Managing Partner Time To Be Great, LLC Global Independent Distributor Healy, Vollara, Xelliss, BEMER Business and Real Estate Coach, Consultant Professional Speaker, Author
The Profit Optimization Formula Is No Secret – It Is Just Largely Ignored:
The companies most profitable, using profit before tax as a percentage of revenue as the measurement, are those the provide the most value to their customers.
Consider Google: Google just reported a growth in profits exceeding 30% during an economic period many describe as tumultuous. Nearly all of this profit comes from their Adwords product – targeted advertising. Why is Adwords successful? Because Google’s clients see a positive return on investment. A positive return on investment is value.
Now Consider Yahoo – no longer today’s idol in terms of business profit performance. Nothing is forever. In every instance, where there is a business that is very profitable, regardless of it’s size, it is providing value to their customers better than their competitors that is key. Remember that value is always defined by the customer. So if your goal is to build very profitable revenue then you must continually focus on the value your customer wants and over deliver.
In summary – the higher the value delivered, the higher the profits. Your entire business should be focused on how to deliver more value.
This is why the first step of the marketing module that is part of my build business profits consulting process addresses how a company is taking care of their current customers. The most valuable customer is the one you already have. When that program is in place then you begin focusing on growth.
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance
This report may be freely distributed without restrictions with the original content including this resource box remaining unchanged. Author: Steve Pohlit, Business Consulting Services, Executive Coaching, please visit www.stevepohlit.com
PS. My doors are open for new clients and referrals are well compensated.
The number one reason for buying any business is you are able to acquire value faster that what it would take for you to build it. There are usually always deals that can increase your sales and profits by acquiring a company. In a turbulent economy there are usually more opportunities than normal.
If you are a business expanding through acquisitions, there are also economic benefits of combining functions that can successfully support a much larger business. Typically systems support and administrative functions can be streamlined to reduce the expense structure.
There is no value to economic streamlining of the cost structure if the immediate attention needed on the customer base is ignored. Consider this example: you are business who has had a service relationship with a certain suppier for say 5 years. Now the supplier is purchased and the customer service support structure changes and the reltionship is weakened or lost. (Do you know anyone who was a Nextel customer and has a postive story following the acquisition by Sprint? ) Without an laser beam focus on customer retention, the economic gain of administrative synergies following an acqusition are soon wiped out.
What does this have to do with divestitures? When you prioritize your resource allocation, sometimes it makes a lot of sense to sell a product line or division. If a part of your business is divertiing your attention from your core, selling it should be considered. As for selling the entire business the reasons are many and will be covered in a separate report.
Email Me or Call Me Steve Pohlit at 727-587-7871for No Obilgation Consultation
If you are considering divesting of part or all of your business, I highly recommend contacting a firm that will give you independent council on positioning the sale. You will want an objective evaluation of the strengths of what you are selling. Often I find opportunities strenghening the performance of the component targeted for divestiture. My most notable success story was helping a company achieve double their asking price. The value of that increase was $850,000 and that was achieved in less than three months of work while negotiatiing the sale.
I have in process a report on The Key Issues That Must be Addressed Before Selling All or Part of Your Business. Click Hereto send me an email to let me know of your interest and I will send it to you when it is released.
Buying or Selling An Internet Business or Domain Names
This report may be freely distributed without restrictions with the original content including this resource box remaining unchanged. Author: Steve Pohlit, Business Consulting Services, Executive Coaching, please visit www.stevepohlit.com
If your business is in a crisis there are several compelling reasons why you should call a Business Crisis Management Specialist. However before you do, please review the following and download your detailed report on The Exact Steps To Business Turnarounds. It is possible you can do this yourself. However, it is likely to be in your best interest to use a business turnaround specialist.
How do you know if your company is in trouble? (For a complete presentation please visit Business Crisis Specialist )
Here are key indicators:
Do you worry about running out of cash?
Has your financing bank or lender reduced your line of credit or, even worse, called your loan?
Do most of your key vendors have you on COD?
Have any checks issued by your business bounced?
Are you delinquent paying taxes or benefit insurance?
Are revenue trends decreasing and accounts payable increasing?
Have 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?
Do you feel you are at or near crisis stage?
“If you answered yes to more than one of these questions, then you need to call me, 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.”
FREE Report: The Exact Steps To Turnaround Your Business
and Move From Crises To Profit
Name:
Email:
There Are Two Compelling Reasons To Consult With A Business Crisis Management or Business Turnaround Specialist:
An independent professional skilled in turning around business crisis situations, brings credibility to your business turnaround process which serves to quiet the companies and people fearful of not getting paid.
A key component of a successful business turnaround is developing and implementing a business plan for improved performance long term. Enlisting the assistance of an independent specialist communicates to employees, creditors and the marketplace you are serious about becoming a stronger company.
One more thing – delaying can mean the difference between a successful business turnaround and having to close your business….or worse….having your assets siezed.
I will help you if at all possibe, but you need to make the next move!
