Did you notice I did not say Cold Calling? I said Network Calling...more on that in a minute.Like so many people, when I went out on my own, I knew that my marketing plan would include various techniques; definitely networking, one-one close contact lead generation, referrals, partner programs, direct mail (maybe), third party telemarketing (maybe). But one technique I was not prepared to do, nor did not want to do was the...

For a lot of businesses the holidays bring the last minute rush of sales before the year comes to a close.For other businesses and their owners the holidays create distractions for them that the ringing of the cash register doesn’t seem to help.Here are a few distractions (or what I call excuses) that I hear from clients, prospects, colleagues, and anyone else who is looking to postpone activities:• “Businesses stop buying...

There is a number of productivity and energy drainers that I could talk about that have a direct impact on the revenue that you are capable of or actually are generating in your business. However one specific activity drains not only revenue directly from your wallet and bank account, it also can consume you 24X7 leaving you unable to accomplish much of anything else in a given 24 hour day.Email is not only the biggest dra...

As a business owner myself of a growing business I spend a great deal of time networking throughout the week with peers, service partners, customers and of course prospects.What I am often surprised by is the number of business owners who introduce themselves and goes on to explain that they provide their services or products ‘to anyone that needs...”.Make note of the comment ‘ to anyone...”.Let me ask you something: if som...

Do you know where you are spending your time each and every day in your business? Do you if those tasks and that time is providing the return in productivity, revenue or profit that you expect for you and your business? No matter the business, the client, and the length of time someone has been in business, one significant drain on their results and accomplishments is distractions, lack of focus, and swirling througho...

Do you find yourself as a business owner getting in your own way of getting results due to constraints or negative belief systems you have of yourself and your abilities?Do you find yourself procrastinating on doing things that you just do not want to do, or maybe you are not sure what you should be doing?Are you letting the doldrums of the economy drag you down along with it, and you cannot find a way out?Business Owners a...

“The world stands aside for the man who knows where he’s going.” Tom PetersMeasuring the results of all of your business activities is key to understanding the effectiveness and value of the efforts, time and money you and your team are putting towards the business. If you are unaware or have not measured if:• the revenue you planned for the month or the number of new customers you wanted to obtain was achieved• the adverti...

I spend a lot of time speaking to business owners, individually and in large forums, and the one question I’ll often ask is “How many of them consider themselves to be not only a business owner but an Entrepreneur?”. No doubt 100% of their hands will go up. Then their eyes widen with confusion as to why I would be asking them such a question. But I have found over the many discussions, coaching sessions, and speeches with...

“If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us.” Jim RohnOur focus is on defining your Vision for your business and life, the Mission or Purpose you have for your life, and the Values that are important to you and your business acumen that would be key to the success of your business.The p...

What are your goals for your business, your money, and your life?What is the purpose, vision, and goal you have for your business? Do you employees, customers, vendors, partners, friends, and family?What plan do you have in place to ensure that where you want to get to can be achieved by the time you want to accomplish it? How about exceeding your goals, does your plan support that?You can look at this in a much simpler way...