ACK Solutions

When it came time to find a writer for my marketing materials, I found Suzi recommended on Robert’s site. She was also referred to me by a colleague, Jill Boggiss. Suzi had helped Jill write her high-end program as part of Robert Middleton’s year-long marketing coaching program.

Immediately, I felt lifted from self-doubt. Just in this introductory conversation, she was already talking about my strategy. She suggested I could start to network with my target market even before I knew what I’d say to them. I began to hope, and that led to belief in myself and in my business.

Since I’m in Bahrain and she’s in the Pacific time zone, I’d be dog tired at night. With a new baby in the house, often I’d be exhausted, sleepless, or worried about my child. Yet, without fail, Suzi would stir excitement in me. I’d feel inspired to take action. I could see a way forward. Together, we began to uncover what I needed to do, and I started taking regular action—as part of a “dual strategy” while we created the site.

When I got sales calls, I spent way too much time trying to explain my services. I was confused in my head about how to describe what I was selling. I knew exactly what I was selling, but was making it too complex for my prospective clients. I knew that I knew my “stuff”, but was very frustrated because I was banging my head trying to close deals. Being sole provider for the family added to my worries.

She was able to turn those sleepy, seemingly confused and aimless conversations into direct, straightforward descriptions of my business. It was almost as if she could read my soul and interpret my business passion into words.

In fact, I found this the most valuable service of all. She helped me articulate what I was offering. Even better, she helped me create offerings that would be profitable. She would question and probe and be a “devil’s advocate” if I were unclear. She “saw” the structure that had eluded me.

My dual citizenship suggested to her that I have obvious expertise in two cultures—Middle Eastern and Western. When she suggested to me that I orient my business to build on that expertise, it was so obvious. I can help western companies market into the Middle East and help Middle Eastern companies market into the West. That is a tremendous thing to leverage and grow my business.

It could have taken less time, but circumstances on my part extended the process. There were a couple of times when Suzi had to coax me out of the doldrums or take a detour to get me re–motivated—which she did. Her “detours” were always focused on improving my skills and giving me a shot of confidence.

The designer picked up the content and immediately started working on turning it into my present site. She is every bit as talented and knowledgeable about marketing as Suzi.

My British expression is that they actually do what the “tin” says, meaning that the label on the can says what you’re going to get and that’s what you get. For me, the biggest thing that they provide psychologically is hope. I began to believe that I could create the business of my dreams. It no longer felt like “pie in the sky”.