Have you made your New Year’s resolution already? Going to lose weight, spend more time with the kids, quit smoking, or get organized? It seems to be the thing to do each New Year. I’m sure we’ve all made some type of resolution but how did it work out? What were your results? Did you achieve what you wanted?
Unfortunately, most people that make New Year’s resolutions actually don’t achieve the results that they state. If you are like most people, you typically abandon your resolution before January is even over. In fact statistics show that only 46% of people that make a new year’s resolution can maintain it past six months.
Making a New Year’s resolution is nothing more than establishing a personal goal. It more commonly involves stopping something that we are doing or includes starting something that we aren’t.
What about goals for your business? Are you happy with your results in 2010? Do you want to have another year exactly like this one? If not, now is the time to start planning for next year.
In the business world, we commonly utilize the S.M.A.R.T. method for establishing goals. S.M.A.R.T. stands for:
Specific — stated in clear, objective terms
Measurable — the results of the objective can be measured
Achievable — the goal is in your realm of responsibility and control
Results-Oriented — the goal should define the specific results to be achieved
Time-Bound — specific time-frame information or target deadlines are included
You should establish personal goals and business goals as well. In fact, both your personal goals and business goals should be supportive of each other. Establishing and achieving both personal and business goals can generate a synergistic effect. Achieving one of your goals should get you closer to achieving another one. For example, stating that you want to get more organized at work and work fewer hours should support your personal goal of spending more time with your family and friends.
Similar to the S.M.A.R.T. method above, before you establish personal goals, you must be sure of a few things. It’s important to evaluate your goals before you commit. There are several questions that you should ask first:
1. Can I actually control it?
2. Do I really want it?
3. How much time will it take?
4. How will it impact others?
5. How will I measure my success?
The answers to these questions are critical if you intend on being successful with your goals. These questions are your foundation to helping you become victorious. Make sure you understand why these questions are so important.
Can I actually control it?
You won’t be successful if you establish a goal that you have little or no control over. Don’t waste your time and energy on setting a goal that you realistically can’t achieve. “I want to make more money!” Is that a realistic goal? Not really. It’s more of a result of some other action that must take place first. Now if you state “I will improve my profit by 25%” or “I will work an average of 10% less in 2011”, and you achieve these, then most likely, you will experience making more money. Just stating that you will make more money isn’t really a true goal.
Do I really want it?
This is my favorite question. Is this something that you really want or is it something that would make you look better or to make someone else happy? These aren’t necessarily the same thing. How many times do people say they will quit smoking? I know an individual that says he can quit anytime he wants to. He says he’s quit multiple times! Well, think about it, if he really wanted to quit smoking, why did he start back up again? Did he quit to make himself look good or to make someone else happy? I know this individual very well, and yes, he has “quit multiple times” to make his wife happier. I’m not sure how happy she is when he starts back up again, but for him, it seems to be a recurring cycle.
Make sure that every goal that you establish is something that you really want to do and you can commit to it 100%. If not, don’t waste your time on it. You wouldn’t want your employees to commit to a goal that they did not intend to achieve. Why would you expect anything different from yourself?
How much time will it take?
Make sure you realize the time commitment that is involved for you to achieve your goals. This isn’t insinuating that you should establish short goals or ones that are easy to achieve. It means that you must be aware of the amount of time that it will take you to achieve them. Every goal must have a specific time frame included much similar to a deadline. It does no good to set a goal and basically give yourself a lifetime to achieve it nor does it help to try to achieve it all at once. You have to be specific on how much time you expect to take to accomplish the task. It needs to be a realistic amount of time. Don’t expect to lose 10 pounds in a week. It’s not going to happen. Take it one step at a time. Also, don’t expect to devote the majority of your time to any one goal. If you can’t commit to the amount of time that it will take you or to the duration of it then don’t bother making it a goal. It means nothing to you or anyone else to set a goal that you know that you won’t be able to achieve due to the amount of time that it will take.
How will it impact others?
How many people will my efforts toward achieving my goal impact? Will it impact them negatively or positively? Keep these in mind as you set your goals. How will those impacted react to my commitment and hopefully to my results?
How will I measure my success?
Every goal must be measurable. This is so you will know if you are on track, how much you have accomplished and how much you have left to go. It is also to make you aware if you are failing at your tasks. The measure part is one of the most critical parts of establishing a goal. They serve as check points along the way.
Once you feel comfortable that you have given your goals some careful consideration and have selected them, write them down on paper and post them where you can see them on a daily basis. It could be in your day planner, it could be on your bathroom mirror, it could be in your car. Just make them visible where you see and read them every day of the week. Post them in multiple places. Don’t just post them by your computer at work. You will only see them when you are at work and not on your days off and when you are away. Keep in mind, that if others see your goals posted, they will be curious on how you are doing with them. They might ask questions or even watch you more closely to see if you are making progress. They have a tendency to become an informal cheerleader in supporting you along. But they will also be the first to remind you that you are not doing so well if they don’t see you trying hard enough.
Read your goals out loud at least once per day. This helps establish a mental picture of what you are hoping to accomplish. It helps remind you of what you have committed to and also helps you keep them in mind longer throughout the day.
I hope you realize that the goals themselves are really not the key point, commitment is the key point. Without personal commitment, you have words on a piece of paper, nothing more, and nothing less. As with any goal, the commitment, the drive, the want-to is what really determines if you are successful or not. Just as we previously discussed, “Do I really want it?” If the answer it truly “not really”, move on to something else. Again, having your goals posted helps others view your real level of commitment.
From my experience, those that show commitment are typically strong willed individuals and are usually strong leaders. Those that don’t are typically those that don’t lead very well. Don’t set goals without commitment and don’t commit to something that isn’t realistic.
The next important part is tenacity or the unwillingness to give up on your goals. Some say the definition of tenacity is stubbornness, I say it is diligence. Either way, don’t give up and let failure be the winner in your life. Do whatever it takes to accomplish your goals. Sometimes, it might take longer that you planned, or it might require that you make some dramatic changes to accomplish them, but if the goal means that much to you and “You really want it!”, then figure out how to make it happen. You sometimes have to incorporate some flexibility into your goals. This is something that you want to limit and be very cautious on because too much flexibility can steer you way off course from your original goal. Allowing flexibility in the duration of the time or the direction that it takes to get there is usually OK. Do not allow flexibility or variation on the results of your goal. By doing so means that you changed your goal to make it easier to hit. That isn’t tenacity, it is a compromise. They are not the same. Compromise is a variation from your original agreement. Making the goal easier to hit isn’t the purpose.
There is no better feeling than establishing a tough but achievable goal and accomplishing it in the anticipated amount of time or less. Write down your goals, establish measure points, define a time that you honestly believe that it can happen, and get to work!
And remember, Don’t Give Up!!
One of the most important parts of any goal is accountability! You have to either hold yourself accountable for your goals or find someone else to hold you accountable. If there is not consequences of your actions (or lack thereof), then what is the point of having a goal? If you want to be successful in 2011, then you have to be accountable for your results!
If you need any help in establishing your 2011 goals, or if you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Looking for a GPS for Christmas?
Now that we are past Thanksgiving, that quickly moves us into the Christmas season. Time for giving. Christmas has become consumed with shopping, shopping and shopping for that perfect gift for your friends and loved ones.
One of the hottest gifts the last couple of years has been a GPS (global positioning system) for your vehicle. It has become a very helpful friend to those that do a lot of driving, both business and pleasure. It can be helpful in getting the kids to their destinations for soccer, volleyball and baseball games. It’s great for finding that out of the way business address in the dark of the night in a pouring down rain storm. It can also be a helping hand when traveling out of town, helping you find the perfect place to stop and eat. A GPS has been a good investment for many. That’s why they are so popular.
As most of you are aware, a GPS instrument is a pretty amazing and affordable piece of technology. You always have a clear destination, specific directions to get there, and know your progress along the way. Based on variable factors (speed, length of stops, etc.) it also continually calculates your expected time of arrival...pretty cool. As such, using a GPS for driving assistance is very similar to using a business coach to help you manage your business. Both instruments (GPS and a business coach) are affordable, objective, empowering, provide clarity of direction, and keep you from getting off course and lost.
Similar to a GPS, business coaching provides you with clarity of direction and confidence you'll get there. A business coach will help you define in writing your desired destination (ideal future)...where you want your business and life to be. Specifically, a coach will help you crystallize your dreams, desires, wishes, and goals. Possessing such clarity of direction and knowing your specific, desired outcomes empowers you and provides you with amazing confidence.
Note, neither a business coach nor a GPS will tell you where to go...you are the driver, in charge, and YOU get to decide on the destination you want. After all, it's your business and life...YOU should decide all such important matters. Never abdicate that power and privilege to others. Furthermore, an effective business coach (unlike a consultant) will not tell you where to go, what to do or how to do it...they will help you discover for yourself where you want to go and what needs to change in your business and life for greater results. Rightfully so, with a business coach as your GPS, you still remain in charge of your business and destiny...you simply have an engaged, valuable, and objective guide along for the ride.
Once you know your destination, a business coach, like a GPS, helps you map out a plan to get you from where you are now to where you want to be (ideal future). While the plan may not be a specific turn-by-turn guide, a coach will help you create a focused and strategic action plan to help guide you and gauge your progress. Our certified Growth Coaches will also insist that you update and adjust your action plan at least every 90 days. Such a vibrant and fresh plan will provide you with focus, discipline, and meaningful action steps...you will be on a path to greater success and fulfillment.
Next, a Growth Coach will provide on-going accountability to keep you on track for achieving the destination you want. Like a GPS, a business coach will also alert you when you get off course. Both will give suggestions to you on how to recalibrate, recalculate, and get back on your chosen course. Furthermore, both a business coach and GPS are objective and deal in reality...when you are off track, neither will hold back and both will let you know about it. Neither directional instrument plays games...you can't afford that. You need to deal in the truth, even if it hurts to hear it sometimes. Finally, like a GPS, a Growth Coach business coach will help you detour around any mental roadblocks (limiting mindsets, beliefs, fears, doubts, false assumptions, etc.) that are getting in your way. This is essential since business owners tend to interfere with their own God-given talents and success.
