SubscribeSMALL BUSINESS LEADER July 2007
Small Business Leader"Lead Your Business to Success" ISSUE #95
July, 2007
Note from Marian:
So far this summer has been bustling. For the past month I've been working with two program partners to create a terrific fr
I've also been putting the finishing touches on a new product, the One Page Marketing Plan. You're going to love how easy it is to create a Marketing Plan that you'll actually use to grow your business. I'll let you know when it's ready.
I'm in the process of selecting some new resources. My business is ready for the next level and I need more good help. I am looking forward to some strong strategic partnerships. And that's the topic for this month's feature article, "Use Strategic Alliances to Grow Your Business". I bet you'll be nodding your head when you read it.
In This Issue
Business Success System Course
Events
Feature Article
Small Business Leader Marketplace
About The Publisher & Feedback
Quick Links
Register Now
Past Newsletters
More About Us
The Business Success System Course, http://primestrategies.com/business_success, continues to be in demand. It shows small business owners like you how to take command of their business and make it work for them rather than them working for the business. If you're ready to recommit to your business and take strategic action, this Course is for you.
Finally, later this month my husband, Marty, and I are taking a North Atlantic cruise. The ports of call are St. John's, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. I'm looking forward to no phone or e-mail for 5 days. Now that's a vacation.
Have a beautiful July.
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.
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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*.
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Events
Help! My Partner is Driving Me Crazy:
How to Build and Maintain Effective Business Partnerships
Thursday, August 2, 2007, 1 - 2 p.m. EDT
Join with me and partnership experts Nina Kaufman, Esq., of Paltrowitz & Kaufman LLP and Wise Counsel Press, and Adam Rothenhaus of Slightly Better Communications, for this moderated teleseminar to show you exactly how to do it!
Whether you're thinking of bringing a new partner on board, reading the "Riot Act" to a current partner, or just need help jump starting an important discussion . . . this F*R*E*E teleseminar will help steer your partnership in the right direction.
Full details and registration, http://www.wisecounselpress.com/pship_teleclass.html
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Feature Article
Use Strategic Alliances to Grow Your Business
By Marian Banker
Many of today's successful businesses are built on strategic alliances -- a collaboration of resources for the purpose of gaining an advantage in the marketplace. This is especially true of virtual businesses, which are usually based on a network of people in different locations, with defined roles, in a temporary or evolving organization. In order to grow you need others.
If hiring an employee or contracting for service is not the right solution, a strategic alliance or partnership may be the answer. Engaging a "partner" in the process means you will share risks. Responsibilities and rewards.
Strategic alliances are a great way to create or test new business ideas without a huge expense, but it does require attention and good management to succeed.
Here are the steps I use and recommend following when seeking strategic partners.
Envision the Goals you want to accomplish.
Be as clear as possible. Then ask yourself what it will take to achieve these goals? If you see you can't do it alone, find the resources you need elsewhere.
Look for a strategic alliance. You're seeking someone with the resources or expertise you need who might be willing to be a temporary partner, working with you toward agreed-upon goals..
Consider those within your network who have the qualities you need. They might be people you've done business with, friends, former school or employment contacts, industry connections and, most definitely, relationships you've developed through use of the Web.
Contact each person you want to approach and set a time to meet with them. Tell them what you are trying to accomplish. Listen to their feedback on your idea. If they seem cool to your idea, or if anything seems to bog down, don't become discouraged. This might not be the right individual or the time might not be right for them. Approach others you've identified. Only if you begin to realize there's a major flaw in your thinking should you consider dropping your plan.
Select the person who is enthusiastic about your plans. Yes, they need to have the skill set and resources you need, but those who are motivated personally will be your best allies.They will need to see what's in it for them.
Once you've found the right person, decide upon and document each of your responsibilities and your rewards. Work through any disagreements until you come up with a solution that everyone agrees with. If that doesn't happen at this point, reassess your alliance. It's your decision, and this early point is a good place to set the mode for future decision making.
Create a structure for accountability. I like setting milestones with time-specific goals for each party. It's a great way to stay on target and definitely ups the odds of success.
The art and skill of creating strategic alliances has become a 21st century business requirement. Chances are you have people within your network that could be instrumental in your reaching the next level in your business. A strategic alliance may just be the answer.
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For more on this topic, join our F*R*E*E August 2nd Business Partnership tele-seminar. http://www.wisecounselpress.com/pship_teleclass.html, where we'll be talking about creating strong strategic partnerships and alliances.
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Send your ad to marian@primestrategies.com with Subject as Newsletter Ad.
About The Publisher & Feedback
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 2007 SMALL BUSINESS LEADER
A publication of Prime Strategies, 333 East 23rd St., New York, NY 10010
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