The Exact Steps Required To Turnaround A Business That Is Cash Flow Negative (In Trouble)

I have led companies in the retail, real estate, transportation and restaurant industries from  near catastrophe to stability and profitable growth. Companies find themselves in a dire straits position for a multiple of reasons when the economy is strong as well as weak … more so when weak.

The current business climate is tenuous and an increasing number of businesses find themselves in a profit and cash flow crunch. If you or someone you know is in that position, time is of the essence. Literally every hour that passes is critical when a company’s profit and cash flow are on a downward trend. The faster action is taken to restore the business to a positive cash flow position, the more likely it can be further strengthened to renewed profitable growth.

The following steps are the major ones that I have guided clients through who have been in this situation:

1. Stop issuing checks until Step 2 and Step 3 are completed. The exception would be payroll and any utilities if you are at the point of being shut off if the bill is not paid. If you have a trucking company you have to buy fuel. If you are a restaurant you have to buy food. If you don’t have the funds to pay “life support costs and expenses” there are still options but they would have to be addressed on a case by case basis. You want to avoid getting to the point of not being able to pay the must have expenses.  There is a wide variation of the definition of must have items. The clients I have helped were very surprised at the literal definition of “must haves” but they thanked me later.

2. Be certain as to your exact cash and liquidity position. You need a very accurate snapshot of the free cash in your bank account, the quality of accounts receivables and a precise accounts payable listing that includes all invoices. You would be surprised as to how many companies do not know their actual cash position, ignore problems in their accounts receivable balances and forget that oftentimes there are bills sitting in unopened mail and desk drawers.

3. Develop an eight week cash receipts and disbursements forecast and don’t leave one cent off of the disbursements list. If you are not sure how to do this, there is an example at 10 Minute MBA This is a core schedule that I implement with all clients and is very valuable when used properly.

4. Document an organization chart with each person’s position and compensation.

5. If the business sells a physical product, it is important to evaluate the inventory. You cannot sell what you don’t have and you can’t replenish inventory if vendors have shut you off.

6. If there are debt agreements in place understand all debt compliance covenants.

7. Identify all critical support functions. For example, the company’s internet connection, maintenance agreements on machinery and equipment and key licensing agreements if any.

The goal is to have an accurate picture of all the facts no matter how dismal they are. I can’t tell you how many times I have been blind sided by additional pieces of information that were very important in finalizing the turnaround plan.

What Actions Are Typically Taken Once There Is An Accurate Picture of Situation?

1. Cut all non- essential spending and payroll.

2. Implement a temporary reduction in pay for as many people as possible. That is always difficult and may be impractical if there is a union or a large hourly workforce. Every situation is different but normally payroll has to be cut and it is often delegated to the outside consultant to handle.

Note: many of these steps are implemented quickly. Even while the entire picture is still being developed. That is where experience with these situations is very valuable. Experts with turnaround experience know how and where to act fast.

3. With people you want to take the action one time and then meet with those that remain and explain to them what is going on and how it is going to be fixed.

4. Vendors on the accounts payable list will need to be called and given a date when they can expect a workout plan. This is not fun work even for an expert consultant. However, whatever needs to be done to save the business and restore profitability should be addressed.

5. If there is a sales staff, look to move those people to full commission status and if possible add to the staff with full commission as the compensation package. Be careful if out of pocket expenses are paid. They have to be limited and per diems in place.

6. Assign clear accountability for collecting receivables and put in place a three step collection process. In certain cases discounts are negotiated for paying early.

Notice all the emphasis at this point is on cutting expenses and build cash once that process is in place then

Work on your building business and profits plan. Make sure it is realistic and focused on the next 90-180 days. When that is drafted including the financial projections you are now in a position to negotiate with bank debt holders, capital equipment lease venders and other long term lease agreements in place.

Some clients may need to file for chapter 11 reorganization. This should be avoided at all costs since it is very expensive, time consuming and a major distraction. However sometimes it is the only available option other than shutting your doors. Chapter 11 is usually the best answer where selling assets, selling the business or parts of the business is part of the the turnaround plan.

