Yisel Guajardo is an entrepreneur who writes about internet marketing, social media, and blogging. She authors the blog Advanced Income. You can also follow her on Twitter.
The other night I was watching the T.V. show Conversations With Michael Eisner where he was interviewing Suzanne Somers, the former “Threes Company” star who now runs a multi-million dollar empire. I thought she said something brilliant about how she entered the markets she’s so successful in.
She said that she had gotten an award for her entrepreneurial achievements and was to give the keynote address. A couple of weeks previous to that her husband asked her if she knew what she was going to talk about.
She said, “Oh, I dunno, it will come to me.” Well, it was the night of the event, she was to speak for 90 minutes and had no clue what she was going to say.
While she was listening to her introduction, the speaker said “She’s an entrepreneur”.
She thought to herself, “That’s right. I’m an entrepreneur. What is it that I sell?”
Then it occurred to her, “Why, I sell my problems. Everything bad that’s ever happened to me, I’ve turned into a business.”
You get that? She sells her problems. And people buy, not the product, nor the book, nor the pills and potions, nor the downloadable ebook, or the membership site. They buy the solution they want.
But what’s more profound is that those solutions came because of negative things that happened to her. She grew up with an alcoholic abusive father and wrote a best-selling book which became a movie. When she gained weight, she went on to sell millions of wellness and weight loss books around the globe. When here thighs were sagging…that’s right, you guessed it. Who hasn’t heard of the Thigh Master?
The lessons?
1. Everything negative that’s happened to you is an opportunity. Recognize it or it will pass you by, or worse you’ll use it as an excuse not to succeed.
2. The answers to what you want, always start with you.
So, what problems do YOU seek solutions for? Who knows, you might find your next hot niche in them.
Thanks for the post Yisel. I was trying to figure out what to focus for my blog. Should I talk about dogs, making money, relationships, self-help or guitar? After reading your blog and what I talked about with my mentor, I decided to focus on self-improvement mainly related to relationship because that’s what I’m trying to figure out now. I really love my partner and I want to make her very happy and right now I still don’t know how to do it. So, I’ll focus on this.
Thanks a lot.
Chetz Yusof
http://www.ChetzTV.com
Excellent post!! Something that I needed to hear today – I definitely have some problems that I need to find solutions for!! Your words have helped me a lot. Thanks!!