2. Raise your prices. This will either move bargain hunters elsewhere, or make it financially feasible for you to meet your demanding clients demands! Higher prices will help establish you as a successful and sought-after consultant as well. This took me a long time to learn... but just look at lawyers... If you could afford it, would you rather be defended by a $600/hr lawyer or a $100/hr lawyer? If my life depended on it, I'd go for most expensive one I could afford!

3. Fill your appointment book! Being busy is good for business and it puts client in a waiting line. They realize that your business is not dependant solely upon them. "Our earliest available appointment is in 3 weeks" gives client little to "bad-mouth" about except that you are too busy... which really sends a pretty good message to other potential clients. If I was looking for a consulting firm, I would want busy one! And I would wait to get them.

4. Refer them to other firms. "Due to an increased workload", "other responsibilities", whatever... you are unable at this time to provide client with service they require. "We suggest you contact XYZ & Company, who will likely be able to better fill your needs!" Its professional, doesn't leave client without an answer to his problems and generally improves your image in community. The company you refer them to may be a closer fit for client. It can become a win-win-win situation.

5. Sell client to competition! (This one has a satisfying irony to it) Let your competitors know that you have a client that last year generated X dollars in revenue, but that because of growth in you business you are unable to properly service client. If you can sell it for a percentage of future revenue or flat fee, then you end up passing your "problems" to your competitors and getting paid for it!! Life is grand! :-)

Putting them into practice has provided me with a satisfying and rewarding experience in consulting/systems integration business for over 10 years. I have a client base that pay well, and on-time. and appreciate my work. I have time-off for family, I get invited to parties, I get hugged, I enjoy serving them. I have zero receivables, I sleep at night!

Leigh Sheppard Micro Pacific Computer Corporation

People who've had a profound influence on me.

In business, Dan Kennedy comes to mind first. Never met him, but hope to some day.

How about you?

Who are your idols? Who would you love to meet, if only for 5 minutes to shake hands and say "thank you" for way you've helped me.

As you think about your business or career, are you happy with your current situation?

Are you doing what you really love to do?

Are you making kind of money you want to make?

If not, consider this:

Maybe you need a mentor. Someone who's had success in your field and can provide guidance on how you can succeed, too.

If you are struggling to get to next level, or maybe just to get a new venture off ground, finding a mentor can make all difference in world.

As you look for a mentor, keep these 3 tips in mind:

1. Find a mentor who's actually done what you want to do, and has done it consistently and successfully for many years.

You don't want to hook up with a rookie. You want a veteran.

2. Find a mentor who is accessible -- someone you can reach out and touch.

I've never met Dan Kennedy, but he's made himself accessible to me through his books and tapes.

One of his marketing home-study courses included a consultation certificate that allowed me to send him one of my sales letters for his review.

(Now you know why I include a consultation certificate in my information products.)

So I sent Dan one of my sales letters and, true to his word, he critiqued it.

I've still got that critique. It started out by saying, "Overall, a solid job." Then it went on to offer suggestions for improvement.

Man, was I excited! I knew I was on right track. After many unsuccessful attempts at direct mail as a marketing strategy, I finally had confidence to try again.

And that sales letter that Dan critiqued enabled me to double size of my business in 3 years -- from one sales letter.

3. Realize that mentors don't come to you. You've got to go to them.

To become great, sometimes you must first touch hands of greatness.

Whose hands are you going to reach out and touch?

It's up to you to get out of your chair and find that person, that mentor.

It's up to you to make contact.