I hope this helps and while it addresses many points there are always more depending on the business. The following is right from my Turnaround Consulting Site

Do you worry about running out of cash?
Do most of your key vendors have you on COD?
Have checks issued by your business bounced?
Are revenue trends decreasing and accounts payable increasing?
Have any of your valued employees left for a “better opportunity”?
Are you spending all of your time fighting fires?
Do you wake up at night fearing you will be out of business?
Do you fear you will not have enough cash to meet your next payroll? What about the next?
Are you thinking or have been advised that a reorganization of your business under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy code may be the answer?

“If You Answered Yes To More Than One of These Questions, Then You Need To Call Steve Pohlit at 727-587-7871 Right Now. That Is My Direct Line. I Will Personally Determine If I Can Help You Solve Your Business Problems or Refer You To Someone Who Can. This Call Will Cost You Nothing and May Well Save Your Company.”

____________________________________________________________________

There are two reasons why companies ask me for business consulting assistance:
1. They know what to do but want an independent third party experienced business development consultant to drive the process as that approach demonstrates management’s commitment to achieving the goals.
2. Management understands the need for improved performance and understands they do not have the experience to implement what is required.
3. There is actually a third reason and that is where a business is in a crises situation and turnaround business consulting procedures need to be implemented fast. Nobody likes that situation, even the consultant. However, many companies can be salvaged with the right action. Think of the what goes into action when a person has a heart attack. Timing and action are the differences between life and death.

Be Well and Prosper,
Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting 10 Minute MBA or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

The Exact Steps To Increasing Profits In A Challenging Economy

There is a very important fact to understand that applies to every business…”nothing stays the same”. The current business environment in the United State is one where the real estate market in general is one with declining property values, the value of the dollar is declining, and revenue for many companies is under pressure.

So!!!

Companies struggle because they continue to do the same things while everything around them is constantly changing. Every business, in theory, has a primary goal of increasing revenue and profits. The process of achieving that goal is no different in an economy that is experience major challenges in key sectors than in one that is vibrant. The introductory lessons in my 10 Minute MBA Program gives away the roadmap.

There are a huge number of examples of companies thriving and failing in both strong economies as well as weak ones. The only thing that matters for your business is what is happening in your business in relationship to the clearly defined performance gaols you have set. You have clearly defined business performance goals correct? These goals are in alignment with your own personal mission and lifestyle goals correct?

I am injecting the point about personal mission and lifestyle goals since I realized one of the key differences between many business successes and failures is the passion of the company’s leadership for the business and there is a direct link between the level of passion and the individual’s view of how the business contributes to the achievement of their personal mission.

For the record this goes way beyond achieving personal income objectives and includes: how much you really enjoy the business model; is your position one where you know you are using and developing the talents and skills you are passionate about and does your position fit in with how you want to develop the family, friends and community relationships that are important to you? I am now very focused personally and with clients on addressing the total picture of satisfaction and not just the business goals. Join the growing Prosperity Tip List that is FREE and you will be surprised at what this material will do for you personally.

Here is an example of a common situation that I have found in business. Business leadership will say, when the profits improve or when the cash flow improves or when this acquisition is done, or we fill this open position, or etc. then I will spend more time with my family or fishing or restoring my favorite antique or …well you get the idea. I submit to you the personal activity, whatever it is, never happens for those people even when those business milestones are achieved. If you are spending a lot of time with your professional mission, I hope you really love it. If you do not and you are frustrated because you are not spending time with your family, if you are not exercising like you should, if you are not enjoying your home, your car, your boat or your fishing pole then there is no way you will optimize the performance of your business. The negative personal energy will transmit throughout your organization and you will not consistently optimize your performance. If you have lifestyle issues, they need to be addressed. How do you think I know that?