Please see the content below this video for each of the links mentioned.
The report mentioned in this video was published on Steve Reports on 9-15-08 here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/5fk85s The article shows how video took my site http://dublian.com to number one on Google. This video now shows how the report published on my blog is in the top ranking on Google. The key to that ranking are the keywords in the title and in how I have permalink set in the WordPress settings.
This is an example of what you learn when you join my Facebook Groups teaching video, blogging and building business profits. Those groups are:
Remember I have a do it for you package that is awesome. It will save you a ton of time. As an example, I am experienced in setting up each of the features and it will take me nearly 10 hours to set this up for you. So this is a great value.
Do It For You Package ..Read Carefully…The Fine Print Contains A Gold Mine!!!
My highest recommendation is a four pronged attack designed to generate immediate results for you business. These are:
Contact Information Capture and Email Marketing
Video Marketing
Blog Marketing
Integration of Video and Blog With Your Web Site Foundation…SEO on steroids.
The following is how we will work together for immediate results for your business:
Hosting One Year
Full Cpanel Access Your Log-In and Password
Your Domain Hosted on My Server
Setup a Website Template on Your Domain
Wordpress Blog Set-Up In A Subdomain
10-15 Plugins Loaded
Up To Three Graphical Blog Templates Loaded That You Pick
Your Own Email Autoresponder Account With Three Getting Started Messages
Three 4-8 Minute Videos Optimized for Video Syndication and Integrated With Your Website and Blog. This feature alone is worth more than the price of this package.
Up To 10 hours of consultation focused on guiding you to making more money with your business starting now. The value of this feature exceeds the price of this package. If you don’t agree after we work together, I will refund all your money and the products we developed plus the hosting is still yours.
Is this a great deal? Well it could be worth many millions. You tell me. What is your business and what is your idea?
Pricing: 2000.00 If you prefer a payment plan, $1,200 to start and $1,200 upon completion.
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance
This report may be freely distributed without restrictions with the original content including this resource box remaining unchanged. Author: Steve Pohlit, Business Consulting Services, Executive Coaching, please visit www.stevepohlit.com
On October 8, 2008 a very select group of highly successful business owners met for 90 minutes to explore what strategies are working the best in today’s economy for growing their business. These business owners represent companies with current revenue and gross marging growth rates (this year vs. last year) of at least 10 %.
With no close second choice, each person said that an aggressive marketing plan, rationalized and implemented each day was solely responsible for the growth in their business. The only difference in the individual representations was the methods used. The marketing tools used to bring targeted companies through the sales funnel, varied in their application depending on the type of business. For example, while all companies had a business website, a number of the owners clearly used personal connection as the primary marketing tool.
I estimate about half of the nearly 30 in attendance use email marketing and direct mail. All have traditional media including business cards and other print collateral. 10% were experimenting with video and close to the same were experiencing with blogs.
Can you imagine what could happen with your business if you consistently focused on and implemented all of the following:
Email capture and marketing with the assistance of an autoresponder
Video and blog messages integrated with your website and business theme (message going out at a rate of not less once week.)
Selective use of press releases
Direct response mail
Google Adwords
Networking events
Monthly newsletter
Radio Show Interviews
Select print and electronic ad placement
Ebay store (if applicable)
Other depending on your business
My marketing module is tailored for each business. Nearly in all cases I am recommending the use of video and blogs to support a foundation website for the online marketing component. Of course customer contact management using email, phone calls, meetings and direct mail is critical.
I have prepared an introductory package that will help most companies jump start their revenue growth. This package is particularly attractive as it does not involve much time on the part of management. Here is the summary:
Do It For You Package:
Hosting One Year
Full Cpanel Access Your Log-In and Password
Your Domain Hosted on My Server
Setup a Website Template on Your Domain
Wordpress Blog Set-Up In A Subdomain
10-15 Plugins Loaded
Up To Three Graphical Templates For Your Blog, Loaded That You Pick
Your own autoresponder account set up and assistance with the first 2 or three email messages
Up to three 5 minute videos, syndicated and integrated with you blog and website. (video is really hot.)
Up To 10 hours of consultation focused on guiding you to making money. Is this a great deal? Well it could be worth many millions. You tell me. What is your business and what is your idea?
Price $2,000 flat or $1,200 up front and$1,200 upon completion.
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance
This report may be freely distributed without restrictions with the original content including this resource box remaining unchanged. Author: Steve Pohlit, Business Consulting Services, Executive Coaching, please visit www.stevepohlit.com
If you are a subscriber to any business or marketing content email mail lists you know that every marketing person who has ever read a business book, walked in a bookstore, or touched the coat of an expert is coming out with headlines appealing to the fear that appears to be pervasive in the marketplace. Let’s take a look at some of the headlines appearing in my email box recently:
Subject Lines In My Email Box – A Small Sampling
What Is Your Economic Bailout Plan?
