SubscribeSMALL BUSINESS LEADER April 2007
Small Business Leader
Marian Banker, MBA, Business Leadership Coach, and creator of the Business Success System.
"Lead Your Business to Success"
ISSUE #92
April 2007
in this issue
**Business Success System Course**
Feature Article / Lesson
Events
Small Business Leaders' Marketplace
Note from Marian:
Last month's article about partnership issues, "Help! I Want to Dump My Partner", brought some interesting feedback. It seems partners often struggle in silence; not knowing who to talk with or what options they have. Good news! There's a brand new blog, htt p://www.businesspartnershipcentral.com , that focuses on partnerships. It's hosted by small business attorney, Nina Kaufman, http://www.palkauf.com .
I learned about Business Partnership Central when Nina asked me if she could post the article to her blog. Even if you're not in an official partnership, the same principles apply in all business relationships, so do che.ck it out.
The Business Success System Course has been a strong starter this year. More people need to know about it, though, so that's where I'll be focusing in the short term.
Due to your inquiries and requests I've taken the Course one step further. I've combined the Course with small group coaching in the Fast Track Tele-Boot Camp, http://prime strategies.com/intensive, which starts April 11th. This could be just what you need to get focused and on track. Please join us if you can.
This month's feature article is "The Prime Strategies to Build Any Business in Any Economy". The Prime Strategies are the foundation for the work I do. You'll see them recurring again and again in my writing, my course work, my workshops. This article tells it all. I hope you'll be inspired to "take command of your business".
Next month I'd like to do an article about what challenges you small business leaders are facing and how you're dealing with them. It would be great to have your input. It's only 2 questions and should take less than a minute to complete. I do hope you'll want to contribute. Take the survey n0w at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp? u=760413572148. Thanks for your help. You'll read the results in next month's Small Business Leader.
To your success!
Marian Banker
Publisher
Small Business Leader
NOTE: We have had to disguise some words in order to keep them from getting caught in the $pam filters. Please bear with us.
------------------------------------------------------------
**Business Success System Course**
Want your own Personal Roadmap to Business Success? Take Command of Your Business with the Prime Strategies Business Success System Course. Gain the confidence to make well-calculated strategic business decisions in spite of challenges and crossroads.
Included is a step-by-step guidebook, interactive tools to organize your thinking and your actions, plus coaching audios to support you as you take each step in the system. It's totally risk f*r*e*e because it comes with a 100% satisfaction *guarantee*.
Get the full scoop at http://primestrategies.com/business- success-system.
-----------------------------------------------------------
FEATURE ARTICLE
" The Prime Strategies to Build Any Business in Any Economy "
by Marian Banker
When I first start working with a client I ask, "What is your most critical business concern right now?"
I hear things like:
Cash flow is a real problem. I have trouble meeting my expenses.
The market has dried up. Sales just aren't happening.
The market is out there, but I'm not ready to handle the business.
I don't have my systems in place and I have trouble following through.
I often feel overwhelmed. There aren't enough hours in the day to do it all.
I want to grow my business. I just don't know how.
These are symptoms of a common problem experienced by many people with business decision- making responsibilities. It usually boils down to disorganized thinking, unfocused actions and lack of business structure.
This happens because many business owners haven't been taught the principles of business success. There are basic strategies, which I call the Prime Strategies, that create a foundation for how to think and how to operate.
My job as coach is to help clients understand and use these Prime Strategies. These prime strategies are the basis on which I have built my business and have helped many clients do the same. You can meet business challenges with confidence when you apply the Prime Strategies.
For sake of simplicity and understanding, I've divided these into six sequential strategic steps. These are also the components of the Business Success System, http://primestrategies.com/business- success-system, a program I've created to lead business owners through the steps to goal achievement and success.
- Clarify Vision and Mission
This is the first, and most important, step. Start by visualizing your business as you'd like it to be when it's mature. Make it real in your mind; then write out what it will look like. This step organizes and focuses your thinking. Once clarified, this Vision becomes the guiding light toward which all your activities will be directed. It's simple, yet amazing, and becomes a powerful magnet to pull your business forward.
Your Mission is what you will do in your business to achieve your Vision. Your Mission might serve an intangible, social or moral cause, or you might be a resource for something that's recognized as valuable in the marketplace. An example of the latter: to provide creative, fashionable, high quality merchandise for the middle to high end advertising premium market.
- Develop Goals
Goals are statements of what you want to achieve and are the foundation for your structure. These should be observable or measurable and be time- targeted. You'll want to consider both long term and short term Goals. Long term might be 3 to 5 years and for short term, think one year. Document your goals so they become the basis for your next steps.
- Create a Strategy to Achieve your Goals
Once you know where you want to go and have observable, measurable goals to acknowledge when you're there, you need a Strategy to get there. An example of Strategy is deciding you'll seek alliances and partnerships to expand market reach. Deciding who to approach is the next step, your Plan.