Back to delivering what I promised with the headline of this article:

The Exact Steps To Increasing Profits In A Challenging Economy:

1. Set clear clear measurable performance goals for the next 12 months. For example: Revenue and profit goal is an increase of 30%.
2. Understand and instill in the culture that performance goals for the next 12 months are achieved by what happens today. All parts of your business need to be in sync with achieving the goals for the company. As and example what do sales need to be this week and this month to hit the 30% growth goal? What does gross margin need to be and with what expense structure for the 30% growth in profit goal to be achieved?
3. Each function within the business must have clearly defined performance goals and defined accountability for achieving those goals.
4. An objective performance monitoring process must be in place to identify quickly any areas of unusually positive as well as shortfalls in performance. For the revenue, gross margin and expense driver areas of the company this usually means a formal weekly meeting along with informal daily monitoring. There are exceptions and one is where there is a cash crunch situation. Cash flow is then monitored very closely daily.

There are two reasons why companies ask me for assistance:
1. They know what to do but want an independent third party experienced business development consultant to drive the process as that approach demonstrates management’s commitment to achieving the goals.
2. Management understands the need for improved performance and understands they do not have the experience to implement what is required.
3. There is actually a third reason and that is where a business is in a crises situation and turnaround business consulting procedures need to be implemented fast. Nobody likes that situation, even the consultant. However, many companies can be salvaged with the right action. Think of the what goes into action when a person has a heart attack. Timing and action are the differences between life and death.

Be Well and Prosper,
Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting 10 Minute MBA or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

Stephen Pierce Just Posted Information On A Great FREE Resource

Here is my post to Stephen’s blog today:

I really appreciate this information. Gary Halbert taught the principle of marketing to people what they already are looking looking to buy. What better way than to identify solutions that people in the forums are seeking.

The resource you gave us is tremendous. It may be free but until we become aware, it is of no use. Now it is up to us to use this gift.

I am very excited to get started with this. There are no coincidences and based on what I am working on right now the timing of this arriving is perfect.

Steve Pohlit
http://www.stevereports.com
http://www.prosperitytip.com

PS Click Here For Stephen’s Blog

Tellman Knudson and Shawn Casey Just Released Valuable Free Material

Hello: I just finished reviewing most of the material just released by Tellman Knudson and Shawn Casey. This post is perfect example of viral marketing. When I find material I like, I write about it and suggest to my readers they check it out.

What did I like about the free book and videos that Tellman and Shawn just released? They demystify the most common myths about building a list and emailing that list. As part of that message you will learn their backgrounds. Make note of Tellman. This man demonstrated success on line in less than three years starting from nothing. Guess what….what he did was follow the Internet success road map. You can get a key component of that road map for FREE at http://www.listbuilding.com I am not an affiliate. I don’t think they even have an affiliate program set up yet. They are not paying me to write this. I just think it is “good stuff” and hope you do to.

What follows is the comment I posted to their blog. The link is published in the free eBook you receive when you join their list.

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Comments posted to the List Building blog by Steve Pohlit on March 29, 2008

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One of the lessons I enjoy the most in Tellman and Shawn’s book that is available when you register for the List Building material is that when you build a list some people will leave. Get over it.

For me this was a hard lesson to learn which is why I am studying the material that these guys are providing. And there is another lesson, look at the material that is being given. Does free make it useless or priceless?

I am developing a program in connection with a book that will be published this year on a popular topic. (see if you are interested at http://www.prosperitytip.com) What I know from conducting free live classes on this topic, that even with the answers clearly in front of people, many will sit back and think something will happen just by them thinking about it. I have read literal manifestation is possible, what is currently more predictable is taking focused action based on a proven method to achieve a goal. I have people who have told me how there life has completely turned around in a very positive way as a result of taking the actions they learned in the classes. Free – can be useless or priceless – it really is up to you.

I am a great student since I am setting new goals and I am a person who is fascinated by developments in business, self-development and technology designed for the Internet. This is precisely why I am paying close attention to certain material I have already studied. Like many people I would study the lessons understand them and then set them aside. Read Tellman’s story. He left Shawn’s book on his computer for three years. Then he took action. Guess what …I have had Shawn’s book for a lot longer than three years and unlike Tellman I didn’t buy a million dollar home last year.

