Paradise Perspectives
Are you done playing small? Tired of fear, doubt, and everyone’s expectations running your life?
From the Caribbean to women everywhere, this is raw, unfiltered talk about finding your courage, owning your voice, and taking back your power when life tries to keep you quiet.
Every Thursday I drop the truth, tools, and straight-up no-BS conversations you need to rise and create the life you want.
At the end of the day, Paradise isn’t a place. It’s a mindset. And it's about time you claim yours.
Ready to live your best life? Subscribe now and let’s get started!
Paradise Perspectives
Fearless Sales: Taking The "Ick" Out Of Sales For Women Who Are Ready To Thrive In Business
What if everything you believed about sales was holding you back from serving the people who need you most?
In this intimate conversation with Sharon a.k.a. The Future Proof Strategist, we dive deep into the psychology behind the fear of starting a business and why so many entrepreneurs, especially women, struggle with sales.
Connect with Sharon via her website and follow her on Instagram for tips and tricks.
Meads Bay is one of the most stunning beaches in Anguilla, and Tranquility Beach Resort sits right on it. It's the spot my husband and I run to when we need peace and a serious reset. This October, Caribbean residents get a special rate. Just hit them up and say "Riselle sent me" or mention this podcast.
Proof of residency required. Contact Tranquility Beach via WhatsApp +1 264 584-3600 or Email here
Work with me → Coaching, retreats, digital programs: [Insert link]
Join my email list → Weekly inspo, motivation, behind-the-scenes, and first dibs on events + get my free meditation bundle when you sign up.
Follow me on socials → Instagram, YouTube, Facebook
Reach out → For Collabs, sponsorship, or podcast feedback, click here.
If this Podcast hit home, subscribe and leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Reviews help this show grow and get in front of more women who need it.
is this thing on? So excited because I have a guest in the studio with us and that is somebody who I has been I have been stalking on social media for the longest time and, um, absolutely adore your content. Here in the studio with me right now is Sharon Liu-Shong. Did I say it correctly? This time Perfect? I've been practicing. I did a little practicing, sharon, I am so happy that you could make the time to be here with us today. Thank you so much, thank you for the invite, Rochelle.
Speaker 2:It's my absolute pleasure.
Speaker 1:Now you are the future proof strategist. That's what you call yourself on social media, but that is also, of course, the name of your business. So can you tell us a little bit more about what a future proof strategist actually does?
Speaker 2:an interesting story and backstory. So a future-proof strategist actually is. It was born from a consultancy background, right? So I come from a bit of a backstory. I come from a business consultancy background, and when I started this business, I was like I'm gonna, that's what I'm going to do, right, I'm just going to consult big organizations and I find that they're not strategic enough and definitely not based on future proofness and forwardness. Alright, so that was the idea. But then smaller organizations also asked for my help, if you will, and so I decided to keep that name, even though it's a little bit less of a strategic part, you know, a little less of future readiness, but again, the brand name just kept. Yeah, it was just maintained. And what I basically do for smaller organizations just like mine, is helping us to really do what we are good at, but also have enough clients, because no clients, no business. So I just really want us to have a business that thrives, where you have fun, where you feel like you're of added value. That's what.
Speaker 1:That's my total hope and my aim as well, and my mission Good, and you know what the thing is about you that I love so much about your content is that you, like me, you believe in having fun while you're doing it. There's so much play in how not only how you convey the message across, but also how you actually have it. It's like I think there's a couple of dance videos of you well, you're just dancing in the office and you actually get your colleagues to do the same, and it's so fantastic, because that's one of the things that I totally believe in 100 is that play needs to be in there, otherwise what's the point? Right?
Speaker 2:Absolutely, and so maybe that's also part of the future proofness. You know, I really feel like we've been stuck, or that we feel like it needs to go a certain route, or just there needs to be the seriousness about it, and if you're not having fun, this thing will just never be structural, at least not in my case. I think that you feel the same yourself absolutely.
Speaker 1:And the thing I like is that when we got on this and remember we have never met in real life not yet anyway and the first thing that both of us did was we did like this little dance because I'm like, oh my god, so excited she's here exactly which is wonderful and I love that about you.
Speaker 1:Um, you know, one of the things that I really want to and I want to dive right into this, but before we go there, that is one thing that I have to say. It's so bizarre because I get this a lot and I have, a lot of times, people from my home island of Curacao, and it is so bizarre having to talk to somebody from the island in pure English, because, of course, we have our own language, papiamentu, and then any Yurikorso, like we call ourselves somebody from Curacao knows we speak four languages and our way of communicating normally is all four together.
