If you are a business owner, especially in the early stages of your business, you are going to have to wear many hats. When we first start out we are: the CEO, the Bookkeeper, the Marketing Department, the Secretary, the Sales Team and even the cleaning staff.

Given that there are so many roles to play, I'm guessing that there are probably one or two tasks that you aren't particularly good at - or don't particularly enjoy. For me, it's consultation calls.

When I started my VA practice I DREADED doing client consultations. It wasn't because I doubted my skills as a VA (I'm good) - it was mostly because I was shy and insecure...and selling myself to clients over the phone was something I had never done before. Not to mention having to answer certain ridiculous interview-style questions on the spot. So of course the inner critic who lives in my brain was telling me I sucked at these things and every time I scheduled a consultation - I ended up stressing instead of impressing.

One night, while watching some mindless television (and surely moping because I had no clients!), I saw an interview with Beyonce. She was talking about how she got over her incredible shyness and stage fright so she could get out there and tear up the stage in front of millions night after night. Her advice? Develop an alter-ego and ACT!

To get over her own struggles with shyness, Beyonce created a stage persona that she calls "Sasha Fierce". This is how she describes it in her own words:

“I have someone else that takes over when it’s time for me to work and when I’m on stage, this alter ego that I’ve created that kind of protects me and who I really am. Sasha Fierce is the fun, more sensual, more aggressive, more outspoken side and more glamorous side that comes out when I’m working and when I’m on the stage.”

Ready for the best part? It works! AND you can apply the same technique when doing client consultations. All you have to do is develop an alter-ego (give her a really cool name) and channel her whenever it's time to do a consultation.

LOL - As I'm editing this post and re-reading it back to myself, I realize that it might sound completely crazy. But I can tell you I used this exact technique to get through the client consultations in the early stages of my business. Prior to a call, just ask yourself: How would Sasha Fierce V.A. do this? How would she sound? What mood would she be in? What result would she get? Then pick up that phone and 'pretend' you are her. Become her. Speak to that client like you ARE Sasha Fierce.

After many many calls - you start to become one with Sasha. In fact, at this stage of my business, I no longer have to 'pretend' I'm her. I AM her.

Shy about consultation calls? Give it a try and let me know how it works for you!