All that is changing because of a clear focus and taking action using proven techniques for accomplishing a goal.

Thank you Tellman and Shawn for this material. I know there is work involved in making this available. I also recognize your mission of building your client base and compliment you on the methodology you are using to do that. You will have earned every dime that comes your way as a result of this process.

I welcome your comments.

Are you a business owner with revenue in excess of $5 million annually wondering if you are on the right track? Email Me to schedule a FREE 30-60 minute Consultation
Until the next time:

“If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.”

Be well and prosper
Steve Pohlit

Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve now consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Most projects are self-funding within 90 days. The client then experiences a very high return on investment. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting http://www.stevepohlit.com or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

The Best Way To Prevent Destroying Valuable Customer Relationships and Business

I have no intention of making this blog a rant. Nearly everything published here is based on a lesson learned from first hand experience. I have learned my best teachers are those people and those situations that have attempted to cause me the most pain. The most recent example follows.

“Major Email Marketing Support Company Does It’s Best To Fire A Terrific Excellent Paying Client For No Reason”

The number of third party applications developed to support sending messages to large mailing lists is quite large. However at the really large volume level there are not that many companies that are rally in the game. However, landing a high volume, high profile account is time consuming and expensive. When a new account is added to the portfolio that is a moment that should be celebrated.

I work with a high profile company with a very large list of customers that are sent graphical promotions multiple times a month. A significant sum of money is spent for the third party solution that was selected last year. This number is growing as the list builds. The company does not mind because the campaigns I developed have exceeded the most optimistic projections.

For the past several week we have been building the structure for a new campaign and today was finally launch day. Launch day is really exciting because at the push of a button, we literally watch the traffic increase rapidly and the on line cash register ring ka-ching at a rapid fire rate. No matter how many times we have that experience it is always exciting.

At 4:30 PM we were ready. The time was perfect for our target audience. Several gathered in the control room and I was holding the launch button. Go – log into our account and ….hold on. Mission control we seem to have a problem. There seems to be a minute glitch with a very minor amount of fees that had not cleared our account. Not a big deal as I have access to several of the corporate credit cards that have, well let’s say plenty of room. Enter some data and bam – declined. Enter another card ..bam declined and account locked.

So now I call the company. The lady answering the phone had a very pleasant southern accent and almost cried on queue when I explained the situation. She asked me to hold while she frantically attempted to find someone in “billing”. A few minutes later she explained it was 4:46 PM on the East Coast where their offices were and everyone had left for the day.

I then had a brilliant idea. I will call sales since that is the department always aggressive for new business. I had a couple of cards I was prepared to play. Their voice mail said they worked until 6PM. But nobody was available meaning nobody was in and it was 4:48PM. I was out of options. Campaign on hold. From past experience I knew how much an overnight delay would cost in lost revenue and the picture is not pretty. Leave it go – deal with it in the morning.

Shift gears with me for a minute. I have built companies from nothing to reasonably good volume. The business I am working with now started from scratch. We understand the foundation business principles. We know all about the importance of serving customers. I feel very confident the owner of the email delivery sevice company whose employees were nearly all gone by 5PM would be able to give a long speech on taking care of the customer. So how does this all unravel?

I am glad you asked. First I will answer that question and next I will give you the solution to the problem.

What Happened:

We waited until the next morning then called. A lady in billing cleared the minor problem and said our account should never have been blocked. We agree. The mailing went out and we still had a successful campaign, but there was a substantial level of ill will. I asked to be contacted by the owner of the email marketing company. I asked to be contacted by customer service. I asked to be called by sales. The only response was about a week later a customer satisfaction form was sent to me and I never was called. Will the company select another email marketing service provider? We are evaluating alternatives

The Solution:

In every business I ever owned, worked in as an employee or worked with as a consultant, there was an “A List” Sure the goal is to treat every customer and prospect with respect and with a sincere attitude they are important. The art of the practical is the A List customers spend a lot of money and require a process in place to recognize when they need assistance. The best process I have found is have well defined accountability for these accounts. One point of contact that has the knowledge and experience to make a decision on the spot and knows when to obtain advice if necessary. There are other solutions but this one is absolutely the best.

