1.  I just want to help people feel good about themselves, that’s my mission.

The problem with this statement, as an entrepreneur, is that it is too general.  Yes, if you are a counselor I would really hope it was because you have a desire to help people feel better.  However, counselors do not come in a one-size-fits-all mold.  When you repeat this cliché out loud, you really aren’t saying much.  Now, don’t take offense but rather let’s look at this cliché:

You want to help people feel good about themselves?  Well, pay them a compliment about how wonderful they are.  Surprise them with a clothing makeover.  Buy them some cotton candy.  These are things that make people feel good and they don’t require a graduate degree to do them.

As counselor entrepreneurs, we have specific interests and people we feel called to serve.  Some of us are interested in researching behavior patterns, others enjoy helping trauma victims heal through art and play therapies, and everything in between.

You can’t “Dream BIG and Take Action!” when you are not clear and specific about what you want to do and why.

2.  I’m not in this for the $money$.

There are only two times when this cliché holds true:

1.  You don’t need to be “in this” for the money because you have enough already.

2.  You are not use to having money and are comfortable with that being your norm.

Money is the tool that we use to create wonderful change in our lives and in the lives of others.  You are not helping your legacy or anyone else’s by denying yourself the opportunity to help others and be provided with money in return, for the good works you are doing.

3.  Marketing is “salesy” and fake.

Okay, looks like we need a reframe here.  Marketing is just sending a message.  This message will relate to what you do in your career.  A message is just a piece of information that one person or business shares with another person, audience, or business.   Did you tell someone lately about the support group you were starting?  That means you were sending a message, right?  A HA!  You were marketing!

Marketing or sending messages only feels “salesy” or fake when you don’t take the time to build genuine conversation with whoever you are talking to.  Do you know of someone who only contacts you when they need something from you?  They never seem to call just to see how you are doing or if they can help you in some way.  Feels fake doesn’t it?

THE KEY:  Don’t market using salesy and fake techniques and it won’t feel salesy and fake.  Build genuine relationships.

4.  Fake it til you make it.

**Maybe this cliché is why people feel the way they do about #3.**

I know this is a catchy saying but please counselor entrepreneurs, for the love of all that is right and good, DO NOT pretend to be something you are not.  Walk boldly and confidently in what you are building and where you know you want to go.  Remember, everyone starts out somewhere and it’s usually not at the top.  You must be confident where you are now.  You will undermine yourself by mainly focusing on what you are not yet.

• If you don’t have all the training you want, be confident in the training you have.
• If you don’t have the number of clients that someone else has, stop looking in their lane.  Everything you see is not always what is.
• If you don’t have a receptionist to answer your calls, that’s fine!  Practice the way you will address new callers, create a nice voicemail message for when you are away, and keep it moving.

5. If it’s meant to be it will be.

Nothing horribly wrong with this one.  I believe it is quite true.  However, I often hear this said when a person is stuck in a place of inaction.  For some reason they are hesitant to either start that workshop proposal, form that counseling group, start the first draft of a workbook, or get started with their marketing plan.  It’s a way of rationalizing the fact that they are not being productive.

You know the book of Matthew has a wonderful verse that I am reminded of frequently in business.  It says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)  

What speaks out the most here is the fact that we must actually take ACTION.  Ask, Seek, Knock…all verbs which means if it is really meant to be we will find out AFTER we start working hard on it.

So, Counselor Entrepreneur,  are you using these clichés?  

Do you have additional clichés you want to share?  

Let us hear it.  Post a comment below.

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