Motivational author and speaker Jim Rohn says that for a business to succeed it takes about ahalf dozen things. Of all the millions of things you do, it's really that half dozen that count.
Of course, the trick is figuring out which half dozen things to do to help your business succeed. A while back, I sat down and did some thinking about the half dozen things I need to do consistently to take my business to the next level.
One of my half dozen is establishing and nurturing relationships. Relationships are crucial for every small business. Not only do those relationships lead to new business opportunities (and believe me, it's a wonderful thing to have so many opportunities that you can chose who you work with and what kind of work you do), but relationships are a fantastic way to limit the isolation of small business ownership.
Isolation takes two forms. One is the isolation we all feel from time to time being self employed. That's the "it's lonely at the top" feeling we all get. Reaching out to others relieves some of that loneliness and gives us other points of view on how we're running our businesses.
The other isolation is cutting ourselves off from our customers. When you have a strong relationship with your customers, you know what their problems and challenges are. You can use that information to fine tune your products and services or create new ones to help them solve their problems.
Case in point. I'm working on a new service for self employed professionals. Some time ago, I took a really fantastic Marketing for More seminar with Marcia Yudkin http://www.marketingformore.com/seminars.htm.
At the seminar I met a couple of executive coaches. We struck up a friendship and have stayed in touch. Last week, I asked them about the kinds of services they most needed at each stage of their growing businesses.
Their input is priceless. The value will drive my business forward for years. And it meant so much to me that they took the time to answer my questions and that they spent so much time thinking about things for me.
Now, we didn't approach each other with a "what can this person do for me?" attitude. We met, enjoyed each others viewpoints and personalities, kept in touch, and helped each other out. It's that simple.
What are your "half dozen things"? What do you need to focus on to move your business forward? Once you figure out the half dozen, focus on them relentlessly and watch your business grow.
Caroline Jordan, MBA helps self employed professionals discover and relentlessly focus on the areas of their business most important to success. For more tips and strategies for business success visit http://www.thejordanresult.com
trusted cleaning company Bannockburn ..We hear a lot of talk about junk mail nowadays.... Read More
CONSIDERATIONS FOR YOUR INTERN: Specify the number of hours the... Read More
Everyday, customers and business owners are bombarded with billboards, logos,... Read More
As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized... Read More
Paul Leonard's BirthdayCards2Go.com paid greeting card service offers convenience when... Read More
Are you -- like 70 percent of small business owners... Read More
If you interviewed business owners of failed businesses, a majority... Read More
As stability emerges in the Middle East there will be... Read More
It seems so long ago that I started my first... Read More
If you are in the pressure washing business and are... Read More
Shopping for a franchise is easy if you know what... Read More
As a Boat Detailing Specialist, you may want to offer... Read More
So it's time to invest some finances into advertising your... Read More
Writing a business plan for your Solo Entrepreneur business doesn't... Read More
There are many potential niches for pressure washing companies that... Read More
Managing cash flow is every small business owner's most important... Read More
One of the first things you will need to set... Read More
The efficiency of debt collection is the difference between a... Read More
When should you leverage the relationship?Leveraging sometimes brings a negative... Read More
If you run a mobile car wash, mobile fleet washing... Read More
With the massive explosion of start-ups and home businesses developing,... Read More
No matter type of business you operate you've got to... Read More
CONSIDERING COMPANY NEEDS: In identifying your needs for the internship,... Read More
Think of your business as a living, breathing, organism. It... Read More
When a person knows and knows not that he knows.... Read More
luxury cleaning services Lake Forest ..If you are a franchisee of a large franchise system;... Read More
Do you promote yourself as offering prompt, reliable and quality... Read More
One thing I have noticed in my travels to different... Read More
We all know that a building has to have a... Read More
Where would a business be without a business plan? A... Read More
Most business owners know when they need an accountant, but... Read More
How do marine type businesses start? Have you ever thought... Read More
If you really want to earn more money with your... Read More
As you may already know, asphalt paved parking lots do... Read More
Is your business making money? Would you know?Figuring out whether... Read More
Over regulation of small business is so intense it is... Read More
Before you want to build your business, you need to... Read More
1. Don't Spend Too Much Time PlanningWhen you are entering... Read More
The Dynamics of Daylight Savings Time changes the way we... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
Having their own business is something many millions of people... Read More
When working from home, it is usual to find that... Read More
Grow your Professional Organizer business by branching out into related... Read More
Here are some useful tips on how to select a... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission is upgrading the franchise law and... Read More
The restaurant industry in the United States employs an estimated... Read More
Pressure washing companies must look for customers in the retail... Read More
Here are some useful tips on what to consider before... Read More
On June 8, 2004, the world witnessed what no one... Read More
No matter what kind of small business you have, you... Read More
Small Business |