Steve, Annihilate The Rat Race
Turn Recession Into Prosperity
Just Follow This and You Will Make Money
Stop The Roller Coaster, I Want Off
Steve, How To Prosper In These Perilous Times
Recession Survival
Melt Down, What Melt Down?
Discover The Secret of Staggering Entrepreneurial Success
Everyone has a story that includes successes and failures. However only a few have experience that is valuable for others. Select coaches, advisers, consultants based on what they have done in their own business and not just based on what they say they have done for others.
I purchased my first company in the mid 90’s. It was a chain of drug stores in Tampa Bay with revenues of $50 million. There were more valuable experiences gained from being an owner for two years before it was sold that in my entire business career up to that point.
Soon after, I started an Internet Service Provider company and while doing that “pushed the experience envelope” in quite a few areas. I learned what can happen if you are juggling too much and assuming all is well. Can you feel that all did not go well?
Listen to those people who have experience with your business issues. They do not have to be an expert with your product or service. They must be an expert in helping you move forward whether that be marketing programs, organizational development, pipeline management, technology….whatever the areas that need the most attention. The best advisers are those who have a very clear grasp on your business model and quickly see the “A Priority” opportunities that can be moved on to realize maximum benefit quickly. You will not find this guidance “in a box” or emai. Personal attention from a person who understands and will guide your business forward and help you achieve your goals.
One starting point is to call me – Steve Pohlit 727-587-7871
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance
This report may be freely distributed without restrictions with the original content including this resource box remaining unchanged. Author: Steve Pohlit, Business Consulting Services, Executive Coaching. For more information including a “My Do It For You, Make More Money Now Package” , please visit www.stevepohlit.com
If you are a subscriber to any business or marketing content email mail lists you know that every marketing person who has ever read a business book, walked in a bookstore, or touched the coat of an expert is coming out with headlines appealing to the fear that appears to be pervasive in the marketplace. Let’s take a look at some of the headlines appearing in my email box recently:
Subject Lines In My Email Box – A Small Sampling
What Is Your Economic Bailout Plan?
Steve, Annihilate The Rat Race
Turn Recession Into Prosperity
Just Follow This and You Will Make Money
Stop The Roller Coaster, I Want Off
Steve, How To Prosper In These Perilous Times
Recession Survival
Melt Down, What Melt Down?
Discover The Secret of Staggering Entrepreneurial Success
Everyone has a story that includes successes and failures. However only a few have experience that is valuable for others. Select coaches, advisers, consultants based on what they have done in their own business and not just based on what they say they have done for others.
I purchased my first company in the mid 90’s. It was a chain of drug stores in Tampa Bay with revenues of $50 million. There were more valuable experiences gained from being an owner for two years before it was sold that in my entire business career up to that point.
Soon after, I started an Internet Service Provider company and while doing that “pushed the experience envelope” in quite a few areas. I learned what can happen if you are juggling too much and assuming all is well. Can you feel that all did not go well?
Listen to those people who have experience with your business issues. They do not have to be an expert with your product or service. They must be an expert in helping you move forward whether that be marketing programs, organizational development, pipeline management, technology….whatever the areas that need the most attention. The best advisers are those who have a very clear grasp on your business model and quickly see the “A Priority” opportunities that can be moved on to realize maximum benefit quickly. You will not find this guidance “in a box” or emai. Personal attention from a person who understands and will guide your business forward and help you achieve your goals.
One starting point is to call me – Steve Pohlit 727-587-7871
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance
This report may be freely distributed without restrictions with the original content including this resource box remaining unchanged. Author: Steve Pohlit, Business Consulting Services, Executive Coaching. For more information including a “My Do It For You, Make More Money Now Package” , please visit www.stevepohlit.com
The question raised by the Wall Street Journal to 5 consulting experts was what advice do you have for small business owners trying to survive in this economy. For the complete article please click on the following link:
It has been my experience working with a large number of clients in retail (apparel, restaurants, convenient stores, drug stores, automotive, motorcycles,general merchandise), manufacturing, distribution and construction clients that very few have an effective revenue building process in place as well as disciplined management control system. None of these points were printed by the WSJ. In all fairness to the consultants interviewed, I know editors do not always write what is said and what is said can be taken out of context.
The following are my comments posted at the Wall Street Journal with additional points for clarification in parenthesis.
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It is rare for advisers to focus on the opportunities for growing revenue and in most cases the opportunities are huge. There are proven tools and techniques that are often ignored. (The tools I was referring to are : specific plan to grow the profitability of existing customers, direct mail, email marketing and the effective integration of a website, blog and video) Companies do not survive long term with a “cut costs mentality”. When a business is run with the right management system there really should be very few costs to cut in the first place. If there are, then take action right now and strengthen the controls that allowed that spending to occur in the first place.
Focus on asset management is always essential and particularly true in a weakening economy. A company with receivables and inventory should spend more time addressing and implementing actions to minimize the risks of not collecting amounts due and for resolving any slow moving inventory. (I always guide business owners with AR and Inventory to establishing the right credit policies and buying practices to begin with then have a disciplined monitoring system in place.)