Speaker 1:Yep, but it is so bizarre having a Y child here in the studio and then still having to speak in only English. It's très bizarre. Let me tell you there we go très bizarre.
Speaker 1:Throw in a little bit of French in there too. Why not, Shall we? So? One of the things that I love to focus on, especially as a travel and transformation coach I help women to identify and release the fears that are keeping them back. Now, one of the fears that we get a lot is, of course, the fear of starting a business, but also the fear of sales. Now can we talk a little bit about that for a second? What do you think is the reason why a lot of people, a lot of women, don't want to take the necessary first steps to start a business? To begin with, Right.
Speaker 2:So what I'm seeing a lot and hearing a lot is now five years that I've dove full-time into this business and are helping other business owners as well. Um, and it was also my own story is that I literally did not believe that I would succeed, and I I don't know if that, if that resonates with you absolutely. I, I remember, and as a little bit of my story, I lost my well-paid job in corporate from one day to the next and even though I was this great professional, I could not imagine that someone would pay me, if you will, to, you know, to consult them or to help them. And I remember, literally starting with I think it was $30 an hour, you know, and that is like way in my field, like way down there, right, just because I could not imagine. And so, to answer your question, I really think it's as if we cannot imagine that success, whatever that is for us right, cause it's a personal definition that is just not possible for you. That's what I encounter a lot.
Speaker 1:What about you? I think you know when I started, of course it's the fear. Now, knowing what I know and, of course, coaching women through this as well, I realized that for myself, that the fear is, of course, because it's unknown. I've never done it before. I'm going to start something new, so of course it is scary. But I think for me personally, when I started the brand the traveling island girl it was the fear was there, but for me the need to actually do this was so much stronger that I put fear aside. But I can tell you, if I need to identify that fear, it definitely has a lot to do with the fear of being seen Right.
Speaker 2:And the fear to be.
Speaker 1:You know, what if they don't like me? What if they don't know me like this? So they're not going to accept me. What if that's right? What if? What if? What if, and I think so they're not going to accept me. What if that's right? What if? What if? What if?
Speaker 2:and I think that is the one of the main things that came up for me. Yeah, yeah, and that's very recognizable as well. And I think to add to that is the fear of being seen as the fear of being judged right or that someone is opinionated about whatever. For example, me dancing. I literally received feedback. Like you know, consultants don't dance. Like you know, business coaches do not, sales mentors and coaches do not dance, right, I literally received that feedback. So it's real. So, and I always truly say because people ask me what's the remedy, and I literally say I hope that your urge and your hope to help people or to help the other person waiting for you is greater than whatever judgment you may feel, and I truly hope that for all of us.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, oh, that is so well said. Thank you so much for saying that, and I'm so sorry that you did get that feedback, because a lot of us have that fear of receiving it, but you've actually and I have to, uh, receive that from somebody. But what we have all learned, of course, now as we grow older and we dive a little bit deeper into or at least I have is that it doesn't say anything about you, but it says more about the person who is making that comment, right? So so well said, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So what is? What is one of the things that you teach small business owners that are ready to make that first initial scary step? Now they've entered into the business arena, they've started their business and then, of course, you get to the next step in fears, and that is the fear of how am I going to make sales Now. That part, what I call the messy middle, when you're like okay, I've done the initial scary thing, I'm in it, I've opened the business, I got my business account, I got my Instagram, my Facebook is up. How am I going to continue now? How am I going to attract people to actually buy from me? What is one of those things that you can then tell why do you think that is actually? Let's start with that.
Speaker 2:Of the messy middle. You mean that fear of that. I think it ties back into the same thing of being judged. What if someone says no? What if I've put this great thing out there? You know, I've put my heart, my soul into this concept, this product, this service, and then people will say no, I think again. I think it comes back to feeling judged, that that is not enough, and sometimes we even translate it as to I am not enough, right, because someone says no. So I think that somehow it translates back to that part. I don't know what you experienced, but I really you know people are so scared of no, even in sales nowadays, right? But again, our children tell us no, every day too. I always say we even sell to our children right or at least.
Speaker 2:Mom, I want to go to McDonald's. No, kids, we have food at home. You know, that's kind of like selling them an idea on eating at home versus whichever other uh a thing out there. That's not as healthy for them, right so? But they tell me no too, and yet I don't take it as a judgment. So we sell all day, and so can we change the perception of what selling is first and foremost?
Speaker 2:I say so literally for me, selling is, um, how do you say that? I want to say something in papiamento is delivering that solution to my client. I literally sell because I know that I can help you, that what would I have can help you? Right, and it's really with from that fervent belief that I offer, that I go into the sales trajectory with someone. So I always say sales is not about me, it's not about whether I am great, I am smart, I am able. It is about can I help you and can I connect with you and do you understand and feel that I understand your situation and the solution that I can bring is viable and is going to help you. So I hope that we can shift that narrative as to what sales is. It's getting to work with your ideal clients to help them from point A and transform them to point B, and I hope that we can change that narrative.
