Business development Archives - Page 16 of 24

Is toxic marketing losing you a fortune? Probably. Here’s why!

By Jim Connolly | January 23, 2019

Did you know, healthy marketing and healthy eating share something in common?

Well, they do. It’s this:

There’s more than one method for healthy eating. The challenge comes, when you combine ideas from a number of conflicting methods. This creates a toxic mix, which can make you sick.
There’s also more than one way to successfully market a business. And just like the previous example, you can create a devastatingly toxic mix, by combining ideas from conflicting marketing methods.

Here’s why this matters

Almost every small business owner is needlessly losing a fortune and missing great opportunities, thanks to a toxic marketing mix.

There are dozens of extremely common examples. Here are just a few to help illustrate what I mean.

The consultants who promise a high value service, yet work for average or below average fees. They seem unaware, how people are warned from childhood that quality doesn’t come cheap. That if something looks too good to be true, it is too good to be true. This kind of mixed marketing warns your marketplace not to believe you.
The business owner who wants to SEO their content for maximum search traffic, and also wants to maximise that same content, to inspire people to hire them or buy from them. It doesn’t work. Write for search engine algorithms or write to utterly compel people to make a purchasing decision. Choose: Machines or people? Do both and you’ll fail on both counts.
The service providers who claim to be in high demand, yet who beg strangers to book a free consultation with them, via their website. Unaware how needy and desperate they look, they wonder why people won’t talk to them for free.

Sadly, not every toxic marketing mix is obvious to the untrained eye. That’s why they’re so common.

But as we enter such an uncertain time for the global economy, the savvy business owner must (at least try) and spot them.

15 Essential questions for EVERY business owner

By Jim Connolly | January 22, 2019

Who are you allowing to influence your business decisions and have they earned that position?
What’s the single biggest hurdle to your success right now (and what do you plan to do about it)?
How can you make it feel less risky, for people to hire you or buy from you? This will help.
Do you have a strategy in place, to find out why time-wasters respond to your marketing?
What’s the biggest threat facing your prospective clients in 2019 and how are you helping them prepare for it?
Do your clients recommend you regularly enough and if not, how do you plan to improve things? This will help.
Can you name the most influential person in your industry and if so, have you introduced yourself to them?
Is your marketing motivating and useful or does it read like a sales pitch? Tip: People hate being sold to! This will help.
If 2019 is already starting to look like a repeat of 2018, how long will you wait before you make the improvements required?
Have you considered offering a premium version of your services, for high value prospective clients who are eager to pay more, for the ‘extra’? This will help.
If you ceased trading tomorrow, how tricky would your clients find it to replace your service?
Does your branding create a powerful and professional image of your business, which your marketplace trusts?
Does your marketing inspire enough urgency or are you leaving money on the table every day?
How different are you from your competition? This will help.
Is your business providing you with the lifestyle you want? If not, are you lowering your expectations or working on a plan to massively improve your financial situation?

Knowing and doing

By Jim Connolly | January 19, 2019

There has never been easier access to information. With an internet connection and a search engine, we can find answers to even complex business problems in no time. And let’s not forget the plethora of online courses and classes on just about every subject.

As such, the challenge business owners face today is not in finding the answers they need. Their challenge is to motivate themselves to actually capitalise on that knowledge. To take action.

In a recent article about how business will change in 2019, Isabelle Roughol, senior editor-at-large at LinkedIn, wrote:

“Learning isn’t enough; professionals will focus on doing. After the explosion of the online learning sector, our heads are full of all those classes we’ve been taking. But what are we doing with this newfound knowledge?”

There’s clearly a huge opportunity here, for business owners who eagerly seek to get moving and put all that education into play, whilst their competitors are stuck in a perpetual learning-not-doing loop.

Knowledge without application is of very limited commercial value. The balance we need to achieve is to never stop learning, and to do something productive with what we’ve learned. That’s why we find again and again that in business, the winners get moving.

What is the feast or famine cycle & how to beat it!

By Jim Connolly | January 15, 2019

feast famine cycle, what is, feast famine problem

The first thing to know about the feast or famine cycle, is that it isn’t a feast or famine problem.

