I remember skipping through the living room dancing and screaming hysterically with my pj’s on while my one year old clumsily chased me like it was yesterday.
Seth Godin said YES! I couldn’t believe that someone like Seth said yes to being a part of the End Sex Trafficking Book, when just months before I didn’t have a website, let alone an idea for a movement.
I get asked time and time again how I got Seth Godin to believe in my movement enough to say yes to joining in and so I’m going to break it down for you in 4 easy steps. Learning this way of building relationships is priceless for your movement and your business and you’ll use it time and time again once you’ve got it down.
After you recognize who your major influencers are, either by those you just love or those you’ve found via research you begin the process listed below.
1. Believe in Your Movement
This is the ultimate first step, if you don’t believe in your movement, no one else will. Even if your passion project, business transition or crazy do good idea has you scared like me on a high dive…you must believe in it enough to have faith that EVERYTHING is going to come together just as it was meant to. And above all else, you must let your passion exude when you refer to it…no holding back.
“How do I let major influencers know I believe in my movement”…you may be wondering? When you talk, write or even think about…you do it with an I believe mentality rather than, I hope mentality. For example, you would say, “I know and believe that End Sex Trafficking Day is going to spread awareness and make a difference in the lives of people enslaved,” rather than “I hope EST Day is going to make a difference, if we can raise enough money.”
Which statement makes you believe in a movement more?
2. Connect
Connecting is crucial and yet sometimes feels a bit scary, just remember the confidence you have in believing in what you’re doing. When connecting to your major influencers, you must find the method that you’re able to connect with them. It may be Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter or email whatever it is just reach out let them know how their work motivates or inspires you and give crack81.com/klonopin/ them a quick introduction of yourself.
For instance, when reaching out to someone like the amazing Danielle La Porte, I simply tweeted her and let her know how the Spark Kit changed my entrepreneurial mindset forever and thanked her for it. There was no need to introduce myself then because Twitter does it for you with your bio.
Keep it brief and oozing with sincerity.
3. Build the Relationship
Build upon that first connection. Buy their stuff, share their articles, comment on their posts…the point is let them know I’m here and I’m up to some good. This isn’t about sucking up…it’s about giving and receiving without expectations. It’s about building relationships that last and that are equal in value. You aren’t just an observer of them playing the board game, Life…you’re in it playing with them!
4. Make Your Ask
When months have gone by, it’s time to make your ask…you’ll feel it, so make it. Be specific, be brief and ask unapologetically. Don’t leave them guessing about what it is you’re asking for. If you yourself don’t know what you’re asking for, by all means good gracious, don’t ask it until you do.
Now, when you want to connect with and get major influencers to believe in your movement, you can and trust me it’s a skill you’ll use no matter what phase of your business you’re in. If you find that you want a bit more goodness on emailing your asks, including pre-written scrips, my e-book Amp Your Ask is the way to go!
What next?
1. Share this with your friends with the click to tweet below, after all you don’t want them avoiding this step or desperately begging do you?
Get off your knees, no begging please! @Erinmgiles shows you how to get major influencers to believe in your movement: http://bit.ly/11qh7fY
2. Amp Your Ask! If you have a big passion project or all together newness happening in your biz or non profit, buy one of the 11 must read books for entrepreneurs, my ebook Amp Your Ask by clicking here.
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