The advice to tie a percentage of non-sales related employee compensation is generally theoretical except for executives and management. (I am an advocate of pay for performance particularly for the higher paying positions in the business.) As for Lines of credit, it is true there is increasing risk of those being cut or eliminated. There is also a risk that bank debt will be accelerated particularly if there are areas of debt covenant non-compliance. If credit is key to company operations, an aggressive evaluation of all means to strengthen liquidity is needed and that process should already be in place. If not, begin today. (Surprisingly liquidity management is often much weaker in most companies that one would expect. This is normally the first step in any consulting engagement where increased business performance is the goal.)
Bottom line advice: general guidance provides a framework for the enhancement of a detailed control system specifically designed to strengthen revenue, profits and liquidity.
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Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance
You already know the failure of the $700 billion bailout bill triggered a 777 point drop on the DOW. CNN reports that the markets lost $1.3 trillion dollars of value in one day. I didn’t double check their math. Let’s just say it was a big decline.
There will be plenty of advice on this situation. Unnamed top consultants cited in Forbes today already advised: “cut costs and grab the low hanging fruit”. Thank you for that clear direction. There will be a lot more of similarly “valuable” advice in the coming weeks and months.
This is not a “what happened ” report or “who should take the blame” report. This is simply a Wake Up Call To Say – Stop Living A Life of Illusions! Accept responsibility for your business. Do the following today. In fact, implement these right now:
Take focused action to grow profits and sales every day. Do not blame outside factors. Every business works in the same marketplace. Define the five “A” areas of your business that drive profitable sales and spend 80% of your time on those. That is four out of five days.
Treat your support network with respect and help them grow faster than your business since your business will follow the growth of your skills. Your support network should be selected based on your personal weaknesses not your strengths. Don’t go for clones.
Optimize all your assets including, people, receivables, inventory, fixed assets. Each one of these assets replace cash. You need cash to grow.
Evaluate, decide then act. You don’t need a two year study to enter a new market or even a new country. You can test it beginning now. This is the “bias for action mindset”.
Treat all the same as you would like to be treated. When someone does not treat you well ask yourself what you are doing to attract that behavior. Yes that is exactly what I meant to write.
Each of these areas takes work to implement. If you need help, Email Me (Steve Pohlit) or call me at 727-587-7871
Consider This:
Some members of Congress stood ground and said “it is not the government’s job” or ” I am in favor of a solution, but this plan is not good for America.” I don’t know their personal situation, but most likely some of them have personal money in mutual funds and stocks that got clobbered today by their vote. How would you vote if you know your net worth would tank by your no vote? Would you be able to vote your belief. Actually I respect all who voted their belief system regardless of the vote.
Politically there are big issues on the agenda and people are lining up for what the government should do on a number of social issues. The bigger question is whether the government should be involved in any of these social issues in the first place. It seems to me our country was founded on the principle of independence – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I don’t recall anything that says that if we pursue happiness and experience unhappiness, the government should bail us out.
If you don’t remember Enron, Google it. Out of Enron came Sarbanes-Oxley. That was the legislation designed to prevent another Enron. I can show you Power Point slide where I pointed out that this was useless legislation. There already were laws for corporate governance in place. I was one of the few in the accounting and legal professions arguing against it. It passed and the cost has exceeded the bailout that failed today. That cost was paid for by consumers where the price of products and services had to absorb the cost of implementing Sarbanes-Oxley. History teaches us a lot if we pay attention. When I work with business consulting clients I help them implement what I know to work from experience as adapted for the the individual differences of the client. It works when the client pays attention and acts as guided.
Sarbanes-Oxley was designed to prevent a bailout from even having to be considered. It didn’t and government legislation will never prevent transactions with little or no economic substance. But we continue to live in an illusion that government can solve all of these issues. It can’t and nor should it, because that is not the intention for our government. ” We The People” are responsible.
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance
Recently I hosted a conference call with two experts in the self-development industry. The information developed and shared with the callers is direct lead to my professional advice for companies:
The Most Valuable Advice For Making More Money For Your Business and You:
Establish a very clear picture of where you want your business to be and then release the gap between that picture and your current reality.
The follow-on advice to this Actual (Current Reality) -Standard (Clear Picture of Your Goal) = Variance (The Gap) is that anytime somebody’s thought, words or actions attempts to destroy the picture you have created. For business the picture needs to include financial performance as well as company culture and lifestyle. I have written and recorded videos on how to begin rolling back twelve month financial rates of performance to what has to be done this week to achieve those goals.
With the guidance and the track record in place to help most companies achieve extraordinary performance, do you know what the one thought that is pervasive? “Well things are bad right now and I don’t want to spend any money on help or doing anything different.” Attitude is the most damaging gap. Release the pessimistic attitude and open the door to the ideas and action that will move your business forward.
You have a choice. Let external situations mandate your results or create your own reality. Successful mindsets create successful results.