It’s a symptom.

A symptom of a marketing problem.

What is the feast or famine cycle?

The feast or famine cycle is what happens when a business owner lacks control of their turnover and profits, because of ineffective or non-existent marketing.

It’s impossible to build a successful business until you break that cycle.

That’s because a lack of control over the lifeblood of your business, means you’re unable to plan ahead. You’re unable to forecast because all you know for sure, is there will be more uncertainty. So, you anxiously wait for the next feast. You hope things will improve, but you don’t know exactly what to do, to make things improve. It’s like playing a stressful game of roulette with your livelihood.

When the future of a business is out of the owners hands, they need to retake control.

Here’s the solution to this extremely common marketing problem.

Controlling the feast or famine cycle

The first step in solving any problem, is to identify what the problem is. And this one is easy. In this case, the business owner has a marketing problem, which can be resolved with effective marketing. Effective marketing allows you to attract the customers or clients you need, based on your business goals. This then lets you plan ahead with confidence and look to the future with excitement, rather than apprehension.

It’s how all successful business owners operate.

Now for the REAL challenge

Knowing what your problem is and how to resolve it is one thing. Actually deciding to resolve it is something else. This is why one of the biggest factors in your future success isn’t what you know… but what you decide to do with that knowledge.

In short, the feast or famine cycle is a sign you need to start taking your marketing seriously. And it’s a sign that business owners ignore at their peril.

How to do more of your very best work

By Jim Connolly | January 13, 2019

do your best work, content marketing, creativity

I recently looked at my most popular blog posts from the past 6 months year. And once again, literally none of the top 10 posts are what I’d consider my best. Not a single thing I sweated artistic bullets over got the response I expected.

It reminded me of a wonderful process I discovered, which I’m going to share with you. It’s a very simple way to regularly produce your best work.

First, I’m going to quickly unpack why the top 10 posts were unexpected hits.

We can’t always predict that a piece of work will be a smash hit. This is true even if we spend lots of time refining it, to make it ‘perfect’.
If we focus on perfectionism, we’ll very seldom produce our best work. In this example, none of those top posts would have been published.
This means we’ll fail to be productive AND fail to ship our most valuable projects.

How the top producers operate

Here’s how I’ve found the most productive people operate. It’s a process I’ve followed for years and it’s spectacularly simple. It looks like this.

They decide what they want the outcome to be. They then write it down. They include a deadline. Finally, when the work meets their criteria, they ship it.

That’s it. Just make sure that perfection isn’t part of your criteria!

When the project is complex, they write the outcome down in detail. You don’t need that level of attention for something as basic as a newsletter, blog post, etc.

For example, my desired outcome for everything I share with you, is that it needs to be useful. That outcome is what gave me the freedom to publish those top performing posts. They were useful. Not perfect. Just useful. So, they were published.

I hope you found this imperfect post useful, my friend.

The misfit who owned his competitors

By Jim Connolly | January 10, 2019

I spoke about the importance of creative marketing yesterday. I also promised to give you some examples.

This one is an absolute gem!

It’s all about Edwin and how he owned his marketplace. Plus, the secret of his success. A secret which can be applied to your business.

Edwin was the busiest and best-known photographer in the town where I grew up. He had a very unique sense of fashion, often wearing an elaborate hat and super-bright jacket, with contrasting waistcoat and the weirdest shoes you can imagine. He drove to meet his prospective clients in a classic 1950’s Ford, or riding his equally old motorcycle (complete with goggles). He stood out a mile. He looked like an artist. And everyone hired him, despite his high fees.

Did you notice something missing from Edwin’s description?

At no point did I mention how good his photos were. Having seen his work, it certainly looked professional… just like the vast majority of experienced, professional photographers.

What set Edwin apart from the competition, was that he used creativity to stand out. He built a brand around his services. And in doing so, he developed a whole experience around hiring him. His customers would get bragging rights, just because THEY hired Edwin for their wedding, family photos or corporate work. He gave them a story worth sharing, and they told everyone.

