You could put your verification ID in a comment Or, in its own meta tag

Small Business Leadership: Who’s the Boss?

by ag on March 1, 2012

LeadingGrowth and expansion is the name of the game for most small business owners. When this happens, you’ll have to hire people with the skills, experience, and personality to fit into your business goals, right?

At that point, the next level of your success will depend on your ability to hire and retain the best talent to keep you growing; however, even with employees, you’re the boss.

Too many individuals think that being a boss is all about passing the buck and pushing the work down to the employees who are under them.

Actually, being a small business owner, the opposite is true. Everything in that business is your responsibility—as the primary person in charge, you must have a system in which everything comes through you, no matter what.

I’ve seen business owners start to feel like prisoners in their own business because strong-willed, highly-skilled employees have taken it over. Don’t let yourself fall prey to that situation. Just because the people you’ve hired have more experience in that area doesn’t mean you’re suddenly free from the responsibility of a job well done.

You need to be responsible for all of it before it hits the ground. For some this might be uncomfortable, but you’ve got to be the boss and allow your employees to be great employees.  What are your thoughts on this?

{ 0 comments }

[Starting As a Consultant] Do You Have Commitment Issues?

by ag on February 29, 2012

I thought that I did. You see, when I started out (back in February 2000), I started out as a marketing consultant but I functioned more like a business problem solver (thanks to Alan Weiss). Marketing was too big to have a single focus. I wanted to experience consulting and figuring out how I could help before committing to what I’d do to help.

You can do that too.

If you’re just starting out, you don’t have to commit too soon. You can decide as you grow.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many benefits to having a niche focus, but doing so prematurely may not serve you as well. In your early days as a consultant, you’ll spend a lot of time understanding the problems and pains in the market place. You’ll spend time figuring out how you prefer to service them. You’ll get crystal clear about whom you don’t want to work with—this will be a natural progression.

Then, you’ll notice the patterns in the problems that you have solutions for. It won’t take long to see—you just need to be alert and notice them.

This is where it pays to go against the grain a little because no matter how many times the gurus told me to choose a market [and stick to it]—I just couldn’t choose right away. I was like a kid in a candy store: I needed time to taste the market place; I needed time to find my flavor.

When you find it, you know it because it tastes so good.

You’ll go where you’re drawn. I started out in industries that I was very comfortable with or had some love for. I’ve worked with public schools, private schools, and universities. Why? Because I love education. I’m a student and a teacher—I connect well with them. I’ve worked for beauty salons and spas. Why? Because I love the world of service and beauty, and so that made it easy for me to speak their language. I’ve worked with builders and contractors. Why? Because my grandfather was a builder and I like the world of real estate, and so I was able to connect with them for those reasons.

You’ll have your reasons too. Will it be love at first site? Who knows? Either way, you don’t have to marry the first market that you connect with—give it some time and you’ll find the right one.

 

{ 0 comments }

Small Business Management: Don’t Be a Slacker

by ag on February 27, 2012

When you have the time to understand exactly what you are getting into with a small business, then you need to understand that  running it is like running a household. There are certainly a lot of things that need to be done at any given time –and most certainly a wide range of chores and tasks that must be done every single day—or else.

With that said, one of the most important things that you need to remember is that if you are in a situation where you start to slack on your household duties, then you pay for it in alot of ways. Whether it’s doing laundry, taking out the trash or following up with prospects and making sure you are marketing your business systematically, there is always more work to be done, and you have to stay up on it.

The difficult part about being in a small business is that many individuals have signed up in the name of freedom.  Hey, that’s one  of the top attractions of being a small business owner in the very first place is that you are able to find success in the ways that you want. The flexibility is absolutely what most individuals are looking for, so when that gets taken away it is bound to be a major turnoff for anyone looking to jump into the small business field.

This simple concept, however, can put things in perspective: if you don’t neglect the necessities, then you will definitely be able to have a household (and a business) that functions efficiently. By never letting any of the chores pile up, you will always have the chance to get things under control at any given time.

{ 0 comments }

Small Business: The Business Is YOU

by ag on February 24, 2012

It's YOU!While you need to do a lot of different things anywhere you go, the overall small business approach can basically be summed up in one concept:

“It may not be your fault, but it’s your problem.”

And while other companies have the luxury of being able to pass the buck at each and every turn so that a professional can deal with something, in a small business it all comes down to you.

Not only do you start as the sales person and jump over the barriers and through the hoops in the first place, but you stay with the customer right up until the job is finished, and you start trying to get them on the next cycle as well.

In a small business you might be selling the business, but in reality the business is you.

