Have you ever wondered if you are really in the right niche? Maybe you are just starting out and are unsure of which direction to go. Or perhaps, you’ve been in business a little longer and you’re still not completely clear if you have focused your niche in the right way. Every entrepreneur struggles with this at some point in their career. So how do you know when you get it right?
Well, the short answer is, it just feels right. When you hit your niche sweet spot, you know it. You feel like all engines are firing and your foot is finally off the break. You start attracting the right kind of clients and you feel like you are using your talents fully. It’s pretty wonderful. However, for most of us, finding the perfect niche doesn’t just happen. It is a process of practice and discovery.
Singers go through a similar process when trying to choose the right repertoire. We are constantly searching for pieces that will highlight our voices in the best possible way. It’s so important. If you ever watch American Idol, you know the wrong song choice can doom an otherwise great singer. Not only do you need to find repertoire to suit your vocal strengths, you also need repertoire with which you can connect emotionally. It is possible to have a song you love, but have it sit in the wrong part of your register or a song that is perfect for your range, but doesn’t speak to your heart. When you find one that does both… cha-ching!
Entrepreneurs need both as well. We need to find niches that optimize our strengths and also make us feel really juiced. Even though we may know this intellectually, sometimes it is still tricky to nail our niche. The problem is entrepreneurs are a smart bunch. We like to plan and strategize, analyze and scrutinize. What we often fail to do is harmonize. We need to add the sweet accent of our feelings into the mix.
As a singer, you can look at a piece of music on the page and make a guess as to whether or not it is going to be a good choice for you, but until you actually sing through it, you will never know. You have to feel how the notes feel in your instrument. You have to feel how the words feel in your mouth. You have to feel how the melody vibrates in your heart and in your chest before you know whether it will be the right vehicle for your personal expression.
The same is true with a niche. You can try look at it objectively, but until you dive in, you will never know for sure. As much as we’d all like to get it right on the first try, that doesn’t always happen. That’s ok! Every time you try something, you get new information. Maybe you originally think your niche is going to be focused on stay-at-home-moms, but when you try it, you don’t feel quite as excited or connected as you thought you would. Or maybe part of your business model focuses on a service you thought you would love providing, but now you actually find it a little bit boring. That’s ok too. Now you know.
I like to call this the warming up period. It can be a pain, but it’s really necessary. Until you warm up your voice, you don’t really know where it blooms. If I based my repertoire on how I sound at 7 o’clock in the morning, I would be singing “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot!” I have to warm up the old chords first. When I do, the tissues stretch, the body gets energized and THEN the high notes pop, not before.
When the voice is warm, it tells you what repertoire to sing. You do not have to guess. The rep feels natural and exciting and that’s exactly how the right niche feels too. When you are leaning into your natural sound as a business owner, it becomes obvious where to focus your talents. You do not have to think so hard. Just do what feels right.
I love to hear your voice!
Do you feel like you are in the perfect niche to optimize your talents and light up your heart?
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Heather Poduska is a Reach certified personal brand strategist, image consultant and business coach who helps women entrepreneurs create client attractive brands, polished brand images and brand communication strategies to increase their visibility and impact in the marketplace and grow their businesses.
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