poquillo™

Have you ever picked up a business book expecting the usual blah-blah-blah only to find yourself frantically highlighting every other sentence? That was me last week with Robin Waite’s “Take Your Shot.” 📚✨

I stumbled across Robin on a podcast and something about his practical, no-nonsense approach had me immediately clicking “buy now.” Two hours later (yes, it’s that quick to read!), I had a notebook full of ideas that I’ve been implementing in my business ever since.

Why This Matters

Let’s be honest – most business books leave us feeling like we need an MBA, a trust fund, and a time machine to implement their advice. But this little book contains straightforward wisdom that applies whether you’re just starting out or trying to level up your existing business. No complicated frameworks, just simple steps that actually make sense for real people.

1. Start With Your Real Life Goals (Not Just Business Ones)

Before diving into business strategies, Robin suggests something refreshingly simple: write down your one, three, five, and ten-year life goals.

This isn’t your typical “I want to make six figures” list. It’s about imagining your whole life – family time, health, personal growth, and yes, your business too.

When I did this exercise, I realized some of my business “goals” were actually taking me further from my real-life priorities! No wonder I felt stuck and frustrated.

Try This: Take 15 minutes to jot down where you want your life (not just your business) to be in 1, 3, 5, and 10 years. Include everything from family time to financial goals to that hobby you keep putting off. Then ask yourself if your current business activities are aligned with these priorities.

2. Find Your Why-Purpose-How Triangle

This simple framework changed how I think about my business:

Your WHY: What drives you at your core? (For me, it’s family)

Your PURPOSE: What brings together your talents, passion, and expertise? (For me, it’s all things business – learning it, teaching it, living it)

Your HOW: The practical way you’ll fulfill your purpose (For me, it’s helping clients through a mix of one-time and subscription-based services)

When these three elements align, business decisions become so much clearer. You stop chasing every shiny opportunity and focus on what actually matters to you.

Real Example: A golf coach in the book realized his why was family, his purpose was golf (where all his talents and passion lived), and his how was ensuring clients showed up and paid for lessons. This clarity helped him create packages that worked better for both him and his clients.

3. Sell a Result, Not a Product or Service

This might be the most powerful mindset shift in the entire book.

Stop thinking about what you do (“I’m a business coach” or “I’m a graphic designer”) and start focusing on the specific result you deliver for clients.

Before reading this book, my services were all about what I offered. Now, I talk about the transformation my clients experience – the clarity, confidence, and concrete results they walk away with.

The Simple Shift: Instead of “I offer business coaching packages,” try “I help women entrepreneurs create a clear action plan they can implement in 90 days or less.”

See the difference? One describes what you do; the other promises a specific result.

4. Price Based on Value, Not Time

This was a tough one for me to accept (maybe for you too?). But Robin makes a compelling case:

Your pricing should reflect the value of the outcomes you deliver, not the hours you spend.

Think about it – if you help a client increase their revenue by $50,000, does it matter whether it took you 10 hours or 50 hours to show them how? The value to them remains the same.

Practical Step: Robin suggests setting a price, making the offer to ten people, and seeing how it goes. This real-world testing beats endless overthinking about what to charge.

5. The Know-Like-Trust Triangle (With a Twist)

We’ve all heard about the know-like-trust factor in business, but Robin adds something interesting:

People can get to know you through videos, your website, and social media. But they can’t truly like or trust you until they have a 1:1 conversation with you.

This explains why some businesses with smaller audiences but more personal connection convert better than those with huge followings but no real relationship.

Try This: Instead of obsessing over growing your following, focus on creating more opportunities for 1:1 conversations. This could be discovery calls, virtual coffee chats, or small group sessions where you can actually connect with people.

Simple Next Steps You Can Take Today

If these ideas resonate with you (and I hope they do!), here are three tiny actions you can take right now:

1. Grab a piece of paper and write down your 1, 3, 5, and 10-year life goals (not just business goals).
2. For your next social post or email, try reframing your offering as a specific result rather than a service.
3. Look at your calendar and create space for at least three 1:1 conversations next week.

Remember what Robin says: “Life is constantly in a state of stress. But if you just carry on doing the same old thing, nothing is ever going to change.”

Sometimes the smallest shifts create the biggest results. Which of these ideas will you try first?

Cheering you on,
Gaby

P.S. Have you read any business books lately that actually delivered practical advice? Drop your recommendations in the comments – I’m always looking for my next great read! 📚