Here is one big difference, however. Unlike a GPS, a business coach needs to help you face reality about where you are right now...your starting point. A GPS knows where you are at all times..you only need to enter your destination point...it always knows your starting point. Not true for business owners. Most entrepreneurs DO NOT know where they stand right now...too busy to examine the truth and often playing a game of denial.
As such, owners need an objective business coach who slows them down, practices some tough love and helps them face reality (the good, bad and ugly) about their current situation. Such self-awareness and honest self-examination are essential so an owner knows their starting point. Standing on firm ground, the truth, is critical to any growth and progress. You need an accurate and defined starting point. A coach will help you with that.
Bottom line, both a GPS and a business coach can provide valuable and affordable directional assistance. Again, however, neither a GPS instrument nor a business coach does the driving for you...they simply act as objective and independent guides. It's still up to you to decide where you want to be and do the work to get there. Business coaching, like a GPS, is more about reminding and guiding, much less about telling and doing. I strongly suggest you get a GPS for your vehicle and a business coach for your company.
The Growth Coach, helping to drive your success and balance your life. Your GPS partner
One of the hottest gifts the last couple of years has been a GPS (global positioning system) for your vehicle. It has become a very helpful friend to those that do a lot of driving, both business and pleasure. It can be helpful in getting the kids to their destinations for soccer, volleyball and baseball games. It’s great for finding that out of the way business address in the dark of the night in a pouring down rain storm. It can also be a helping hand when traveling out of town, helping you find the perfect place to stop and eat. A GPS has been a good investment for many. That’s why they are so popular.
As most of you are aware, a GPS instrument is a pretty amazing and affordable piece of technology. You always have a clear destination, specific directions to get there, and know your progress along the way. Based on variable factors (speed, length of stops, etc.) it also continually calculates your expected time of arrival...pretty cool. As such, using a GPS for driving assistance is very similar to using a business coach to help you manage your business. Both instruments (GPS and a business coach) are affordable, objective, empowering, provide clarity of direction, and keep you from getting off course and lost.
Similar to a GPS, business coaching provides you with clarity of direction and confidence you'll get there. A business coach will help you define in writing your desired destination (ideal future)...where you want your business and life to be. Specifically, a coach will help you crystallize your dreams, desires, wishes, and goals. Possessing such clarity of direction and knowing your specific, desired outcomes empowers you and provides you with amazing confidence.
Note, neither a business coach nor a GPS will tell you where to go...you are the driver, in charge, and YOU get to decide on the destination you want. After all, it's your business and life...YOU should decide all such important matters. Never abdicate that power and privilege to others. Furthermore, an effective business coach (unlike a consultant) will not tell you where to go, what to do or how to do it...they will help you discover for yourself where you want to go and what needs to change in your business and life for greater results. Rightfully so, with a business coach as your GPS, you still remain in charge of your business and destiny...you simply have an engaged, valuable, and objective guide along for the ride.
Once you know your destination, a business coach, like a GPS, helps you map out a plan to get you from where you are now to where you want to be (ideal future). While the plan may not be a specific turn-by-turn guide, a coach will help you create a focused and strategic action plan to help guide you and gauge your progress. Our certified Growth Coaches will also insist that you update and adjust your action plan at least every 90 days. Such a vibrant and fresh plan will provide you with focus, discipline, and meaningful action steps...you will be on a path to greater success and fulfillment.
Next, a Growth Coach will provide on-going accountability to keep you on track for achieving the destination you want. Like a GPS, a business coach will also alert you when you get off course. Both will give suggestions to you on how to recalibrate, recalculate, and get back on your chosen course. Furthermore, both a business coach and GPS are objective and deal in reality...when you are off track, neither will hold back and both will let you know about it. Neither directional instrument plays games...you can't afford that. You need to deal in the truth, even if it hurts to hear it sometimes. Finally, like a GPS, a Growth Coach business coach will help you detour around any mental roadblocks (limiting mindsets, beliefs, fears, doubts, false assumptions, etc.) that are getting in your way. This is essential since business owners tend to interfere with their own God-given talents and success.
Here is one big difference, however. Unlike a GPS, a business coach needs to help you face reality about where you are right now...your starting point. A GPS knows where you are at all times..you only need to enter your destination point...it always knows your starting point. Not true for business owners. Most entrepreneurs DO NOT know where they stand right now...too busy to examine the truth and often playing a game of denial.
As such, owners need an objective business coach who slows them down, practices some tough love and helps them face reality (the good, bad and ugly) about their current situation. Such self-awareness and honest self-examination are essential so an owner knows their starting point. Standing on firm ground, the truth, is critical to any growth and progress. You need an accurate and defined starting point. A coach will help you with that.
Bottom line, both a GPS and a business coach can provide valuable and affordable directional assistance. Again, however, neither a GPS instrument nor a business coach does the driving for you...they simply act as objective and independent guides. It's still up to you to decide where you want to be and do the work to get there. Business coaching, like a GPS, is more about reminding and guiding, much less about telling and doing. I strongly suggest you get a GPS for your vehicle and a business coach for your company.
The Growth Coach, helping to drive your success and balance your life. Your GPS partner
Thursday, October 21, 2010
What Type of Business Are You In?
Have you ever been asked, “What type of business are you in?” How did you answer it? Was your response the same standard and customary “we sell widgets” or “we provide this type of service”? Delivering the same type reply, time and time again, has become second nature.
What if that same individual asked you this question instead, “How did you grow your business”? How would you respond? Not as easily to respond to, is it? It’s definitely not a normal question you would expect to hear.
Is it possible that the answer to each of these questions could be the exactly the same? Sure you could easily say “By selling widgets.” But is that the truth? You built your business by selling widgets?? Unless you have a very unique product or service that no one else has, the product or service typically isn’t the reason that most small businesses grow. Well, if it isn’t the product or service, what is the answer?
How about this, “I am in the RELATIONSHIP Business!” or “I grew my business by building RELATIONSHIPS!” Now, does that sound more realistic?
No matter what business you are in, it all comes down to building relationships that you can nourish and foster over a long period of time. Ask any business owner if they would prefer a large one time sale or multiple smaller sales over a long period of time. I would be surprised to find very many owners say they would take the large one time sale over the duration of smaller sales. Steady and consistent sales are the foundation that helps grow any business. Not only will those individuals continue to business with you, but most likely, they will refer others to you and, if you build a relationship with them also, they too can become long term customers.
If I could give one piece of advice to small business owners on starting or growing a business, it’s not what you sell or provide that is most important, it’s the relationship you develop with your customers or clients that is essential. Relationships will grow a business faster than anything.
That’s why I find it ironic that Bank of America Corp. announced this week that it would launch a new program to improve lending and services for small businesses. Bank of America is the largest bank holding company in the United States, by assets, and the second largest bank by market capitalization. It serves clients in more than 150 countries and the second largest non-oil company in the US (Behind Wal-Mart). In 2010, Forbes listed Bank of America as the third largest company in the world.
According to CNN Money, the program requires Bank of America to hire 1,000 small business bankers over the next year that would focus on companies earning less than $3 million in annual revenue. The first wave of bankers will be added in Dallas, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Washington D.C.
I guess my first question is, where has Bank of America been all along with small businesses? Why are they just now deciding to hire 1,000 small business bankers? Are they going to try to hire someone with experience in small business or are they just going to hire another banker and give them the title? Let’s put it into perspective, if they are the second largest non-oil company in the US, behind Wal-Mart, how has Wal-Mart helped you as a small business owner over the last 2 to 3 years? What makes you think Bank of America has had such a sudden “change of heart”?
As I stated above, relationships will grow a business faster than anything! That’s not to say you can neglect several other factors that are important to owning and running a successful business. Having established goals, a detailed plan on how to get there and the ability to see you as the CEO of the business and not as an employee are crucial to being successful. Having an established relationship with a good CPA, a true small business banker and a successful Business Coach are vital to ones growth and success.
Having a trusted connection to such professionals could mean so much more for you and your business. These individuals should be wealth of knowledge and experience in their own areas. I am very fortunate to have established relationships with two first-class and reputable business bankers; Heather Hurd with Frost Bank and Guy James with Community Bank. I have no problems referring business owners to either of these professionals. They both have huge hearts and want to see small business owners grow and succeed.
A Business Coach should be on your team as well.
Why is coaching so necessary and beneficial? Because there is always a gap between where you are now and where you want to be, both professionally and personally. The larger the gap, the larger the need for coaching. Furthermore, most owners DON'T have clarity about their future, let alone clarity about where they are right now...the good, the bad and the ugly. They have blind spots. Besides, we all play mind games of denial and seldom have the discipline to face reality and accept the truth on our own. That is how we get into trouble...we don't confront our problems or opportunities! An effective business coaching process will help you face and accept the truth...about your strengths, talents, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in all facets of your business and life.
Business coaching will also help you gain clarity about where you want to go. A proven coaching process will help you clearly define the outcomes YOU WANT, develop an action plan, hold you accountable for achieving those outcomes, and also help you tackle any limiting beliefs that might be holding you back from taking the right actions. While such a strategic-focusing process is powerful by itself, it is the on-going accountability and support that truly helps owners to change mindsets, behaviors, habits and results. That's how you achieve real and lasting change.
Don't worry, true business coaches, like The Growth Coach, will not tell you what to do or how to do it...that is old-school consulting. You are the expert in your business and industry; you don't need someone telling you what to do. Besides, you never want to give your power and responsibility away to anyone else. Isn't that why you became your own boss in the first place? As it should, business coaching puts you front and center and helps you discover the right answers and solutions for you and your business.