What this means in regards to your model is that you basically need to treat your customers as close friends in some respects. You can’t count on them like best friends, but you had better be pretty close to them so that you can understand their needs and problems as well. Friends tell you ALL of their problems [even the ones you don't want to know about], right?

You also need to realize that they are going to have continuous needs, not just one-time needs, so it is integral that you stay with them not only throughout the sales cycle, but during the times when you aren’t selling as well, just to stay close and remain in contact.

If you are simply able to work well with your customers and treat them as though you constantly care about them (whether or not there is ever a problem, by the way), then you will have a much better shot at long-term success in your small business.

 

{ 0 comments }

[Marketing and Money] Do You Charge Family and Friends?

by ag on October 18, 2011

I recently did a project for a very close family member (okay, it was my husband) and I never once thought about NOT charging him. I actually (for the most part) treated him like any other customer. I stood my ground, created a value based position with what I’d do for him and delivered on my promises.

How do you charge family and friends for services rendered?

This hasn’t always been easy for me. At one point, I thought it was unethical to do business with family and friends and I almost always referred them to someone else; or, I’d try to point them in the right direction. Well, you can see how this whole thing could be self-sabotaging?

The truth about marketing your services is that you must get people to know you, like you, and trust you. But in the case of family and friends, I was referring them elsewhere because I had a false belief that working with family and friends was unethical. That being said, just the fact that they were coming to me demonstrated the know- like- trust factor. I was defeating myself.

Then, one day, a few years back, it came up in a coaching session with Maureen Sherman. She worked with me to clear that sabotaging belief and I’ve been at peace with charging family and friends ever since.

Do you struggle with this? If so, tell us about it below. Let us know how you overcame the charging barrier.

In the meantime, here are a few tips to help you charge what you’re worth and get it no matter who you’re working with:

1. Establish your own fees. In other words, you should already know your price points for your services. Don’t make or let them decide how much to pay you.

2. Show them the value. Customers want the best that their money can buy. Be sure to showcase the value of working with you and why you’re the best choice for them. NOTE: It’s all in the solution.

3. Set up and manage expectations. Don’t ever assume anything. Always communicate with your customer. And be sure that they are doing their part. You’re partnering with them –It’s not your sole responsibility.

{ 0 comments }

Social Media and The Engagment Factor

by ag on July 20, 2011

Social media is a necessity in supporting your overall marketing efforts. It shows that you’re relevant –that you are capable of connecting and it gives you countless opportunities to introduce something new and different in the marketplace.

While some complain that they can’t sell in social media –others are engaging prospects on a regular basis to drive sales. The key distinction is in the engagement factor. Engagement makes the difference in commitments. Commitments lead to sales and sales lead to repeat business.

Most would agree that it’s best to engage prospects and clients when you don’t need them. Connecting is easier, engaging is easier and selling your true value is easier.

{ 0 comments }

Productivity Makes Us feel Alive!

by ag on June 16, 2011

Productivity is one of the keys to success—in business as well as in life.  Productivity is the foundation of achievement.  Productivity rejuvenates the soul.

Whatever your vision or goal—whether it’s for you or your client—getting it done is a moral imperative. It’s a mandate, not an option.

But let’s not confuse productivity with busy work.

Busy work is made up of menial tasks that as a whole accomplish little—or little of substance. You have worked hard but have nothing to show for that hard work.  With that in mind, how many days, weeks, or months could your business stand when stuck in that unproductive cycle? Not many, that’s for sure.

That being said, here are three tips to help increase true productivity:

1.  Plan. That might sound corny or cliché but planning—Sunday nights or Monday mornings—will serve you well.  Two-thirds planning and one-third execution is a good formula to use.

2.  Don’t over-book your days. While you may be a person that can produce a lot, leave room for creativity and the sweet unknown.  Sometimes the unknown will bring with it great opportunities. If you’re over-booked, you’ll never see them.

3.  Establish boundaries in advance. Create rules for yourself.  Personal rules should serve as a guide only, not a mandate—unless you really need a firm mandate.  For instance: If you work at home, make it a rule to keep the television OFF during the day. If you prefer to take a lunch break to watch a show that you’ve recorded on your DVR, then do it. Just make sure you give yourself a firm time limit, and when the program ends, the television gets switched OFF.

{ 2 comments }

Facetime on Facebook

by ag on June 6, 2011

Twitter has been my social media choice since September 2008 when I started.  It was addictive.  Every evening after I finished working on projects, writing articles and following up with clients, I’d log on to Twitter.

The conversations were endless.  You name it –and people were tweeting about it.

For me, a work at home project manager, it was fascinating to be a part of so many conversations, but committed to none.  You know how Twitter is–you comment when you want, how you want or not.

