A few years ago I was teaching ‘transformational stuff’ and was doing what transformational teachers do. I was trying to find my market and create a business plan that would work. That looked like: try some online marketing, add social media, create a sales funnel. (Cue the inspirational music, breathe.)
Unfortunately, my business was teetering on the verge of being called a hobby as my total income for the past two years was around $10K. It wasn’t working because I was living inside someone else’s idea of a business plan.
I didn’t know what else to do, so I hired an “Aligned Business Coach” and was excited to do something that both felt good AND made money. The plan was to put together a webinar that was compelling and invite people to it, sell them my stuff or invite them to a sales call.
Yet, halfway through the creation of the webinar I called my conscious business coach and said, “I can’t do this, It just doesn’t feel good.”
Fortunately for me, she as a great intuitive coach, she asked, “So what DO you want to do?” (I had worked with plenty of ‘my-way or the highway’ kind of coaches before that!)
I said to her, “I just want to play a game.”
Imagine her raising her eyebrows, but with a quiet laugh she said, “Ok?”
I went on to explain that I had invented one. After I described the game and my crazy plan, she gave me her blessing and said ‘go for it.’ (Or something like that.)
I totally appreciate her and what she did for me in that moment. Although she knew business and marketing, this was new territory and I was facing a huge learning curve. There wasn’t a coach to hire to help me have more fun in my business much less help me produce, test, tweak and then take a game to the world to transform ‘their’ lives (and mine too.)*
At that moment, my world was also in transition.
I had just moved across the country from Minneapolis to Austin, and, after dropping all my current clients and setting up an art studio/office in my new home, I decided to dive into the ‘university of game development’ that I was being created as I walked it.
Fast forward, I produced that game, enrolled 40 people into a beta program that they paid $97 each to participate in and received the first version of my game. Something magic happened after that.
When I was at networking events or had an opportunity to introduce myself, when I said “I invented a game,” people leaned in and wanted to know more.
Selling became fun and much more effortless!
Since then I have discovered all kinds of amazing things when a game is at the ‘Heart of Business’.
- Creates a fun experience for your clients. Add levity to even difficult topics with a game.
- Clients stay Engaged in your Process. Games hold their interest and teach through repetition, action & enjoyment.
- Builds Brand Memory. Contacts remember who you are AND refer you.
- Simplifies Marketing. You have endless marketing content with your game play, pieces and results stories.
- Delivers Measurable RESULTS. Quantify your growth and your client results.
- Sets a Foundation for Business Growth. Scale your business to 6 or even 7 figures with a ‘Heart of Biz’ business model.
Business plans are ok, but Game Plans are much more fun.
As I continuously tweak my game plan, I have also discovered the magic of having a game at the ‘Heart of Business’ business model. This is an incredible way to scale and grow big businesses out of a card or board game.
Are you curious about what a game plan might look like for you?
*Good thing you can find a fun & games mentor!
Let’s Play!
Here are some other Play resources:
Looking for a way to create possibilities and miracles in your business EVERY DAY? Play the Angels, Peacocks & Butterflies Game.
Discover your Miracle Archetype: https://jeanberrypresents.com/miracle-archetype