In the end, with the Growth Coach process, our clients have greater awareness and clarity about where they are and want to go, possess a strategic and focused action plan to get there, and receive on-going accountability and support to make critical adjustments along the way to stay on track. Each client fills out our proprietary strategic planner and they review and update it every 90 days in order to make on-going refinements and course-corrections to get them closer to their dreams and goals.
Aren't you ready to make more money, experience more fun, and gain greater freedom and free time? Is so, take action below:
To see if you could benefit from business coaching, take our five-minute, confidential, on-line assessment.
Nobody sees your answers but you. You will be glad you took the time.
What if that same individual asked you this question instead, “How did you grow your business”? How would you respond? Not as easily to respond to, is it? It’s definitely not a normal question you would expect to hear.
Is it possible that the answer to each of these questions could be the exactly the same? Sure you could easily say “By selling widgets.” But is that the truth? You built your business by selling widgets?? Unless you have a very unique product or service that no one else has, the product or service typically isn’t the reason that most small businesses grow. Well, if it isn’t the product or service, what is the answer?
How about this, “I am in the RELATIONSHIP Business!” or “I grew my business by building RELATIONSHIPS!” Now, does that sound more realistic?
No matter what business you are in, it all comes down to building relationships that you can nourish and foster over a long period of time. Ask any business owner if they would prefer a large one time sale or multiple smaller sales over a long period of time. I would be surprised to find very many owners say they would take the large one time sale over the duration of smaller sales. Steady and consistent sales are the foundation that helps grow any business. Not only will those individuals continue to business with you, but most likely, they will refer others to you and, if you build a relationship with them also, they too can become long term customers.
If I could give one piece of advice to small business owners on starting or growing a business, it’s not what you sell or provide that is most important, it’s the relationship you develop with your customers or clients that is essential. Relationships will grow a business faster than anything.
That’s why I find it ironic that Bank of America Corp. announced this week that it would launch a new program to improve lending and services for small businesses. Bank of America is the largest bank holding company in the United States, by assets, and the second largest bank by market capitalization. It serves clients in more than 150 countries and the second largest non-oil company in the US (Behind Wal-Mart). In 2010, Forbes listed Bank of America as the third largest company in the world.
According to CNN Money, the program requires Bank of America to hire 1,000 small business bankers over the next year that would focus on companies earning less than $3 million in annual revenue. The first wave of bankers will be added in Dallas, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Washington D.C.
I guess my first question is, where has Bank of America been all along with small businesses? Why are they just now deciding to hire 1,000 small business bankers? Are they going to try to hire someone with experience in small business or are they just going to hire another banker and give them the title? Let’s put it into perspective, if they are the second largest non-oil company in the US, behind Wal-Mart, how has Wal-Mart helped you as a small business owner over the last 2 to 3 years? What makes you think Bank of America has had such a sudden “change of heart”?
As I stated above, relationships will grow a business faster than anything! That’s not to say you can neglect several other factors that are important to owning and running a successful business. Having established goals, a detailed plan on how to get there and the ability to see you as the CEO of the business and not as an employee are crucial to being successful. Having an established relationship with a good CPA, a true small business banker and a successful Business Coach are vital to ones growth and success.
Having a trusted connection to such professionals could mean so much more for you and your business. These individuals should be wealth of knowledge and experience in their own areas. I am very fortunate to have established relationships with two first-class and reputable business bankers; Heather Hurd with Frost Bank and Guy James with Community Bank. I have no problems referring business owners to either of these professionals. They both have huge hearts and want to see small business owners grow and succeed.
A Business Coach should be on your team as well.
Why is coaching so necessary and beneficial? Because there is always a gap between where you are now and where you want to be, both professionally and personally. The larger the gap, the larger the need for coaching. Furthermore, most owners DON'T have clarity about their future, let alone clarity about where they are right now...the good, the bad and the ugly. They have blind spots. Besides, we all play mind games of denial and seldom have the discipline to face reality and accept the truth on our own. That is how we get into trouble...we don't confront our problems or opportunities! An effective business coaching process will help you face and accept the truth...about your strengths, talents, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in all facets of your business and life.
Business coaching will also help you gain clarity about where you want to go. A proven coaching process will help you clearly define the outcomes YOU WANT, develop an action plan, hold you accountable for achieving those outcomes, and also help you tackle any limiting beliefs that might be holding you back from taking the right actions. While such a strategic-focusing process is powerful by itself, it is the on-going accountability and support that truly helps owners to change mindsets, behaviors, habits and results. That's how you achieve real and lasting change.
Don't worry, true business coaches, like The Growth Coach, will not tell you what to do or how to do it...that is old-school consulting. You are the expert in your business and industry; you don't need someone telling you what to do. Besides, you never want to give your power and responsibility away to anyone else. Isn't that why you became your own boss in the first place? As it should, business coaching puts you front and center and helps you discover the right answers and solutions for you and your business.
In the end, with the Growth Coach process, our clients have greater awareness and clarity about where they are and want to go, possess a strategic and focused action plan to get there, and receive on-going accountability and support to make critical adjustments along the way to stay on track. Each client fills out our proprietary strategic planner and they review and update it every 90 days in order to make on-going refinements and course-corrections to get them closer to their dreams and goals.
Aren't you ready to make more money, experience more fun, and gain greater freedom and free time? Is so, take action below:
To see if you could benefit from business coaching, take our five-minute, confidential, on-line assessment.
Nobody sees your answers but you. You will be glad you took the time.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Who Becomes Wealthy?
I’m currently reading a book by Thomas J. Stanley titled The Millionaire Next Door: Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy. The book is based on more than a thousand individuals participating in a survey spanning for almost a year. The survey questions target areas such as household budgeting, financial fears, acts of kindness, purchasing and more. There were a total of 249 questions all together. “Who becomes wealthy?” Stanley asks. “Usually the wealthy individual is a businessman who has lived in the same town for all his adult life. The person owns a small factory, a chain of stores, or a service company. He has married once and remains married. He lives next door to people with a faction of his wealth. He is a compulsive saver and investor. And he has made his money on his own.” Stanley gives emphasis to that “Eighty percent of America’s millionaires are first-generation rich.” Stanley explains his discoveries as “building wealth takes discipline, sacrifice, and hard work.”
I find this book to be very interesting in the fact that many of my clients state initially that they are working very hard and sacrificing a great deal to their business. They feel like they are giving as much as they can and don’t seem to be getting anywhere. They often describe it as “being a prisoner to their business”. They sometimes wish they had a “job” instead of “owning a business”.
No matter what industry you are in, you should not be a prisoner to your business! If you are, you have it backwards. Your business should serve you and your dreams. It should give you greater freedom, not less. In fact, your business, properly designed, should function practically without you, not because of you. It should run predictably and automatically whether you are in the office or not, in the store or not, out in the field or not, on vacation or not. Your business should not depend upon your presence, personality, problem solving and perspiration for its daily survival. If so, your business does not work, you do!
Bottom line, you should run your business; it should not run you, your family or your life. Your business should work harder so you don’t have to. It should be systems-dependent and not owner-dependent or expert-dependent for its success. It should have its own heart, mind, and soul – it should not steal your vital organs and spirit!
Stop for a moment and think of the consequences. If everything in your business flows through you and is dependent upon you, then you are restricting dramatically the growth and profits of your company. As a single human being, there are natural limits to the amount of work, transactions, problems, and decisions that can flow effectively through you in a given day. Stop being a bottleneck or clog. Otherwise, you will continue to restrict the potential of your employees and business and ensure your persistent exhaustion. Stop missing out on greater personal freedom, money and happiness.
Let me be very clear, you are the expert in your business and industry. I am not and will never claim to be. My expertise is guiding business owners to unlock greater potential in themselves and their businesses. I coach and mentor owners/managers, like you, to define clearly and then reach their business and personal goals. To implement the changes they desire. I guide owners to become more effective, focused, productive and strategic. To face reality, identify solutions, and help them stay on track. I help overwhelmed owners/managers to work “on” themselves, “on” their businesses, and “on” their specific issues, opportunities and goals.
If you would like to achieve greater freedom, fulfillment and financial returns from your business, and move closer to becoming “The Millionaire Next Door”, please contact me.
I find this book to be very interesting in the fact that many of my clients state initially that they are working very hard and sacrificing a great deal to their business. They feel like they are giving as much as they can and don’t seem to be getting anywhere. They often describe it as “being a prisoner to their business”. They sometimes wish they had a “job” instead of “owning a business”.
No matter what industry you are in, you should not be a prisoner to your business! If you are, you have it backwards. Your business should serve you and your dreams. It should give you greater freedom, not less. In fact, your business, properly designed, should function practically without you, not because of you. It should run predictably and automatically whether you are in the office or not, in the store or not, out in the field or not, on vacation or not. Your business should not depend upon your presence, personality, problem solving and perspiration for its daily survival. If so, your business does not work, you do!
Bottom line, you should run your business; it should not run you, your family or your life. Your business should work harder so you don’t have to. It should be systems-dependent and not owner-dependent or expert-dependent for its success. It should have its own heart, mind, and soul – it should not steal your vital organs and spirit!
Stop for a moment and think of the consequences. If everything in your business flows through you and is dependent upon you, then you are restricting dramatically the growth and profits of your company. As a single human being, there are natural limits to the amount of work, transactions, problems, and decisions that can flow effectively through you in a given day. Stop being a bottleneck or clog. Otherwise, you will continue to restrict the potential of your employees and business and ensure your persistent exhaustion. Stop missing out on greater personal freedom, money and happiness.
Let me be very clear, you are the expert in your business and industry. I am not and will never claim to be. My expertise is guiding business owners to unlock greater potential in themselves and their businesses. I coach and mentor owners/managers, like you, to define clearly and then reach their business and personal goals. To implement the changes they desire. I guide owners to become more effective, focused, productive and strategic. To face reality, identify solutions, and help them stay on track. I help overwhelmed owners/managers to work “on” themselves, “on” their businesses, and “on” their specific issues, opportunities and goals.