Unlike Facebook, on Twitter, you can vent for days without the conversation being listed in the top news feed because Twitter provides a passing conversation.

In comparison to Twitter, the pace of Facebook always felt too organized and really slow to me.  Now, 12,771 followers later, I’ve decided to spend more “face time” on Facebook. Let me tell you why.

It’s all about the facts.

According to an article written by Social Media Expert Strategist, Douglas Idugboe Facebook is by far the world’s leading social network with more than 600 million users.  In this article, he says that if Facebook were a country, it would have the world’s third largest population. Once I understood that, the rule about Internet traffic generation made sense.  Jeff Herring is fond of saying, “Don’t try to create traffic – just find out where the traffic is going and go stand in front of it.”

With the facts, and the traffic generation rule in mind, I’ve come to the conclusion that Facebook has true value and that we NEED to be there.  People are our business and this is where the people are.

So thank you for Liking us on Facebook. And let us know who you are.  We would love to “like” your page and correspond with you.  Feel free to post below.

{ 0 comments }

A Spirit Rich Life on Facebook

by ag on May 27, 2011

A Spirit Rich Life is on Facebook.   I welcome you to join me over there. It’s my new body of work.  It’s about your life being filled with love, money and the stuff of dreams.  It was birthed out of me rejecting me.  If you’ve read by bio, then you know that I’ve had to overcome some serious issues of rejection and abandonment at a very young age.  And, if you know like I know, you know that these strong emotions showed up in many areas of my life –including my business.

What about you?  What’ s holding you back in your career, business and everyday life? Have you ever been rejected or abandoned?  Are you self rejecting because of your past mistakes?  Are these negative emotions playing up [putting limits on you] in your life and business?  Is it shame, worry, fear, defeat or the feelings of not enough?

I completely get you.

First off, it’s so important for you to accept yourself.  I mean every part of you (even the stuff that’s not so pretty right now).  Self-acceptance is one of the keys to your personal breakthrough…

Anyway, I’ll be handing you tools, tips and strategies for activating your Spirit Rich Life everyday in very practical ways.  The goal:  to make this a lifestyle—a daily practice.  Just as you would seek guidance and inspiration from a daily devotional, my hope is that Spirit Rich Life on Facebook would serve you the same. Life not a one shot deal; it’s an ongoing process; it’s a daily experience.

So join me for virtual fellowship at Spirit Rich Life on Facebook. Bring your morning coffee or evening snack. We’ll both be richer for the experience.

{ 0 comments }

How to Brand and Reinvent Yourself and Business with Social Media

by ag on April 4, 2011

Why do you exist? Why does your business exist? Have you ever thought about this? You should. Here’s why:

Whether you’re a purveyor of food products or a purveyor of words, you present a brand. And through targeted marketing campaigns, you strive for brand awareness. But have you ever thought about what draws customers or clients to you, or essentially your brand?

Simon Sinek, author of the book Start With Why, talks about why certain companies and people achieve greatness while others don’t. He cites a specific approach to marketing their brands as the difference to either excellence or mediocrity. That’s nothing new, right? But when you look at Sinek’s theory more closely, you can see why his insight is revolutionary.

The difference between Apple’s success and Dell’s mediocrity is striking. According to Sinek, there’s a reason. Dell’s approach to creating brand awareness is to tell customers first what they do; next how they do it; and finally why. What? Dell builds computers. How? We make computers reliable. Why? We want to make the best product for the money. Would you like to buy one?

Apple, on the other hand, starts with why. Why? At Apple, we are dedicated to challenging the norm…to bucking the curve…to creating innovative products that are both fun and functional. How? Our creative freethinking employees are encouraged to think outside the box. What? We happen to make computers. Would you like to buy one? It’s an easy choice. The why is more intriguing than the what.

According to Sinek, both companies have access to the same pool of talented people, but Apple blows Dell out of the water in sales because people buy the why before they buy the what.

So how does Sinek’s “Start With Why” approach tie into your use of social media?

By now, you’ve learned the value of social media in any modern marketing campaign. But if your company is one that’s been selling the what over the why, social media offers a cost-effective and fast way to change course. Ask yourself why you exist, then work hard to spread the word. Sell your company’s purpose and the product sales will follow.

Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Yelp are just a few sites you can use to reinvent your brand. Post and blog about the why. Create videos that present your brand’s purpose. In essence, market your company’s heart. When people fall in love, it’s by way of their hearts. Capture your customer’s heart and like Apple, they’re yours.

What is your opinion on brand and reinvent yourself and business with social media? Please share your opinion by leaving a comment below this post.

{ 1 comment }

← Previous Entries