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ISSUE #64
July, 2004
This month's feature article, "Breakthrough!" is a story about crossing the barrier from being unsure and disorganized to reaching clarity and finding direction. Chances are you've been in a similar place where you needed to make a breakthrough. I think you'll be able to relate to Larry's story. See what you can take away and use for yourself.
Many of you have told me you'd like to gain more media exposure but don't have a big budget for it. Erin Flynn, media and public relations expert, will share her secrets and knowledge as the Guest Expert on July's Lunchtime Telephone Roundtable. The topic is "How to Generate Publicity on a Limited Budget". Details are below.
We're also continuing with both the Brain Exchange Roundtable (in-person) on Monday, July 26th and the Business Reconnaissance Program Teleforum on Wednesday, July 28th. After that I'm taking the month of August to work on the fall programs and events. We'll be back in September.
Meanwhile, please don't be a stranger. Call or e-mail me anytime. I love hearing from you.
To your success,
Marian Banker
Publisher
Small Business Leader
mailto:marian@primestrategies.com
http://primestrategies.com
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FEATURE ARTICLE: Breakthrough!
We all love stories and I have one I truly love that I'd like to share with you. It's a story about what I call "breakthrough". When we're looking to make major life decisions, we often spend a lot of time gathering information, taking courses, stewing over the pros and cons, and yet feeling unable to make the decision that will propel us through the barrier from confusion to clarity.
The story I want to share with you clearly exemplifies what I mean.
Larrry Zarda is the husband of a former client. He works as a workflow analyst and internet developer at a large Midwestern College. Larry wanted to take steps to find his place in the business world that would allow him to make the most of his potential. I could see he was eager to make some decisions, so we agreed to work together. And so his story begins...
On his first communication to me he wrote "I remember writing in Junior High that I'd like to be: a) a very successful man in a business suit or b) a successful singer/songwriter. Over the past 25 or so years I found myself doing a little of both, usually simultaneously.
I see myself continuing to do the kind of work I'm doing currently in a great creative environment with decent salary, great benefits and potential for growth. I think that because of my creative, 'generalist', occasionally unorthodox approach that NYC (or D.C.) is the ideal location for me. How can I get there and make the kind of money I need to live? How should I position myself? Do I still need more training/experience to be the 'me' I want to be?"
Here is the Fantasy Job he created:
- work from home or close to home
- nice surroundings/environment architecturally designed
- work with small staff of talented diverse colleagues and assistants
- take calls, and meetings, develop plans of action for clients
- envision and effect business strategies and creative marketing efforts
- develop and consult with small businesses on their websites and internet applications
- record my own and others' music in home (or close to home) studio
- music composition, audio production in studio
- occasional travel related to above efforts
- preferably in or near NYC
He also wrote what he called a Realistic Job description.
- nice relaxed corporate environment
- smart people, not too uptight
- daily duties would include creative web design and project management
- meetings and calls about deliverables and content for web projects and applications
- make creative suggestions and manage staff of creative individuals including designers programmers and coders
- liaise with marketing staff or production staff for entertainment company
- occasional travel to other offices or to set up new project management team
- have enough time during the week to pursue creative musical endeavors
- preferably in NYC
He was clearly still thinking of himself caught between these two situations. His Personal Asset Profile, however, told me he had potential to merge both of his desires into a single business. He just needed a breakthrough - and a strategy.
To help lead him in the right direction I suggested a brief scenario where he could merge his Fantasy and his Realistic job into one and to have his business acumen merge with his creative musical and production talent.
When I asked him to write out the job he is going to create for himself that would bring all these elements together this is what he wrote.
"LARRY ZARDA'S UNCANNY CABARET
A musical stew of rock, jazz, country and punk.
Collaboration between local musicians, singers, actors, college students, friends, set designers, lights and sound and possibly video.
CONCEPT: A collection of songs (and possibly some original pieces written for it) assembled loosely around a single theme performed in a theatrical and somewhat bawdy style.
(ideas: Midwest living vs. NYC, love and marriage, Latin science-fiction aliens, politics)
So far concrete ideas haven't flowed too easily for this, but a few friends I've talked to about it preliminarily said it's a great idea.
VENUE: I've lined up a local nightclub to try it out, and then hope to move to a late-night dinner theatre setting or at the local theater.
PROMOTION: Initially, I would promote it through flyers, press releases, newspaper ads. Then, I will build a website with interactive elements (perhaps invite participants, audience members and then incorporate their suggestions into the show).
Putting together the songs and the concept will be the hardest part, and I hope to have meetings with my core group of creative collaborators over the next few weeks.
After gathering the songs and working out the concept of the storyline (or theme), I will recruit performers from the theatre department and the music school and make it as good as possible, holding auditions and rehearsals at the school.
By our next meeting, I hope to have at least a list of songs and a better-formed concept in writing."
Can you hear the joy; the clarity and the taking charge that Larry has done? Do you think Larry has made a breakthrough? Yeah, I do too. How did it happen so easily? He was ready and open to seeing himself differently. He just needed more options (and possibilities) to consider.
Congratulations, Larry. You've already started to create the foundation for the business that will allow you to realize your Fantasy Job. I know your Cabaret will be a hit - and the beginning of a wonderful journey.
Thank you for allowing me to share your story.
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TIP: SUMMER DOWN TIME
If the summertime is "down time" for you because people are away or unfocused on your area of business, take advantage of the extra time to catch up on things you've put off because you were too busy. If nothing else, you can review your mid-year results and status, make adjustments to refocus your efforts, formulate your next marketing campaign, put a timeframe on your campaign and put it into motion.
