Aside from consistently serving it’s clients at the HIGHEST LEVEL, the # 1 priority of a business is to generate revenue, and be profitable. However, business owners frequently tend to focus on activities that give them the false sense of “being busy” but do nothing to contribute to their revenue, and profits.

They get side-tracked.  It’s easy to get side-tracked. We are living in a busy world.

So, the question is..

How can you close strong in your business – every month? By focusing on what is most important, every single day. Here are four steps that can help you stay on track:

Step One:  Set a challenging revenue goal  that you want to achieve every month. Be clear and specific.

Step Two:  Define the most important – business growth – action steps that you need to take in order to make your goal happen. Take action!

Step Three:  Put your goal and action steps in writing immediately, and post them everywhere. Track your progress daily.

Step Four:  Celebrate the achievement of your goal. You deserve it!

You can FINISH STRONG in your business - every month!  Focus on what is most important, every single day.

They begin relationships, friendships, business opportunities, war and peace. A few simple words can make an enormous difference in the way you’re perceived by the world, in the way you promote yourself, your services, your ideas, and ultimately in the results that you achieve in your business.

Be Prepared to Market Yourself

In conversation, being the first to ask what the other person does for a living can lead to business opportunities. Typically, when you ask about someone’s line of work,  the same question is asked of you. This might be a nice opportunity to begin marketing yourself by talking about your business and how you serve the world.

It’s a good idea, to always be prepared.

Your Professional Introduction Speech

When someone asks what you do for a living, do you simply state your job title? Most small business owners limit their response to their job title, or, line of work. You also may find it challenging to describe your business briefly, and in simple terms so that the person you’re speaking with can immediately understand the inherent “benefit” of your services.

Enter, your Professional Introduction Speech: a simple way for quickly describing what your business is about, so that the average person can understand the benefits, results, transformations your clients are likely to achieve.

The purpose of developing your professional introduction speech – isn’t so that you can “sell” your services on the spot during a meeting with someone you have just met (even though this might happen on some occasions). The goal should be to stimulate enough interest and begin a conversation – a dialogue – about your services. This dialogue may lead to a sale soon, some time in the future, or it could mark the beginning of a long-term business relationship that could benefit you in many other ways beyond the scope of making one sale.

Many times the true opportunity may be yet to come.

Marketing begins with every single contact you make with the outside world.

It’s a good idea, to always be prepared!

Successful small business owners, service providers and sales professionals make good business habits part of their daily business lives. What is one important habit overlooked by a large number of your competition?

Promptness in responding to client inquiries.

I have been amazed with the number of times I’ve called professional service providers to inquire about their services and received a call back a week later, or not at all. I find this very surprising especially in a challenging economic environment.

Here is more opportunity for the rest of us!

When you receive a call from a prospect or a client, make every effort to respond ASAP. This can be done by you, or someone in your support staff. If you can’t talk extensively at that particular moment, it’s okay. Simply make the connection. Make this a business priority.

Here is what you could do:

“Hello John: This is George “H” of GS4U. Thanks for your call! I wanted to connect with you right away but I’m currently in between appointments. Can I call you back later? What would be the best time to reach you?”

People today, more than ever, are impatient, pressed for time and low on energy. They are looking for quick access to smart business owners who can provide them with answers to their challenges, and solutions to their problems.

A smart, quick and easy way for you to position yourself as a valuable business resource and distinguish yourself from your competition is simple: respond quickly to client inquiries.  

Your new job interview begins at that moment.

As a professional living and working in a highly competitive business world were the rules of success are often re-defined, it’s likely that you have experienced some degree of fear regarding your business and your future. 

Can you totally eliminate fear when it shows up uninvited?

In my opinion, at the very least, you can overcome it. One day at a time.

Four Steps for Overcoming Fear:

 1.     Accept it as a normal response of your mind. Don’t panic. We are emotional beings. Everyone experiences fear regardless of their level of success or type of business; from country leaders and successful CEOs to students, interns and support staff.

2.     Focus your attention on the here and the now. Dale Carnegie offered us great perspective in his book, How to Stop Worrying and Start Living: Live in day-tight compartments. You cannot worry and be fearful about yesterday because it’s long gone. You cannot be fearful about tomorrow because tomorrow is not here.  Of course, plan for tomorrow, but don’t worry about it.

3.     Focus on everything that you can control. Do you have any control over the declining business markets? Of course not. However, you can control the types of business goals that you set for yourself as well as the actions that you take.

4.     Begin every single day with a very clear set of goals and immerse yourself in action. The more clarity you have about your goals and the more you commit to taking action, the more your fear will dissipate. Action is critical. It cures fear, worry and reluctance. It creates positive energy and opportunity. Put your daily goals in writing, prioritize them in order of importance and simply make the commitment to yourself to accomplish your goals by the end of business day.

You can overcome fear.

One day at a time.