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What the Super Bowl and Your Business Have in Common
February 7, 2010
What the Super Bowl and Your Business Have in CommonIn honor of Super Bowl XLIV I want to write about what it takes to be a winner. Whether it’s sports, business or life there are a few things that separate the winners from the losers.
- The desire to win. This may seem really obvious. But stop. Really think about it a minute: The desire to WIN. Do you really have a desire to WIN or do you simply have a desire to be there? Are you happy just to show up every Sunday and play or do you want to be the best and make it to the Big Game? As a business owner, did you set out to create something that earns you recognition (in the form of lots of customers) and renders the fulfillment of a dream and a lifestyle? Or did you start your business just to show up to a job every day that didn’t require taking orders from someone else? So, is your goal to win- or just to be on the team?
- The belief that you can win. If you go into any endeavor or wake up each morning thinking “I can’t” – you won’t. The key to being a success is believing that you can do anything you put your mind to and putting all of your energy and efforts into making it happen. I doubt a single Super Bowl winner went into the Big Game – or the NFL for that matter – thinking they couldn’t win. There are no pessimists in the winner’s circle. If you think your business isn’t meant for big things, you won’t ever achieve big things. If you think “I can’t {sell, market, grow, find the time…}” – Then guess what, you won’t. If Peyton Manning had said, “There is no way I’ll be the NFL MVP 4 times in my career”, he wouldn’t have been. No matter what, believe that you can – and you will.
- Hard work and commitment. No one ever achieved anything by just sitting around and waiting for good things to happen. Luck doesn’t make winners; hard work, commitment and perseverance do. If you want something you have to go out and get it. You have to work hard, you have to learn and practice and push yourself beyond your comfort zones. Jerry Rice didn’t get to the Hall of Fame by keeping his workouts and training comfortable and easy; he pushed himself -each and every day – to do better than he did the previous day. And Peyton Manning didn’t make it to his 2nd Super Bowl by resting on his laurels after his first Super Bowl win or by giving up when he didn’t win the next one. Success is hard work. Success is a commitment. It’s completely up to you. Do you simply want to play… or do you want to win?
What It Takes To Be a Winner
What are you doing in your business to push yourself beyond your comfort zone to take your game to the next level; to make it to the big time? And for fun, who are you rooting for today and why? Leave your comments by clicking here and scrolling to the bottom of the next page.
My Small Business Can Bench Press More Than Your Small Business
January 31, 2010
My Small Business Can Bench Press More Than Your Small Business
Photo Credit: BigStockPhoto.com (and yes, this was a fun search!)
I was standing in line at the grocery store the other day and overheard a conversation between a man and a woman that went something like this:
Big buff man (puffing out his chest just a little), “Yeah, I lift about 1000 pounds a week…”
The woman’s eyes got wide, “Oh wow, that’s a lot of weight,” but not wanting to be out-gymmed she non-chalantly professed, “I do 4 ½ miles on the elliptical 5 times a week… “
That conversation got me thinking. We love to talk about our accomplishments – some people even take it to the extreme and bore everyone with constant stories of self-aggrandizement; bragging endlessly about what they have or what they’ve done. But for most of us, we simply work hard to achieve our goals and it makes us feel good to share our success.
So yes, we as individuals - as human beings - like to brag a little now and then. But I rarely hear small business owners bragging about their professional achievements. I’d love to be in a networking group and hear a fellow solopreneur proclaim (with chest puffed out), “I got 10 new leads last week and converted 8 of them.” And another respond, “Oh yeah, well I have a 95% customer retention rate”. And a third, proudly assert, “My average sale increased 50% last year!”
Why don’t we hear and engage in conversations like these? I mean we are entrepreneurs for crying out loud! We should be loud and proud! We work our tails off, haven’t we earned bragging rights? Why don’t we talk about these things more? Could it be that we have nothing to brag about? Is it because we don’t set goals or measure results so we have no idea what we’re accomplishing – or even if we’re accomplishing anything ?
You see, the key to earning bragging rights as a small business owner is knowing where you started, where you are now, and where you want to go. Mr. Grocery Store Iron Man didn’t just walk in to the gym one week and start lifting 1000 lbs. And I know his companion didn’t do 4 ½ miles her first time on the elliptical. Without a starting point how can you know what success looks like? And if you don’t know what success looks like how can you share it with others? So start setting goals and tracking success. I want to hear you brag!!!
What do you think? We’d love to hear from you. Leave your comments by clicking here and scrolling down the page.
How to Hire a Small Business Coach or Consultant
January 24, 2010
How to Hire a Small Business Coach or ConsultantEarlier this week Duct Tape Founder and Marketing Guru John Jantsch published an article on the American Express Small Business Open Forum entitled, “5 Things You Must Uncover Before Hiring a Coach or a Consultant” It’s a great article and I suggest anyone who is considering hiring either one give it a read.
Photo Credit BigStockPhoto.com
John points out 5 key things to look for:
1. Are they Strategic Thinkers? I love this one because most small business owners I know and work with focus on the tactical; what content should I put in my ad, how many flyers should I create, etc and have some difficulty focusing on the bigger picture – the strategy. Why are you advertising? What is your goal? Lead generation (like building your list) or sales? That’s why it’s important to hire someone who is a strategic thinker. Because if you keep going round-and-round with the tactics, you’ll stay right where you are.
2. Do they have the right kind of experience? John points out that having experience in your industry is not only irrelevant, it can be a handicap. I love working with new industries because I get to bring them new ideas. Don’t let “Well no other business in my industry does that” stop you from trying it! That one thing may end up being your biggest lead generator or differentiator!
3. Do they employ a process framework? Process is key to success. Without process we are just reacting to whatever we’re hit with at the moment. When I decided to start my own business I chose Duct Tape Marketing for the process. It’s simple, easy to follow, and has a track record of success helping small businesses that spans 20+ years.
4. Do they have network of relationships they can share? This is another excellent point. When building a marketing strategy, you need more than a plan. You will eventually need to get to the tactics – or the execution of that plan – and you will need people to help you. You will need web developers, designers, advertising experts, writers, copywriters, SEO experts, and more. Is your Coach or Consultant plugged in to the industry and do they have a network of trusted service providers that you can hire and rely on?
5. Can they demonstrate documented results? I have heard about so many people who hire consultants and coaches without asking for references or success stories and then wonder why they didn’t get the results promised. Is your coach/consultant obsessed with getting results (they should be!)? If so they should be have some case studies that prove the process they use gets results. Again, that is why I joined the Duct Tape Marketing Coaching Network. I have a team of 50 coaches who have been doing this a while and have case studies and success stories of small businesses who have been through the program I deliver to prove that it works. That is powerful.
While we’re on the subject of Coaching and Consulting let’s talk about the difference between the two. I get asked a lot how they are different. Here is a good analogy that illustrates the difference between a small business coach and a consultant:
• A business coach will help you understand how and why you ride a bicycle, help you to determine what’s holding you back from riding properly, and jog along next to you as YOU ride.
• A business consultant will explain why one bike is superior to another, teach you how to ride the bike, and if necessary, ride the bike for you.
Share your comments here. (and then scroll down the page).
