Liam Brown

I received an interesting email from a lady who took offence to our Coaching website today. Here is the emailed that I received from her:

Your complete lack of diversity on both your website photo and this email photo make it clear that you don’t consider me part of your niche. People of color, disability and age ALSO own small businesses! Thank you.

Really?… are you kidding me? Is that what a website has come down to now? That we have to ensure that the website is PC enough? Is the website not clear in stating how we want to help small business owners?

Now, let me remind you that I have never met this lady, she doesn’t know who I am, she has never spoken to me in person or over the phone. She has judged that I am a racist, I don’t like older folks, and I don’t like anyone that is disabled. This was my response back to her:

Sally, I am not sure what we have done to offend you but we work with a diverse range of clients of all ages, color, race, and business types. My youngest client is 18 years old and my oldest client is 72. I also have partnerships with people with disabilities (providing services to local non-profits), not to mention have good friends from every walk of life.

Everyone who runs a small business, no matter your age, color, physical, or mental capacities is on one level playing field. Sally, I
do feel you are right about us not being your market I am here to help people be successful in the business of their choosing, not working with people who make decisions on the type of person I am based on an email and website only.

Sincerely,
Liam Brown

Perhaps Sally… you should be looking at putting energy towards your business instead of issues like this. I wonder how many angry “letters to the editor” she writes on a daily basis…?

No it’s not a cute play on words, it is a direct question that I am asking. When speaking with clients, prospects, colleagues, partners, and friends I am usually asked the same few questions each time: 

“How do you develop partnerships with companies so that you have a stake in them?”
“How do you bring on so many clients?”
“How do you turn things around so fast when things are going right with one of the companies?”
“How can you do that when I can’t?”

So I will ask again… Do you have the Balls? That’s what it comes down to. Do you have the balls to speak to someone about developing a profitable company together? Do you have the balls to get out there and sell your product/service until you reach your goal? Do you have the balls to get out there and work it to turn a company around? Do you have the balls to say “I Can” instead of “I Can’t”?

This year for me is all about creating the foundation. I have partnered with people around me and am now building out 6 companies that I am helping manage and develop. Each company will have a solid foundation, good sales, and a fantastic start so we can then build on that foundation (Goals>Plan>Strategies>Processes>Deployment>Sales>Implementation) and 2011 is going to be a massive growth phase for all of them.

No matter where you are at with your business, it can be done. Now get out there and do it!

Drop me a line if you need some ideas

Cheers,
Liam

Whenever I am building a business my favourite part is that time after the foundation has been laid and we can start to build the “business house”, once the foundation is laid we can start really pumping up the Business Development and Sales. Laying the foundation of your ‘business house’ are things such as (and no these are not in prioritized sequence):

• Market Research (Is there a need for your product/service)
• Registering and Setting up your business (Registering the business name, setup bank accounts, etc)
• Setting Business Goals and creating a deployable (and realistic) plan
• Product and Service Offerings Defined (Pricing, Marketing Collateral, Promos)
• Sales Channels and Business Development Strategies Developed

Laying the foundation is a critical step in any business and can be done as quickly as you would like to move. In any business you will always look to continue sales, marketing, and business development from the day you start your business and never stop. One of my mentors equated the “Laying the Foundation” stage as a hockey stick. The blade of the stick represents the foundation of the business and then there is a sharp curve up, the shaft of the stick, which represents the business growing. The exciting part in any business (whether it be my own or someone I am partnering with) for me is once the foundation (the blade of the hockey stick) is laid and now we can start generating the sales and revenues in a sharp upward motion (the shaft of the stick).

In my own business, I have a few that have spent the last 4 months setting the foundation stage that are now ready for massive and quick growth:

A Software Firm. Myself and two partners have developed a software business that will be competing with major players in the Email Marketing Industry. We have major client partnerships developed, Re-Seller Partners signed on, Affiliates, and Clients on board. In the second quarter we are looking at going on a major growth spurt.

A new Bookkeeping Firm. I have partnered with a Bookkeeper and we have developed a company together, the second quarter will be focused on major growth

New Seminars and a 8-10 City Micro Tour. I have spent the last few months developing two new seminar topics, have identified interested target markets, solidified the dates, and have prospects ready to register for the upcoming sessions. The tour will take place at the end of May and beginning of June spanning two weeks of travel and from there will look to license the content to others who want to facilitate seminars.

With the first quarter coming toan end it’s time to start looking at your goals for the second quarter and take a look at your own business. Have you set a strong foundation? and are you ready for massive growth?

All the best,
Liam