I've come to believe it's important to pay attention to what "bugs us." What irritates, distracts us or even makes us mad may be 'divine dissatisfaction" or even clue to what WE need to do something about sooner rather than later!
So, lately I've been "bugged" about the concept of niche. I think I've even been "bugging" my own coaching group lately with the need to fully clarify and understand niche before honing in on on tagline or creating content to serve "them."
My big bugging questions have been: If THEM is who we're put here to help ... AND we can't help everyone... (tried that! Ugh)
"How can we be sure WHO THEM IS?"
"How do we know who needs what we have to offer THEM?"
"Who are we speaking to when communicating to THEM?"
I've been coaching and consulting professionally since 2001 and, yes I STILL need more clarity around these! You'd think I'd be better, right?
What exactly do I mean by "niche that needs you?" Well, other words to describe this is clearly knowing your "target market," your "tribe," your "lifers" or just your just those you want to help! (and possibly even get paid to help!)
Focusing our niche not only helps us more effective meet their needs and address their real issues effective, it also keeps us from getting distracted or pulled away by meeting needs or serving every need or opportunity that comes our way. And, though we may want to try, we CAN NOT do it all or meet every need! (Ask me how I learned this??)
So, I realize this one is a "two-for." Part ME needing to get more clarity on really knowing who needs me AND part realizing I want to help others to really know the niche that needs them... in business... service... or just plain life!
So, think about you? Who is the "niche that needs you." It may not be as obvious as you first thought! Trust me, it wasn't until I did this exercise! You may want to print these out. (just sayin, that helped me and I wrote them!)
So, here are the 10 questions I put myself through. (At the end, I'll share my own conclusions. )
1. What needs do you feel really equipped, gifted or called to address? (could be because of experience, past pain, training, opportunity)
2. What person or group of people have you best helped in the past?
(you both enjoyed helping them AND they experienced positive results)