I welcome your comments.

Are you a business owner with revenue in excess of $5 million annually wondering if you are on the right track? Email Me to schedule a FREE 30-60 minute Consultation

Be well and prosper
Steve Pohlit

PS This is not an isolated incident. I could write a completely different set of facts about a company that has a trouble ticket system we are looking to buy and another company that has a technology solution we did buy. Customer support is pathetic and represents a great opportunity for those dedicated to “walking the talk” of outstanding customer service.

Great Question Posed To Joel Comm On What Resources To Subscribe To – Not So Great Advice From Joel

If you do not know Joel Comm, just type Joel Comm into your search screen and you will soon learn Joel is an Internet marketer known for his work on Adsense and has now expanded the scope of his work. He is no longer betting the destiny of his business on one business model.

One of Joel’s newsletter subscribers recently asked advice on what newsletters he recommended. Joel produced a You Tube video to answer this question. First I love videos but I don’t want to watch one for an answer I can get in print in about 15 seconds. If you want to use video for a question and answer format then provide both print and video options.

Joel’s response to this question was to pay attention to what you feel is valuable and then stay subscribed to those newsletters. My view is that this is incomplete advice. I recommend you seek out the clear experts in your field of interest and subscribe to their newsletters. All they write about may not be of immediate interest and value to you. However, I am confident their material will have long term value for you.

There are a lot of people I pay attention to but only a few who have a big impact on me long term. I suspect you will discover this is true for you as well.

I welcome your comments.

Are you a business owner with revenue in excess of $5 million annually wondering if you are on the right track? Email Me to schedule a FREE 30-60 minute Consultation

Be well and prosper
Steve Pohlit

Stephen Pierce Talks Ballistic vs. Guided: My Talkback With Stephen

I highly recommend you subscribe to the blog updates by Stephen Pierce. This is the link to Stephen’s latest post Click Here The following is my response to his topic:

Being Guided

Great topic Stephen and Step 1 is very critical. Step 1 is “Clarify Intent and Purpose” Many of us seem to feel we know our intent regarding a specific task or project but when we sit back and look at all of our activities and pause, often we discover that these actions are not really satisfying us.

Defining your purpose can be challenging for many – it has been for myself. In fact I am consistently monitoring my feedback system regarding the direction I am moving. I believe the best feedback system is your feelings.

Let me clarify this. Stephen is absolutely correct in outlining the steps to staying on course for say performance in a job or on a project or in your business. I have consistently advised companies as part of my 10 Minute MBA training program to have a trusted advisory board. Public companies are required to have a board of directors. Many private companies, in fact most, do not have an advisory board. At the job or project level, feedback systems can be created with people outside the immediate project group or chain of command. Within that professional environment monitoring your feelings about progress is also very important. Your guidance system within is a powerful benchmark. This guidance system is best used for your life’s purpose first.

There is a process to follow in order to reach a higher level of guidance linked to your life’s purpose. It has been my experience that even with the answers within immediate reach, many people are not interested in doing the work required to get to the answer. I start professional and life lesson projects with the same question: what is the goal? For me the goal is being at peace with the direction I am moving.

I remind you the reader of the same lesson I offer people in The Prosperity Now Program If you have a desire for to jump out of airplanes for your leisure activities you can be at peace doing that if that is part of who you are. I for one do not seek such thrills at this point. Peace comes for me with being on purpose. The entire Prosperity Now program is designed to help us be on purpose with our lives. When we on purpose my experience has been that daily work, relationships, health and manifesting dreams and desires fall into place.

