How Can I Help You?

Actually, after writing this, the title should be more like:

I Want to Give You Exactly the (Creative Entrepreneur) Help You Want. Will You Tell Me What You Want, So I Get It Right, Because I Am Not Psychic?

So far, the best part about having a book published is getting letters from people who are finding the material helpful to them.

Because that’s what certain books have done for me, all my life.

That magical synergystic intersection when you happen to find information that is exactly what you need at exactly the right time. I love it when that happens to me. So it’s wonderful to be part of that chain of pay-it-forward type effect.

Usually the letters also ask: Can I study with you personally? Do you do workshops? Do you teach in my area? How can I learn to facilitate and use your materials?

Martin, a lovely gent from Wales, just sent me a letter like that:

I live in Wales, and am currently in the process of setting up my own business as a permaculture consultant. More of that perhaps another time. There is an abundance of (mostly free) cookie-cutter ‘corporate’ oriented, and government funded ‘read-off-the-powerpoint’ classes over here, but there is a distinct lack of real help for people setting themselves up as self-employed.

I’ve worked for a few start-ups as well as larger companies, and a number of friends of mine have noticed the approach I was taking in mind-mapping out by business plan. I did attend some of the above-mentioned classes seeing as they were free, and I learned nothing. They were totally missing the point!

Anyhow, a number of friends have suggested that I could help people set themselves up as self-employed – identifying principles and values, purpose of business idea, identifying value, mind mapping strategies etc…
 
During my own process, I came across, and purchased, the “Creative Entrepreneur” book. Just want to let you know what an awesome inspiring book it is. Fabulous work!
 
Do you do any work in Europe? If not, have you ever considered enabling others to deliver the workshops over here?
 
Best Regards,
 
Martin

So here’s where I could use your help.
I know this post is called, How Can I Help You? And as I’ve been thinking about how to answer Martin’s email and those lke it waiting replies in my inbox: I realized I could use some help from you in order to be the most helpful in return. I can think of a million (or so) things to offer — but I would rather just give you exactly what you want. If I can. I’ll try.

So what would help me to know is this:

If you were boss of the world, and could design the program(s) I offer yourself, what would they look like?

Specifically, tell me:

1. What format works best for you? In-person workshops, online classes, individual coaching, small groups — you name it.
2. How often? For how long? Which days of the week?
3. What topics/content do you want to explore? What problems do you want solved? (related to my area of expertise, of course. I can’t remove wrinkles or whiten teeth or anything like that.)?
4. What sorts of things do you love in a program? What bugs you? ?
5. For what price? That’s right. Like the shop keepers ask in Marakesh: “How much you want to pay?” (This does get very annoying when you are just trying to buy, say, a soda and have no idea how much a Diet Coke goes for in North Africa.) But seriously, what I’d like to know is some sort of number that you would expect to pay for that type of offer. I always hope to over deliver something “priceless”. But we do need to deal in dollars. Or British pounds, etc.

Bonus/Optional: You can also tell me anything you think is important for me to know about other classes you’ve taken (mine and others) and what worked for you and what didn’t. For each thing that didn’t work, tell me one thing you would have done to make it better. Then I’ve got feedback I can use to design something better.

Optional: For those interested in facilitator/teacher training: What do you want/need in a training program and how would you design it?

Remember, you’re the boss of the world and can design it any way you like. What would  it look like?

Feel free to leave your comments here, or if you prefer privacy, please email me your thoughts. My email address is lisa-sonora [at] thecreativeentrepreneur [dot] biz.

A Thank You Gift (you know, like at the cosmetics counter)
I recognize that it will take you time and some very good brain cells to answer these questions. I am planning to offer an online class this October. If you answer all 5 questions and get your comments/thoughts to me by Septermber 13 (lucky number) I will offer you a guest spot in that class.

Thank you for your time and for helping me to design some more good stuff. And if you have any questions about this, please post in the comments or email me.

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1. How to Build a Lifestyle Biz that *Really* Supports You