The Art of Selling with Heart: Abundance Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs

I’m sure this scenario will sound familiar: You've just launched a new coaching program that you know will create positive change in your clients' lives. You’ve been working your *ss off and feel super excited about what you’ve created. But when it comes to promoting it... The thought of "selling" makes you want to crawl under your desk and hide. Maybe you’ll go on and share the salespage with your newsletter (just once, so you don’t feel “pushy or salesey”). And then you wait, as if people were magically going to raise their hands to work with you. The result? Likely crickets… You feel sooo disappointed (and rightly so!).

Meanwhile, you find yourself constantly worried about having enough clients, enough income, enough time. This nagging sense of "not enough" colors your decisions and dampens your enthusiasm.

If either of these scenarios resonates with you, you're not alone. Welcome to the twin challenges of sales discomfort and scarcity mindset - two significant hurdles that many women entrepreneurs face, especially in service-based businesses.

In this post, we're going to explore these interconnected challenges. We'll look at how they manifest in your business, the impact they have on your success, and most importantly, how you can overcome them to embrace abundance and master the art of selling with heart.

Are you ready to transform your relationship with sales and shift into an abundance mindset? Let's dive in!

Challenge 1: Discomfort with Sales and Marketing

What it looks like:

- Avoiding talking about your services, even when asked

- Feeling uncomfortable with self-promotion on social media

- Hesitating to follow up with potential clients

- Believing that great work you do should "speak for itself"

- Downplaying your achievements or the results you've helped clients achieve

- Feeling "pushy" or "salesy" when discussing your offerings

How it impacts your business:

This mindset can be a real business bottleneck. When we shy away from marketing and sales, we're not just limiting our income - we're limiting our impact. It's like having a beautiful lighthouse but keeping the light off. How will those who need you most find their way to your shore?

Specifically, this discomfort can lead to:

- Missed opportunities to help clients who could benefit from your services

- Inconsistent income due to feast-or-famine cycles

- Underutilization of your skills and expertise

- Difficulty growing your business or reaching new markets

- Attraction of clients who don't fully understand or value your offerings

Mini case study:

Meet Olivia, a gifted healer who cringed at the thought of "selling" her services. She believed it was somehow impure to market her healing gifts. As a result, her practice struggled, and she wasn't reaching the people who could benefit most from her work.

After a mindset shift, Olivia reframed marketing as "spreading the word about her healing." She started sharing client success stories (with permission) and explaining how her work helped people overcome specific challenges. She focused on the transformation she offered rather than on herself, and this perspective shift was a huge turning point for her! (because, honestly, who likes to “sell themselves”… ugh!)

The result? Her practice flourished, and she was able to help more people than ever before. More importantly, Olivia felt aligned and authentic in her approach to sales and marketing.

Practical tip to start overcoming it:

Try this reframe: Instead of "selling," think of it as "serving." Every time you promote your services, you're extending an invitation to those who need your help. You're not pushing; you're opening a door.

Here's a practical exercise:

1. Write down three ways your work positively impacts your clients' lives.

2. For each impact, craft a short "invitation" message. For example: "Are you struggling with [specific problem]? I've helped clients overcome this by [brief explanation of your approach]. If this resonates with you, let's chat about how I might be able to support you."

3. Practice saying these invitations out loud until they feel natural and authentic to you.

By effectively communicating about your services, you're not being pushy - you're ensuring that your unique gift reaches those who need it most. Your work has the power to change lives, but only if people know about it!!

In our next section, we'll explore the scarcity mindset and how it intertwines with this discomfort around sales and marketing. Are you ready to shift from scarcity to abundance?

Challenge 2: Scarcity Mindset

What it looks like:

- Constantly worrying about money, even when business is good

- Taking on clients or projects that don't align with your values or expertise

- Overworking and undercharging to "make up" for perceived lack

- Feeling competitive rather than collaborative with peers

- Hesitating to invest in your business or personal development

- Making decisions from a place of fear rather than opportunity

- Focusing more on cutting costs than on increasing value and revenue

How it impacts your business:

A scarcity mindset can be a real joy-stealer and growth-stunter. When we operate from a place of scarcity, we make decisions based on fear rather than opportunity. It's like trying to grow a garden while constantly worrying about running out of seeds - you end up planting too shallow and too close together, and nothing thrives.

Specifically, a scarcity mindset can lead to:

- Burnout from overworking and undercharging

- Missed opportunities for growth and collaboration

- Attraction of clients who drain your energy rather than inspire you

- Stagnation in your business due to lack of investment in yourself and your services

- Decreased creativity and innovation in your offerings

Mini case study:

Meet Zoe, a talented Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant who always felt she was one client away from financial ruin. She took on every project that came her way, working long hours and weekends. Despite her hard work, she felt constantly stressed and unfulfilled.

After working on shifting to an abundance mindset, Zoe started being more selective with clients and focused on projects where she could provide the most value. She raised her rates to reflect the quality of her work and started seeing money as a tool for growth rather than a scarce resource.

To her surprise, she ended up earning more while working less. She found joy in her work again and had the mental space to innovate and improve her services. The quality of her client relationships improved dramatically, leading to more referrals and a steadier stream of ideal projects.

Practical tip to start overcoming it:

Start a daily gratitude practice focused on abundance. Each day, write down three things you're grateful for in your business. It could be a loyal client, a successful project, or even the fact that you have the skills to run your own business.

Then, take it a step further:

1. For each item, write down how it contributes to your abundance.

2. Identify one way you can amplify or build upon this source of abundance.

For example:

Gratitude: I'm grateful for my repeat client, Natalia.

Contribution to abundance: Natalia’s loyalty provides steady income and validates the value of my work.

Way to amplify: I can ask Sarah for a testimonial and referrals to similar clients.

This practice helps shift your focus from what's lacking to what's flourishing, and prompts you to take action to increase your abundance.

The connection between these challenges:

Discomfort with sales and a scarcity mindset also like to work hand in hand and often feed into each other. When you're uncomfortable promoting your services, it can lead to fewer clients and less income, reinforcing a sense of scarcity. Conversely, a scarcity mindset can make you feel desperate in sales situations, leading to pushy behavior that doesn't align with your values.

Powerful reframes for both challenges:

1. Instead of "I don't want to bother people with my marketing," try "I'm excited to share how my services can create positive change."

2. Replace "There's not enough to go around" with "The right opportunities and clients are abundant and seeking me out."

3. Shift from "Investing in my business is risky" to "Strategically investing in my growth expands what I can offer to clients."

Embracing abundance and learning to sell with heart isn't just about increasing your income. It's about expanding your impact, serving your clients better, and creating a sustainable business that allows you to thrive while doing what you love.

In our next post, we'll explore how to set boundaries and manage inconsistent income. These skills will help you maintain your newfound abundance mindset even when faced with the natural ebbs and flows of entrepreneurship.

See you soon,

Maria x

Curious about where you stand in your journey from scarcity to abundance? Take my free Money Mindset Quiz to uncover any hidden blocks and gain personalized insights to help you embrace a more abundant approach to your business.

[Link to Money Mindset Quiz]