Speaker 1:That is so interesting that what you just said also all the way in the beginning that sales. We do this every single day, all through the days. How many times, don't, we try to sell something and then we get to know all the time?
Speaker 2:right, wow, even if it's on an idea, even if it's having drinks with the girlfriends at not at point a, but at bar b exactly also selling, it's pitching an idea so we're selling all day long now, since you, you spoke about that magic word pitching.
Speaker 1:You know there's. I think that is where a lot of people and I see a lot of women struggle, especially when they just launch, and I can know that that was my one of my things when I pivoted my brand from uh, you know, uh content creator, travel content creator to a transformation coach. It was a big transition, but how do you pitch that new business? How do you pitch that? What is one of those tips that you can give to somebody who has just started a business and they need to pitch it? And I absolutely believe in the fact that you only have a couple of seconds to impress someone. It really is less than a minute, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 2:Yes, exactly, you have less than a minute. It's actually for seconds and I'm coming back to the same thing of helping that client. So I really feel, again we want to make ourselves great, like, see me, choose me. But what if we turn it around? And I would ask you what is the greatest pain or frustration that you are helping your client with? What's the greatest transformation you are helping them with? That should be in your pitch, right? Not? I am Sharon.
Speaker 2:I never start with my name because, again, I'm wasting seconds on something that's not really helping my client on the other side. So what is that? We call it pain, frustration. What am I helping them with? Start with that for them to start imagining that you can help them from A to B, and I find that in your first seconds of your pitch it needs to be along those lines. And I can also tell you a secret that most of the clients that I start working with do not understand the true pain and deepest desires of their clients. So it starts there and actually that tells me that we never made it about the other, the other person, because if we did make it about our ideal clients, I should be able to wake you up in your sleep and you should just tell me, like straight away, what's the deepest desires. And we can't, so I think we have some homework to do in that sense.
Speaker 1:Wow, absolutely wow. Yes, I'm standing 100% behind what you said, but also completely understand it. We make it too much about ourselves and what we can deliver and what we can do, but it's not about the other person who we're actually selling to. So if you have to give that elevator pitch, what would your elevator pitch sound like?
Speaker 2:oh my god, and you're gonna ask me in english.
Speaker 1:Oh my god, that's really difficult because you know we don't, we don't, we don't. I'm not here to question anything here in paradise.
Speaker 2:Right, we're doing it like, yeah, okay, come on, let's do it. Okay, let's go, let's go, let's go, let's go. So let me find my words in english, right, that's so I always. I always start with entrepreneurs. We work too hard to feel and to be broke in our business. We are such experts, we have so much knowledge in our business, but do we have enough clients in order to live our full potential? If the answer is no, my name is Sharon. I'm a sales expert and I help you get to work with the clients that you love.
Speaker 1:That's it, mic drop, I'm done. Where do I sign up? Let's go. That's it, let's go. Where do I sign up? That is amazing.
Speaker 2:Okay, where do I sign up? That is amazing. Okay, I need, I need you to teach me that and and that is, and I, and I know that like I can now think of 10,000 things that I could improve, but again, it's from pain. I know that most of my clients they know they are experts, but they don't have enough clients to get to work with. So they're really good at what they do, but their ideal client does not understand it, so they don't buy, and so we feel broke really a lot of times because we don't generate enough money and you know. So, if I understand those pain points, but I also understand what they truly want, which is get to work with the clients that they love, so they could, you know, be valued and they could apply their expertise Again expertise, again pain, but also their greatest desires. If I can marry those two in a short pitch, then a lot of times you're well on your way wow, yes, absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 1:I love that um so of the services that you offer. So I've seen you've held space for, and I see you get a lot of women in business. Yes, I do. I've seen also that you've even done a little. I think it was a reel or a post on Instagram where you talked about the fact that there was more and more women actually, and women of color who are? Starting their own business.
Speaker 1:So before we go a little bit deeper into that. Actually actually, no, let's not wait for that, let's just go into that right now, because it is so important. It is so important for other women, women who are listening to this podcast right now. What can you tell them? Um, it's, it's the one thing that they need to hear right now to get off their ass and do that scary thing and start a business. Really.
Speaker 2:Okay, I love this.
Speaker 1:Let's start first with you know the fact that you said that there are more and more women entering the business. Why do you think that is?
