Can I Please Pick Your Brain?

No You Can't Pick My Brain

"Hey Sandi! Can I please pick your brain?"

I love helping people. I'm addicted to seeing people get results with their social media campaigns, their blog posts, their pay per click ads and their email marketing! ADDICTED. Yes. I am. It's a good addiction because it benefits others! But all kidding aside, when you have a heart and a mission to serve, what do you do when your time is running out?

I am not exaggerating when I say that I get more than 100 requests per week to 'meet for 5 minutes' or 'just talk for a few' or 'I really need to share something with you' or 'If I had only 3 minutes of your time it would be life changing' on my Facebook page, Twitter feed, email, blog posts, direct messages and even to our client care department.

Now let me make this very clear statement. NO ONE is wrong for asking for help, needing 5 minutes of my time or wanting some input. This article is not about that. But it is about the reality that our company has grown to over 1.7 million customers on the small business side and 6 brands we are working with on the corporate side. These 6 brands are nationwide brands, some global and some are even multi-billion dollar brands. The small business owners we serve mean the world to us and we have so many great tools coming to continue to serve them.

I don't say any of this to impress you. But what I'm about to say will save some of you from having a nervous breakdown, developing codependent relationships with people and it will help you to filter through the manipulators and cheap skates online.

My current consulting rate is $1997 per hour and my rate to have me write your copy or do your ads is $2997 per hour. Many of my larger clients pay $15,997 and $19,997 per month to have me write their ads, do a social media marketing map for them, train their team and put a very effective digital media marketing plan in place for bigger profits. They get a great deal but they're not paying my hourly rate. All of this is to say, there is an integrity issue when someone wants to just chat so they can run their ideas by me and have me review their copy. Integrity- being 100% in all situations.

But there's a bigger issue.

Currently I am available every single day in our Inner Circle coaching program and several other product specific courses. Right now, as a matter of fact, my coaches and I are creating a NEW PROGRAM where I will be working with 100 people in 4 private groups in 2014. (This will release in about 2 weeks) I'll be mentoring, teaching and working with our other coaches teaching on copywriting, social media, blogging and brand effectiveness. This means that thousands of people now have access to me and my expertise for $97 per month, $247 per month, $447 per month and so forth. It let's me pour out my heart and my time and NO ONE is excluded.

Seriously, a cup of coffee these days that is worth anything costs $3.00 at a store. Many people drop $50 per month on movies and coffee alone. And the last time I checked movies and coffee don't do anything for our future, our finances or our relationships. When we look at what we charge to help small business owners create a ridiculous income, an amazing life and do it all on their own time map, it's amazingly generous. It's also priced at a level that ANYONE and I mean anyone can work with me and my amazing team.

So what do you do? How do you serve millions of people and yet not lose your life or your mind?

I just gave you a business plan in the above paragraphs.

Some of you caught it. Some of you it just flew over your shoulders. Others? They are so mad and jealous of what we've created they're thinking about some nasty comment to write on my Facebook page about my pink hair.

But that's ok. It goes with the calling.

God positioned me here. I've worked hard to get here. I've surrendered my own goals and dreams to fulfill what God has called me to. It's not been easy and yet, it's the richest most rewarding life possible. So if people don't understand that, it's their deal, not mine.

Are you struggling? Running out of time?

This article below was written in 2011 and was the most PROFOUND PIECE I've ever read on the topic of "Hey! Can I pick your brain?" I recommend you print it out and reference it often. It has saved me so many times and is a training session for those who are serious about changing the world!

Here's the article published by Forbes, "No, You Can't Pick My Brain. It Costs Too Much."