If people wanted to hire another local photographer, capable of equally good work, there was a ton to choose from, and for far lower fees. However, when they wanted to hire Edwin, Edwin got hired and he was paid Edwin rates.

The takeaway from Edwin’s story

The most commercially successful; accountant, lawyer, architect, coach, consultant, designer, photographer, hair stylist, doctor, etc., is very seldom the best or the most qualified or the most experienced.

That’s because there’s a HUGE difference between being the best-selling, and being the best.

So, step away from the pack. Stop marketing your services like your competitors and apply real creativity.

Because every piece of marketing you do, which falls in line with your prospective customer’s expectations, is simply camouflaging you and hurting your business.

Battling blindness and making mistakes

By Jim Connolly | December 29, 2018

Please note: Today’s post includes a little about my 18-month battle with blindness.

Have you ever noticed someone making an obvious mistake, then realised YOU were making the same mistake?

Well, it just happened to me. Ouch!

Here’s what happened, along with a second mistake I’ve been making, which is why you don’t know I’ve been battling blindness for 18-months.

How I spotted my first mistake

I was watching a Youtube video. Well, I tried to. That’s to say, I needed to fast-forward almost 6 minutes, before the speaker started to talk. The video was a conference keynote. And it followed an all-too common path.

It started with a guy walking on stage.
The guy then introduced a woman, whose job was to introduce the speaker.
The woman walked on stage.
She thanked the guy who introduced her.
She then introduced the speaker.
Finally, the speaker was rolled out and started their talk.

Those first 2 people weren’t pitching anything. They didn’t have anything to say. They were there simply because they wanted to be on stage. This was especially the case with the second presenter, whose introduction was actually longer than the introduction she gave the keynote speaker. Her job title suggested she was senior enough in their organisation, to make it happen.

Here’s the thing: People who attend a keynote are there to watch or listen to the keynote speaker. Literally no one is interested in the person who presents the speaker or the person who presents the person who presents the speaker. A brief introduction to the speaker is all that was required. The 6 minutes of nonsense before the keynote was indulgent, selfish and unnecessary.

So, how did I make the same mistake?

Just as I was considering how self-indulgent the nonsense was before that keynote, I realised I do the same. Right here on Jim’s Marketing Blog. Here’s how my self-indulgence manifests:

There are posts I publish, because I’m motivated to share something I think you’ll find useful. That’s as it should be.
However, there are also posts I publish, because it’s been a few days since I published anything. Often, the value of these posts is less than you deserve.

I only realised the drop in quality of those ‘better publish something’ posts, after spending a whole day, reflecting on the blog. (I spent all of yesterday, trying to find ways to make it more useful to you in 2019).

I then identified something else, that’s been missing from my work for a very long time.

My second (and bigger) mistake

Over the past 3 or 4 years, my posts have become less personal. I use almost none of my own images or photos any more (unlike today). I use very few of my own stories. I share very few of the resources I find useful; books, videos, articles, podcasts, etc. So, the blog has become too sterile / synthetic.

This realisation came when I suddenly remembered that I haven’t mentioned, even once, a huge part of my life since June 2017.

Unless you follow me on Twitter or know me, you’ll have no idea that I’ve spent almost 18-months battling diabetes-related blindness. Actually, you won’t even know I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in May 2016. I didn’t mention that, either.

I’ve had multiple surgeries. Initially, the diagnosis was bad. Very bad. But after reversing my diabetes (my blood is perfectly normal now and I take no medication), the vision has responded well. On Christmas Eve, I had my latest eye scans done and was told my eyes are now self-healing, no additional damage is likely to occur and I should be fine.

It was a great Christmas present. Blindness is no longer on the horizon.

My point is that I regularly mention this on Twitter. But it never occurred to me that readers may want to know. And all because I allowed the blog to become too impersonal.

Moving forward, I’m going to work hard on improving those 2 areas. You’ll no longer hear from me just because ‘it’s been a while’ and when you do, I promise to make it a lot more human.

If you’ve read this far, thank you. I’ll do better in 2019!