If you would like to achieve greater freedom, fulfillment and financial returns from your business, and move closer to becoming “The Millionaire Next Door”, please contact me.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Fort Worth Small Business Owners Swim Against the Trend to Sell Out Soon
The Growth Coach of Fort Worth Finds Exit Strategies Being Postponed
Fort Worth, TX – As the economy remains uncertain, baby-boomer small business owners ages 46 to 64 in Fort Worth area are delaying the process of selling their business, despite national statistics showing otherwise.
A recent study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers reported that one out of two small to large businesses will change hands between 2006 and 2016. However, according to a survey conducted by The Growth Coach franchise system in which Tim Fancher, local owner of The Growth Coach participated in, the recession has caused many small business owners in the Fort Worth area, claiming sales revenue under $5 million and less than 100 employees, to push back their selling plans and delay retirement. This is due to the negative impact degraded business performance will have on the near-term selling price of their business.
Based on survey responses, less than 10 percent of baby boomer small business owners in Fort Worth are planning to sell their business in the next five years. That indicates the vast majority of small business owners are planning to delay an exit strategy until beyond 2015.
“We coach dozens of baby boomer small business owners annually in the area, which helps us analyze various small business trends in the market,” said Fancher, owner of The Growth Coach in Fort Worth. “This latest Business Barometer survey indicates that despite what national statistics report, the uncertain economy is forcing small business owners to re-think and delay a potential business sale until bottom-line results improve and are sustained for several years.”
The Growth Coach survey also indicated that of those baby boomer small business owners in Fort Worth thinking about selling their business:
• 25 percent of their business coaches report that the primary reason for wanting to sell their business is to cash out and collect the equity.
• 23 percent simply desire to retire.
• 28 percent agree that small business owners are setting aside at least two years to properly prepare their business for the selling process.
• 28 percent are looking to sell to third-party buyers that are not competitors.
• 14 percent are looking to sell to family members.
The baby boomer generation has been one of the most entrepreneurial generations in U.S. history. During the last 30 years, more than five million businesses with annual revenues ranging from $1 million to $75 million were founded. The majority of these business owners are now 50-years-old or older.
The Growth Coach specializes in providing affordable group coaching workshops to business owners and executives utilizing its proprietary Strategic Mindset® process. In addition, they provide face-to-face coaching, Coaching Club (tele-coaching), as well as coach entire sales teams and management teams to be more effective with a strategic-focusing process. All initial coaching services come with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. The coaching process helps clients gain clarity about where they want to go, develop continuous action plans to get there, and receive on-going accountability to stay on track. For more information, please visit www.TheGrowthCoach.com/tfancher
About The Growth Coach
Founded in 2002, The Growth Coach is the only pure business coaching franchise system with the single purpose of helping drive the success and balance the lives of business owners. Their goal is to help clients gain greater focus and leverage so they can work less, earn more and enjoy more fulfilling lives. Clients include small business owners, franchisees, self-employed professionals, high-end sales and financial services professionals and managers from businesses of all size. Through an expanding national accounts program, The Growth Coach serves franchise systems, dealer networks and associations. With a presence in more than 150 markets across North America, The Growth Coach encourages diversity within its franchise system, as well as the development of small business and franchising worldwide. Currently, The Growth Coach is a member and/or affiliated with the following professional organizations: International Franchise Association, SBA Franchise Registry, VetFran, Minority Fran and is listed in Bond’s Minority Franchise Guide, 2010 AllBusiness.com AllStar Top 300 Franchises, and Entrepreneur’s 2010 Franchise 500®. For more franchise opportunity information, visit www.TheGrowthCoach.com.
Fort Worth, TX – As the economy remains uncertain, baby-boomer small business owners ages 46 to 64 in Fort Worth area are delaying the process of selling their business, despite national statistics showing otherwise.
A recent study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers reported that one out of two small to large businesses will change hands between 2006 and 2016. However, according to a survey conducted by The Growth Coach franchise system in which Tim Fancher, local owner of The Growth Coach participated in, the recession has caused many small business owners in the Fort Worth area, claiming sales revenue under $5 million and less than 100 employees, to push back their selling plans and delay retirement. This is due to the negative impact degraded business performance will have on the near-term selling price of their business.
Based on survey responses, less than 10 percent of baby boomer small business owners in Fort Worth are planning to sell their business in the next five years. That indicates the vast majority of small business owners are planning to delay an exit strategy until beyond 2015.
“We coach dozens of baby boomer small business owners annually in the area, which helps us analyze various small business trends in the market,” said Fancher, owner of The Growth Coach in Fort Worth. “This latest Business Barometer survey indicates that despite what national statistics report, the uncertain economy is forcing small business owners to re-think and delay a potential business sale until bottom-line results improve and are sustained for several years.”
The Growth Coach survey also indicated that of those baby boomer small business owners in Fort Worth thinking about selling their business:
• 25 percent of their business coaches report that the primary reason for wanting to sell their business is to cash out and collect the equity.
• 23 percent simply desire to retire.
• 28 percent agree that small business owners are setting aside at least two years to properly prepare their business for the selling process.
• 28 percent are looking to sell to third-party buyers that are not competitors.
• 14 percent are looking to sell to family members.
The baby boomer generation has been one of the most entrepreneurial generations in U.S. history. During the last 30 years, more than five million businesses with annual revenues ranging from $1 million to $75 million were founded. The majority of these business owners are now 50-years-old or older.
The Growth Coach specializes in providing affordable group coaching workshops to business owners and executives utilizing its proprietary Strategic Mindset® process. In addition, they provide face-to-face coaching, Coaching Club (tele-coaching), as well as coach entire sales teams and management teams to be more effective with a strategic-focusing process. All initial coaching services come with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. The coaching process helps clients gain clarity about where they want to go, develop continuous action plans to get there, and receive on-going accountability to stay on track. For more information, please visit www.TheGrowthCoach.com/tfancher
About The Growth Coach
Founded in 2002, The Growth Coach is the only pure business coaching franchise system with the single purpose of helping drive the success and balance the lives of business owners. Their goal is to help clients gain greater focus and leverage so they can work less, earn more and enjoy more fulfilling lives. Clients include small business owners, franchisees, self-employed professionals, high-end sales and financial services professionals and managers from businesses of all size. Through an expanding national accounts program, The Growth Coach serves franchise systems, dealer networks and associations. With a presence in more than 150 markets across North America, The Growth Coach encourages diversity within its franchise system, as well as the development of small business and franchising worldwide. Currently, The Growth Coach is a member and/or affiliated with the following professional organizations: International Franchise Association, SBA Franchise Registry, VetFran, Minority Fran and is listed in Bond’s Minority Franchise Guide, 2010 AllBusiness.com AllStar Top 300 Franchises, and Entrepreneur’s 2010 Franchise 500®. For more franchise opportunity information, visit www.TheGrowthCoach.com.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Do You Belong to a Social Network?
Are you on Facebook? Do you tweet? What about Blogging? Or do you believe that this entire social media is just a fad that will eventually fade away? No matter what your beliefs, here are some interesting facts concerning Facebook and Social Media in general:
Whether you are a business owner, a manager for a large corporation, a soccer mom or even a married couple trying to make ends meet, the way you communicate is very important. There is no doubt that our society has lent itself to always being on the go and little time to effectively communicate. Therefore, to become more efficient, the way we communicate must change. This is why social media has become so popular. It’s fast, effective (communicating to hundreds or thousands at a time), it can be done virtually anywhere with the advances in cell phone technology, and best of all, it’s FREE!
It might be as simple as keeping up with old high school friends, communicating with relative’s miles away, advertising specials that your business is offering, connecting and communicating with your church group or even posting pictures of your new grandchild for everyone to see. It doesn’t take long to get up and running with social media and the cost couldn’t be better.
So if you are not part of the Facebook crowd, or you and/or your company is not on LinkedIn, take a few minutes to learn more about what they can offer you. Although I typically work with small business owners to become more strategic, I encourage everyone to explore the fast growing universe of social media.
Another interesting fact: The fastest growing segment on Facebook is 55-65 year-old females.
- By 2010 Gen Y will outnumber Baby Boomers….96% of them have joined a social network
- 1 out of 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met via social media
- Years to Reach 50 million Users:
- Radio - 38 Years
- TV - 13 Years
- Internet - 4 Years
- iPod - 3 Years
- Facebook added 100 million users in less than 9 months
- If Facebook were a country it would be the world’s 4th largest between the United States and Indonesia.
As you may have heard numerous times, the numbers don’t lie. With statistics’ such as these, it’s hard to believe that Facebook and the social media blitz is just a fad. Many have described it as a “Social Media Revolution”. Describing it more as a fundamental shift in the way people communicate.
It might be as simple as keeping up with old high school friends, communicating with relative’s miles away, advertising specials that your business is offering, connecting and communicating with your church group or even posting pictures of your new grandchild for everyone to see. It doesn’t take long to get up and running with social media and the cost couldn’t be better.
So if you are not part of the Facebook crowd, or you and/or your company is not on LinkedIn, take a few minutes to learn more about what they can offer you. Although I typically work with small business owners to become more strategic, I encourage everyone to explore the fast growing universe of social media.
Another interesting fact: The fastest growing segment on Facebook is 55-65 year-old females.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Can You Leave Your Business for Seven Weeks?
This Growth Coach business coaching blog will be quite simple. It will consist of a series of fifteen tough business coaching questions every small business owner should answer for himself/herself. Be brutally honest and face your current reality...not what you wish it were. If you can't answer "YES" to a vast majority of these questions, you should seek some coaching help so you can learn how to work less, earn more and enjoy a richer life.
After these fifteen questions, you will meet a business owner on a short 3-minute video who discovered a powerful coaching process that allowed him to say "YES" to each and every one of these questions and dramatically improve his business and personal life. In fact, with the proper structure and systems in place, he was able to leave his business for seven weeks and came back to find it running as prosperously as when he left. Could you do that now with your present business? If not, set a goal to make that happen.