I am a big fan of Internet Marketers. I love the buzz they can create. The subject lines used to grab your attention and the sales copy are works of art. Of course beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Great subject lines and great copy will always work because the copy appeals to our emotions. The copy convinces us that when we buy a product or service we will have the life of our dreams.
My consulting practice does not promise you anything but this:
I will implement known best practices relevant for your business. They will work while I am coaching you and your company. You will receive the benefit of a very high return on investment. Best practices do not work on automatic. If you stop following what you learned after project completion, then you can expect the benefits to stop as well.
Sharing with all my readers the energy of peace, happiness and abundance
Email Me, Steve Pohlit to schedule A No Obligation Consultation On Building Your Business Profits.Need more customers? Let’s discuss how to use cutting edge Social Media Marketing in the revenue building cycle of your business to drive your profits sky high. If your company is not growing revenue and profits, if your company is not cash flow positive Click Here for more information about Turnaround Consulting Services for Business In Crisis
About: Steve Pohlit is a CPA,MBA and has been the CFO of several major domestic and international companies. Steve is business owner and an expert business consultant, direct response and social media marketing and social networking security expert . Steve is focused on helping companies improve their business performance. All articles published by Steve unless specifically restricted may be freely published with this resource information.
Are you one of the hundreds of millions who check the papers, TV, radio or Internet to see how things are going? Do you decide on how you are feeling by what you read or others talk about? Do you think the information we receive about our economy, the world, our health, our relationships is the truth or someone’s opinion of reality?
Recently a friend invited me to a restaurant for diner and the owner introduced himself and his wife. His name is Richard. Richard discovered, because he asked, that I had some experience with business. He wondered what I felt about our economy. I said that I didn’t understand why so many perfectly intelligent people decided they were agreeing we were in a recession. A few reporters decided some numbers suggested that and all of a sudden an entire nation is feeling bad.
I relayed some of my experiences. I have worked with companies struggling in what reporters labeled boom times. I have also worked with companies doing extremely well in periods labeled as declining, recessionary and so on. I feel the difference in doing well and not doing well is what we think about, our experience managing changing circumstances and knowing when to request help.
My firm International Resources (www.IRConsultingInc.com) is successful helping companies large and small improve business performance. Nothing is ever stagnant so we work with management so they are better prepared to benefit from positive trends as well as reverse negative one. If you feel your business could be doing a lot better but you are not sure how to prioritize and structure your company for much higher profits, call me and let’s discuss it. I am Steve Pohlit and my direct number is 727-587-7871.
If you think about those times when nothing seemed like it could go wrong, how did you feel? Going deeper what did you think about? Did your attention give rise to more success or not? In general, I would guess that the upward spiral continued and if you are not in that state now it is because you heard you should be doing worse and feeling bad.
Remember the downward slides? Maybe you feel you are in one of them now. You probably recognize that it is your mood that is making the biggest difference. Look out around you. What do you see? Doom and gloom or prosperity? I feel you see what it is that you want to validate. if you want to feel that many other people are enjoying their work and their lives, that is what you will see. You can also experience the reverse.
The mood of lenders is restrictive. The mood of many business leaders is cautious. There is no upside to a corporate or financial institution employee taking any risks right now. Yet the economics of many deals have never been better. There is little or no upside to a reporter publishing any positive economic news. Sensational negative news sells. Why is that? I don’t know but if it didn’t sell well it wouldn’t dominate the newspapers and media.
Do you want the recession to be over? Then declare it is over. If we don’t stop this insane attitude, we will continue to get more of what we focus on. That is the Law of Attraction. “The only thing to fear is fear itself” That a famous historical quote. President Roosevelt knew that fear is a powerful emotion that attracts negative results.
Who do you know that sets a great example on a balanced attitude regardless of published economic trends? One of my favorites is Warren Buffet. He has the long term view and recognizes there can be periods of time that don’t yield the same results as others. He is one of the wealthiest men in the world and goes to work every day because he loves what he does. I admire his attitude and learn from him and others like him.
So if you have read this far I ask what are you going to do different starting now? Are you going to stop buying the doom and gloom stories? Are you going to start developing a stronger and consistent prosperity attitude. Join me in that mindset, posture and related actions. James Allen wrote “As A Man Thinketh” We move in the direction of our current dominant thought. What direction do you want to move in? Take your attitude temperature and depending on the reading you can predict where your company, job, finances and relationships are headed. It is all up to you just as it is all up to me what happens in my life. When more of us get that, not only will any doom or gloom be over but it won’t happen again.
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance.
