Posts in Business Development
Help People Solve Problems

Lindsey Rainwater, also known as Lindsey RainH2O, is a sought-after business consultant, leadership coach, writer and presenter to the fitness and wellness industry. For more information about Rainwater, follow her on Twitter @LindseyRainH2O

The Fastest Way to Realize What Technology Can Support Your Business

One of my favorite people, Bryan K. O’Rourke, often says “You can't put lipstick on a pig.” In context here, if you've got big problems in your organization, adding technology systems to solve for those problems is like adding gasoline to the fire.

With a tremendous amount of possibilities to consider and platforms to evaluate, how does one decide what technology enhancements are right for their business? I will tell you this, in many cases it doesn’t have to do with what you would think. 

If you want to realize what technology to add to your business you have to start with looking at the heart of your business and evaluate your vision and what you are solving for.

A fantastic starting place is answering the following questions: “Why are we here? What are we doing? Who are we serving?” Get the business plan in place (or revised) to then provide you with the content to which you want to add technology.  The goal is to use technology to enhance your purpose, not hinder your progress.

Just like in the fitness industry we are seeing clubs sell wearable devices like FitBit’s at their front desk. And while that's not a bad idea, without a plan as to why you're providing a FitBit and what part of your business objectives this fits into, the FitBit might as well just be batteries or gum. However in contrast, do you remember many years ago when 24 hour fitness launched the body bug, it was a part of their entire infrastructure, programming, and marketing strategy. It infiltrated the clubs and provided their trainers with a system to track their clients calorie burn, and food in-take. It was truly woven into the fabric of the entire operational plan; it wasn't just positioned at the front desk as a product add-on to membership. See the difference?

Creating a vision, a “why,” and a context to what it is that you want technology to accomplish for you, and then layering the system on top of that is truly the best way to garner the best results.  Like Mr Einstein says, We can not create new solutions from the same perspective that helped us create the mess, paraphrasing his message, and, if we really want to create change we have to get to the root of what the new thing is we want to create.

Ultimately, technology is a tool, not a one size fits all solution. When you have a plan in place, technology can and will propel your business forward. Business leaders must demonstrate the patience required to consider what they are wanting to use the technology for to truly know what to use. 

If you would like to talk on this topic, send me a note, I would be happy to go over your plan with you!


Lindsey Rainwater, also known as Lindsey RainH2O, is a sought-after business consultant, leadership coach, writer and presenter to the fitness and wellness industry. For more information about Rainwater, follow her on Twitter@LindseyRainH2O

The Fastest Way to Become a CEO

"Be the CEO of your own life. Raise hell. Let the chips fall where they may. It'll never be easier to change jobs than it is today." -Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone

I am reading a book right now, correction, I am listening to a book on Audible that I am IN LOVE with!  I sent out a tweet two weeks ago asking a few of my friends  (Tamara McCleary and Amy Schmittauer) if they had any books they love, I had just gotten through my last round of recommended reading and wanted a fresh idea.  The reply came back, Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferazzi, and Tamara chimed in that he is in fact the real deal, good guy.  I promptly downloaded and got to listening.  I have a habit of listening to books and podcasts audibly each morning while I workout, I totally recommend this method of intaking information.  So, the book, I can not believe I didn't know about it sooner! I am a long time fan of "How to win friends and influence people" by Dale Carnegie and my experience of Farazzi's book is it reads like a current day catch up, expanded version of Carnegie's classic! Hats off to you Keith, love the message.

I want to share what I was listening to yesterday during my morning workout because this concept is one that radically shook up my life up a few years ago and I appreciated that Keith wrote about this idea.  I wish I could remember who told me this, or if i woke up thinking it, but here is what happened.  I connected the dots between how my life was going and the passive or active way I was approaching my circumstances.  Practically: I needed to "promote myself" or begin behaving to the level I was wanting to achieve, I needed to be the CEO of my own life.  

If my life is going anything other than how I would like it to be, the only person to blame is me! If I don't LIKE the way something is going, I need to handle that circumstance as if I was the CEO of my company, as Keith puts it "me inc."

Once this message began to click for me, I realized if I was not happy with a doctor, practitioner or even fair weather friend, in my life, I need to fire them! And find someone that did align with what I was wanting.  The idea of being the CEO of my own life is that of taking charge of what I want in my personal life and seeing all of my encounters as opportunities to make decisions that align with my greater purpose.

Yesterday, when I was listening to what Keith had to say on the topic and reflecting about my own experiences, it is most relevant to share a few of Keith's tips that were also my experiences.  

Here are two places to start when you do decide to promote yourself to CEO! 

Do not ask for permission, you do not need anyone to say it's OK to take charge of your life, it is actually entirely up to you and if  you do not take charge, do not be mad when nothing happens.  It is my observation that it can be very easy to sit back and wait for things to happen for you without taking action.  Good things don't come easy, lots of people say, I like to think that my willingness to put in the effort is what matters most, and if I want something, my energy towards that goal is what usually determines what happens.  My willingness to grab the steering will, put my foot on the gas pedal and GO without waiting for someone to say "the light is green" is what allows for my success. We all have something to share that is valuable, so, green means go! Go start telling people how you can help them. 

