As told by Dan S. Kennedy

In the past couple years, most business owners have had to battle an unfriendly economy, and must now adjust to an evolving “New Economy.” This is harder for some than others, but the path to success is the same for all: not permitting any conditions or circumstances to dictate results. Not to embrace any excuses for not doing well. Excuses sabotage creativity and initiative.

As an entrepreneur, you are going to screw up. And you are going to have bad things happen on your watch that you actually had no hand in, or feel you couldn’t possibly prevent. That’s a given. What’s important to understand is that the world watches and responds to the way you handle these situations.

If you blame others, blame circumstances, offer up excuses, you telegraph weakness. If you step up, accept responsibility, offer no excuses, and roll up your sleeves and work, you telegraph strength and command respect. With excuse-making, you may obtain some sympathy and pity but at the price of respect. And wealth is never transferred based on pity. It moves based on respect. Wealth attraction power has a great deal to do with self-respect and respect of others, and that has a great deal to do with your acceptance, even your embrace, of responsibility.

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As told by Dan S. Kennedy

People who lived through The Great Depression kept a “Depression mentality” their entire lives. They stored and hoarded, they were debt averse, they squeezed the last drop from every tube, repaired rather than replaced anything that might be patched together and made to limp along just a little further. Such thrift is not necessarily a bad thing, and our modern society could benefit from a little more of it.

This kind of thrift taken to extremes, however, represents some inner, emotional scarring. It speaks of fear. In business a certain level of prudent paranoia, of considering worst-case scenarios, and intelligent scheming to avoid them or insuring against them is necessary, just as it is in ordinary life. (more…)

As told by Dan S. Kennedy

“Motion beats meditation.” - Gary Halbert

In the midst of one of his dark periods, when the news was filled with stories of his financial demise, Donald Trump talks about feeling like just staying hidden at home but instead strapping on his tuxedo and going to an important gala - because he knew he could not possibly gain by staying home. At a time, some 30 years or so ago, when I was captain of a company everyone in its industry knew to be in deep and dire financial circumstances, I considered skipping that year’s convention. But I didn’t. It might have been less stressful, less embarrassing, more comfortable to stay home. But I couldn’t possibly gain doing that. I went. I put myself in a place where it was at least possible good, productive, profitable things could happen - and they did.

Hopefully, you aren’t in the upside down financial condition I was, or Donald Trump was, at the above-mentioned times. But regardless of your circumstances, you have to make a point of putting yourself in places where opportunity can occur. My father passed on a pair of cufflinks to me with the letters: YCDBSOYA. They stand for: You Can’t Do Business Sitting On Your Ass

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On RI’s WJAR TV they recently had a news report of one company being successful in this down economy.  Brewer’s Cove Haven Marina of Barrington RI:  Doing Well in Tough Times

They have invested $7m in their operations, expanded and had employees get certified in repair, maintenance etc.. of boats.  Upto 40% of their customers are from out of state.  They have improved the marinas they own and plan to increase employment in the spring when boating starts up again in Narragansett Bay.

I am alway hearing that this economy is getting my business down.  Well here’s a business that has planned for it. 

Don’t think it’s to late to start getting your business back on track.  If a marina that is a seasonal business dealing with a non-essential luxury item can do it so can you!! 

Get your marketing ramped up and be in front of as many new leads and remind your existing customers that your here and can sell and service them now.

If you need help in getting your marketing ramped up and automated call us at 508-226-4565.

Mary found she was spending a lot of time trying to find new leads and not generating enough sales to make quota.   The existing base of customers hardly bought a second time and many went to competitors to purchase the same quality products. 
 
Mary and the owner discussed and implemented an automated sales and marketing system. 
 
Once a business automates their sales and marketing, many experience increased sales.
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September has been interesting for us.  We have seen some clients make a commitment to using new or upgraded software to automate their sales and marketing.  Others are in the Chicken Little mode of the “Sky is Falling” and not looking ahead or long term to position themselves for growth.

However one prospect we met was interesting.  They have the pain to install a system to track and automate their sales and marketing.

• Losing track of leads generated by the sales team.
• Forgetting to do quotes on those interested in their products
• Forgetting to follow up even when the existing customer requested because there will be a job for them to bid.
• Can’t locate the quotes that were sent out.
• Customer support doesn’t follow up promptly or totally forgets.
• No one knows what the other person is doing with a new lead or an existing client.

The reason isn’t lack of an automated system but because management lacks the commitment to put policies in place.  Management isn’t really looking within to correct the problems and establish polices for working with leads and clients.  They think the software will cure the problem.

Before any company purchases a new system or upgrades an existing system they need to first look within and review their sales and marketing process.  Put into place policies that not only make employees accountable but management as well.

Look for a system that will be flexible and take advantage of how your company sells and interacts with existing customers.  It’s your business and you really need to take ownership of it. 

If your company is ready to commit to a new system or need help with your sales process please call us at 508-226-4565.