Steve Pohlit http://www.stevereports.com
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Don’t Miss These Free Reports from my new business consulting site:
The Top 10 Action Stops That Will Make Your Business At Least 50% More Money in 90 Days or Less While You Spending Less Time Working Click Here For The Free Report
The Key Issues That Must Be Addressed Before You Buy Any Business of Any Size. Click Here For The Free Report
Steve is the President of International Business Consulting Resources. His firm specializes in guiding companies to rapid increases in revenue and profits with a sustainable growth rate. Don’t miss my FREE Report: How To Make More Money With Your Business Now and Long Term I am building my practice and welcome new client inquiries. Call me for a fee consultation at 727-587-7871 Remember many of my business building articles can be found at Steve Reports and my prosperity building tool (best tool ever for helping you manifest your goals and dreams) is The Prosperity Tool Chest and guiding articles posted very often at Prosperity Tip
Recently I planned to co-host a teleconference call where over 2,000 interested people were invited. When events of this type are planned, I usually anticipate a 5-10% reservation rate and then 20-25% of the people reserving their space will actually participate on the call.
Those numbers are not the lesson of this article. Although if you read the numbers carefully they wil help network marketers, direct response marketers and people managing special interest groups off line and on line. This article is about the doors that opened when I failed to understand all of the featurs of the new conferencing call system I was testing and I couldn’t connect the callers. I rescheduled the call.
In a prior life I would have blamed a lot of people but now I look and say what could I have done to prevent this problem? The number one action (and yes I knew this but didn’t do it) was to test the system before announing and promoting the call. I had assumed I understood how it worked from the training that was available and I didn’t. So I accept responsibility for needing to reschedule the call.
First lesson: always test …always.
The conference call system is fairly new and once discovered I really wanted to use it. The features and benefits for a free system were “off the charts.” I was further impressed by an email from the company’s CEO who had learned of my canceled call and wanted to know about the difficulty and what they could do better.
Second Lesson: when a customer even a free customer has an issue, find out what you can do to solve the problem and possibly prevent it from recurring.
In order for me to answer the question for myself and the CEO as to what can be better I needed to make sure I understood how this system worked. Often times when I have a question I will become the teacher since if I can successfully explain it to someone else then I understand it myself. So I developed three videos of enhanced training for this system which is called Callifower. These videos are below.
Third Lesson: You understand an important topic well enough if you can teach it.
Now this is where my business analytical and consulting skills really kick in. I stepped back from this situation and asked, other than my group who else would benefit from this conference calling system and training? Here is a short list:
1. There are groups using conference calling extensively now. They include network marketers, internet marketers launching products to name a few.
2. Companies with employees in remote locations. These can include outside sales people on the road, managers of stores in multiple locations, trucking companies with drivers on the road, employees in mulitiple offices or plant locations. Are you beginning to see the opportunities.
Fourth Lesson: Be open to how technology developed for one group can be applied to non-targeted groups.
This is the advantage of working with a business consultant exposed to a wider range of company practices. However, like companies not all consultants have expertise in marketing tools like blogs, video, social networking, conference calls, syndication, direct response and more.
International Resources and specifically this consultant is very connected to not only the latest tools that are developed but more importantly often has personal experience with what is working. This logic can be applied to company managers who identify a practice that works well and can share that using video, white papers, blogs, press releases, emails, newsletters and seminars with customers and even competitors. Very few discoveries are extremely proprietary and often “speed to market” with information establishes credibility.
What really caught my attention about Calliflower were the features of being able to see who is on line and multiple ways for participants to ask questions and participate. Check out these videos:
Video 1: Calliflower Conference Call Training for Participants:
Video 2 Part A Calliflower Conference Call Training for Conference Hosts:
Video 2 Part A Calliflower Conference Call Training for Conference Hosts:
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance.
Steve is the President of International Business Consulting Resources. His firm specializes in guiding companies to rapid increases in revenue and profits with a sustainable growth rate. Don’t miss my FREE Report: How To Make More Money With Your Business Now and Long TermI am building my practice and welcome new client inquiries. Call me for a fee consultation at 727-587-7871 Remember many of my business building articles can be found at Steve Reportsand my prosperity building tool (best tool ever for helping you manifest your goals and dreams) is The Prosperity Tool Chestand guiding articles posted very often at Prosperity Tip
How we feel about anything is a great barometer for prioritizing an action plan. If you feel a major pain in your chest, the actionable options and the time frame for implementation are generally clear. However, once we move past a life threatening emergency, we have a tendency to not move as purposely.
Why is it that we often take a “let’s see what happens” approach? Actually there are many reasons. We rely on the news to tell us how we are doing. Currently the news reports the US is in a recession so we decide to accept that and feel bad. We also decide to live in fear. We fear lost sales and profits, we fear losing our business or our jobs and more. This feeling bad or feeling negative state results in us being “off our game”. Life a professional athlete, we don’t perform to our potential.
There a many companies in a hiring freeze and have indefinitely suspended pay increases even when they are deserved by a star person’s performance. The valued employees in place are asked to do more for the same or less pay. Businesses scale back on marketing programs, investments in technology and in general any spending that seemingly hurts short term cash flow and earnings.
All of these actions and more have a direct negative impact on long term results. When the news tells us things are getting better and we decide to be back “on our game”, we find valuable employees leaving for a better place to work, we find competitors who have become stronger rather than weaker while we were holding back and we find a shortage of excellent outside talent to help us with projects that are now coming out of hibernation.