Thank you Stephen for another outstanding topic

Steve is an expert at helping companies achieve consistently increasing financial performance. Steve continues to consult on maximizing revenue and profits and now is teaching prosperity in life which is based on how he discovered how to crack the code of The Secret (Law of Attraction).

Steve Pohlit
Prosperity Now

Why Experts Selling Business Success Solutions Will Do Very Well

I do not know Mr Charles Ryder. I discovered the video whose link that follows while setting up a Blogger Blog. I know I know I have been let’s say not real friendly when talking about blogger since I started with Blogger and after activating quite a few, woke up to find all my material gone.

Well after watching one of the training videos on an earlier post, I decided to try again. I am not advocating Blogger but I I did discover it has a really cool plug in for videos. You can see this at work at Success Book Reviews

What is even more important is how much wonderful material there has been posted on line. Many current business and spiritual leaders have videos posted with great content. Many people are familiar with You Tube and I love it. However as demonstrated by the video posted by Charles, Google Video apparently allows material that plays a lot longer than You Tube’s 10 minute restriction.

With a growing list of content available for free, will that eliminate the value of material published for sale. Not at all. Published material is always organized well, often comes with guide books and is usually in multiple learning formats. Most on line videos don’t provide the entire solution for a topic but if you are financially challenged you can do a little research and find all the answers at no charge. You may also find the answer to your prosperity challenges in my Prosperity Now program.

Uncut Unedited Internet Marketing Video by Charles RyderInternet marketing expert Charles Ryder goes crazy on this very informative video. He teaches a step-by-step system that will help you make money right away. This is one of the best Internet Marketing video’s ever made and it’s 100% FREE!

Be Well and Prosper,
Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting 10 Minute MBA or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

My People Will Be In Touch With Your People

There it was .. a message from a member of the team working with John Reese. The message was ” that after a marvelous honeymoon, during which your excitement for what was delivered was off the charts; you continued your commitment to me. Long after the excitement of that first report had been experienced, you stayed with me even in those months when there was very little excitement.

I understand and appreciate your $106.00 a month loyalty to me Steve and I am think you should be grateful for all that I have shared with you. Unfortunately it is time for me to move on and I have asked my associate to alert you. Steve it is not personal, I am simply too busy to personally write a note of appreciation and explanation of what is next. I balance all my work. I could have written to you or written a story to promote a program where I would earn another million or more. Thank you for your $106 a month Steve but I didn’t have time to write a Dear John letter

Does anyone get this? Do you John Reese get this? There are a lot of people who really like your monthly report and most of us probably understand that there is a time to move on but you look at who has been with you in the eye and let them know directly what is in your heart.

Steve

Cracking The Secret To The Law of Attraction For You and Your Business

I have been developing a new part of my consulting practice that works with you on how to achieve optimal personal development while showing you how to dramatically increase your business results. I have never had anyone ask me if I felt I was on purpose in what I was doing. If they had and if I understood how to answer that question for myself, I am likely to not have done some of the deals I have done.

Recently we celebrated Valentine’s Day. Many people I know including myself have looked at a day like Valentine’s day and felt obligated about the day. The obligation crowd have their profession, jobs, or companies and know this is the day to purchase a gift, make dinner arrangements and tell someone close to them they love them. In the process the feeling often expressed is: whew – got the gift and dinner is set. Now I can get back to my work for awhile — oh my —I got to get out of here or I will be late and that will really upset my _______.

To The Point:

You cannot optimize your business performance if you are out of balance in your personal life. I know this from experience. My program now addresses the steps needed to maximize the performance of your business and your life. This enhanced direction will cause some people to leave my list, possibly limit my client base and my circle of influence. So be it. I have always been focused on what I believe to be the optimal formula for my clients. Nothing has changed except I have grown in my own personal life and I am showing others who are interested how I am doing it.

Dare To Discover The True Meaning And How A Thought Can Transform Your Business and Your Life.

Explore the meaning of unconditional love. It is likely to shock you? Some find this entire discussion frightening. If you dare please Click Here.

Once you have visited this topic. contact me. All my contact information follows.