Here are some tough-love business coaching questions for you to answer honestly:
Watch this 3-minute video to the very end to discover how a business owner was able to finally answer "YES" to all the questions above after he learned how to work less, earn more, and enjoy a richer and fuller life >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfOF2LcPAJQ
Click here to learn more about our business coaching services, particularly our group-coaching workshops.
After these fifteen questions, you will meet a business owner on a short 3-minute video who discovered a powerful coaching process that allowed him to say "YES" to each and every one of these questions and dramatically improve his business and personal life. In fact, with the proper structure and systems in place, he was able to leave his business for seven weeks and came back to find it running as prosperously as when he left. Could you do that now with your present business? If not, set a goal to make that happen.
Here are some tough-love business coaching questions for you to answer honestly:
- Are you constantly growing as a leader and owner?
- Have you sufficiently differentiated yourself from your business and established a proper level of separation?
- Are you working more "on" your business than "in" your business?
- Have you taken yourself out of the "business details" and replaced yourself with systems and other people?
- As an owner, are you able to work mainly on the things you truly enjoy and are good at doing?
- Have you learned to dramatically reduce your working hours?
- Have you learned to dramatically increase your free time and family time -- time away from the business?
- Have you increased your overall enjoyment of life and business ownership?
- Do you regularly pull away from the details of the business and properly reflect on the big picture?
- Do you regularly and systematically slow down, face reality and set new business/personal goals?
- Do you have the proper discipline, structure and accountability in place to achieve such goals?
- When you leave work at the end of the day, does your work truly stay at work?
- When at home are you truly "at home" and in the "present moment" with family and friends?
- Can you leave your business for seven weeks and return to discover that it continued to prosper in your absence? (that's truly having a systems-dependent instead of an owner-dependent business)
- Do you have the proper structure, systems, people, and delegation mindset in place to provide you with true flexibility and freedom?
Watch this 3-minute video to the very end to discover how a business owner was able to finally answer "YES" to all the questions above after he learned how to work less, earn more, and enjoy a richer and fuller life >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfOF2LcPAJQ
Click here to learn more about our business coaching services, particularly our group-coaching workshops.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Something Eating Away at Your Business?
I heard a statement recently that made me stop and think. Did you know that termites do more damage annually than hurricanes, fires, floods and tornadoes combined? WOW! I never knew that. But then again, I never thought about it either.
Hurricanes, fires, floods and tornadoes obviously get much more media attention than a colony of termites invading some ones home or business. We glue ourselves to the television watching coverage of the devastation and damage caused by such powerful wonders of Mother Nature. We have a tendency to be creatures of curiosity when it comes to news about disasters.
As I thought about the fact that tiny little termites cause more damage, I started to think about the last time I worried about termites. And that was…… never! They have never been on my to-do list and I have never held a meeting or conference call where they were the topic. I’ve got a lot more to concern myself with than a bunch of tiny, creepy-crawly things. Not even on my radar.
As a business owner, do you find yourself getting caught up in the day to day “stuff” and don’t even notice the obvious things that are eating away at your business one bite at a time? Do you find yourself being more concerned about things that drive you nuts and not observing what you customers are experiencing and feeling? Then at the end of the month, you stop and asked, “What happened?”
One of my favorite quotes is “If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always gotten”. Doing the same thing, day in and day out, will lead you down the same path, time and time again. Getting caught up in the day to day “clutter” will consume your time and energy and take your sight off of the things that are slowly and unbelievably eating away at your business.
There is no time better than the present to start breaking the chains that are holding you back from becoming more tactical and deliberate in your efforts. Becoming more strategic and focused and concentrating on the things that a business owner should be focusing on will not only improve your business but will help you free up more of your time. You will start to see the things that are negatively impacting you operations and allow you the time to put a plan together to change them.
Think of it this way, it is easy to kill a termite. You can just simply step on it and it’s finished. But, if you never see it in the first place, he’ll continue to eat away, bite by bite, day by day, year by year. Leaving you with a pile of nothing at the end. Taking the time to focus on the things that are most important to your customers and your business is much more strategic than worrying about what might happen tomorrow. Stop worrying about the things that you cannot change and concentrate on the things that you can and that will have a positive impact to you and your business.
Start stomping out the things that are eating away at your business, one step at a time!
Hurricanes, fires, floods and tornadoes obviously get much more media attention than a colony of termites invading some ones home or business. We glue ourselves to the television watching coverage of the devastation and damage caused by such powerful wonders of Mother Nature. We have a tendency to be creatures of curiosity when it comes to news about disasters.
As I thought about the fact that tiny little termites cause more damage, I started to think about the last time I worried about termites. And that was…… never! They have never been on my to-do list and I have never held a meeting or conference call where they were the topic. I’ve got a lot more to concern myself with than a bunch of tiny, creepy-crawly things. Not even on my radar.
As a business owner, do you find yourself getting caught up in the day to day “stuff” and don’t even notice the obvious things that are eating away at your business one bite at a time? Do you find yourself being more concerned about things that drive you nuts and not observing what you customers are experiencing and feeling? Then at the end of the month, you stop and asked, “What happened?”
One of my favorite quotes is “If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always gotten”. Doing the same thing, day in and day out, will lead you down the same path, time and time again. Getting caught up in the day to day “clutter” will consume your time and energy and take your sight off of the things that are slowly and unbelievably eating away at your business.
There is no time better than the present to start breaking the chains that are holding you back from becoming more tactical and deliberate in your efforts. Becoming more strategic and focused and concentrating on the things that a business owner should be focusing on will not only improve your business but will help you free up more of your time. You will start to see the things that are negatively impacting you operations and allow you the time to put a plan together to change them.
Think of it this way, it is easy to kill a termite. You can just simply step on it and it’s finished. But, if you never see it in the first place, he’ll continue to eat away, bite by bite, day by day, year by year. Leaving you with a pile of nothing at the end. Taking the time to focus on the things that are most important to your customers and your business is much more strategic than worrying about what might happen tomorrow. Stop worrying about the things that you cannot change and concentrate on the things that you can and that will have a positive impact to you and your business.
Start stomping out the things that are eating away at your business, one step at a time!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Learn More About our Growth Coach Services
The Growth Coach offers many, unique and customizable coaching services to the small business owner and their teams. Here are many of our popular services:
Strategic Mindset® Workshop
The Growth Coach® has a unique year-round coaching and accountability process called the Strategic Mindset, designed to enhance the mindset, focus and results of entrepreneurs, franchisees, executives and self-employed professionals. Through an interactive and fast-paced workshop format, our business leadership coach helps these business owners and professionals sharpen their focus, increase their effectiveness, grow their incomes and simplify their lives. Our clients gain clarity about who they are, what they want out of their business and life, and how to go about achieving their goals.
Once a quarter, we provide a comfortable and confidential setting that our clients can consider a sanctuary from the daily hassles of their hectic business, career and personal life. This peaceful setting gives business owners and their professional business coach the structure, discipline and time to reflect, face reality, think and plan on improving themselves and their businesses or careers. This personal Growth Coach strategic retreat takes place once every 90 days and is an ideal opportunity for our clients to take a step back and see themselves and their businesses through a “big picture” and objective perspective. The Strategic Mindset® is a two-year coaching and accountability program delivered on a quarterly basis.
Strategic MasterySM
After two years, clients graduate to a life-long coaching and roundtable program called Strategic Mastery. The Strategic Mastery program continues the quarterly coaching process that allows our clients time to reflect and re-evaluate their thinking, behavior and goals. But in addition to these strategic time-outs, the Strategic Mastery program also includes a roundtable discussion that allows business owners and their professional business coach to talk about common issues, challenges and achievements with other Strategic Mindset® graduates. Not only does this help our clients continue to grow in their businesses and careers, but it gives them a new opportunity to collaborate and exchange ideas with others who have gone through the same strategic-focusing and transforming process.
One-On-One Coaching
The Growth Coach® provides one-on-one, face-to-face coaching for clients who require additional support, follow-up and attention. Most one-on-one clients like the privacy and frequency of these individualized and customized sessions. Business owners, franchisees, executives, and self-employed professionals may often feel overwhelmed, alone, fearful and out of control. Too often, they feel uncomfortable or too vulnerable seeking support from spouses, peers, co-workers or anyone else they know.
However, they still need an outlet through which they can vent their frustrations and start to move past them. They need someone who can help them see the reality of a situation – an objective perspective – and help them determine their options and potential solutions. Our coaches will be that objective resource. They will act as a sounding board, a confidant, and a mentor – and they will help our clients clarify their situation, set goals and go about achieving them.
One-on-one coaching is typically conducted in person and, as needed, can be followed up via phone or e-mail. However, all one-on-one coaching starts with a face-to-face meeting which is the beginning of a relationship-building process. The process is tailored to meet the client's individual needs and one-on-one coaching sessions can take place once a month, twice a month, and, if you prefer, on a weekly basis. Our coaches offer hourly rates or fixed monthly retainers. Each session typically lasts from 1-2 hours.
Strategic Manager®
Today, owners and executives of small businesses and large companies alike are demanding better return on their payroll dollars. They want to develop their "Good Managers Into Great Managers." Companies want managers who are productive, focused and effective; managers who act as true leaders and take charge. Developing strong managers is one of the best investments a company can make. And that’s where Growth Coach’s exclusive and proven coaching program, Strategic ManagerSM, comes in. Our guaranteed, on-going process helps turn ordinary managers into extraordinary Strategic Managers.
Imagine the benefit of having managers who take action to drive big results. Our Strategic Manager program develops managers who desire to take on greater responsibilities and find better ways to grow the company’s profits and improve operations and customer satisfaction. Imagine how this will impact your company’s team and bottom-line results!