Does this scenario sound familiar? If you are younger than 25 it may not. But if you are under 25 pay attention and maybe it will be you who will learn from the current economic experiences. Maybe it will be you who decides there is no law for us ever to be in an economic downturn. There is no law that requires us to feel bad or be angry about anything.
We have an opportunity at the start of each day to move forward or stagnate and eventually fade away. I suggest you decide right now to move your business forward.
The Top 5 Action Steps For Moving Your Business Forward Starting Today
1. Decide what revenue and profit before tax you want to report for the year ended twelve months from today.
2. Roll those numbers back to what you want to report one month from now and for each subsequent month for this next year. (It makes no difference when you are starting this. Use the twelve month horizon right now.)
3. For the next two months, roll the revenue and profits number back to what your business needs to do each week starting this week to hit your monthly target.
4. Translate your two month weekly and monthly targets into specific action plans with assigned accountability.
5. Measure actual vs. planned performance with close attention to your actual vs. planned cash position. Support and hold people accountable for performance.
Taking purposeful action is the key to moving forward. The alternative is to sit back read the news to find out how good or bad you feel. Your choice. (If you would like to discuss these steps and how I have helped companies effectively implement these for long term business performance improvement, contact me at 727-587-7871.)
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance.
Steve is the President of International Business Consulting Resources. His firm specializes in guiding companies to rapid increases in revenue and profits with a sustainable growth rate. Don’t miss my FREE Report: How To Make More Money With Your Business Now and Long Term I am building my practice and welcome new client inquiries. Call me for a fee consultation at 727-587-7871 Remember many of my business building articles can be found at Steve Reports and my prosperity building tool (best tool ever for helping you manifest your goals and dreams) is The Prosperity Tool Chest and guiding articles posted very often at Prosperity Tip
There are two parts to this article. The first part offers people in business a reminder of what can and must be done right now for your business. The second part offers my point of view on who is responsible for the less than exciting economic news headlines that seem to be part of our daily routine.
The Number One Action Step You Can Take To Grow Your Business In Difficult Economic Times and In Booming Economic Times.
Spend 50% of your time finding out how you can provide more value to your existing customers. As you find out then deliver that value. Spend 30 % of your time developing new customers. In summary, spend 80% of your time marketing. That’s it. If you are not growing your business, you are killing your business.
Who Is Responsible For The Negative Economic Events We Hear About Daily?
Do you remember there are rules and regulations already in place governing the banking system? Really doing a good job right?
Do you remember Sarbanes-Oxley? This was and is the law in response to the Enron fiasco and a number of other business situations awhile back. The idea was to prevent similar disasters from recurring. People seemed to forget there has been a professional internal controls standard already in place along with public company rules and regulations governed by the SEC. So with well founded governing policy already in place we enacted a law that has cost taxpayers billions of dollars and what is the result?
We have huge losses. The financial markets are in turmoil and so what is the conclusion? Our elected officials say we need more regulation. Where is it in the founding principles of our government does it say “we the people want the government to stick its nose everywhere we live and do business.”
Obviously I am a major advocate of very little federal government regulation and so a fair question is what are the alternatives?
I always look to what works for answers. In the history of our economy there are plenty of examples that provide guidance. When businesses provide value equal to or more than the price charged, people buy what is offered. When a business comes along and offers a competitive alternative that is superior to what is available people vote with their wallets. If what is offered by a business is not profitable for the business it ultimately fails. One example of this is the train wreck that occurred in the Internet Industry a number of years ago. Companies had a great story and were funded by private investors, but had no substantive product that was in demand by the market place or at least at a price the market was willing to pay. The economics of supply and demand worked perfectly. Companies failed and private investors got smarter. Where there was abuse, people went to Club Fed. Basic governance worked.
This portion of this article started with the question of who is responsible for the economic mess we seem to be in right now? Here is the answer……look in the mirror. We have allowed our governments to grow out of control and the ripple effect is an economic mess across this country that extends to international markets.
It is my belief I am totally responsible for everything that happens in my life. It took me a long time to understand that. Once I did, I can point to a noticeable improvement. Extending that to our economy and even beyond our borders, I know that when each person stops looking to others for a solution and delivers the message to people in public office that we have had enough with the regulations that don’t work, we as a country will grow stronger. We have the right to live our intentions in freedom and peace and we are sitting back and allowing others to weaken that right. It is time to say no more.
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance.
Steve is the President of International Business Consulting Resources. His firm specializes in guiding companies to rapid increases in revenue and profits with a sustainable growth rate. Don’t miss my FREE Report: How To Make More Money With Your Business Now and Long Term I am building my practice and welcome new client inquiries. Call me for a fee consultation at 727-587-7871 Remember many of my business building articles can be found at Steve Reports and my prosperity building tool (best tool ever for helping you manifest your goals and dreams) is The Prosperity Tool Chest and guiding articles posted very often at Prosperity Tip
The last thing my readers need is another economic analysis report or some suggestion that I or anyone else out there flapping their jaws really know all the facts about the reason for current climate. Ladies and gentlemen. reading those headlines and spending time analyzing the crap in the news is a monumental waste of God given talent. Stop your bitching and moaning and take responsibility for what you have control over which is your life. All change starts with one person. Do you want to know who that person is? Look in the mirror.
