Why are your info product’s pants still on?

by Sinclair, Thursday October 21, 2010

We talk about clothing and taking it off a surprising amount, don’t we?  Just realized that.

Anyway.  I’m seeing a trend with my readers, and I’m curious what you think about it.  You lovelies are entrepreneurs with integrity, you kick ass at something, you’re even willing to take big risks and be vulnerable.  Gorgeous, sparkly, magnificently sexy qualities.  So… why aren’t you making more money?

Specifically, why aren’t you making more income streams that take your sweat out of the equation? Many of you are in business because you’re multifaceted, and you want a chance to express those different sides.  You can’t exactly do that chained to a desk or a phone line, even if you make your own hours.

We know info products are a great source of income.  We know they make your business scalable, they add to your credibility, and increase both freedom and stability.  So why isn’t everyone and their mother building info products and selling the pants off of them?  Why are you holding yourselves back?

So you don’t want be a slimy marketing shiester who makes crappy products?  So, don’t be.  End of discussion.  You can make fabulous products that really change people’s lives, and in fact as I say that, I’m getting a little cranky that you’re holding back on the world.

You are not going to somehow know when you are ready. You are going to decide that you are ready.  Often without a good reason, just a general sense of emotional resourcefulness.

If you’re overwhelmed by the day-to-day running of your business, I could sort of see that.  But feel the difference between building your business, and holding yourself back…

Are you the bottleneck?

1. If you’re “holding it together,” you’re the bottle neck.

2. If you’re overwhelmed, you’re the bottle neck.

3. If you’re swamped, you’re the bottle neck.

Raise your hand if you’re none of those things.  Thought so. ;)

If you’re building a scalable business, you’re:

1. Simplifying what’s necessary to run your business in the day to day.

2. Using each day-to-day business task to inform and build your next product.

3. Actually present, because your vision is so clear that you don’t get distracted from it, and you don’t have to check out to recover from stress.  (Talk about saving time and energy.)

It’s time to make your business scalable.

You’ve heard this before -maybe even messed around with different types of automation and products.  And you know that if you couldn’t work tomorrow, you’d still need an income.

But have you truly committed to scaling your business?  Or did you let yourself get overwhelmed and distracted?  The truth: if you have time to tweet, you have time to build your business.  If you have time for Glee, you have time to make your business scalable.

If you know you need to build your business, and you aren’t doing it, take a look at the foundation.  Are you clear on what your business is about?  On the way you provide value?  Have these things shifted, even slightly, over time?

I see entrepreneurs do this all the time – take the state of their business as an evaluation of their selves.  Take a step back – can you see how weird that is?  You’re the variable, but don’t go crazy making meaning out of the state of your business.

I guarantee that you’re not lazy.

I guarantee that you’ve got more clarity and more vision than you’ve admitted to.

I guarantee that you’re up to the task, or you wouldn’t want this in the first place.

You may need more information, you may want assistance, you may be ready to adjust the foundation, but this is not a question of wherewithal or readiness.

You have more wherewithal than you can even imagine.
And it’s a lot simpler than you think.  You grow and learn so fast, you’re more ready to do this now than you were the last time you looked at building a product, even if that was last week.

Love your business up – roll up your sleeves, take a look under the hood, see what’s already there, already ready to go.  Gaze out at the horizon with fresh eyes.  What is out there for you?  What will your business specifically look like at the next stage?  I’m guessing it’s going to be scalable.  And I’m thinking the easiest way for you to do that is make a product.

Back to my earlier question: So why isn’t everyone and their mother building info products and selling the pants off of them?

Yeah, I still don’t have a good answer.  I don’t think you do either.  ;)

Of course there’s a bit of work involved to get ready to do that -Natalie and I put up a free bonus module in Action Studio so you can get grounded in the very foundation of your business.  You know, so that you can rock out a product. ;)

Don’t know what Action Studio is yet?  Oh honey, you gotta get in on the conversation.  Resourcefulness, productivity, marketing, packaging, and creative production stuff is all packed inside Action Studio itself.  For now, you can get the tip of the iceberg here:

scoop up our free stuff if you haven’t already – go on, shoo.

big love,

Sinclair

Oh!  But tell me what’s stopping you from doing your info product.  Bonus points for sharing why you’re actually ready to make it! xoxo

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  • http://www.thenichethinktank.com The Niche Think Tank

    “tell me what’s stopping you from doing your info product”

    What’s stopping me? Me.
    I’m scared. Fear of Failure, but also Fear of Success. I am working towards moving past each of those, I didn’t my first interview for my new podcast last night and I am so jazzed and psyched. I just need to shut up, sit down and start writing. I am almost totally fed up with myself that I might start it tonight. I’ve been meaning to do this for a while now. I need to. My Family needs me too. Freaking awesome post Sinclair…
    Thank You…
    Larry

  • http://www.thehumanelement.co.uk Alison

    Rational reasons for non-product-making:
    - not how I see my business
    - doubt whether there’s a market
    - don’t have a list of any kind
    - linked to that, my Twitter and blog readers are colleagues/peers rather than customers
    - all in all, is it really for me? (I’m swithering on that one)

    Non-rational:
    -no one would buy it and I’d look like an idiot
    - I’d never finish it because I am a procrastinating procrastinator

    Hidden:
    - I’d like to. I really would. but i don’t know if it’s the right direction.