Typical management training doesn’t work. One-time, quick-fix training does very little in the long-run to change the mindset and results of your managers. Most seminars aren’t effective either. Lasting and positive change only occurs when your management team engages in an on-going development and accountability process designed to help them gain a wider perspective and take action to drive superior results. Strategic Manager is a powerful, guaranteed, on-going process that produces real results and real changes in your managers. It brings out the very best in your team, transforming them from mere managers into strategic leaders. Also, since the process is delivered in a group format, it is very interactive and affordable.
We guarantee that you will see results in your management team. We promise you will see a great return on your investment. If you don’t see a noticeable change in your mangers, tell us within 30 days of the initial session and we will promptly refund your money.
Sales Mastery®
Business owners and executives are expecting great returns from their sales team. They are looking for them to continually bring in the new business. They want to develop their "Good Salespeople Into Great Salespeople." Companies want sales teams who are productive, focused and effective. Developing strong sales teams is one of the best investments a company can make. And that’s where Growth Coach’s exclusive and proven coaching program, Sales Mastery, comes in. Our guaranteed, on-going process helps turn ordinary sales teams into extraordinary Sales Masters.
Typical sales training doesn’t work. One-time, quick-fix training does very little in the long-run to change the mindset and results of your sales team. Most seminars aren’t effective either. Lasting and positive change only occurs when your sales team engages in an on-going development and accountability process designed to help them gain a wider perspective and take action to drive superior results. Sales Mastery is a powerful, guaranteed, on-going process that produces real results and real changes in your sales team. It brings out the very best in your team, transforming them from mere sales people into strategic leaders. Also, since the process is delivered in a group format, it is very interactive and affordable.
The Sales Mastery Program consists of 12 full months of Sales Coaching. It contains 4 Quarterly planning sessions and 8 months of accountability and mastermind, Leverage the power of a sales model with a quarterly planning process and a mastermind process. This indeed is one of the most unique and powerful processes to improve sales performance on the market.
We guarantee that you will see results in your management team. We promise you will see a great return on your investment. If you don’t see a noticeable change in your mangers, tell us within 30 days of the initial session and we will promptly refund your money.
Coaching ClubSM
The Coaching ClubSM is an affordable program for busy owners and executives wanting to take their success to the next level. We offer totally private and personal one-on-one coaching delivered in an effective manner – via telephone and e-mail. The more you use it, the more success and balance you will experience in your business and your life. You can contact your coach for advice, support, a different perspective, feedback, ideas and strategies. You’ll benefit from having a sounding board, confidant, objective advisor, and professional coach. This dependable process will help you slow down, reflect, plan, and map out the critical changes you need to make in order to improve your business and your life. And we guarantee your satisfaction or your money is promptly refunded.
For one low monthly fee, your coach is available to you on a weekly basis or even more frequently, if arranged. This is an affordable and flexible way to find the coaching support you need without a huge investment of your time, which we know is limited and valuable. And because our Coaching Club can be on-demand during certain days and times, it’s not necessary to make appointments or schedule meetings. Just call in or send an e-mail. We’re there to offer you a new perspective and help you achieve your goals whenever, wherever. Or, if you prefer, you can arrange a set day and time each week that's convenient for you.
Special Coaching Projects
The Growth Coach® is designed to help business owners, executives, franchisees, and self-employed professionals break free of their personal and professional limitations and set and achieve their goals. But in addition to helping motivated individuals reach their potential, we also provide special project assistance for businesses who need an extra coaching hand and an objective perspective. Because we are gifted at facilitation and helping clients to define and achieve goals and leverage their time, talent and resources, we are often called in to help make sure business strategies and goals are fully implemented. After all, great ideas and strategies not fully implemented are nearly worthless.
We assist with a variety of coaching projects, including:
We help these companies and their owners hold themselves accountable and ensure critical changes are made to improve their businesses. Our solutions will help re-shape the thinking of the owner and the structure and systems of the business so that the business and the employees are productive, efficient, and, above all, effective.
Strategic Mindset® Workshop
The Growth Coach® has a unique year-round coaching and accountability process called the Strategic Mindset, designed to enhance the mindset, focus and results of entrepreneurs, franchisees, executives and self-employed professionals. Through an interactive and fast-paced workshop format, our business leadership coach helps these business owners and professionals sharpen their focus, increase their effectiveness, grow their incomes and simplify their lives. Our clients gain clarity about who they are, what they want out of their business and life, and how to go about achieving their goals.
Once a quarter, we provide a comfortable and confidential setting that our clients can consider a sanctuary from the daily hassles of their hectic business, career and personal life. This peaceful setting gives business owners and their professional business coach the structure, discipline and time to reflect, face reality, think and plan on improving themselves and their businesses or careers. This personal Growth Coach strategic retreat takes place once every 90 days and is an ideal opportunity for our clients to take a step back and see themselves and their businesses through a “big picture” and objective perspective. The Strategic Mindset® is a two-year coaching and accountability program delivered on a quarterly basis.
Strategic MasterySM
After two years, clients graduate to a life-long coaching and roundtable program called Strategic Mastery. The Strategic Mastery program continues the quarterly coaching process that allows our clients time to reflect and re-evaluate their thinking, behavior and goals. But in addition to these strategic time-outs, the Strategic Mastery program also includes a roundtable discussion that allows business owners and their professional business coach to talk about common issues, challenges and achievements with other Strategic Mindset® graduates. Not only does this help our clients continue to grow in their businesses and careers, but it gives them a new opportunity to collaborate and exchange ideas with others who have gone through the same strategic-focusing and transforming process.
One-On-One Coaching
The Growth Coach® provides one-on-one, face-to-face coaching for clients who require additional support, follow-up and attention. Most one-on-one clients like the privacy and frequency of these individualized and customized sessions. Business owners, franchisees, executives, and self-employed professionals may often feel overwhelmed, alone, fearful and out of control. Too often, they feel uncomfortable or too vulnerable seeking support from spouses, peers, co-workers or anyone else they know.
However, they still need an outlet through which they can vent their frustrations and start to move past them. They need someone who can help them see the reality of a situation – an objective perspective – and help them determine their options and potential solutions. Our coaches will be that objective resource. They will act as a sounding board, a confidant, and a mentor – and they will help our clients clarify their situation, set goals and go about achieving them.
One-on-one coaching is typically conducted in person and, as needed, can be followed up via phone or e-mail. However, all one-on-one coaching starts with a face-to-face meeting which is the beginning of a relationship-building process. The process is tailored to meet the client's individual needs and one-on-one coaching sessions can take place once a month, twice a month, and, if you prefer, on a weekly basis. Our coaches offer hourly rates or fixed monthly retainers. Each session typically lasts from 1-2 hours.
Strategic Manager®
Today, owners and executives of small businesses and large companies alike are demanding better return on their payroll dollars. They want to develop their "Good Managers Into Great Managers." Companies want managers who are productive, focused and effective; managers who act as true leaders and take charge. Developing strong managers is one of the best investments a company can make. And that’s where Growth Coach’s exclusive and proven coaching program, Strategic ManagerSM, comes in. Our guaranteed, on-going process helps turn ordinary managers into extraordinary Strategic Managers.
Imagine the benefit of having managers who take action to drive big results. Our Strategic Manager program develops managers who desire to take on greater responsibilities and find better ways to grow the company’s profits and improve operations and customer satisfaction. Imagine how this will impact your company’s team and bottom-line results!
Typical management training doesn’t work. One-time, quick-fix training does very little in the long-run to change the mindset and results of your managers. Most seminars aren’t effective either. Lasting and positive change only occurs when your management team engages in an on-going development and accountability process designed to help them gain a wider perspective and take action to drive superior results. Strategic Manager is a powerful, guaranteed, on-going process that produces real results and real changes in your managers. It brings out the very best in your team, transforming them from mere managers into strategic leaders. Also, since the process is delivered in a group format, it is very interactive and affordable.
We guarantee that you will see results in your management team. We promise you will see a great return on your investment. If you don’t see a noticeable change in your mangers, tell us within 30 days of the initial session and we will promptly refund your money.
Sales Mastery®
Business owners and executives are expecting great returns from their sales team. They are looking for them to continually bring in the new business. They want to develop their "Good Salespeople Into Great Salespeople." Companies want sales teams who are productive, focused and effective. Developing strong sales teams is one of the best investments a company can make. And that’s where Growth Coach’s exclusive and proven coaching program, Sales Mastery, comes in. Our guaranteed, on-going process helps turn ordinary sales teams into extraordinary Sales Masters.
Typical sales training doesn’t work. One-time, quick-fix training does very little in the long-run to change the mindset and results of your sales team. Most seminars aren’t effective either. Lasting and positive change only occurs when your sales team engages in an on-going development and accountability process designed to help them gain a wider perspective and take action to drive superior results. Sales Mastery is a powerful, guaranteed, on-going process that produces real results and real changes in your sales team. It brings out the very best in your team, transforming them from mere sales people into strategic leaders. Also, since the process is delivered in a group format, it is very interactive and affordable.
The Sales Mastery Program consists of 12 full months of Sales Coaching. It contains 4 Quarterly planning sessions and 8 months of accountability and mastermind, Leverage the power of a sales model with a quarterly planning process and a mastermind process. This indeed is one of the most unique and powerful processes to improve sales performance on the market.
We guarantee that you will see results in your management team. We promise you will see a great return on your investment. If you don’t see a noticeable change in your mangers, tell us within 30 days of the initial session and we will promptly refund your money.
Coaching ClubSM
The Coaching ClubSM is an affordable program for busy owners and executives wanting to take their success to the next level. We offer totally private and personal one-on-one coaching delivered in an effective manner – via telephone and e-mail. The more you use it, the more success and balance you will experience in your business and your life. You can contact your coach for advice, support, a different perspective, feedback, ideas and strategies. You’ll benefit from having a sounding board, confidant, objective advisor, and professional coach. This dependable process will help you slow down, reflect, plan, and map out the critical changes you need to make in order to improve your business and your life. And we guarantee your satisfaction or your money is promptly refunded.