See, you didn't really have any down time after all.
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BRAIN EXCHANGE BUZZ:
Find out what New York regional small business leaders are buzzing about. Join the next Brain Exchange Roundtable, http://primestrategies.com/bxrt, on Monday, July 26th, 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. You'll really get to know other entrepreneurs and be in a position to introduce yourself in a comfortable and informal business environment. This is where valuable connections are being made.
"The Brain Exchange Roundtable is an excellent place to take your business ideas and challenges. I highly recommend the format. Creating and sustaining relationships is key in all networking and I believe The Brain Exchange Roundtable offers the best professional relationship building event to date."
Jonna Knudsen, Coach
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Business Intelligence (You) + Specialized Leadership (Us) = Winning the Business War (Goal)
Program details at http://primestrategies.com/brp
BUSINESS RECONNAISSANCE TELEFORUM
"The #1 Reason Your Business Isn't Growing: Psst...It's Not About Money"
Hosts: Marian Banker and Lena L. West, creators of the Business Reconnaissance Program
Get ready to take your business to the next level! This teleforum is specifically designed to help you understand what may be holding you back and what you can do about it. After the teleforum, registered participants will be eligible to receive a complimentary, one-on-one, half-hour consultation that will address issues specific to their business.
Wednesday, July 28, 2004, 1-2 pm, EDT
There is no charge for this Teleforum.
To register and receive the call-in number, send an e-mail to brp072804@aweber.com.
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July Lunchtime Telephone Roundtable
Moderator and Discussion Leader: Marian Banker, MBA, Business Leadership Coach
Topic: "How to Generate Publicity on a Limited Budget"
Date: Thursday, July 22, 2004, 1 to 2 p.m. EDT
Guest Expert: Erin Flynn is the founder of Flynn Media, www.flynnmedia.com, a communications firm that provides quality, cost effective written material and publicity results. Her passion is developing and delivering solid editorial content to the proper media sources. Erin has expertise in getting unknown experts their first media placements.
Consider these questions:
-- Are you getting the word out about your business?
-- Are you happy with publicity you have achieved?
-- What can you do on your own to generate some press?
-- Have you thought about writing articles on your area of expertise?
It is very important for you to build a platform and establish yourself as an expert in your chosen field.
Learn how to:
Start a media list.
Write articles on your area of expertise.
Run fr-ee seminars and invite local media.
Notify reporters that you can comment on topics in news.
Write an effective press release.
Pitch reporters via email.
This will be another fast-paced interactive Roundtable session with a dedicated expert. Plan to join us.
There is no charge for this Roundtable.
To register and receive the call-in number, send an e-mail to rhonda@primestrategies.com
with the Subject as Roundtable 7-22-04
Here¹s what's been said about our popular Roundtable.
"Marian...the Roundtable was wonderful I learned soooo much! 1) Things I'm doing right; 2) Things I need to improve!
"Carol Andrus, Speaker/Trainer, Author of Fat-Free Writing"
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PLANNING AHEAD:
Got goals? Not making the progress you'd like? Join the Prime Strategies Business Goal Roundtable and get on track.
A new series starts in September. Our Spring Pilot was a huge success, so we've already scheduled the first Roundtable Series for the Fall. The Business Goal Roundtable uses a structured and guided forum where 8 members help each other achieve their most important short-term business goal within 3 months.
If you're serious about ending 2004 on the upswing, get the full details and sign up ASAP, http://primestrategies.com/bgrt. Remember, there are only 8 members in the group.
Join us!
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ARTICLES:
WANT TO SELL YOUR BUSINESS?
Is it time to sell your business? Read this article from FSB magazine and learn why this just might be the time. With the Mergers & Acquisitions market heating up, small businesses are in a great position to capitalize on the new interest, especially from foreign interests.
http://www.fortune.com/fortune/smallbusiness/marketing/articles/0,15114,645902,00.html
MOTIVATION TO BUY
You've heard it many times, but a review is always good. It's not about selling, it's about motivating your prospects to buy. Jeffrey Gitomer offers his expert knowledge of the game of selling and shares a fascinating case study.
http://www.bizjournals.com/extraedge/consultants/sales_moves/2004/06/14/column402.html
CONSUMER DIRECTED HEALTHCARE
Many knowledgeable speakers and healthcare professionals will gather in Chicago on July 21-23 at the 2004 Consumer-Directed Health conference where major changes in employer-based health benefits will be presented. Get the scoop on this trend.
http://www.bizinfodigest.com/Articles/2004/06/3.htm?c=m473&r=3806x6&s=SBD&l=1&i=197385&b=14507
VOICE OF SMALL BUSINESS
It may seem that small business doesn't have a voice in government, but this article talks about the role of the National Federation of Independent Business and the top ten issues they are currently addressing.
http://www.smallbusinesscomputing.com/news/article.php/3371741
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER:
Marian Banker has been publishing Small Business Leader since January, 1999. Her focus is on bringing to the busy entrepreneur a quick look into the current world of small business from the perspective she's gained through coaching, consulting and training entrepreneurs in both service and product based businesses.
Marian offers individual coaching, business support groups, seminars and workshops on topics of critical interest to small business owners. Her monthly Lunchtime Telephone Roundtable has proven to be a popular way for business owners to come together around a specific business topic without leaving their office. See notice about this month's topic in the content above.
To learn more about her services, visit http://primestrategies.com.
FEEDBACK:
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COPYRIGHT 2004 SMALL BUSINESS LEADER
A publication of Prime Strategies, 333 East 23rd St., New York, NY 10010
http://primestrategies.com
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