Speaker 2:Well, I actually think it's because our ideal clients want more connection. They are looking for true connection. Right Now, with the internet of things being open, with AI, I mean, I could really ask a question and it gives me all of the answers. But what do we crave as human beings more than anything is the connection being seen, being heard, being felt, being understood. And I actually really think that, as women, whether we are physical mothers, whether we have birthed a child or not, I believe that it's part of us to be carers, to care for and to see people. That's what we do. We're nurturers.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're nurturers and I get chills as I say this because I really feel that the success of my business is because I truly care. That's it. I truly care for the success of, again, that ideal client. I truly care for their upgrades, sometimes even more than they do. And so, for me, I find and I don't think that everyone is an entrepreneur so, for me, I find and I don't think that everyone is an entrepreneur but the fact that we are nurturers, that we truly care, that most of the time, we go for connection above many other things, we have an advantage just because of who we are.
Speaker 2:And I really do think, and again, yes, you need to be able to sell, yes, you need to be able to have a good product, but the fact that you don't do it just as a check mark or a number on your balance sheet in this day and age, that that it's, it's a recipe for success to care, yeah, so that that would be one of the one of the things that I think why women in business nowadays do so well. Women in business would do so well. And also, secondly, I wanted to say one more thing we are creative and I truly believe again, right, whether it is okay. Let's say someone comes right now and wants to have a drink, whether it's opening up that fridge and taking out everything that you, we make something out of nothing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're very good at that, and if there's one, yes, one thing that we also need as entrepreneurs is be creative right. And so I also think that in that sense, we have this natural sense of being an entrepreneur. It's not for everyone, but we do possess a lot of skills.
Speaker 1:Yeah and it's so. It's actually interesting hearing you say that that we women are. We are natural nurture, nurture where caregivers we are. We take care of others. We're very good at that, yeah, but at the same time and we are creative we are super creative, especially as women. You know how many times have you found yourself in a situation where you needed to like do three things at the same time? We're very good at doing that. We're also very creative when it comes to like inventing something. Like you said, people are coming over. You weren't expecting them, but I can pretty much make a snack out of whatever I have in the fridge right now. I bet we can. So we are naturally already creative, but I do. This is one of the things that I hear women say a lot. Is that okay, I'm not creative?
Speaker 2:what would you tell a woman like that like I'm not creative and and that's where I would say it's not true and just by taking these daily examples, I find that we are creative.
Speaker 2:Now let's also, then, define creativity. So creativity is not that I cannot make an origami from this either, right, but is that being creative? Being creative for me means as well that when a client comes, for example, right, I coach a client in their sales, I pitch it in a certain way, I'm trying to coach them in a certain way. I'm seeing that they're not adopting that. Creativity tells me like, okay, I need to try it, just in a little way. Maybe we should do it on a board, or I should draw it on a board, or maybe that is creativity, to seeing what works, that, what would stick with that ideal client or level, what would stick in your business. So for me, that is the definition of creativity, and it's not whether I can make the greatest thing from right, from from exactly or paint the best painting that's right, you know saying, or any of those things that we actually relate to, creativity that's right.
Speaker 2:So for me, creativity means you create something that wasn't necessarily intended that way or did not exist. You create something from that, and I think that that is something that women can do, or at least have a natural sense of the way, especially Caribbean women.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh absolutely Can we talk about that.
Speaker 2:Actually can we, can we so?
Speaker 1:resilient, so resilient, so strong we have an investment in business it goes back years.
Speaker 1:But also is that, especially in business, you can probably agree with me and a lot of ways. Um, you know, as a content creator, I have had so many reasons to quit on multiple occasions just because it is so hard to make money on the internet. You know how that is, like almost with most caribbean islands we cannot have strike, we cannot monetize our youtube channel, we cannot. So we have to be more creative again to make money in different ways than our counterparts in the mainland, where all of that is accessible.
Speaker 2:So yeah, yeah, let's talk about that. We've had so many difficulties, or at least things that don't come natural as easy for us, and yet we make it work. So please don't tell me that we're not creative, definitely not problem solvers we are right.
Speaker 1:So we solve problems every single day, I mean Every single day. Wow, yes, that's right.
Speaker 1:So, before we go into all of the services that you can offer and all of the things that you can do for someone who wants to start a business or somebody who already has and is ready to advance, and before I want to also talk about sales and I want to talk a little bit about you, so let's start first with you, right? I love this because you just said it. We were just talking about how we are nurturers and we are, you know, it is in our dna, it is what we do, it's what we specialize in from birth um, but I think that also comes with um.
Speaker 1:You know us giving, giving, giving, giving, because we give so much and we don't ask a lot in return and I think that has well, we can dive really deep into it and go into the wh-worth, of course, where we are very good at pushing ourselves on the side because we're not worthy of actually, you know, receiving uh, which is tied to other stuff, especially when it comes to business.
