"There will be time to do this tomorrow....."  Recently I have included personal readiness when starting a business planning session with a small business owner. My questions include:Do you have: a will? a living will? health care power of attorney? durable power of attorney? other related documents....Most small business owners do not have these and other necessary documents. The question I am asked is "what does this have to do with you doing my business plan or being my mentor?It has a … [Read more...]

E-mail has taken the place of "snail mail" but on one occasion I encourage you to send a "snail mail" card to your clients and customers. That time is Thanksgiving, the best time to thank them for their business and support. Get a nice card and personalize it. Write a note thanking them for their business. Consider using stamps on line for purchasing your postage. they offer  stamps with fall scenes.Clients really like getting a card at Thanksgiving, when no one else is sending then … [Read more...]

In a speech Steve Jobs said something to this effect:If you know that this was going to be your last day on earth, would you still do what you have planned for  today?What a great thought to conduct your business  with!Can't give credit to anyone for the following but I found it on a business card, printed on both sides:Delivering Value:From the customer's perspective, have I treated the customer with the utmost respect?From the customer's perspective, have I exceeded their … [Read more...]

Each small business is really an individual with individual differences and methods of operation. Yes, that's what makes so many people start and grow their own business; I applaud the differences but there are a few basics that need to be followed.  This past week I had an opportunity to meet with two small business owners, both, in my opinion, have tremendous potential to grow their business. They both shared their desire to grow and had the necessary enthusiasm and belief in the products … [Read more...]

A business owner is always making "presentations"; whether its at a staff meeting, asking for working capital, talking to a customer, etc. Unfortunately, many business owners don't realize that most everything you do in a business climate, involves a presentation. An effective presentation requires preparation.How to prepare:Start by asking yourself what do you want your audience to get out of your presentation. This is the basic building block for all presentations. From this answer you can … [Read more...]

Make it worthwhile!   Like any other newsletter, it's main purpose is to further brand yourself and to reach out to clients.An important thing to remember is that an e-newsletter is not a one-way conversation. Properly written it will get a respond from your clients. Let's look at what makes an e-newsletter an effective branding and communication tool.It's appearance should be consistent. Spend a little time and a few dollars and design your e-newsletter  with your name and logo; … [Read more...]