  • http://thrivewire.ca Tzaddi

    I can echo many of the reasons Alison and Larry gave. Also: I feel like the world is drowning in information overload and there’s too many products out there already. Which I know is in part skewed by who I am and the circles I run in. But still. A strong voice in my head says “don’t add to the noise when what the world needs is quiet and space”.

  • http://twitter.com/AEIGratitude Angel Sullivan

    I keep starting mine… and then it languishes in my backpack for days at a time (I take it back and forth to work with me so that I can even work on it on my break.. and then can never bring myself to do it). I get so frustrated and only want to write it when my muse deigns to visit. (Which is not NEARLY as often as I’d like). I AM ready to do this because it’s eating me up inside, and I MUST. I feel fabulous when I do work on it and do some writing, and I know that it’s going to contribute something of meaning and value, which is hugely important to/for me!!!

  • http://www.nataliepeluso.com Natalie Peluso

    Yes yes and more yes! Excellent post Sinclair and I know that there’ll be some serious thought going on out there…and that’s the best part, because you can’t change what you haven’t noticed. Notice, explore, feel the contrast between what you’re doing now and where you’d rather be and then make the decision to take some action. What’s the worst that can happen? I mean, really? Apart from the whole ‘no pants on’ thing, which could potentially be awful. Or really really awesome, depending on the company. Hmmm. Ok, I’ll stop now. :)

  • http://twitter.com/AlisonGresik Alison Gresik

    At the moment, I’m holding back because I’m not sure which idea to pursue, and regular blogging and promoting my in-person services is keeping me busy.

    If I could somehow leverage my product-building as blog content and promotion? That would be brilliant.

  • Anonymous

    I like that you point out deciding between multiple ideas – I think that’s a big one for creative people. You’ve got good concepts, and only so much of you to go around. How to decide where to put your energy?
    And bingo! Funny that you say that, there’s a module for putting your blog to work for your product-building in Action Studio.
    Thanks for your insight Alison, always helps to hear what the challenges are.
    xo
    S

  • Anonymous

    AHA! Looove that you brought this up Tzaddi – “I can help the world by being quiet and not sharing,” hmm? Bear with me, I’m going put out some half-baked thoughts and see if they stick…
    Excellent contribution – I think a lot of people worry about that, a little bit. I also wonder if that’s just another way of saying “I don’t want to step on people’s toes” or “I don’t want to ask permission for other people’s attention.” Not sure if either apply to you specifically, just curious.
    I often see entrepreneurs longing for quiet, or space, or solitude in a noisy world, but that’s not their business strategy, that’s their self-care strategy. So is that really what the world needs, or is that what you need? I think the world needs solutions, and I don’t think you can hurt or limit anyone by putting yourself out there and offering info products. I agree the world has an overflow of information, but not solutions.
    Hmmm. Lots to think about. Thanks dear!
    xoxo
    Sinclair

  • Anonymous

    Nice. Thanks for putting your thoughts out here Larry – obviously others are echoing your sentiments. And my pleasure – you can always count on me for a (loving) kick in the pants. ;)
    Hope you write even a little bit tonight – break it into three tiny first steps that are so easy you’ll do them without looking, and alluva sudden you’ll have some momentum.
    xo
    Sinclair

  • Allie

    I’ve been playing with the idea of products for quite some time, and I feel a strong tension between the concept of products and the central values of my business. My business is focused on unique offerings, on expressing the individual and authentic voice of the people and businesses I work with, on treating every person as one of a kind with their own specific needs and wants. To have a successful product, you have to focus instead on commonalities, on how people are the same, on solutions that are one-size-fits-many… right? That’s my struggle with products and, I suspect, why all of my product concepts have broken down when the rubber met the road.

  • http://ProductiveWriters.com John Soares

    Sinclair, work on my info products has slowed in the last couple of months because this is one of the main busy times for my freelance writing career, and the writing is what pays the bills and funds the IRA — and the fun fund.

    I’m currently creating a detailed outline for my next product and continuing to promote my two existing products.

    One problem I have: too many ideas for info products, with the ideas spread over multiple niches. I’m trying to stay focused on selecting the most promising (and interesting) info product and getting it done and out there.

  • http://thrivewire.ca Tzaddi

    You’re right, it is what I need :) Those are good questions. It’s maybe another way of saying that I’m unsure I can add value that way. I absolutely give tremendous value in the service I give to my clients yet I have a bit of a hard time making the mental leap into my giving value through an info product.

    Glad that I gave you food for thought.

  • Anonymous

    Love this, was written a while ago but I am still answering those same questions. How can I build my business in a day-to-day that will support the overall health of my business and not my immediate bottom line or more present pain points?