Old Dog, New Tricks

“Your success in life isn’t based on your ability to simply change. It is based on your ability to change faster than your competition, customers and business.” – Mark Sanborn, Leadership Expert

Last year my twelve-year-old Maltese, Casper, taught himself how to knock over our kitchen trash can, thus availing himself of some leftover goodies and miscellaneous food wrappers. Why it took him twelve years to crack the code on this particular achievement, I don’t know. But it goes to show you that even the oldest dog can learn new tricks.

The same holds true for entrepreneurs and business owners. Often, we talk to people about how we can help them grow their businesses through coaching and intentional action. Every now and then we meet someone who is decidedly an “Old Dog”, someone who isn’t open to anyone offering insight on how to navigate the ever-changing markets of the new millennium. They figure a coach can’t possibly understand how they do business, and they figure they know what’s best for their business because they have been doing it for years and years.

I’d like to challenge that way of thinking on two fronts. First, we find that the most successful business owners are the ones who are open to “new tricks.” These are the guys and gals who understand that the only constant is change. They know that if they are not willing to stay current on technology, marketing and networking, their competition will be. If you are in business for yourself, you always need to be on the hunt for training and ideas that will compliment your business and keep it moving forward.

Second, a good coach is not going to tell you how to do what you do best. We don’t tell dentists how to fix cavities, we don’t tell contractors how to build homes and we don’t tell restaurateurs what to put on the menu. A good coach speaks the language of business, and trains the business owner on the actions needed to fulfill his or her dreams for the enterprise.

Training and education are crucial ingredients for the successful entrepreneur. At Possibilities Unlimited, we offer a variety of ways to stay on top of trends as well as hold yourself accountable to your intentions for your business. Are you ready to learn some new tricks? We’re happy to help. Just contact us through our website for a free introductory consultation. You’re never too old to learn something new and build a winning formula for your business.

Are you ready to win?

Shifting Gears to Stay in the Game

“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. If you run into a wall…figure out how to climb it, go through it or work around it.” Michael Jordan, Legendary Basketball Player

This is the second in a three-part series on how to stay competitive in challenging and changing economic times.

At Possibilities Unlimited, we work with a broad range of companies and industry types. Last year, we witnessed a lot of creative reactions to the changing marketplace. Here are some examples of strategies our clients implemented to stay in the game in the face of shrinking resources:

1. Cross-training. Sounds simple, but it is always an effective strategy that gives you the capability to respond quickly to unpredictable market swings. Our client is an upscale real estate consulting firm. They decided to train analysts to sell consulting and got more boots on the ground to spread their message. The result is an increasing pipeline of business and greater visibility upon which they continue to build.

2. Renegotiation. Hey, your customers are doing it, why shouldn’t you? We had several clients renegotiate leases, contact terms and employee pay. It never hurts to ask for a better deal to save money, just be careful you don’t sacrifice quality along the way.

3. Add on services. We had one client broker a complimentary service (printing with advertising) to provide more of a one-stop-shop. He got a cut of the printing and kept his client happy with the service.

4. Upselling. Go back through your client list and see who needs additional services. It’s a lot cheaper to upsell an existing relationship than to go out and get a new one.

5. Not standing for what isn’t working. Now is the time to stop putting up with systems and people who aren’t getting the job done. The status quo doesn’t work in tough times. Everyone on your team needs to be stepping up to the plate and looking for ways to be more efficient and provide better service. Make it a game within the company and reward good results. And if someone isn’t willing to play, maybe they aren’t a fit for your organization.

There are a lot of ways to stay competitive. These are just some examples. If you have a good story of how your company dealt with adversity, we’d love to hear it. And if we can help you break through a challenge in your business, just email us. We’re here to help you win.

Next in the series: How to Generate Leads in Any Economy

Are you ready to win?