Fabienne Frederickson sent me away…. without even a hint of an apology!

Yep… THAT Fabienne Frederickson – it was years ago, but I will simply never forget it.  I was  reading her “Client Attraction System”, which my client had purchased for me to read and apply what I learned to his mortgage business. 

At that time, I had already started and grown two “semi-successful” businesses.  I say SEMI successful, because they were profitable right out of the gate (largely due to my REFUSAL to spend money on traditional advertisingand a commitment to always demand my businesses give ME money – and not the other way around) yet not providing the income I had imagined in my “day dreams”.    While I am definitely NOT a “system” or a “in-a – box” type of person, her client attraction focus spoke to me.  I decided to hire my first coach. 

I knew her rates (then) were AROUND $1000 per month – with a three month commitment up front.  So, I saved $3K and made an appointment with Fabienne for our free “Get Acquainted” call.  Prior to the call, she had me fill out a quick questionnaire.  On that questionnaire, I expressed that my top challenges in business were MONEY and TIME.  Essentially, I was a homeschooling mom with three children.  I was working (then) as a Human Resource consultant and business owner.  I needed to keep the HR money coming in to pay the bills, but my time also had to be devoted to my 3 children and their education.  So, lack of money… and lack of time to make money kind of summed up my business obstacle.

Without even a hint of an apology, her assistant was instructed to email me to cancel our “Get Acquainted”  appointment …. based on my responses to the questionnaire, she had made the conclusion that I was NOT her client.  I was slightly stunned… I mean, I had already decided to hire HER… and she was turning ME away…  Somehow, I surmised, she had gotten this thing all mixed up!   Or had she??

I was stunned THEN, but it wasn’t long before I understood completely why she turned me – and my “whopping” $3K – away.   I would have been a “dud” client for her.  Truthfully,  at that time, I was not truly committed to growing a “mini-conglomerate” empire like I am now.   So, nothing she – or any other coach  – could have done would have helped me transform my business – not until my own commitment level changed.    Even though she chose not to coach me, she set a very powerful example that has served me VERY WELL in business.  She had obviously set her own “filters” that helped her sort potential ideal clients from, well… people like me.  =)

While I know it seems counter-intuitive, when you are willing to dump the dud clients,  your practice or business will begin to fill up with IDEAL clients…. people that cheerfully pay your fees… people that energize and inspire you.. people who are courageous, bold and intuitive… people who you are honored to know… people who are optimistic and think (and act) BIG!  One of the most powerful things I have ever done is turned down a potential client.  I continue that selection process and am amazed at how my own practice seems to expand as I grown more and more “picky” with choosing my clients!   BTW… because of my own picky selection process… THREE of my personal clients have now been featured on either ABC NEWS  or Good Morning America or both!!  Congratulations Laurie, Jessica and Missy!!  Rock on Women who (truly) WOW!

So, thanks Fabienne!!  While we never got the chance to work together,  I have been thrilled to see your progress in recent years and loved your last four-way interview with Bill Glazer!  (It inspired this blog post!)  

To being PICKY business owners… CHOOSING our ideal clients and rejecting the rest!! =)