Blog - Scattered to Streamlined

“Watch the Pennies and the Dollars Will Watch Themselves”

My questions is – Are you watching either?

As small business owners often responsible for ALL aspects of the business, it may be easy to “forget” to review the business’ financial figures. You may have a feeling things are not going as well as you’d hoped – who wants to see that? Or – the money is rolling in and checking the actual numbers doesn’t seem as important because you see the frequent deposits and have a sense that all is well.

All too often while reviewing the five key categories of a business with my new clients, when we get to the financial pillar, I find one or more of the following key financial metrics either not tracked or not reviewed on a regular (i.e. monthly) basis.

How about you? As a small business owner, how would you rate your diligence when it comes to reviewing the following?

Ack – What Do I Charge??

Do you find yourself asking any or all of the following questions?

As a start-up business – What should I charge to begin with?
As an experienced business – Am I charging enough?
What do I charge so I don’t scare anyone away?
An expert tells me I should be charging 10x what I am currently. Should I and, if so, how do I make that kind of jump?

While none of those questions has an absolute tried and true answer, one thing I know for sure is when someone says they’re not sure whether they are charging enough, they definitely are not.

Write it Down, Make it Happen – 2nd Half 2021 Success Plan

If you completed answering the six questions I asked in my last blog post, you already have a jump on the second half of 2021. You already have jumped into action and have momentum flowing.

What’s next?

Six Questions for Reinvigorating 2021

A friend sent me an email asking about filling in speakers for our business support group on June 8^th and June 19^th. He sent the message on June 18^th. He meant July in his message.

I keep writing dates in my journal beginning with 3/__. Somehow my mind thinks we are still in March.

I Want to Play!!!

Birds are singing, the sun is shining, and everything outside is green and beautiful. Who else wants to get out there and enjoy it all?

Especially here in the northern states, we’ve been pretty well closed up between both winter’s cold/spring’s wet weather and an ages-long pandemic. The itch is on to get outside and play.

But – we have businesses to run. Clients and customers to support. Marketing to be continued. Operations to run smoothly. Who has the time?

ALL OF MARKETING IS A FORMULA

Familiar with the Pareto Principle?

The Pareto Principle states that roughly 80% of outcomes come from 20% of inputs. In business, this natural principle often applies. In this case, 80% of business typically comes from 20% of marketing activities.

If you have been in business for a while, you’ll often see that there are one or two (occasionally three) marketing activities you perform that result in most of your business. Figure out what those activities are and focus your time, energy, and money here. It’s such a basic principle, yet I often see people spreading themselves way too thin.

How about the S2S Equation? 😄
(you know I’m all about Streamlining!)

The “Right” 1-2 Activities* + Consistent Application + Data Collection & Adjustment = Sales Success

UB Men’s Basketball Provides a Clear Game Plan for Business Success

Yes, I am going to shamelessly use my husband’s team (UB Men’s Basketball) tournament win last night to compare business with athletics. Often, I think there is no better example.

Here’s where I am coming from:

First Quarter 2021 Check In – Yes, Already!

March 1 – Officially on the home stretch of Q1, 2021, with one month left to complete what you planned for the first quarter of the year! I know you wanted to kick off your entire 2021 in the best way possible so let’s check in –

How are you feeling? Accomplished? Proud? Hopeful? Unsure? Disappointed? Frustrated?

It’s Still International Networking Week! Part 2: Traditional Networking

Maybe you think with the current pandemic and resulting limitations to in-person interactions that there is not much formal networking occurring these days. Think again!

There actually may be more networking occurring than ever before with virtual meetings allowing us to connect with anybody, anywhere. There truly is something for everyone when you are looking for a networking group.

International Networking Week Starts February 1! Does That Make You Smile or Cringe?

Networking Part 1 – Informal Networking

Have you ever walked into a room filled with strangers at a networking event with the intention of meeting just three people and then giving yourself permission to leave? That was me when I first started out in business. My introvert self wanted to be anywhere but in that room, but I could rev myself up to the task if I knew I could leave as soon as I met three new people. How effective do you think those connections were? First person, check! Second person, check! Third person, yes – I am OUT OF HERE! 😰 (not very effective, in case there was any doubt)