Speaker 1:but, um, right for now, as a person, as a woman, as a caribbean woman, you know all of the disadvantages that we have as a Caribbean woman, but you also know how to be creative. You also know how to remain a nurturer and also still keep giving. You said it yourself you're putting your clients first. What do you do, Sharon? You yourself, Sharon, the person, Sharon behind the brand? What do you do for self-care?
Speaker 2:coach. I have a life coach. Right from time to time I also go to a therapist. I feel no shame in saying that. So I do pour into myself as well. That's number one. Number two I do this at least two to three times a week. I have a personal trainer as well.
Speaker 2:So what I do is also to release that energy and that stress from the body, because I did not say this, but I at least, I run two businesses, so I don't have one, but I have two, so it gets well, it gets crowded. That's a lot. I forget myself. Yes, right, and next to it I'm a mother and I have a partner and so forth. So I really had to plan in time for me. And then what I also do nowadays is once a month, then I do, I take a day during the week off and the team knows, and I think it's actually beautiful they I wanted to say it in Dutch, I don't know what the English word is they, they grant me that day. They're happy for me to get that day, because obviously they also see what I do for me.
Speaker 2:These are the moments that I planned, and maybe there are other listeners and viewers who are like me where we give a lot but we forget ourselves, as you said Right. And so what I try to do nowadays is really put those into my agenda as non-negotiables and plan around that, because if not and even then it's still a struggle you kind of plan around actually, you, you, you plan over it. So, let's say I would have a meeting with my business coach and I'm like you know what, let me just move that one because a client wants to speak to me. And I really think that if you start understanding that you can't pour from an empty cup, so I cannot show up for my clients, and, trust me, I have tried, I've burned out, I've had a burnout, not in this job, but in my corporate function. You cannot pour from an empty cup. So these are the ways that I try to plan in some moments for me, and what also helps for me is taking walks in nature. So that is also one that I can absolutely recommend.
Speaker 2:So I'm not sure if that answers the question.
Speaker 1:Yes absolutely, and I love also that you actually have identified it as a necessary thing that you need to do, because I feel like a lot of us, we feel like we constantly need to keep on giving the fact that you say that you know if you have a business coach and you did you say now you do, do allow the client to take over that spot, or don't you?
Speaker 2:I used to. I used to, but now I put it into my agenda and everything moves around it right, right. Yeah, I used to, oh that is so beautiful.
Speaker 1:As somebody who has gone through not one but two burnouts, I can tell you absolutely, that is so important to pour into your own cup and to make it a priority, because we can talk about self-care all the time, but do we make it a priority? No, a lot of us still don't.
Speaker 2:We still push around.
Speaker 1:You know, oh my gosh, I got an important client coming in. I have to take this. No, exactly, you have to be there To be able to show up for that same client. You need to pour it. Yeah, I love how you said that. Okay, so now let's talk about sales, because that is one thing that I personally tie to self-worth, and it has a lot to do, I think, with how you feel, if you're feeling worthy of receiving, and it's, it's cringy, it is, oh, I can't. You know how many times haven't you said and it's like I said it all the time I'm not a salesperson, I can't sell.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, yeah, that is like you've.
Speaker 1:You've got to, you've got to, you've got to hurt you, you've been hearing this like probably, if I can get a dollar for everything, oh my gosh, you wouldn't even have your business girl, you'll be rich already. You'll be sipping in a spot, sipping on freaking mojitos that's right yeah exactly.
Speaker 1:So what do you say to women especially? Let's, let's just concentrate on on women in this Cause. I feel like for us it is. We have always, like we said, pour into everybody else and then, when it comes to us, we've learned from a very early age that we're not a good girl If we're selfish. We're not, we're not. You know exactly. You have to. You get love on condition, right?
Speaker 1:You know, you have to be a good girl, and then yeah, and we would do everything for that. You're a good girl, even putting ourselves last.
Speaker 1:And we've accepted it from other people as well that they put us last or feel like they put us last. So when it comes to us receiving, it is very hard. It is very hard for for to to come up to somebody and somebody says, okay, so how much does it cost? And in your mind to say, well, maybe I need to like drop the price because I feel it's too high which is another thing, because a lot of times if it's too high, it's too high for who Exactly, exactly, Exactly.
Speaker 2:And also I always ask is that an assumption or is it truth? Mm-hmm, Mm-hmm. And I think also that it depends on who it is for.
