Would you trade places with them?

If you knew what your competitor’s life was like before you started your business, would you have traded places with them then?  

So why are you trying to do it like they do still?

What do you want out of your business?

Some business owners have been stuck for so long, they forgot why they started their business in the first place.  Pause, step away from the chains and ask yourself – 

1) What work do I WANT to do during the day?  (What job do I want in my business?  What do I like to do?)

2) How many hours a week do I want to work?

3) How much money do I want to make?

Now, design your business and your job in it to get you what you want.

The Illusion of Popularity

I tell my wife, “I have friends”.  She says, “Where?”  I say, “At work”.  She says, “You pay them to be your friend”.

When you are the boss, many people want to be your friend, or at least treat you with respect.  (Hey, in my case, I am a great guy!)  Unfortunately, some people are fake around you, and become Mr. or Miss Charming in your presence.

You need to be aware when somebody is playing you.  Don’t you love authenticity?  What you want to know is how your employees really are when you aren’t around – to each other and to your customers.  

Be aware that, right or wrong, when you walk in, behavior changes.

Insulted? Good!

Insult is a great motivator.  Now you say, “I’ll show them!”

Go ahead – show them!

Fishing for new customers

When you go fishing, you don’t hang a sign on the hook telling the fish you have a rod, reel, net and fillet knife.  You hang the bait they care about and will bite on.

What is your bait (message) the prospect inherently wants?

Getting Smarter

Will you go to bed tonight smarter than when you woke up?

Better yet, will you learn about the subject that is troubling you the most?

Will you?

Create your own monopoly

It’s not that hard to be a monopoly.  Just create something new that nobody else does – and you own a monopoly.

What can you do different that nobody else does?

Three requirements for a new hire

They must – 

1) Get it.

2) Want it.

3) Have the capacity to do it.

Have you hired the right people?

Finding your core values – an exercise

Ask your team – What three people in your company, if you could clone them, would lead to your market domination? Write their names on the board.

Now ask – “What are the values that these three people embody?”  Write these qualities down.

Your organization’s core values are in this list.  Edit it.  Circle really important ones.  Strike ones that are not. Combine ones that are similar.  Get it down to 3-7 values.

You’re done.  Now communicate them!

Sales Tie Downs

You want this fixed, don’t you?  You’d like to see our best product, wouldn’t you?  This looks great, doesn’t it?  You’ll want this by April, won’t you?  You should take advantage of the discount, shouldn’t you? These are beautiful, aren’t they?  She will be very happy with this result, won’t she?  

Try it.