business owners.

I see many of them wanting more time, more money, more freedom and less stress. Trust me... I fully get it!

The reality is that many don't succeed in this area. It's the reason why so many businesses fail or don't live past the 10 year mark. It's the reason why so many business owners are stuck working long hours.

I wanted to so something about this. Reflecting on my learning lessons from 17 years in business, I have created...

As I announced last week, I have been busy making something truly unique for you and I am unveiling it today.

Having been a business owner for 11 years now, I asked myself who I easily relate to and feel most affinity with.

The answer is other business owners who offer services.

To me, it means that you have a calling, a passion to help clients in your particular field of expertise, and you live it.

You also embrace the challenges that come with business ownership and employ people. 

I love that! We are leaders and want to make a difference in the world.

It lead me to create a purpose-built Facebook group in which like-minded people can connect, share, learn, achieve personal and business growth, and help each other.

And this is only the beginning. As of next week, we'll be posting regularly on topics relevant for services-based business owners. 

And you can do so too by becoming part of it.

Join us! It's free. Be my guest :)

In addition, I am very excited to announce the upc...

Is it okay for us to have a bit of fun?

I just made a short video to wish you a Happy Easter AND provide you further insights into how you communicate with clients.

The reality is: many advisors and BDMs position themselves and their value proposition the wrong way. 

As they do, they loose legitimate business opportunities and rationalise it by saying that "the client went for a cheaper option elsewhere".

Or they will comfort themselves by saying that "the client doesn't get it".

They make up all sorts of reasons (also called excuses) because it's easier to point fingers at someone else compared to taking responsibility that the approach taken was not suitable.

Equally, any time a client tells you that your solution "is too dear", it means something else.

Find out more in the new video I made for you

Comments and questions are welcome below the video. 

Oh... and Happy Easter!

Your success coach,

Bram Lagrou

Yesterday, I was invited to deliver soft skills training to a group of 25 financial planners and support staff. 

There is one particular piece of content that I absolutely want to share with you, because it so easy to miss the ball if you are not aware of this.

It is the #1 reason why clients feel pressured or uncomfortable and opt out of your products and services. 

Don't pay the price of ignorance. Instead, work with the flow. The human brain is wired like an elevator.

In my latest video, I show you how to follow three steps that satisfy all parts of the brain to create buy-in.

If you do this well, you don't have to sell anything. Buying desire in the client's mind happens automatically.

Watch my new video on The Brain Elevator here

Let me know your thoughts below the video. 

Your success coach,

Bram Lagrou

For many years, I used to be driven to perform.

I worked long hours to reach the top of my field.

I ran marathons and ultramarathons, competitively. 

I was hungry to achieve.

And then, something happened. I lost my way. I didn't care as much any more. I let go of my goals and aspirations. Everything suffered.

It is only recently that I dusted myself off and clarified a new pathway to move forward again.

Do you know the feeling, Amanda?

Knowing where I have been and where I want to go are two different goal posts. 

We can measure them. And what we measure, we can change radically. 

Being crystal clear matters. 

But I also learned that our mind can be confused, blurry and unfocused. Our actions then are uncoordinated. They lack impact and strength. 

Now, more than ever, do I value clarity of mind, a burning passion and focused effort. 

Our energy and drive depend on them. Whenever we catch ourselves on "being low on energy", it just means that we have slipped off track. 

Suc...

I recently went to Gold Coast for a family holiday.

Guess who I bumped into for the second time over there!?!

Yep. Cowboy Don Tolman. 

We met him 4 years ago when my wife did a health/wellness course with him...

Not only did we meet the American again in the same city, we also stayed in the same hotel and even the same room number on a different level. Talking about 'coincidences'! 

Deepak Chopra calls this "synchro destiny", while other people would comment that it was meant to be.

Either way, I asked Don if he'd like to be interviewed and share what he's been working on as of late.

Find out more in the interview...

For easy reference, all parts of this interview are listed below:

Part 1 https://youtu.be/4_Okux_6UIQ

Part 2 https://youtu.be/5iZAPxBWr0Q

Part 3 https://youtu.be/cnHKWDGnL24

Part 4 https://youtu.be/mChAe9KDA0g

Part 5 https://youtu.be/mty1xlBw-gk

Part 6 https://youtu.be/mcqs04GAzDk

Part 7 https://youtu.be/C246UoWpUO0

Part 8 https://youtu.be/n7-gn1qmQNE

Happy new year!

Glad to be back on deck. If you can keep a secret: I missed doing what I love over the holidays :)

Let's raise a glass together and make a toast: that 2021 may be a welcome game changer in business and life!

After the turbulence of last year, if it didn't happen yet back then, then it's time to take ownership NOW. Time to take back control.

On our way back from the beach, my son and I noticed how a mother duck got separated from her baby ducks... (see image)

There's a deeper meaning to this...

The road border creates two different levels. The lower level is easy to get trapped on and is full of danger. The baby ducks can get hit by a fast car!

(the fast care being Covid, for example, or a business that struggles to stay relevant)

Reaching the higher level requires vision, boldness, personal strength and ability. It's not a given. Only a 'happy few' are here.

So, think about what level you are at. And how can you take back control?

Personally, I made a consciou...

Last night, I watched an episode of Suits on Netflix. If you don't know this series, it's about a top end NY law firm. Very entertaining! 

Anyway, one of the name partners, Louis Litt, turned out to be bullied in school. He lacked the ability to stand up for himself.

It occurred to me that at one stage, most people have had a similar painful experience in which they felt out of control and gave in to someone else.

Sounds familiar?

I bet it does. I’ve been there too.

Time to become a superhero!

Learn how to become more conscious and assertive in my new video training

Consciousness and assertiveness are the third out of twenty elements that make up your emotional intelligence (in short: EI or EQ). 

Because we can measure it, we can transform it.

We also know that there is a fine balance between been blunt and borderline aggressive on one hand, and overly pleasing and submissive on the other. 

An assertive person has developed the ability to say their truth while being respectab...

Most probably, you have met business leaders whose behaviour truly put you off, without them even knowing. Right?

You also might have met salespeople who made you feel really awkward as a client and still be completely oblivious to your emotional experience...

I certainly remember how I kept repeating a destructive pattern until well into my thirties before I became more self-aware. Only then, did I make a commitment to make a change for the better.

Self-awareness is one of twenty subcategories of emotional intelligence. 

Because we can measure it, we can transform it.

Watch my second video in this series on EQ

Why would you watch it?

• Great leaders have developed high levels of EQ
• Exceptional sales professionals, especially those in the top 10%, have high levels of EQ
• People that society perceives as unique role models and human beings tend to display high levels of EQ

The opposite is true too: poor leaders, average salesmen and women, and questionable citizens tend to st...