Speaker 1:If this is somebody that really wants what you are selling, then I don't think it's never going to be too high. I don't think so If it's really meant for that person. Okay, so let's talk about how we, as women, can get over that cringiness of sales. How do we sell the business that we run, but which, of course, translates to selling yourself? If you are the woman behind this business, it is selling yourself. How do we go about selling what we are so passionate about?
Speaker 2:Right, and so then my first question always is what is your definition of selling? So how would you define selling?
Speaker 1:Well, selling for me is actually a transaction. It is giving something to somebody that somebody needs and they give me money. It's a transaction. It is giving something to somebody that somebody needs and they give me money. It's a transaction. It's an exchange of knowledge. It's an exchange of a product. It's an exchange of energy right, right.
Speaker 2:And why is it then still? Why does it feel? Why does it feel like icky?
Speaker 1:oh girl, how much time do you have? Let's try a minute, let's try. Oh my gosh, it's like, yes, but it still feels cringy, it absolutely still feels why, I think it's because you're almost. If I have to answer it personally, I think in my case I think it's because I don't feel worthy of receiving that money. Somehow. There's a block there somehow. Yeah, Okay.
Speaker 2:So let me go back to the definition, the purest definition of selling, and I use it a lot because I love that definition. So selling comes from the Norwegian word which is called selje, s-e-l-j-e, and actually that means to serve. So, in the basis, selling is again serving. So I find that, as we go deeper into indeed feeling not worthy and everything, so what if we just can set that aside and say okay, listen, at the basis of this is serving you, to go from again, as I said, from pain, frustration, something you're dealing with to this great transformation. Right, and apparently they can't do it alone.
Speaker 2:If not, I can tell you, most people have tried it numerous times before they even ask you like, hey, can we hop on a call? You know. So for me it is to understand that, at the basis, whatever you are selling is that you're serving that client, a solution that they did not, they could not acquire on their own Right. So it's also for me it's a reframing of what selling is. That is number one Right. And if it is a transaction and maybe this is also a second thing that I want to talk about and I think you can also, you can, can you will feel um, here I go again you will feel it will resonate with me somehow.
Speaker 2:Yes, hey, there we go, it will resonate with you is that because we are good at what we do, we think that others are good at it as well. So I have this with sales coaching. I can hop with someone on a 30 minute call and I will have helped them sometimes get a deal of 2,000, 3,000, 10,000 and so forth in half an hour. Wow, I do that because it's my gift, so should I now ask nothing because it only took me 30 minutes? Or can I say listen, without me, the solution this transaction is serving, we would have not been able to serve you from A to point B, and I think that because something so probably your gift is transforming women and helping them break those shells and living their best life, we sell.
Speaker 2:I cannot do that. All right, I can do other things, but I can't do that, and so it is basically this imposter syndrome as to do you believe that you? You know that they can. If not, why would they come to you? So that's number one. Number two I do feel and this is I'm gonna get some hate for it I think that if you, um, aren't, if you tremble while you say a give a price, you need to go sit a little bit lower. Yeah, that means that you're not confident with that price yet, and what I actually miss is that people I much rather have a client help as many clients as they can to also gain confidence. Yeah, and then the price can also go up because you're not married to your price.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's one thing always lowering that, yes, I doubled my price in two years. I think doubled my price in two years and then one one year. I doubled my price again within a year. Why? Because I helped, had helped so many people. I saw the results. They saw the results. They were like girl, I don't know about you, but you know and now I don't need to ask anyone for validation I know what I bring to that table. So sometimes and again, I'm going to get some hate and backlash for this. Sometimes it's also a process for you to prove to yourself like damn.
Speaker 2:I did that Right and knowing that you can change your price at any point in time. So the question would also be can you see selling and serving? Do you understand that you are that expert? I cannot do what you do right. And secondly, would it help for me to just maybe lower it or at least change the package a little bit where I can help as many clients as possible, that I can gain that confidence as well, because I can tell you that if we have helped enough clients, at a certain, certain price.
Speaker 2:You won't tremble a fifth or sixth time. Oh yes, I can give you that on paper, guaranteed, oh my gosh, that is actually such a good strategy.
Speaker 1:You know, I've never thought about that. It's like we are. You know we're, we're pushed a lot, especially if we want to create, if you want to listen to, especially the American version of selling which is always like you know, push, push, push for the sales.
Speaker 1:And whatever you charge, that said, go higher, you're not charging enough, and et cetera, et cetera. I truly believe that you need to feel confident as the seller. You need to feel confident with that price before you can actually and that price. A lot of times you don't feel confident about it because you yourself, would you yourself pay for it? That is that and that that's the thing I think you say in anasta a nine. That's where we are.
