Is Indecision Killing Your Biz?

Are you driving away customers through indecision?

The curious side affect of indecision is that it actually drives business away.

Those stuck in indecision or fear tend to be drawn to others who are stuck in the same place. They subconsciously “leak” vibes that illustrate their mood by use of words, body language and facial expressions. Your indecision might simply show up as withdrawal because you want to be sure to do the RIGHT thing when you do take action.

Now is the time to move from indecision to decision. I challenge you to take action now! Become a client magnet by simply acting on the following.

1. Be the Voice of Reason. How do you do this? Find ways to assure yourself and your customers. Go back to what you know and are passionate about. If you are in the print business, you know that your customers will still need copies and quality service. If you are in telecom, you know your customers will still need phone service, repairs, and upgrades. If you are in personal services, you know consumers will still need services in Real Estate, cosmetics, nutrition, self care, beauty. The needs have not gone away. People will still do business with those they know, like, and trust. Always have. Always will. Reach out and let your community know you are still open for business.

2. Re-tool your products or service offerings. If you are able to adjust your offerings, do so now. Make it easy for your customers to buy from you. I am NOT saying to drop your price or discount. I am suggesting that consumers are buying differently now. If you are able to package, bundle, or break up your offering consider doing it sooner rather than later. If you are in the Portland area, check out our Package your Passion for Profit workshop on this topic.

3. Keep your finger on the pulse. Survey your customers and network. Whether formally or informally, this is a great reason to reach out and touch people. Pick up the phone and ask your customers. Find out the top three things they are doing differently now. Ask what changes they might be making as it relates to your product and service or those of in your network. For example, when I survey folks right now I am not directly asking about consulting or planning. I ask about how they are making decisions about marketing; How they’ve fine tuned their sales process; If they are reducing their outside support services such as bookkeeping, membership organizations, etc. Surveying, if done well can open up new opportunties and more sales. This will also keep you on top of changes in mood keeping you ahead in the game.

4. Commit. I love the quote by Napoleon Hill “The moment you commit and quit holding back, all sorts of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance will rise up to help you. The simple act of commitment is a powerful magnet for help.” It is a fundamental principle through the ages!

5. Hang out with positive, forward thinking people. Build your power team. This is not to deny the recession we are in but rather to accept where we are and do what we can to make a difference in the world. You will be surprised at the difference in your ability to see bigger and take positive action when you see others finding success and opportunity just by their attitude.

Case study: My client, Rob Arps, has steadily been shifting his focus to serve his clients as their businesses change due to budget cuts.

His business is unique. He works with sculptors to produce their end product; either monuments or reductions. He uses state of the art technology and 3D printers along with his team’s artistic ability to streamline the process and produce a high quality product in the art world.

What he is doing differently.

• He added a high quality 3D printer which allows him to do reductions and prototypes in less time in higher quality.
• He added classes on the software he uses along with workshops on the tools at hand to help artists streamline their own services to reduce costs and increase their margins.
• He is also working in other mediums such as wood in addition to the traditional foam and clay.
• He is out “walking around”. Visiting galleries and artists in the community to keep his finger on the pulse.

His first round of classes are sold out. More about his studio at www.AdditiveWorkshop.com

I believe small businesses are going to be instrumental in turning this economy around. Do your part. Look for opportunities to solve problems for your customers and beyond! Decide to do more than survive! Decide to thrive.

Does Networking Culture Vary Geographically?

I spoke for a PortlandConnect event last night. This group is an extension of a Linked In group who want to connect face to face.

The organizers of this event, Ken Wagner, Liz du Toit, and Stephanie Sanford talked at length about the Portland networking culture.  A couple of characteristics came up…

1. The quantity of networking activities.  Portland Metro seems to have a preponderance of networking events at any given time both on and off line.
2. The quality of people networking.  Wherever you go you are guaranteed to encounter some of Portland’s Super Connectors.  People who connect people and opportunites and follow up.

This discussion totally set me up for my brief presentation on the “Secrets of Super Connectors”.   After polling the room, the group consensus was that Super Connecting is not just a personality style some are born with but rather, a skill that can be learned. 

1. Do you believe networking culture varies geographically?  If so, why?
2. Do you think super networking can be learned?

I’d like to hear your thoughts on these two questions at the close of this blog post. 

In the meantime…Happy Networking!

Starting or retooling your Business? Avoid common mistakes!

I was honored to receive an email from a woman I was referred to months ago asking for advice as she is launching her consulting business.

I really appreciated the way she asked for help! I thought you might benefit both from her questions, my response, and the response of our readers.

Instead of simply looking for resources and how-to’s she was looking for mistakes to avoid. She wanted lessons learned from a couple of us who’ve been there. Of course the minute she asked, I had a flashback…launching my own practice I thought I was so strategic (and I was) after planning, visualizing, and ramping up naively thinking I would avoid and minimize the obstacles, mistakes and bumps in the road. Guess what!  I found my own obstacles, mistakes, and bumps in the road from which to learn the lessons I needed to learn.  My philosophy is that running a business is the best personal growth school you could ever attend!

Time to lift the curtain and let you see more of my foibles and fumbles!  Don’t kid yourself…we all have them in our own ways.

Mistakes I made (in no particular order)

1. List building.   I understood the value of building a list but didn’t fully have the systems and support to capture the data and keep in touch in a way that consistently built momentum.  Words of wisdom.  Start building your list and connect with them through meaningful content.
2. Trying to be perfect.  I have high standards.  I wanted my content (or products, business cards, flyers, etc.) finished, complete, well designed and invested time and money to make them so.  This delayed time to get products ready for sale, flyers for promoting programs and the like.  I love Alex Mendossian’s quote “Sloppy success is better than perfect mediocrity.”  Not that he condones sloppy work but as an entrepreneur there is a balance between good enough and perfect.  The difference between costs you money, time,and opportunity.  (I am working on this right now!)
   Gen. George Patton:  “A good plan implemented today is better than a perfect plan implemented tomorrow.”
3. Hiring the wrong people.  I knew I needed other’s expertise to help me jumpstart and grow my business.  Working with limited resources (bootstrapping) made me “penny wise and pound foolish”.   I made two mistakes.  In several instances, to save money I tried to cut corners hiring others who were just starting out and charging low fees.  In one instance I paid top dollar for services perceiving this would buy me value.  What I learned is that, as the customer, I need to be in charge of the relationship no matter what I am paying to make sure I got what I needed.  Note:  Hiring a more expensive vendor was no guarantee.   It set me back emotionally and financially but as you can see…I recovered!

Of course I can go on with a to-do list for starting right and growing well but that is not the topic of this post! 

What lessons have you learned or mistakes made can you share with this emerging consultant?  By the way, her specialty is personal branding and social media if that guides your words of wisdom!

As a thank you for contributing we will send you our latest work, a collection of experts ”60 Tips to Network Your Way to Anything You Want”.

Happy Networking! 

What's In and What's Out in 2009 – Forecasts from the trenches

• Trail and error – Proven processes and systems
• Multi tasking – Strengths and focus
• Re-creating the wheel – Duplicating what works
• Going it alone – Working with mentors or a mastermind group
• Pride/arrogance – Humility