For one low monthly fee, your coach is available to you on a weekly basis or even more frequently, if arranged. This is an affordable and flexible way to find the coaching support you need without a huge investment of your time, which we know is limited and valuable. And because our Coaching Club can be on-demand during certain days and times, it’s not necessary to make appointments or schedule meetings. Just call in or send an e-mail. We’re there to offer you a new perspective and help you achieve your goals whenever, wherever. Or, if you prefer, you can arrange a set day and time each week that's convenient for you.
Special Coaching Projects
The Growth Coach® is designed to help business owners, executives, franchisees, and self-employed professionals break free of their personal and professional limitations and set and achieve their goals. But in addition to helping motivated individuals reach their potential, we also provide special project assistance for businesses who need an extra coaching hand and an objective perspective. Because we are gifted at facilitation and helping clients to define and achieve goals and leverage their time, talent and resources, we are often called in to help make sure business strategies and goals are fully implemented. After all, great ideas and strategies not fully implemented are nearly worthless.
We assist with a variety of coaching projects, including:
- Sales Coaching & Accountability - Our coaches gain the trust and respect of business owners. Very often, we will introduce our proven sales and marketing processes to business owners who, in turn, want those processes integrated with their sales team or professional service staff. We provide monthly sales coaching and on-going accountability.
- Strategic Business Planning & Implementation – We conduct management team interviews and facilitate the strategic retreat and follow-up implementation sessions.
- Marketing Plans and Implementation – We help companies leverage the power of marketing to achieve significant growth instead of merely incremental growth. We help coach the right players to select the marketing strategies for the company and then ensure execution of the marketing plan.
- Leadership Development – We help owners and managers to improve their leadership mindset, skills, habits and effectiveness.
- Systematizing the Business – To assist owners in getting free from the technical trenches in their businesses, we help them create processes and operations manuals in order to put their businesses on auto-pilot or cruise-control status. We guide their team through the business system process.
We help these companies and their owners hold themselves accountable and ensure critical changes are made to improve their businesses. Our solutions will help re-shape the thinking of the owner and the structure and systems of the business so that the business and the employees are productive, efficient, and, above all, effective.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Fort Worth Small Businesses Make Noticeable Post-Recession Changes
`Business Barometer’ Points to Specific Behavior Modifications for Local Companies
Fort Worth, TX – A majority of U.S. small business owners have changed the way they think about and operate their companies as a result of the recent recession, according to a survey conducted by The Growth Coach, a business coaching franchise system which serves several thousand small business clients annually in more than 150 markets across North America.
Tim Fancher, owner of The Growth Coach franchise in Fort Worth, recently participated in the ‘Business Barometer’ survey, a study completed by 40 percent of the business coaches (Growth Coach Franchise Owners) across the country. The Growth Coach corporate headquarters conducts the survey quarterly to capture a snapshot of the “economic mindset” of the thousands of small business clients their coaches serve.
Based on survey responses, 95 percent of business coaches, including Fancher, reported that their small business clients (defined as less than 100 employees) have made overall expense reductions, while 80 percent implemented a workforce reduction and/or a hiring freeze.
“Small business owners in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas are continuing to search for ways to manage their businesses and lives as they want greater success and fulfillment,” said Fancher. The recession has created humility among small business owners and self-employed professionals and it has opened up their minds, making them more receptive to working with business coaches to grow their businesses and stay ahead of the competition.”
Other post-recession behavior modifications were highlighted. Another 80 percent of overall survey respondents reported that their small business clients were now more focused on achieving better results and receiving a higher return on investments (ROI). Owners are questioning every expense and demanding better ROI validation before spending their cash.
Other indicators that small business owners have learned their lessons, modified their mindsets, and implemented noticeable changes to their day-to-day business operations include:
• Wiser sales and marketing investments (77.5 percent)
• Better focus on all-around productivity (77.5 percent)
• Better budgeting and planning process (70 percent)
• Changes to leadership and management approach (67.5 percent)
In addition, 85 percent of business coaches surveyed including Fancher, reported feeling that the recession has fundamentally changed the way their small business clients view and think about their businesses, while 75 percent believe the recession has had a positive effect on the way their clients now think about and operate their small businesses.
The Growth Coach utilizes its signature Strategic Mindset® group coaching process, one-to-one coaching, telecoaching, and other related services to help clients reach success in business and in life. All initial coaching services come with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. The coaching process helps clients gain clarity, strike a balance between their personal and professional lives and close the performance gap with ongoing action plans and accountability. For more information from the local business coach, please e-mail at T.Fancher@TheGrowthCoach.com, visit on-line at www.TheGrowthCoach.com/tfancher or call at 817-301-9982.
About The Growth Coach
Founded in 2002, The Growth Coach is the only pure business coaching franchise system with the single purpose of helping drive the success and balance the lives of business owners. Their goal is to help clients gain greater focus so they can work less, earn more and enjoy more fulfilling lives. Clients include small business owners, franchisees, self-employed professionals, high-end sales and financial services professionals and managers from businesses of all size. Through an expanding national accounts program, The Growth Coach serves franchise systems, dealer networks and associations. With a presence in more than 150 markets across North America, The Growth Coach encourages diversity within its franchise system, as well as the development of small business and franchising worldwide. Currently, The Growth Coach is a member and/or affiliated with the following professional organizations: International Franchise Association, SBA Franchise Registry, VetFran, Minority Fran and is listed in Bond’s Minority Franchise Guide, 2010 AllBusiness.com AllStar Top 300 Franchises, and Entrepreneur’s 2010 Franchise 500®. For more franchise opportunity information, visit www.TheGrowthCoach.com.
# # #
Fort Worth, TX – A majority of U.S. small business owners have changed the way they think about and operate their companies as a result of the recent recession, according to a survey conducted by The Growth Coach, a business coaching franchise system which serves several thousand small business clients annually in more than 150 markets across North America.
Tim Fancher, owner of The Growth Coach franchise in Fort Worth, recently participated in the ‘Business Barometer’ survey, a study completed by 40 percent of the business coaches (Growth Coach Franchise Owners) across the country. The Growth Coach corporate headquarters conducts the survey quarterly to capture a snapshot of the “economic mindset” of the thousands of small business clients their coaches serve.
Based on survey responses, 95 percent of business coaches, including Fancher, reported that their small business clients (defined as less than 100 employees) have made overall expense reductions, while 80 percent implemented a workforce reduction and/or a hiring freeze.
“Small business owners in Fort Worth and the surrounding areas are continuing to search for ways to manage their businesses and lives as they want greater success and fulfillment,” said Fancher. The recession has created humility among small business owners and self-employed professionals and it has opened up their minds, making them more receptive to working with business coaches to grow their businesses and stay ahead of the competition.”
Other post-recession behavior modifications were highlighted. Another 80 percent of overall survey respondents reported that their small business clients were now more focused on achieving better results and receiving a higher return on investments (ROI). Owners are questioning every expense and demanding better ROI validation before spending their cash.
Other indicators that small business owners have learned their lessons, modified their mindsets, and implemented noticeable changes to their day-to-day business operations include:
• Wiser sales and marketing investments (77.5 percent)
• Better focus on all-around productivity (77.5 percent)
• Better budgeting and planning process (70 percent)
• Changes to leadership and management approach (67.5 percent)
In addition, 85 percent of business coaches surveyed including Fancher, reported feeling that the recession has fundamentally changed the way their small business clients view and think about their businesses, while 75 percent believe the recession has had a positive effect on the way their clients now think about and operate their small businesses.
The Growth Coach utilizes its signature Strategic Mindset® group coaching process, one-to-one coaching, telecoaching, and other related services to help clients reach success in business and in life. All initial coaching services come with a 100 percent money-back guarantee. The coaching process helps clients gain clarity, strike a balance between their personal and professional lives and close the performance gap with ongoing action plans and accountability. For more information from the local business coach, please e-mail at T.Fancher@TheGrowthCoach.com, visit on-line at www.TheGrowthCoach.com/tfancher or call at 817-301-9982.
About The Growth Coach
Founded in 2002, The Growth Coach is the only pure business coaching franchise system with the single purpose of helping drive the success and balance the lives of business owners. Their goal is to help clients gain greater focus so they can work less, earn more and enjoy more fulfilling lives. Clients include small business owners, franchisees, self-employed professionals, high-end sales and financial services professionals and managers from businesses of all size. Through an expanding national accounts program, The Growth Coach serves franchise systems, dealer networks and associations. With a presence in more than 150 markets across North America, The Growth Coach encourages diversity within its franchise system, as well as the development of small business and franchising worldwide. Currently, The Growth Coach is a member and/or affiliated with the following professional organizations: International Franchise Association, SBA Franchise Registry, VetFran, Minority Fran and is listed in Bond’s Minority Franchise Guide, 2010 AllBusiness.com AllStar Top 300 Franchises, and Entrepreneur’s 2010 Franchise 500®. For more franchise opportunity information, visit www.TheGrowthCoach.com.
# # #
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A Small Business Helping Other Small Businesses
A lot of small business owners establish their business doing something that they love to do. Many times they take a passion or hobby that they have (and in most cases already doing) to the next level and construct a business around it. Turning something that they are passionate about into a cash flow, income generating business is a tremendous idea! I bet we wish we could all do that.
I’ve also met many others that had absolutely no intentions of starting a business but for some reason, the business started itself. It commonly starts out with them helping someone else with their needs or passion and the next thing they know; they are deep in the middle of trying to manage a small business themselves.
In both cases, the newly crowned business owners tend to concentrate on what drives their business, focusing on the passion or tasks that drove them into business in the first place. This is what I refer to as the technical side of the business, or “tech work”. Tech work is the hands-on, making something happen, busy work that is typically the revenue generating product or service. It’s what your customers are paying for. Tech work is definitely an important fundamental piece for any small business. Most, if not all, small business owners would agree that taking care of the customer’s wants and needs is their top priority. It is what makes the dollars flow in so they can continue to pay their bills. Making sure you are taking care of the customers is what helps grow the business.