Speaker 2:We have there we are right, exactly core problem. And and I and I, I really think that a lot of people think like, okay, but if I sell it at this, then I will never. That's not true. Maybe not with that client, but after you've had some social proof. So, trust me, the fifth client, the third client, they're like no, we're not doing that because been there, done that. We're upping this thing and I can say it without trembling because I know that I've helped others do that as well. So do we also understand that business is a marathon, not a sprint? That is also, I think we won't get rich overnight. At least that's not my philosophy.
Speaker 1:And there's a lot and I think a lot of people need to hear that, especially when you start a business. I see that especially here on St Martin a lot, where you know the more common thing is, of course, to start a restaurant. People start a restaurant without actually doing any research. They don't research about, you know, the business of a restaurant, which is one of the most difficult businesses to actually get rich. To get rich from a restaurant Wow, you got to be like on another level. Let's be completely honest. It's not that you cannot do it.
Speaker 1:I don't say that. But if you are not caught out of the thickest of skins, then the restaurant business may not be for you. And this is talking from experience. We had one ourselves, so um, but let's talk about a restaurant for a second. We see, I see it so many times you start a business, you start selling the exact same menu as your neighbor. You want to do the exact same thing that everybody else is doing. And then but this is the mentality, especially in the Caribbean If I start a business, if I have my own business, I must be getting rich. Yes, and I will get. I'll get. I'll start making money in like the first couple of months. No, if you can break even in year one, then, honey, I take my hat off for you, because seriously wow, and that is something that we need to remember as well yes, yes indeed.
Speaker 2:So indeed, restaurant businesses are very difficult in this day and age. I'm very I'll be very honest that I'm very cautious, especially in my consultant advisory part of the business. I don't help as many restaurants because now is a very hard time to start, especially if you don't have that experience or somewhere, some cost leverage. Anyway, I'm diving too deep into it, so, um, so it's true, but I also see it also with surface based businesses that, um, we just want to get rich real quick.
Speaker 2:To say to say basically and you know just plain out terms and what I'm actually saying I'm going to go back to my philosophy that helping clients should be at the base basis. I think that money will follow, and that sounds so philosophical, but I can tell you will follow. And that sounds so philosophical, but I can tell you that, and it's not to brag, but and we've actually reached a point in our business that we're so busy yeah, we're so busy that I'm I actually want to be like, oh my god, when, when do we go on vacation? Is that I planned it into the agenda? Right me first, because if not, I could work all all year long. And that is again not to brag, but just as a testimony that putting your clients first, making sure that you really and and again, not not first in terms of that you bow down and you know that. But the answer just helping, truly going for a solution, truly making sure that you get to work. I always say the money will follow and I truly believe that.
Speaker 1:And that is so important to remember, especially now in this hustle culture that we've created, in that you know like you need to just hop on Instagram or TikTok nowadays and the first thing that they want to do is you can make a million dollars with this one product and buy my, buy my coaching set for like $7. I don't care. I was like, did we get that thrown in our face all day long?
Speaker 1:So of course you know that now takes sales, which was already cringy enough. Now it's taken it to a level where you don't actually want to be identified like one of those people either.
Speaker 2:That's right, yeah, that's right, so right. That's why connection is so important. Having real conversations in DMs is so important. That whole chatbot and I get it, you know it helps leverage. Send me the word X and then I'll send you Y.
Speaker 2:That's great, but where's the connection part? Do you follow up with very warm leads, sometimes personally even? Uh, I I'm part of a business coaching group in the Netherlands for entrepreneurs that are a certain level, um, and when I talk to them and I, they tell me they share with me how much they do on a personal level with clients. I was humbled. I'm like Sharon, if I mean, and they are Brazil, millions up here and they still go for connection as well. It opened my eyes completely because I was thinking, you know, like, hey, I'll send my VA, or and, and in some, you know, in some, in some cases, you can. But that part of personal connection, really caring for your, serving you, for that result, it's still at the basis of a lot of successful selling yes, and that's so beautiful how you said that it's like taking your time to actually do a little bit more.
Speaker 1:You're not just selling something. You are actually trying to give that person an experience that is unforgettable. And I think that is also where we Caribbean women need to remember that we are not. We need to remember that we do not sell like our American counterparts. We are not only about that. We're about a little bit more than just that. We actually I'm not saying that our American counterparts do not care, obviously in some way they do, but we care about what we actually bring, and a lot of us. When we start our business, we're not doing it because we just want to get rich. We want to make a living.
Speaker 1:Yes and yes, getting rich out of it would be, nice, but, oh yes, do not be a priority, and I think that is where a lot of people especially when you see what's going on on social media nowadays we get lost in all of that yeah, yeah, yeah yeah and I do think again.
