Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Vera Czerny, Founder of Third Chances, LLC., located in Delray Beach, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I have been helping female business owners with their sales for a few years. Especially us women feel that we don't want to be perceived as pushy, salesy, sleazy, or whatever word comes to mind. Usually, it's for a good reason, because we all have had a bad experience with someone like that. And it stops us from sharing our wonderful services with the world. I have been in sales my whole life (not by choice but learned to love it), in cut-throat industries, in different markets and countries, often competing with testosterone-driven sharks.
In order to survive, I realized I couldn't compete with that energy (nor I wanted to) - but I got to be myself, using my feminine qualities such as intuition, compassion, and service. It helps create friendships instead of "prospecting" and takes the pressure off both yourself and the prospect/client. When you maintain the service attitude, it very naturally comes to the point when 99% of the work is done before any "sales" question even comes up. And instead of awkward sales conversations "addressing objections" - (a part of most of the sales training out there that stresses people up), you're basically addressing your client's needs. You speak their language. Different and quite personal approach.
I created and tested this "sales approach" while on the road, facing clients directly - and it not only works in any industry it was tried, it delivers results! I teach my proprietary system called the Reverse Strategy of Success which helps my clients to follow the steps to achieve the same.
It works because it doesn't have you follow strategies that may not feel right to you. It actually uses your own personality and big heart as the main asset. Turns out that doing the opposite of everyone else not only eliminates the competition but also sets you apart and creates lasting relationships, repeated business, referrals, and loyal clientele. Most importantly, you’re not sweating your “sales conversations"; it comes naturally.
Tell us about yourself
I semi-jokingly call myself the Master of Reinvention because I have reinvented my life so many times. I bring very diverse experience to the table. It would be a very long article :). I think what surprises most people is the fact that I grew up under communism (where private business is forbidden), so I never had a private business role model growing up. Yet, eventually, I realized I was no longer employable, no longer wanted to answer to a boss, and became an entrepreneur. I'm a rebel and like to play by my own rules.
When I first moved to the United States in 2002, I started again from scratch - opening myself to any opportunities that may come my way. With a non-existent credit report as a fresh immigrant, it's certainly a unique position to apply for any job. Yet twice, I ended up with a fabulous offer completely by "accident." I lost my last job in 2009 because I got hurt at work. Ever since I ran my own business, moved to Florida, did a lot of personal development work under Tony Robbins, and eventually became a coach using all that wide variety of experience to help my clients see a bigger picture and bring solutions where they feel stuck.
What motivates me? When things get tough, and I have doubts if I do enough (you're not alone), I usually speak with my own coach who helps me snap out of it (I need some reality check), and I have a simple routine to get myself back on the positive track.
- I love breathing exercises by Wim Hof - it shifts your attention to something else other than your problems, and it's beneficial to your health.
- I read or listen to something inspirational (there is plenty of stuff available), a good book, or meditation.
- I write down 3 things I am immensely grateful for - and mean it (the secret is you can only focus on one thing at a time. So you can't be stressed, anxious, or worried at the same time as being truly grateful) - it shifts your attention.
If all fails and I'm still not "right,"
- I read some of the nice things people I previously worked with said about me - that always helps to build you up and remind you that you're making a difference, no matter what your "neggy" voice inside lies to you about.
- Go for a walk, bike ride, change environment and come back to work later, refreshed, or make myself something delicious to eat - as a special treat.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being featured as an Entrepreneur of the Year in a prestigious magazine was pretty cool (that was a few years back). But every moment when I work with soul aligned client, we get to sit down, do some deeper work, and get to that moment of "wow, I never thought of it that way," usually followed by a lightbulb realization - that's what I love about working with the right clients. It feels like we're on the same wave. And then it ends up with hugs and tears. It never feels like a business. That's what it means to get paid in goosebumps. I feel that my work has an impact on someone else's well-being. Every business problem is usually a personal problem in disguise. This means resolving one issue has a ripple effect on everything and everyone else in their life. I call it a "hallelujah" moment.
I just recently started a podcast which was my biggest personal fear and discomfort to overcome. So I'm pretty proud of that!
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, it was realizing that I had basically created an expensive job for myself. Exchanging 100% of my time for money. And I learned the hard way how vulnerable that was just last year when I had to drop everything out of the blue and become a 24/7 caregiver for my husband—no warning signs. I was grateful that I could do that, but it cut a deep dent in our finances. We went from active and healthy to losing him just a little over two months later. It brought me to my knees emotionally, financially, and physically. My husband was the reason I moved to America to begin with. I left my entire family behind in the Czech Republic.
Although I specialized in nutrition, natural healing diets, and helping people boost their immune systems to heal the body was my previous business and lifetime passion, I wasn't able to help my own husband. It was too late for him. That helpless feeling was the worse. It makes you reconsider what has the most value in your life.
So, when I came across a groundbreaking modality that's changing lives, I questioned why I was introduced to it AFTER I lost my husband. What if it could influence things for him? Grieving, I didn’t need anything new in my life. But being the Master of Reinvention, I eventually answered the call and got involved. First, as a consumer, and when it helped me (big time and fast), I studied everything I could put my hands on to better understand how it works and why.
Seeing its power and potential, I took advantage of the business opportunity as well. What started as a sidekick to help me rebuild my financial security with a residual income pretty soon became my new life mission to share it and educate others about it. I have sold many different things in my lifetime - services and goods, my own or someone else's, from nice to have to essentials.
But this, by far, is the most meaningful thing I have come across. Health challenges or finances are the major sources of stress in our lives. This has the potential to address both. It’s impacting people around the world and given me a whole new sense of purpose and legacy. And helping others do the same creates a whole new ripple effect. Helping someone else secure the safety net for retirement, or just bring more money to their budget for things they need or want by helping people to get or maintain their optimal health is huge in my book. So here I’m, reinventing my life all over again…
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't listen to the advice of someone who has never been where you want to go (we do that all the time, all the well-meaning warnings of our friends and family). You don't just need to show up for yourself; you need to show up as a future you—the one you want to become.
- Waiting to work with a coach or mentor because I couldn't afford it proved to be a very expensive mistake for me because of wasted time and mistakes that could have been prevented. You can save yourself lots of headaches when you stop figuring it out on your own (ego aside, it's hard to admit that we need help). I had a hard time myself, despite being a coach. But you can never see all options out there by yourself.
- Take care of yourself first. You can't pour from an empty cup. Whether in your life or business. It's the opposite of selfishness to prioritize your well-being, peace of mind, and securing time for yourself. You need to recharge, badly!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.third-chances.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vczerny
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vera-czerny/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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