It’s what happens next that typically determines if their business will continue to grow or it becomes stagnant. Most small business owners, no matter how they got into business, typically have the technical skills to be sufficient for their customer’s wants and needs but don’t always have the business skills to maintain or even grow their own business. They have a tendency to get caught up working “IN” their business instead of working “ON” their business. Although they may sound similar, they are worlds apart when it comes to running a business.
Working “IN” your business as a business owner means continuing to do the “tech work” yourself and spend most (if not all) of your time focusing on the day-to-day tasks. Making sure that every order was filled or processed correctly. Making sure that every e-mail was read and responded to that day. Ensuring that each of your employees had exactly what they needed to do their job that particular day. Being the go to person to answer all their questions about that day’s work.
Does this sound familiar? Did I just describe your average day? If so, you are caught up on working hard but not necessarily work smart. Don’t get me wrong, every single one of the items I just listed above are very important to providing your customers with exceptional service and an important part in growing a business. They are all necessary tasks on a daily basis. It’s just the person who is the center of it all that is the problem.
As the CEO (yes, you are the CEO of a company!), are these the types of tasks that you should be working on personally or should someone else within your “organization” be handling these? I know you are saying, I don’t have an “organization”, I only have a few employees. I can’t ask them to do everything and I just sit back and watch. I would agree. You can’t ask them to do everything but you can “organize” everything that does need to be done and then decide who is responsible for each. Having an “organization” is not just having a bunch of employees, it’s having a detailed description of everything thing that must be done on a daily basis to take care of the customers and each of the items assigned to an employee or a group of employees. The “organization” is knowing what needs to be done and who is responsible for it. Yes, you are an employee and you should have some tasks or responsibilities assigned to you.
That is where working “ON” your business comes in. As the CEO, you should be focusing on the future of your business and looking for new and fresh ideas. You should be focusing on how to market your products and services to new customers and how to create more sales and revenue from existing customers. You should be looking at ways to make your “organization” more efficient and less costly. You should be visiting your current customers and asking them “what else can we help you with?” You should also be looking for referrals and potential new business. All of these things are focusing on growing your business and making it more efficient.
I already know your next comment, “I don’t have time to do all of these things!” That is a very common response to understanding the difference of working “ON” the business verses working “IN” the business. Many business owners are struggling with multiple challenges at one time. It’s difficult to juggle them all and give them the amount of time that is needed.
What are your greatest challenges in business currently?
• Time Management
• Financial concerns
• Getting referrals/developing referral partners
• Work/life balance concerns
• No Strategic business plan
• Lack of implementation
• Lack of business systems
• Inability to get to the “next level”
• Lead conversion/sales
• Marketing
• Team building and recruiting
• Employee management
• Other
This is where my business comes in, hence the title, “A Small Business Helping Other Small Businesses”. We are The Growth Coach, a business coaching firm that specializes in small to medium sized businesses and self-employed individuals to get more out of their businesses and lives. Our goal is to help entrepreneurs to work less, make more, and enjoy richer lives. Specifically, with a proven quarterly focusing process, Strategic Mindset®, we help enhance the strategic mindset and actions of owners and self-employed professionals. Over a two-year process, we help owners to go to work “ON” themselves and “ON” their businesses. They learn how to think, focus and act more strategically while at the same time, discovering more effective ways to grow and manage their businesses. Because our coaching and accountability process has been used and continually refined for over 15 years, it is so well proven that we provide a money-back guarantee for all our clients.
Because we utilize a proven strategic-focusing and on-going review process, you will:
• Achieve greater income and free time
• Sharpen your strategic focus
• Leverage your time, talent and resources
• Identify more business opportunities
• Assess and overcome personal obstacles and limiting beliefs
• Adopt effective personal-management and business-management strategies
• Create and continually update a customized action plan based upon your vision and goals
• Receive on-going accountability to make adjustments and stay on track
• Achieve greater clarity of direction and greater confidence in yourself and your future
If you are seeking better approaches to managing your business and life, The Growth Coach can help. We understand the unique mixture of pleasure and pain that comes with owning and managing a growing business.
Our proven Strategic Mindset® process and many coaching programs help owners like you to slow down, reflect and decide on the critical changes necessary to improve your business and personal life. Through our programs, Growth Coach clients discover practical and highly effective personal-management and business-management strategies and mindsets. They gain clarity of direction, peace-of-mind and greater confidence pursuing their business and personal goals.
No matter how you got into business, the trail that you blaze from this point forward should be more strategic. The fact is, just like any professional athlete, you need a coach with a proven system and an objective, on-going review process to elevate your performance and results. Take advantage of The Growth Coach business coaching process today.
I’ve also met many others that had absolutely no intentions of starting a business but for some reason, the business started itself. It commonly starts out with them helping someone else with their needs or passion and the next thing they know; they are deep in the middle of trying to manage a small business themselves.
In both cases, the newly crowned business owners tend to concentrate on what drives their business, focusing on the passion or tasks that drove them into business in the first place. This is what I refer to as the technical side of the business, or “tech work”. Tech work is the hands-on, making something happen, busy work that is typically the revenue generating product or service. It’s what your customers are paying for. Tech work is definitely an important fundamental piece for any small business. Most, if not all, small business owners would agree that taking care of the customer’s wants and needs is their top priority. It is what makes the dollars flow in so they can continue to pay their bills. Making sure you are taking care of the customers is what helps grow the business.
It’s what happens next that typically determines if their business will continue to grow or it becomes stagnant. Most small business owners, no matter how they got into business, typically have the technical skills to be sufficient for their customer’s wants and needs but don’t always have the business skills to maintain or even grow their own business. They have a tendency to get caught up working “IN” their business instead of working “ON” their business. Although they may sound similar, they are worlds apart when it comes to running a business.
Working “IN” your business as a business owner means continuing to do the “tech work” yourself and spend most (if not all) of your time focusing on the day-to-day tasks. Making sure that every order was filled or processed correctly. Making sure that every e-mail was read and responded to that day. Ensuring that each of your employees had exactly what they needed to do their job that particular day. Being the go to person to answer all their questions about that day’s work.
Does this sound familiar? Did I just describe your average day? If so, you are caught up on working hard but not necessarily work smart. Don’t get me wrong, every single one of the items I just listed above are very important to providing your customers with exceptional service and an important part in growing a business. They are all necessary tasks on a daily basis. It’s just the person who is the center of it all that is the problem.
As the CEO (yes, you are the CEO of a company!), are these the types of tasks that you should be working on personally or should someone else within your “organization” be handling these? I know you are saying, I don’t have an “organization”, I only have a few employees. I can’t ask them to do everything and I just sit back and watch. I would agree. You can’t ask them to do everything but you can “organize” everything that does need to be done and then decide who is responsible for each. Having an “organization” is not just having a bunch of employees, it’s having a detailed description of everything thing that must be done on a daily basis to take care of the customers and each of the items assigned to an employee or a group of employees. The “organization” is knowing what needs to be done and who is responsible for it. Yes, you are an employee and you should have some tasks or responsibilities assigned to you.
That is where working “ON” your business comes in. As the CEO, you should be focusing on the future of your business and looking for new and fresh ideas. You should be focusing on how to market your products and services to new customers and how to create more sales and revenue from existing customers. You should be looking at ways to make your “organization” more efficient and less costly. You should be visiting your current customers and asking them “what else can we help you with?” You should also be looking for referrals and potential new business. All of these things are focusing on growing your business and making it more efficient.
I already know your next comment, “I don’t have time to do all of these things!” That is a very common response to understanding the difference of working “ON” the business verses working “IN” the business. Many business owners are struggling with multiple challenges at one time. It’s difficult to juggle them all and give them the amount of time that is needed.
What are your greatest challenges in business currently?
• Time Management
• Financial concerns
• Getting referrals/developing referral partners
• Work/life balance concerns
• No Strategic business plan
• Lack of implementation
• Lack of business systems
• Inability to get to the “next level”
• Lead conversion/sales
• Marketing
• Team building and recruiting
• Employee management
• Other
This is where my business comes in, hence the title, “A Small Business Helping Other Small Businesses”. We are The Growth Coach, a business coaching firm that specializes in small to medium sized businesses and self-employed individuals to get more out of their businesses and lives. Our goal is to help entrepreneurs to work less, make more, and enjoy richer lives. Specifically, with a proven quarterly focusing process, Strategic Mindset®, we help enhance the strategic mindset and actions of owners and self-employed professionals. Over a two-year process, we help owners to go to work “ON” themselves and “ON” their businesses. They learn how to think, focus and act more strategically while at the same time, discovering more effective ways to grow and manage their businesses. Because our coaching and accountability process has been used and continually refined for over 15 years, it is so well proven that we provide a money-back guarantee for all our clients.
Because we utilize a proven strategic-focusing and on-going review process, you will:
• Achieve greater income and free time
• Sharpen your strategic focus
• Leverage your time, talent and resources
• Identify more business opportunities
• Assess and overcome personal obstacles and limiting beliefs
• Adopt effective personal-management and business-management strategies
• Create and continually update a customized action plan based upon your vision and goals
• Receive on-going accountability to make adjustments and stay on track
• Achieve greater clarity of direction and greater confidence in yourself and your future
If you are seeking better approaches to managing your business and life, The Growth Coach can help. We understand the unique mixture of pleasure and pain that comes with owning and managing a growing business.
Our proven Strategic Mindset® process and many coaching programs help owners like you to slow down, reflect and decide on the critical changes necessary to improve your business and personal life. Through our programs, Growth Coach clients discover practical and highly effective personal-management and business-management strategies and mindsets. They gain clarity of direction, peace-of-mind and greater confidence pursuing their business and personal goals.
No matter how you got into business, the trail that you blaze from this point forward should be more strategic. The fact is, just like any professional athlete, you need a coach with a proven system and an objective, on-going review process to elevate your performance and results. Take advantage of The Growth Coach business coaching process today.
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