- Write a Plan to Fulfill your Strategy
The Plan is where you add the framework for your structure. It's time to decide who to approach about that alliance. Or you may need to do some research to find these potential partners. Whatever needs to get done gets included in your Plan. Then determine a timeframe for carrying out each task. A start and complete date can be helpful to keep you focused on accomplishment.
- Take Action on your Plan
Now you must consciously carry out the Actions in your Plan. It is through Action that change happens. When it's well thought-out and planned in advance, with the end result in mind, your Action will be Goal- directed. That's the key to Goal achievement.
The easiest way to carry out your Plan is to transfer it to your weekly calendar in accordance with the timeframes you've set out. Prepare each week's plan the week before. Check it against your overall Plan to make sure you've scheduled the time needed to accomplish the task.
- Assess Results
At the end of the month, look at what your Actions accomplished. Did you complete the items on your Plan? What were the results of your Actions? Update your Plan based on what you've learned. Do more of what works and less of what doesn't.
The beauty of the Prime Strategies is that they can be applied to any business in any economy.
The real reward of applying the Prime Strategies is being able to feel in command of your business and dramatically increase the odds of your success. As such, you'll experience more personal satisfaction with being in business.
I've seen these principles and practices work time after time.
Darlene is a business owner who came to me just before she was ready to close the doors and walk away from her 2 year old business. By applying the Prime Strategies she was able to go from a large cash deficit and long overdue accounts receivable to a consistently positive cash flow and increased long term potential. She has been able to incrementally transfer ownership to a working partner who will eventually be full owner. As she has phased herself out of her business, Darlene has been able to create a new business around her first love - horses, riding and fitness. She already has business knocking at her door and is experiencing renewed energy and enthusiasm.
It's such a pleasure to watch entrepreneurs go from striving to thriving and gain the confidence to become true business leaders.
Apply the Prime Strategies and take command of your business. Success can be yours!
------------------------------------------------------
Events
Fast-Track Tele-Boot Camp ( Training Plus Coaching Kicks You into High Gear)
Starts Wednesday, April 11, 2007, 1 - 2:30 p.m. EDT
Want to significantly accelerate the success of your business?
If you answered "yes", then the Fast-Track Tele-Boot Camp , http://prime strategies.com/intensive, is your ideal option. It combines the proven 9-Step Action Plan of the Business Success System Course with the advanced benefits of an interactive group of peers, all focused on business success. Get on board n0w.
Starts April 11 th. Only one this year!
Quantum Leap Thinking with James J. Mapes
April 19, 2007 , 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, New York City
In business and in life, the way you view change and manage your mind can make the difference between defeat, mere survival or Quantum Leaps. By understanding how certain beliefs and mindsets get in the way of making real progress in today's business world, you can achieve levels of performance you never thought possible.
Your assumptions will be shattered; your mindset challenged; your productivity unleashed.
Prime Strategies is proud to be a partner in bringing you this outstanding leadership program. And as a member of the Small Business Leader community you're entitled to a 10% discount. Get full details and register at http://www.liminalgroup.com/mapes/index.php? dc=PRIME.
SAVE THE DATE:
Drawing Out Your Soul - Journey into the heart and soul of who you are.
Thursday, May 17, 2007, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m., Marble Collegiate Church, Entrepreneur's Club, Fifth Ave. at 29 th St., New York City.
Marian Banker , business leadership coach, will help you identify and organize your strengths by using simple investigative techniques. Prepare to uncover buried treasure.
$8.00 suggested donation. No reservation required.
---------------------------------------------------
Small Business Leaders' Marketplace
Introduce your product or service he.re.
Get BIG Results for Your Small Business! Would you like the same results as the business that doubled their sales and cut expenses in half? Would you like to creative ways to grow your business? Need ideas you can implement n0w? Get your *FREE* e-book packed with creative ideas to grow your business. Go to http: //www.promoneyinc.com/Prime.htm.
Finally...The Secret Formula That Can Double, Even Triple Your Sales Quickly! Are you frustrated you're not closing more sales? Learn exactly what you need to start doing N0W that will dramatically increase your $ales in record time. Sign up for F*R*E*E weekly sales ezine and F*R*E*E bonus article at https://www.mcss l.com/app/adtrack.asp? MerchantID=67148&AdID=284639 .
The Power of Networking - If you're like most small business owners or entrepreneurs who network like crazy but still just can't get results and for whom networking has never really worked, I found the solution for you. It's "The Power of Networking", a 5 Step Program to Maximize Your Networking Results. Learn more at http://www.marketerschoice.com/app/? af=496107
Up to 50 words in 3 issues, only $25
Send your ad to marian@ pri mestrategies.com with Subject as Newsletter Ad.
About the Publisher & Feedback