Rekindle that Spirit

Does it seem like everyone is depending on you? Do you get up and love going to work everyday like you did when you started the business?

It's not uncommon for the "Entrepreneurial Glow" to burn out. However, if you're not excited about your products or services, no one else is going to be. And, who wants to buy a product/service they're not enthusiastic about?

Quick tips for regaining your passion:

- Bring in a sandwich, shut the door, turn off the phone and email and write down all the reasons
you love your products or services
- Write down and then tell others the story of Why you became an entrepreneur
(POWERFUL 18 minute video from the author of "Start with Why")

http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action.html

- Get some Clarity write down what you want your business to look like in 5 years (even if it's
unrealistic... perhaps especially if it's unrealistic!) If you don’t know how the heck do you
expect your employees to know where you are going?
- Read inspirational books, blogs, and articles about small business ownership
- Take time to rejuvenate – yes take a few days off and really get away from the business

Think about it you became an entrepreneur for a reason. And, how you feel about your company is going to be reflected in the risks you'll take, the way you interact with your customers and employees and the amount of money you bring in!

Ray Kroc (founder of McDonald's) said, "If you work just for the money, you'll never make it, but if you love what you're doing, and always put the customer first, success will be yours."

Be passionate! Be excited! Learn to love your business, your customers, and the simple joys of small business ownership. Pass that passion on to your employees and customers, and you'll see a phenomenal difference in the growth and success of your business!

Start with some "kindling" from my Free Recorded Webinar on "Lack of Execution – The Bain of Business" and other free information and articles at
http://www.next-level-coaching.com/

All the best,

Rick Wallace

Slow Down - Get MORE Done

From my mentor Steve Chandler

It doesn't seem like it would be true. It doesn't seem like slowing down would get that much more done. But it does. Every day you do it, you will get more done. Every day you experiment with slowing down you will understand the truth behind the legend of the tortoise and the hare. (Legends and stories and myths last because of their truth.) If I am on the wrong road it doesn't matter how good I get at speeding down that road. It's the wrong road. I need to remind myself of this: Slow down and win. I need to take my sweet, gentle time. I want this conversation ahead of me be relaxed and strong so that the relationship I have becomes relaxed and strong. So all day it helps to tell myself: Slow down.

Steve

What we can learn from Louis Oosthuizen?

Louis Oosthuizen is the Champion Golfer of the Year as they say at the British Open. A virtual unknown, but he beat the field by 7 strokes.


The press noticed he had a big red dot on his golf glove. When asked about it he said he needed, “a trigger to get back in the moment, compose…focus on the shot and forget about everything around…”
When asked about sharing this day with his 6 month old daughter one day, he glowingly replied, “I’ll probably try and get…a DVD…and show her the whole thing.”

I think we can all learn a lot from him about improving our business and family life.


Essentially he’s:
- Aware of the potential of distractions that exist and can keep him from his goal
- Has a built in “trigger” to help him focus and play within himself
- Playing for something more than himself.



Clarity, Focus and Execution = a better company. What is your "trigger" to get you focused, motivated and allows you to execute? Go to my wesbite www.next-level-coaching.com and download the free presentation on Lack Of Execution - The Bane of Business it will take this leasson and show you how to come up with your own RED DOT for your business.

No Goal!

All of us in Buffalo know that quote.
As much as that frustrated me, nothing is as frustrating as hearing people say:

“I don’t need to set goals to succeed.”

Here are my two favorite quotes on the subject:

“If you don’t know where you are going you may not get there”
Yogi Berra

“What is wrong?
I’m lost and I don’t know which of these two roads to take.
Where are you going?
I don’t know
Well either of those roads will take you there.”
The Cat, to Alice, while she was running around Wonderland

My take is that goals are crucial to the owner of a small business. Without them your whole team has no direction, no way to prioritize their time, no way to know which way to go every time they reach a fork in the road. The bane of most businesses is Lack of Execution – they have great ideas but have trouble implementing them.

You see the most important thing about goals is that they immediately produce Actions. Actions can then be prioritized and then someone can then be made accountable and with an easy follow up process you Execute.

Goals – Actions – Prioritization – Accountability = Execution

(for more click below to listen to my 12 minute Audio “Clarity, Vision and Goals”

http://www.box.net/files#/files/0/f/31291448/1/f_371147368


Rick Wallace
“Closing the gap between the your Dream and the Reality of owning a business”

Serving vs. Pleasing

Since we were kids we have been taught to please people. Do things so they will like us. As we grow older we keep it up. We work hard at getting people to like us and our business. As salespeople we work hard to be friendly and likable. “People buy from people they like.” Right?

You know there is a better and more profitable way. Serve people. Customers and prospects will become loyal and big fans of companies and people that serve them. The people you attract to your business will come back because they were served and those are the people that are willing to pay more and stay around because they value those that serve.

People that come on board because they are pleased by you will not be as loyal. Offer a coupon, introductory price, slick sales pitch, take them out to lunch, golf, etc. please them and make them like you.

No loyalty in that, no value in that, once it is over.

Serve them, help them, demonstrate how your products and services can satisfy their needs and wants and overcome their fears and you have a customer for life.

Click here for free download of an audio from Steve Chandler – “Serving vs. Pleasing”
Listen or burn a CD.

Https://www.box.net/clubfearless

Seth Godin short video on social marketing and the need to serve, not please.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OujgPgNCLvk

This is one way I serve. More to come.


Rick Wallace
“Closing the gap between the your Dream and the Reality of owning a business”

“I can’t find good people”

The first and most common false belief I hear when talking to business owners is “I can’t find any good salespeople” or ”my salespeople aren’t good enough but I don’t want to hire someone else because they won’t be any better”. You get the point.As Jim Collins says “ the most important questions in a business are not the “what” questions, but the “who” questions.In the same vein Seth says “Everyone says try harder. We are all trying as hard as we can. Why not try different”I know a proven, successful process to hire A Players not just for sales but for every position. Take 9 minutes and download this MP3 Audio or simply listen.

http://www.box.net/shared/vs8qjad9g4

You can find more information on my website under resourses - Hiring and Recruitingwww.next-level-coaching.com

This is relevant to everyone trying to grow their company.

Rick Wallace

“Closing the gap between the your Dream and the Reality of owning a business

On Being Relevant

I’m starting a new blog and I want to make sure the information I share in this blog is relevant to the readers.

You see, it will be a bother if it is not.

Yet if it is, it will be looked upon as a quick read that will serve the readership and thus be read because;

It will be relevant.

It will be relevant to those of you that want to learn how to close the gap between the Dream you had when you started your business and the Reality you are now living.

Actually Excuting and Folowing up on the ideas and processes you know will improve your business or your career.

It will be relevant if you have ever been frustrated with these thoughts and questions:

“We never follow through"
"I can’t find good people”
“ There is not enough time to do it all”
“This business depends too much on me”
“There is not enough profit”
“ I can’t seem to grow”
“Is my marketing effective?”
“Will I ever be able to retire”
“Have I lost the passion”

As part of this blog I will be making available to those that find it relevant a treasure trove of information and best practices that I know work and will address those frustrations above.

Articles, Ebooks, Audios, Powerpoints free for those who think it relevant.

If it is relevant please follow me. Please opt out below if it is not relevant.
Or
Hang around a while and see. You can always opt out when it isn’t relevant anymore.

Success - Do the right things, in small amounts, over a long period of time.

And be relevant to your customers and prospects so they will follow you.

Seth Godin short video on social marketing - relevance vs. mass marketing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OujgPgNCLvk


Rick Wallace
“Closing the gap between your Dream and the Reality of owning a business”