Be Well and Prosper,
Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting 10 Minute MBA or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

How To Increase Traffic To Your Blog

This is a pretty cool video with some ideas worth checking out. Please note: if you have read my series Blogging for Profits you already know I highly recommend WordPress templates and why. In this video the author uses Blogger. A lot of people use Blogger and that is my only comment at this time. So sit back and watch the video.

Be Well and Prosper,
Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting 10 Minute MBA or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

Who Is Jaime Luchuck?

Jaime is a young lady from Toronto, Canada. She is the Next Internet Millionaire having earned that title after many long days and weeks of intense effort. She was judged by an elite crowd who have developed successful businesses using Internet marketing, direct marketing, publishing, informational products, videos, audio and more. These including Joel Comm, Rich Schefren, Mike Filsaime, Brad Fallon, Armand Morin to name a few. She is now a speaker having addressed a group of about 100 people at JV Alert in Orlando. This is a marvelous event by Ken McArthur which is where I met Jamie.

I have just listed a few highlights of what this lady has done. These are not who she it. Jaime is a person who speaks and lives from the heart. She started her presentation saying it was her first to any group and that shortly before being at the front of the room she threw up. She said she just wanted to get through it so she could sit down and enjoy the rest of her day. Folks that is as honest as you can get.

Even with that honest disclosure of how she felt, she spoke to us like we were sitting accross the table having a one on one over a cup of coffee. We learned about her deep heart felt motivation for competing at all in the Next Internet Millionaire Reality Show. Simply stated she was not living on purpose working in her 9-5 job. She even succeeded getting 100 or so Internet marketers and other business people to stand on their feet, clap and sing the Dolly Parton song 9 to 5. Two hours earlier she was throwing up and now she had the crowd singin and dancin. Can’t imagine what she gets us to do when she is confident speaker.

The real message story is about a young person knowing she is not happy with her 9-5 role but not knowing how to break out of that trap. Through a series of what seems like unlikely events that she acted on she is now an author, speaker and on her way to more success. She is well connected at an early stage in her career. She took the risks, she was scared and now in her words she is thankful and happy. Seems to me being grateful and happy is a very good place to be in life. Read her story – well worth the time and yes we can learn a lot from a young seemingly inexperienced person.

Be well and prosper,

Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve now consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting http://www.stevepohlit.com or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

Commitment (posted to the blog developed by Stephen Pierce)

(Stephen operates a terrific blog and I highly recommend you consider what he is teaching. Visit DTAlpha)

In the book The Five Wishes the author asks the question: Imagine you are on your deathbed and you have just a short time before you leave the physical plane. A person walks up to your bedside looks at you and asks..has your life been successful?

Whatever part of your life that may have less than a positive response you have the opportunity to fix that now. The key is clear definition, commitment and action.

How does this have anything to do with question does the present create the future or does the future create the present? The future is absolutely created by the present energy you are sending out. If you are in a state of viewing everything as a problem, if you think everyone is out to get you, or everyone and everything is there in a less than perfect state so you are constantly angry about it then you will attract more of what will fuel that behavier.

So if you decide that a new career, a new or vastly improved relationship, a trip around the world or whatever it is that is part of your “yes answer” to the question has your life been successful, then commit right now to making that happen and take the steps necessary to make that happen. Whatever this list is – it becomes your commitment list. I cover this is greater detail at http://prosperitynow.prosperityroadmap.com/commitment.html

For me the real key was not in the intellectual understanding of what Stephen is saying and the congruency with my own belief system but how do I do this. I mean how do I really change who I am if who I have been has not met my expectations? I developed the Prosperity Now System to help me shift my thinking to what is possible and then achieve it. A growing group of people are finding this to be very helpful. Take a look at the most recent session at http://prosperitynow.prosperityroadmap.com/now.html which is all about the Power of Now – another one of Stephen’s points.

Notice the road many people we think of as being very successful have traveled. I personally know of a couple very successful people who have been shot, been bankrupt, had no resources and yet today are doing extremely well by most standards. Very inspirational. Thank you Stephen

Until the next time:

“If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.”