Speaker 2:I do think that that money will follow. Obviously you need to be strategic about it and so forth, and that's you know. I'm not saying that that is the holy grail, but I feel like in the basis we get it wrong, and so we can never build on something where the fundamental, where there's too much hurry.
Speaker 1:We're way too. We want to get there so fast, and that's the thing. We need to have patience as well. Okay, great, thank you so much, sharon. So if Sharon, so if anybody wants to get in contact with you, how can they do that? Yeah, what is the best way to get in contact?
Speaker 2:best, best, best way is to follow me on Instagram at future proof strategist. That will be the best way. I'm active on a daily basis and I share tips on a weekly basis as well, so that would be the really best way to get in touch with me. Also, in terms of our programs, for example, master yourselves is one of my most sought after programs where we really build a sales system that fits with you and your ideal clients, because, again, you can have a lot of following, which I actually uh, I have clients.
Speaker 2:We've had 16,000 followers, 20,000, and so forth, doesn't say much, but they couldn't pay the bills right Because they're great at marketing, but marketing and sales are not the same at all, and so that's really what we do within the Master your Sales course, sales course and so maybe it's also nice to let people know that I do a sales check with people where we kind of audit your sales structure if you have any. Some people don't even know where to start, which I understand as well, so I do have a 30 minute call where we do a sales check and you'll walk out with three tips like practical tips that you could implement straight away. We will see your conversion, as we call it, so the percentage at which clients will say, yes, I want to work with you, then we will increase immediately, and so you can always send me a DM so that we can plan. That is so interesting this is Jackal.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much, sharon. Yes, all right Rassel All right, I've been looking forward to this conversation so long, probably because I need it as much as the next person.
Speaker 2:But it's been a blessing, right? Yes, I'm here to serve.
Speaker 1:Yeah, thank you. So let me see you also. There's one thing before I let you go that I want to talk about a little bit, and that is your podcast. You have a podcast called minding my own business, so how is that going? Where can people listen to that podcast? What kind of tips do you share there?
Speaker 2:yes, so, um, you can find it on all the platforms, right? Whether it's um the apple podcast I'm not sure I'm an android girlie so, on spotify, on on podcast as well, so you can find it on the on all of the platforms. Um, and what I, when we dive into that, is basically again, how to, how can you get towards the most lovely clients that you love to work with, and I'm a very practical girlie. So, even though I'm a strategist, but I'm also such a practical girlie, so in the, in the podcast, you'll always find tips that you can make practical straight away.
Speaker 2:I often open like a client case, or you know how I did X, y and Z with certain clients, obviously with without telling you their names. So that's what you will find on the podcast. And I called it the Minding my Own Business podcast is because I want to inspire us to do you right, because what I see too much is that we look left and right and like, oh, sharon is not doing this, like you just said, or Sharon is selling a $7 course, so I'll do it as well.
Speaker 1:Girl, mind your own business.
Speaker 2:Luckily, stop looking at what everybody else is doing exactly that authenticity, that flavor, that you know, the connection that you make with your ideal and only you can bring that, and only you, it's your sauce, as I say right, it's your sauce, so let's find your sauce in this business.
Speaker 1:It sounds so much better in Papiomant Tambos sauce, tambos sauce, tambos sauce.
Speaker 2:Right, I don't know how it sounds in English, but it is your flavor, baby, and that's the conversation that's actually at the base of minding my own business, because if you look at someone else, you'll probably do something else. That's not like it, ain't you?
Speaker 1:Yeah, but it also doesn't feel right If you have to copy somebody else. It doesn't feel like you. Yes, and that comes across. It costs you energy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly, it costs you energy. You'll get shaky because do you believe in it. What fits with you, you know? You'll get shaky because do you believe in it. What is it really like? What fits with you, you know? So, yeah, I hope we all mind our own business, do our own thing, so that our businesses can thrive Really and truly.
Speaker 1:Okay, so before we say goodbye or so long or te owero. Te owero, I want to tell you one big tip that you can give to the listener right now.
Speaker 2:Yeah, one big tip that you can give to the listener right now. Yeah, um, one big tip. One big tip. Let me see what I feel like. I want to um, you don't know if you don't do it, so, um, I really believe that, again, even though I'm an a strategist, I do believe that action is far superior above perfection, above strategy, above above theory, anything else. Take action. You never know. If you don't do it, give yourself. I always say, love yourself enough to give it a chance, and so I think that that's what I want to end with. If you and I really believe it if you feel it right in here, if you feel something, I do think that it you need to give it a chance. So please take action.
Speaker 1:Yeah, wow yes, thank you, sharon. Thank you so much for this. Thank you for being here.
Speaker 2:It was an honor, it was my pleasure. Thank you so much.
