Step Eight - Facebook For Adults

I resist new things, most of us do. Particularly "technology" things (it takes too much time) and "number" things (I don't know how to analyse) but I recognise that our work is about going from the known to the unknown. When building a successful Alexander Technique practise, you have to practise what you preach. The "unknown" is where progress happens. Up till now I have been giving you a Using-Facebook-for-Free series. Now it's time to explore Facebook-for-Adults. Adults, in this case, is anyone serious about taking their Alexander Technique business to another level. Is that you? I say this month is about Facebook, but the truth is this month is about how to build your Alexander Technique practise. In ATSuccess, that's what every month is about. Now we are about to take a big step into a deeper level of professionalism and challenge - are you up for it? I am excited to see that members of ATSuccess are starting to see the results of their steady application of the biz technologies I am advocating. This could be you too… Getting Serious About Building Your Practise If you have been sitting it out for awhile now, reading my blog and thinking about whether to jump on board, the train is about to leave the station, and you want to jump on board for the ride. Until you pay the $48 I ask each month - which is less than the cost of one Alexander Technique lesson - you won't take this seriously. Oh you may think you will (some day, one day) but can you keep your enthusiasm alive? That's the hard part, and I think you know it. There is so much to distract you. But pay a little money each month - it stays on your mind. Your whole system is energised by knowing that precious resources are going out: they need replenishment. Making you pay each month is part of my plan to support you being successful. It's essential that you pay. It's part of the success plan. You value more what doesn't come free. ATSuccess also connects you to a group who, like you, feel challenged by all this stuff. "That's like a foreign language" one member wrote when I detailed the subjects we are going to explore next. I get it. It's the "unknown" again that gives up pause. It's why we don't change. Part of the fascination for you in being part of my group, is I am not only coaching you to build your business, I am busy building my own too. I am walking the talk. You get to look over my shoulder and be part of my successes and failures and watch as BodyChance moves from strength to strength in Japan. On the other side of the "unknown" what you will find is a successfully flourishing practise. More pupils than you want. A growing sense of accomplishment, and finally your retirement plan! There's a deep satisfaction knowing that you are impacting the world with your work. It's worth $48 a month to get there. Like taking one cheap AT lesson a month. Not that much. Soon, it starts to pay for itself. With consistent application of principles over an extended period of time, growth happens. You get change. That's how real change happens - but you already know that, right? Alexander Technique is about applying principles over the long term. This is no different - you will be applying these same principles to another aspect of your life. Into the unknown. If you are still reading, go now and sign up for Stage Two of my Facebook series before you change your mind! All the old posts are there to read, but more importantly, you will be in step with the 38 members already in ATSuccess as we move into this second critical stage. And for the ATSuccess members reading this: I just gave you a pep talk for the most amazing series I have presented yet: Facebook for Adults. How To Make A Plan for Your Facebook Campaign [NOTE: This second half of my blog is a paid areagetting more practical about my general comments above with the other teachers and students in my ATSuccess group. You can join anytime to be part of our discussions.] What do you want to achieve this year?

What I Plan To Achieve Alongside of You I have three major goals for my Self this year: 1. Build the Yoga niche in Japan; 2. Integrate biz concepts into my school; 3. Streamline BodyChance's ProCourse. Of those three, I plan to use Facebook to energise the Yoga niche. In my January 3rd blog, I asked you all to share: "What is your loose framework for 2014?" Time to lose the loose, and make a concrete plan. I suggest a humble workshop, or - if that is too much - how about an evening Intro for your fledging niche? For the Facebook project, you can either: 1. Do it for real, spend money, hold the event; or 2. Make it a practise run, prepare the materials, don't spend. Of course, you can fold into this something you are already planning. In the case of 2., I will suggest alternatives that let you pursue your plan for free, but I don't promise this approach will work. Actually, I don't promise that 1. will work out either! My project - although I am still thinking it through - will be a "Yoga Event" over one month in April at our studios in Meguro and Shinjuku. I have no idea if there is enough time to get it ready, nor what kind of event it could be, nor how I will structure it's form, pricing or even who will teach it! So I am just as unprepared as you. Maybe it's another case of reckless enthusiasm? My starting step is to take this project into Perry's Roundtable over the next three days in Orlando and see what comes out of it. With BCLA off my shoulders, time to flex my marketing muscles again! I'd like you to do the same. Let us know your live event - your final outcome - that you will use to design a campaign around. Some of you won't keep up - that's fine - but you will live through the steps, watch what others are doing, make notes, and use the time to get a sense of how to make a campaign. It will also leave you with something to launch later in the year. In fact, this project will be working most of my 12 steps. Pick a live event that works for you: simple intro, lesson package, 1day/weekend/eve workshop, residential weekend, month long course, certificate course, whatever! Does it segue out of your current situation? Trainees can aim for giving a talk. Your project needs to be niche specific - you can use this to test a niche if you are still wondering about yours. Be ready to fail - I am the Master of that - because a huge part of this is about learning process. We give it our best shot, and use the experience to fine tune our skills. I am aiming for success - and so should you - but our work teaches us to maintain the plausibility of two opposing outcomes up to the very moment of action. Without that, there's no choice. So Facebook Adults: what's it going to be? https://www.facebook.com/groups/ATCSProMembers/