Be well and prosper,

Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve now consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Most projects are self-funding within 90 days. The client then experiences a very high return on investment. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting http://www.stevepohlit.com or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

How To Transform Your Business To An Accelerating Cash Profit Producing Machine

Are you a business owner, entrepreneur, direct marketer, internet marketer, network marketer or a person looking for the keys to success? If so this is must read information. Of course you don’t have to and you may not even “buy into” what I am presenting. I repeat: this is must read and must follow information.
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Something has been missing. While I developed, implemented and proven the effectiveness of my 10 Minute MBA program, I knew that in a number of cases the success was not sustained. I rationalized this as a natural process of business owners slipping into to their previously established comfort zone.

In a way I used this seemingly natural regression as an opportunity to promote follow-on business consulting services. Now I understand that while ongoing services are valuable, the real reason for business performance to slip went deeper than the obvious failure to follow the established game plan that had been proven to work.

I also could see that in many instances that even when my Profit System was actively implemented and the business was hitting or even exceeding established milestones, something was missing.

When you are faced with a question where you don’t have the answer with confidence, what do you do? Well there is research of course and I did research this issue. Hundreds of hours of research. I also looked very carefully at those situations where people were hitting and exceeding the numbers consistently. I studied the contrasts.

I didn’t discover what I now feel is the answer until I examined my own experiences. I have been taught and influenced by my parents, my daughter, teachers, billionaires, priests, ministers, authors and very by all outward measures, successful internet and direct response marketers. There have been many other influencers but you get the idea. With all of this experience being taught and implementing a lot of what I was taught I found myself experiencing significant negative life situations. So I went to work to find out why. I went to work on myself.

This is not the forum for a description of the extent of that work. However, what I discovered literally transformed my life. This is an introductory article. I am suggesting you consider that if you are not on purpose there is no way for your business or you job to be satisfying – no way. Alternatively if you are on purpose and you use all the tools available to you, then not only will you be achieving your professional goals but more importantly you will be healthy, happy and at peace.

I suggest to you that being on purpose is more important than all the money you believe you want to make. Don’t misunderstand me. I want me and you to have all the abundance available for us while we are on this physical plane. I firmly believe there is unlimited abundance and I like that idea as much as anyone. At the same time, I remember the story about Andrew Carnegie in the book The Five Wishes. He was asked if his life was a success. He said he would give up all his money to have a truly happy marriage.

What is it that you wish for when asked if your life has been a success?

In this series of articles I will explore with you how personally being on purpose will make a dramatic difference in your life and your business. We will review a number of typical real life business examples and look at various outcomes as determined by the mindset of the person in the example. You will learn how to turn your business into a profitable cash producing machine.

Until the next time:

“If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.”

Be well and prosper,

Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve now consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Most projects are self-funding within 90 days. The client then experiences a very high return on investment. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting http://www.stevepohlit.com or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant

Sometimes It Is Helpful To Pause

Old Farmer’s Advice:

* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.

* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

* Words that soak into your ears are whispered…not yelled.

* Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.

* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.

* Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

* It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.

* You cannot unsay a cruel word.

* Every path has a few puddles.

* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

* The best sermons are lived, not preached.

* Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen, anyway.

* Don’t judge folks by their relatives.

* Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.

* Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none.

* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.

* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

* The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin’.”

* Always drink upstream from the herd.

* Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

* Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.

* If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.

Be well and prosper,

Steve Pohlit
Business Development Consulting

Steve Pohlit has more than 20 years experience running very large and medium sized companies. Steve now consults with clients to design and implement processes that will deliver improved business performance for the long term. Most projects are self-funding within 90 days. The client then experiences a very high return on investment. Learn more about the process of Increasing Profits by 30% or More In 90 Days or Less by visiting http://www.stevepohlit.com or you can call 727-587-7871 and speak with Steve directly. Have a question? Click Here To Visit Ask The Consultant