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