What does it take to make a comeback?

I mean – after you put your all into something, but then only get nominal results.

How do you bounce back and finally succeed?

Natasha Vorompovia is a woman has experienced just that and I’m so excited I’ve been able to witness and be a small part of how she did it after getting to know her in the Fearless Launching program.

Today’s guest post tells her story – it’s a true case study. Not one that professes one teacher or one program as the one holy grail to business success.  Nope – Natasha shares her journey, the different paths she needed to study in order to find the right one.

Welcome her + I’ll see you in the comments below!

[divider_short]

I’m living proof that a failed launch can be the best thing that’s ever happened to your business.  Seriously!

But let’s be honest.

When launch failure happens, it can feel like the end of the world.  I was absolutely heartbroken when only 2 people bought a program that I’d spent months creating and marketing.  I thought it meant people didn’t like me or didn’t see me as an expert. I felt like I failed everyone, including myself.  I vowed to never launch again.

Nevertheless, whenever I heard another member of Anne’s Fearless Launching describe their successful launch lessons, I’d take notes.  I’d listen and learn and gradually opened back up to the idea of launching again.  I started working through the list of my previous launch’s shortcomings in the same systematic way I’d recommend to my clients.

And you know what happens. . . .

Whenever you make a decision with clarity, determination, and a great action plan, the stars start aligning in your favor.

3 Ways to Transform Failure Into Smashing Success

1. Have a Vision for Your Launch

My biggest mistake with the first launch was doing it on the spur of the moment and not understanding the purpose of the launch beyond the number of participants I wanted and my revenue goals.

Gearing up for my second launch, I knew I needed to plan beyond my launch.

I needed to think through not just the outreach strategy, content, and platform for the course, but also how this launch could serve as a stepping-stone to the next phase of my company’s development.

The problem?

I couldn’t figure out how my launch fit into the bigger picture of my business.

I was struggling and didn’t understand where I was heading.  I was going through the motions of doing what I was supposed to be doing to keep my business afloat.  I also had a grandiose vision of where I wanted to be.  But there was such a huge gap between where I was and where I wanted to be that I just couldn’t create a bridge to close it.

That’s when I discovered Tara Gentile’s 10ThousandFeet.  It was exactly what I needed—the 10,000-foot view of my business.

After just 3 months in the program, I emerged with unprecedented clarity about where I want to be in my business and what that success looks like and how to get there.  I never felt so grounded and in control.  I was never so terrified by the magnitude of my vision, yet clear and focused on what steps I need to take to make it possible.

Now I could not only plan my next 3 months. I had a road map for the next 3 years.  Best of all, my launch launches were fitting perfectly into the picture.

Now I knew what puzzle pieces I needed and where they’d go.

2. Nurture Relationships

With my first launch, I didn’t have a solid network of people who could—and wanted to—promote the program once it was ready.

I was nervous about reaching out.  Truth be told, I’ve never been the “asking type.”  Asking was hard, especially if it required posting a request in a Facebook group I hadn’t participated in for months or reaching out to people I barely knew.

The only place where I didn’t feel awkward asking for help was in our Fearless Launching Group.  From the very first day, Anne’s thorough guidance and heart-warming support enveloped us.  There was also plenty of room for goofing around and celebrating our nerdy sides.  It felt like coming home.

It was Anne and our initially very close group of Fearless Launchers who opened my eyes to the fact that establishing and keeping relationships online was possible.  Ultimately, I realized that to be successful at online relationships all I really needed to do was show up and be my natural giving self!

A game plan emerged.  First, I created a list of people I felt connected with and wanted to get to know better.  Once I had the list so I started reaching out to those people and asking for 15-30 minutes of their time.

I’d ask them what they were working on and if they needed any support around that.  I’d learn who their ideal clients were so that I could send them referrals.  I’d find out what posts and news were catching their eye, so I could be on a lookout for them as well.  I’d inquire who they’d love to add to their network in case I could make an introduction.

As soon as I had that info, I’d go out of my way to be of service to them.  It’s now something I do on a daily basis.

It’s amazingly rewarding to make a referral.  It is incredibly gratifying to send a link to an article with this subject line: “Thought of you when I saw this.”  It’s really powerful to make an introduction to the person your connection has been dreaming about.

The results of my new system have been astounding.  I’ve never felt more connected and fulfilled.  I’ve made the most amazing friends.

And when it was time for me to launch, people jumped in and helped me spread the word.  Asking felt effortless.

3. Know Your Ideal Client

I’m sure you’ve heard about the importance of creating your ideal customer avatar.

I’ve filled out numerous avatar worksheets, but nothing brought it home like Tara Gentile’s Customer Perspective Process, which showed me how to identify my ideal clients’ characteristics and see their struggles through their own eyes.  Now I knew what my clients were dealing with on a daily basis, how they wanted to feel, and what was at the root of their dissatisfaction in their business.

But most importantly, I could now communicate with them more effectively and deliver the solution they were really looking for.

One of the most special emails I received was from a participant in my new program who said they were Sarah—the fictional character whose story I wove into the program to make business systems more approachable and the materials more actionable.

MY BIG LESSON!

I am truly grateful for my first failed launch because it pushed me to examine the foundation of my business and fill in the gaps.  It also showed me what I was ready for at the time.  Looking back, I must admit that 2 participants were all I could handle :).

Now things are so different!

I’ve got 44 absolutely amazing entrepreneurs in Systematic Success.  It’s humbling and thrilling.  It’s the best feeling in the world to know that I’m totally ready to serve so many gifted, successful business owners.  *I* am ready, and the Universe agrees with me.

You can do it, too!

[divider_short]

Natasha Vorompiova is the founder of SystemsRock, Certified Book Yourself Solid Coach, and creator of Systematic Success 2.o. Her clients are small business owners who start their businesses with passion and a desire for freedom, but find themselves stuck and buried in day-today operations.  Natasha creates systems that ensure clients get more done in less time and pave the way for greater profits and long-term success. Check out the FREE webinar Natasha created for us on how to manage your launch with Evernote.