To become a brand, you’ve got to become relentlessly focused on what you do that adds value. I promise you can add value to whatever job you’re doing now.”
— Keith Ferazzi

The truth is, perception is reality ,what you project is how people will perceive you.  Knowing that, how do you want to represent yourself? I think what Keith says really sums it up.  

Lets be real, image counts, so whatever your look, take time to think it through. What is your appearance telegraphing to others? There is one general, overarching caveat in this step: stand out! Style matters. Whether you like it or not, clothing, letterheads, hairstyles, business cards, office space and conversational style are noticed- big time. The design of your brand is critical.
— Keith Ferrazzi

In order to promote yourself to the CEO of your own life, the requirement is a genuine desire to be responsible for what happens in your life. Passive measures do not yield great results in my life and when i am actively engaged and putting effort into my dreams, they in-fact do come true.  

Have you read the book? Never eat alone? Please send me a note, I would love to have a conversation (virtual book club call) with you about your findings and compare notes! click here to connect


Lindsey Rainwater, also known as Lindsey RainH2O, is a sought-after business consultant, leadership coach, writer and presenter to the fitness and wellness industry. For more information about Rainwater, follow her on Twitter@LindseyRainH2O

How Changing One thing Ultimately Changes Everything #WakeUpWednesday

Have you ever been stuck? Like really stuck where you can not think your way through what you are trying to solve, racking your mind for the next creative burst and nothing comes?

Me TOO! I think we all have and I have a little trick that I have learned that I want to share with you today. 

I will give you a hint, I am doing it right now. I am demonstrating this right now by writing on a a topic that is totally left field to what I have been sharing about.

The awesome move I am talking about is called "Pattern Interrupt."

Choosing to interrupt a pattern is one of the many skills that my Emotional Intelligence mentor, Kathlyn Hendricks has taught me.  Here is how it goes… when you notice you are stuck, in any way… change one thing. 

Simple, I know, and, when practiced over time yields profound results. 

Here is why this is a magical process... 

When I interrupt myself and go in a completely different direction then my brain or body was going, I naturally begin creating a new muscle where there was not one before. I create  unfamiliarity, causing my brain and body to act differently and creates innovation by doing. 

Just like a seasoned weight lifter changes their routines to create muscle confusion, same rule applies to the way we do other things. What kind of things? Anything… find yourself stuck on a project at your computer, change one thing about the way you or sitting, or go for a five minute walk.  Having trouble sleeping through the night, change the side of the bed you are sleeping on and the fragrance of the room by defusing an essential oil into the air.  Hitting a plateau on a project? Do something radically different like go for a hike instead of work one morning. 

The purpose is to create just enough confusion to bring you back to a place of clarity, a new place where whatever emerges is the new idea, and it usually comes to you while you are moving instead of while you are sitting and thinking. 

If you are in any type of leadership role, which I believe everyone on the planet is, this is a wonderful practice to try and role model.  By YOU becoming uncomfortable with the unknown it creates a confidence within yourself.

Be unconventional, try something NEW, interrupt your patterns in favor of not getting stuck.  Because after all, everything we do is interrelated, how you do one thing is how you do EVERYTHING.  If that is the case, choose different, choose new, choose discomfort in favor or learning what it is like to bend and flex in new ways.  

So give it a try, go into the unknown in favor of growing into your true capabilities and please, let me know how it goes! I LOVE talking about the BIG LEAPS people are taking. Get after it ;-)


Lindsey Rainwater, also known as Lindsey RainH2O, is a sought-after business consultant, leadership coach, writer and presenter to the fitness and wellness industry. For more information about Rainwater, follow her on Twitter@LindseyRainH2O

A New Context for Sales; Welcome to the World of Business Development

The past month I have been "un packing" the idea that sales people, in the way we have come to see them has evolved to a new role, one of business development.  Before I dive into the next phase of being (or becoming) a business development professional, I want to emphasize the importance of these fundamental shifts in thinking about the role differences. 

My belief is that the role of "sales" is evolving into the role of business development. I whole heartedly believe that people have reached a place of not being able to be sold, and as a result are requiring much more from the people guiding or weighing in on their buying cycle.   

Today's buyer is savvy, smart and has a computer, in their pocket!  These facts are the ones that beg of anyone that considers themselves in a sales position to dramatically change their perspective.  The entire context of the customer/ buyer relationships has shifted and the future is about being a well positioned resource for your potential customer.

Below are the topics I have covered in the past 5 weeks, click on the text to see the article:



I for one am in total celebration of this shift in thinking and it is one that requires from us a complete over haul in thinking.  Seeing the world as an opportunist and creator, thriving relationships and met needs. 

What do you think about this paradigm shift? Do you think the role of old school sales tactics is a thing of the past?

This topic is one that really excites me, if you would like to chat about it, Click here to IM me and start a conversation! 


Lindsey Rainwater, also known as Lindsey RainH2O, is a sought-after business consultant, leadership coach, writer and presenter to the fitness and wellness industry. For more information about Rainwater, follow her on Twitter@LindseyRainH2O