If your business is suffering, if you have lost your sources of cash flow, if you are feeling tired, down, stressed or in general not very good, recognize this: it is very true that the way you feel is absolutely a direct result of how you think. Don’t believe it? OK by me if you want to be a martyr. For those of you that want to take responsibility here is a quick 5 Step Plan to move forward fast:
A Five Step Speed Action Course For Achieving Your Goals In Changing Economic Times:
1. Recognize that most people you meet and talk to are going to be bitching and moaning about something or multiple things. Don’t play in that sandbox. There are a small group of people totally optomistic about the unlimited possibilities. These are the people you want to “hang out” with. So you don’t know anyone like that? I’ll tell you one source where I have met some wonderful people. Register for an account at www.Facebook.com and www.twitter.com You can begin by adding me (Steve Pohlit) as a friend and if you don’t think I am wonderful, you will soon find a large number of people who are.
2. Understand the dynamics of doing business are always changing. Since 1994 with the introduction of the Internet browser, the rate of advancement continues to accelerate. Do you remember a few years ago where Google Adwords was all the rage for on line marketing? Do you know the impact social networking is having on the Adwords market? When you look at the financial results of Google the impact may not seem obvious because Google is still the 800 pound gorilla. But if you become active in the social networking markets like Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and nearly daily growing rate of others you will see changing trend lines. I recently activated a site www.youtubemastery.net that begins to teach people how to use video to market their business and products on line. I can’t imagine recommending that even as recently as three years ago. I know at that point there were some progressive internet marketers using video but to encourage brick and morter businesses to use it would not have been very credible for me at that time. Now it would be irresponsible if I didn’t recommend it and teach it.
3. Nothing is the same forever…nothing. I am very familiar and experienced with using eBay stores as an adjunct to selling physical products using internet sites and retail stores. Several years ago the eBay model seemed to be an unmovable foundation for the auction business. In the last two weeks I was asked for my expert evaluation of a global trading platform that is very popular in the Europe. The person who contacted me was considering making a commitment of money and time to this business that is scheduled to enter the US. When I started studying this model I was amazed to discover that most of it was a completely new way of lookng at auctions and while I am not personally a person who has an interest spending time on landing an eBay deal, I can see myself playing in this new areana. Now since its origin is Europe, I had some difficulty understanding it. Once I thought I “got it” I developed an explanaton which you can see at www.dublian.com The point is whether you are a multi-billion dollar business, an entrepreneur, or an employeed person with a company you feel is well established for the long term, don’t fall into the trap of complacency. I’ll bet 6,500 people employed by Wachovia felt their position was secure until they discovered in the papers that their employer lost over $8 billion and was cutting their job. Nothing is permanent. My strongest advise with every business is the same: be very aggressive in taking care of current customers and growing market share. Do you think that advice would change under different economic conditions? It hasn’t and it won’t
4. If you are running a business with employees you should be very consistent on your expectatons for performance. It seems that when revenue and profits are under pressure, management starts taking a close look at employee performance. In some cases they don’t even care they just cut. Just cutting is rarely justified and is analogeous to removing a body part if you want to lose weight. That approach is just plain stupid. There is no change in the guidance here: The formula is A-P=V which stands for actual minus plan = variance. There must be a person accountable for each key variance in your business. That is how their performance is measured. Is it a simple as that. Yes and no which is why companies engage my me and my firm for assistance.
5. If you are repsonsible for a business that is really feeling financial and cash flow stress, every day you wait to call for assistance is a waste of very precious time needed to define and execute a turnaround plan. I have written about this before and will write about it again because it is a fact. Please visit www.turnaround-consulting-firm.com or call me direct right now at 727-587-7871.
The blessing of a changing economy is that is results in an opportunity to re-evaulate how you are running your business and your life. The people reading this either accept that they are responsible for what happens to them or blames everyone else. For a long time I had the mind-set it wasn’t me. Four years ago I concluded that mind-set was completely incorrect.
Accept The Responsibility and Take Action Starting Now!!
Sending all my readers the energy of wellness, peace and abundance.
Steve is the President of International Business Consulting Resources. His firm specializes in guiding companies to rapid increases in revenue and profits with a sustainable growth rate. Don’t miss my FREE Report: How To Make More Money With Your Business Now and Long Term I am building my practice and welcome new client inquiries. Call me for a fee consultation at 727-587-7871 Remember many of my business building articles can be found at Steve Reports and my prosperity building tool (best tool ever for helping you manifest your goals and dreams) is The Prosperity Tool Chest and guiding articles posted very often at Prosperity Tip