A few weeks ago, I wrote a newsletter about the importance of doing market research. It’s become so easy to create something and throw it online that the respect given to proper market research has been tossed aside in favor of the pursuit of quick success. I won’t be following that trend. I am actually doubling down on deeper market research to truly get an understanding of the people that I can help. Just because you have launched a product, a service, a book, podcast or YouTube channel does not mean that the market research is now done. It should be just the beginning. We launched Total Life Freedom School nearly two months ago and it’s amazing how much I am learning about who it is for each passing day. But I have to tell you- it’s intentional. Without seeking knowledge, understanding and feedback, I would never have gotten this information given to me. To begin with, most people aren’t equipped, trained or even comfortable with giving feedback. So, unless someone is super excited or disappointed with your work, you most likely will not hear much more without intentional market research and an active process of reaching out to learn. Personally, I would love to hear more feedback. I value knowing what can be improved. I’m excited to hear what is working. That feedback is more valuable than false praise, general feedback or even gaining new clients. There needs to be a true desire to learn. Even at the expense of learning that what we are currently doing is good, but not great. And that’s simply from the people we are already working with. But what about the people we are looking to attract? How do we know that our messaging is resonating with the right people? How do we communicate in a way that gets the people who need what we do to take action and move forward? It’s only through constant market research and adjusting our wording and messaging that we have that impact. When we launched the online school in February, Elizabeth and I felt good about how the messaging came across. It’s directed at two types of people- those who are in a job that want to create a business that gives them more time, money and location freedom and those who currently have a service-based business who want to create recurring online income that also achieves those freedom goals. I’ll start by saying that the launch has been fantastic. It’s eclipsed any sales goals we had. But there was a part of the launch that left me pretty frustrated. There are people that I know need this. I am absolutely, positively sure that they will benefit greatly from it. Yet, they haven’t joined. I’m not too proud to reach out to those who I know and share it with them. As I have said earlier, if you create something that you know will benefit them more than it will benefit you, then sales is a generous act. In doing so, I heard two main objections. 1- I have too much going on already. 2- It sounds great but I’m not ready yet. Both of those answers told me that our messaging for the school- although working- is not right yet. Why? Because the school is exactly for those who have too much going on but need better focus, greater clarity and a roadmap to take them there without being overwhelmed. My premise is that, if you trust me, you can eliminate so many of the things that are keeping you busy. You can gain time, increase income and have the freedom in your life that you are currently missing. But they are so busy that they see this as just another thing that will just make them even busier. And it’s also for those who feel that they aren’t ready yet. If you wait until you are ready, you are already behind. I tell everyone that a tremendous advantage that you can give yourself is a head start. Give me a year head start in any business or project, and I’ll win just about every time. Give me a year head start in building a network, doing market research, creating content and developing marketing, look out. That’s why we always have the approach of intentionally start building things before we ever need them. So, when someone tells me they won’t join because they aren’t ready yet, it tells me three things. 1- Our messaging isn’t clear enough yet. 2- They don’t trust me enough yet. 3- They haven’t been shown yet why it’s valuable enough for them to join. It turns out that all of those solutions are on me, not them. It’s my job to be clearer with our message. It’s my job to be consistent, connected and valuable enough to allow them to trust me. And it’s my job to have such a powerful message and valuable testimonials so that they trust me to invest their time and money. If this resonates with you, as it should with any freelancer or entrepreneur, it’s on us to do the work to figure that out for them. And then, to over deliver to where they say the magic words that prove that you did your job. What are those magic words? I just wish that I would have done this sooner. The people that say those words- who once were impossible to convince- wind up being your biggest fans and the ones who refer you to others the most. Have an AMAZING day! Vincent | 
