SubscribeSMALL BUSINESS LEADER December 2005
Small Business Leader
"Lead Your Business to Success"
ISSUE #77
December 2005
in this issue
Save-Your-Business Lesson & Assignment
Save-Your-Business News
Calendar of Events
Small Business Marketplace
Note from Marian:
The holidays and year end are fast approaching. Just remember, you have only until December 31st at midnight to make any last minute adjustments for tax- planning purposes. If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to talk to your tax advisor ASAP.
If you use your car for business you'll appreciate the good news submitted by a subscriber about increased deductions for standard mileage rates. See details in the Save-Your-Business News below.
Ray and Susan O'Connor created some beautiful graphs displaying the results of last month's survey report. We had asked subscribers to tell us how much time per week they spent working "on" their business and if they considered their business a success. You can view the graphs at http://www.primestrategies.com/surv ey_bar_graph and http://www.primestrategies.com/surv ey_line_graph.
My personal November calendar was super-busy with a birthday party, a bat mitzvah, an engagement party and lots of trips to get my mother-in-law settled into her new home -- a skilled nursing facility. Amazingly, she's doing better since she has come to terms with the fact that she will not be going back to her apartment.
It was a great pleasure to learn that I was selected as a Guest Expert in the November/December issue of New York Enterprise Report. http://www.nyreport.com/index.cfm? fuseaction=Page.viewPage&pageId=288. This is a quality publication targeting the New York Metropolitan area's small businesses, but the contents are valuable for any small business owner.
My December business calendar is really humming also. Ramon Ray, http://smallbiztechnology.com, and I are putting together the premier Small Business Summit to be held in New York City on February 10, 2006. We're working on the web site n0w. You'll be among the first to know when it's up. Of course, you're invited to join us if you can.
Last chance! Get a snapshot of your business right n0w to help you prepare for planning the year ahead. Take the Year-End Business Check-up. It's quick, easy and eye-opening. Sign up directly online, http://www.primestrategies.com/save yourbusiness/checkup, and I'll send the tools to get you started.
Stay tuned, there's lots on the burner.
Have a wonderful holiday season.
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 sp^m filters. Please bear with us.
Save-Your-Business Lesson & Assignment
Clear Consistent Communication
By Marian Banker
As you know, I've recently joined Business Network International (BNI), where I'm getting to know a lot of entrepreneurs in a new way and even getting some new business.
I'd been a guest at two or three BNI Chapters in the past (there are 23 in Manhattan), but until n0w had not found a group that seemed a good fit. I chose to join the newest group; a nice mix of males and females who range from the professional to the storefront entrepreneur. The Chapter was established in April and already has 26 members.
Being a BNI member is a huge commitment because meetings are weekly at 7 a.m. (that's right, 7 a.m.). I still don't love that part of it, but I do look forward to seeing the members of the group each week.
At each meeting we have to give a 60 second stand- up intro. For each of the first 10 weeks I chose to speak about one of the C's of Business Leadership in my 60 second stand-up. He.re are the reasons I chose this tactic.
1) There are a lot of C's that apply to Business Leadership (courage, clarity, commitment, communication. consistency...you get the idea).
2) For 10 weeks in a row I can use the same concept. One of the C's is for Consistency and people have commented on my Consistency. That's an image I want to instill in potential clients and referral partners.
3) What I'm doing is a little different. People remember me as the lady who speaks about the Leadership C's.
4) It gives me a chance to educate my audience about what I do and how I think. Most people don't readily connect Business Leadership with being an entrepreneur. I want to educate them.
5) People will associate me with the words and the concepts I present. I can later use the C words in conversation to reinforce the Connection.
Your Assignment: Consider how you can apply these same concepts to your own business.
Select key words or concepts that apply to your industry, market or business.
Consider where you can use them to educate your audience and brand yourself. Some places to consider are:
on your web site,
in your marketing and broadcast materials,
in speaking before groups,
when talking with prospects.
It's about Consistency and Clarity of Communication. Have fun with it.
Save-Your-Business News
IRS Increases Mileage Rate Until Dec. 31, 2005
The Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department announced an increase to the optional standard mileage rates for the final four months of 2005.
The rate will increase to 48.5 cents a mile for all business miles driven between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31, 2005. This is an increase of 8 cents from the 40.5 cent rate in effect for the first eight months of 2005, as set forth in Rev. Proc. 2004-64.
News sent compliments of Furman Rogers, CPA, Garfield, Seltzer & Curcio, (212) 557-9800, frogers@gsccpa.com
Calendar of Events
Brain Exchange Roundtable
Monday, December 12, 2005, 6 - 8:30 p.m. EST
Join with peers to exchange ideas, knowledge, experience and resources in a low-pressure give and receive environment.
Find out more...
Save-Your-Business Tele-Boot Camp
New Series starts January 10, 2006
- Would you like to regain control of your business?
- Develop a well-calculated strategic plan of action?
- And see positive results -- QUICKLY?
Just-in-time Prime Strategies offers the
Save-Your-Business Tele-Boot Camp.
Save the Date: Small Business Summit 2006
Friday, February 10, 2006, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST
(New York City) - Speakers already on board include - Steve Rubel of Micropersuasion and Cooper Katz PR firm, Tim Berry, Palo Alto Software; Rex Hammock, Smallbusiness.com and Hammock Publishing; Adrian Miller, Adrian Miller Sales Training; Alan Meckler, Jupiter Media and more... Thanks to Intel, Intuit, and Cabinet NG for their support (others are in the works). This will be more than just an event helping small businesses use technology; the content will be information rich. We expect coverage by the small business media community.
Small Business Marketplace
Introduce your product or service he.re.
"The Power of Networking" - The Rights, the Wrongs, the Reasons & the Results. Hear how to maximize the benefits of a networking event. Everyone needs to network: entrepreneurs, small business owners, job seekers. Learn from two networking pros, Biba Pedron and Steve J. Willett. Details at www.biba4network.com/businesscorner.html
Save-Your-Business Year-End Check- up - - An easy 2-step process that will give you an in-depth snapshot of your business right n0w. You'll learn exactly where to focus attention and resources as you plan for next year. http://www.primestrategies.com/savey ourbusin ess/checkup