Success 101: No one starts at the finish line

By Jim Connolly | December 21, 2018

It’s true. No one starts at the finish line.

But that’s perfectly fine. Because our task as business owners is to cross the finish line. Not start there.

Yes, it’s essential to get started. But it’s not enough. Anyone can start a project, work on an idea or set a goal.

However, success comes to those who:

Complete their projects.
Give their ideas the time and energy needed in order to fly.
See their goals through from inception to attainment.

I often hear from business owners, who are excited about an idea they have. When I speak with them a few months later, they’re excited by a new, idea.

Their previous idea was abandoned, when the initial excitement was replaced with the reality of the focused work required, to bring their idea to fruition. So, they’re now excited about their new, new idea. And a few months later still, it’s the new, new, new idea that has their attention.

(Tip: Read this – Steve Jobs and The Power of Focus).

Before we start anything, we need to commit. We need to commit whatever is required to cross the finish line.

Because ultimately my friend, our commercial success will be determined by the things we finish. Not the things we start.

How to become an idea generating superpower

By Jim Connolly | December 12, 2018

You are an idea person. And as such, you have the ability to blow the lid of your potential and (literally) grow the most amazing business you can imagine.

However, in order to unlock this often overlooked superpower, you need to know how to get started. You’ll also need to know how to overcome the stumbling block. In this brief post, I’ll help you with both those challenges.

We need to start by understanding that there are 2 types of idea people:

Those who have lots of ideas.
Those who have lots of ideas… and do something with them.

Putting our ideas into action

The person who has lots of ideas and doesn’t use them, sets a very low ceiling on their potential. Conversely, those with the motivation to put their ideas into play, give themselves ever-expanding possibilities. Here’s a quick snapshot of how that latter group tend to operate, when it comes to ideas.

It looks like this.

An idea will come to them.
Then, they make sure they capture the idea whilst it’s still fresh in their mind. For example, using the record function of their phone.
Next, they write the idea down.
They then chew on the idea for a while and determine its potential.
And if they believe it’s worth working on, they develop a simple plan to get it out of their head and into the world.
They take the first step on that plan.
Then the next…

Over the years, I’ve found that the key difference between those who work on their ideas and those who do not, seems to be their mindset regarding failure and criticism.

Failure in context

Those who act on their ideas, see failure as essential feedback. They know that nothing ships perfectly first time. That’s why your software is constantly updated and your hardware is a dinosaur, after a few years.

Updates, improvements and advancements come from feedback. In short: No feedback, no progress!

This means we need to eagerly seek out feedback whenever possible. Not try to avoid it.

Criticism in context

Those who act on their ideas understand criticism and handle it accordingly. They don’t allow critics to derail them.

They regard criticism as inevitable, ESPECIALLY if their idea is a big success. Every great idea, product and service has critics. There are no exceptions to this rule. This means if we try to avoid criticism, we’re proactively trying to avoid success, albeit unconsciously.

Note: I cover criticism in more detail here: Why people criticise you and how to deal with it, in just 3 steps.

The great news is that whether we are aware of it or not, we are all idea-generating powerhouses. And by capturing our ideas and putting the best ones into play, we open up endless possibilities.

Destroying your competitors: Here’s what you need to know

By Jim Connolly | November 28, 2018

Updated August 2021

If we want to elevate our business above the competition, there are a couple of broad routes available to us.

Here they are.

Destroy our competition

We can choose to take every opportunity to denigrate, belittle and diminish our competitors. We can bad-mouth them. Maybe even spread nasty stories about them or call them out when they screw up. In short, we can try to ruin their reputation.

The idea here, is that if we make our competitors look bad, our business should look better in comparison. Of course, it’s really difficult to do this without looking like a jerk. And that’s a really bad look for us and our business, which will eventually spread around the marketplace. Before we know it, it’s our own business that we’ve damaged with our actions. Seriously, it’s an approach that’s doomed to fail before we even start.

There’s a far better approach.

Build our own business

Alternatively, we can choose to constantly seek out ways to improve what we do. We can dedicate ourselves to out-caring our competitors, and set increasingly high standards of service excellence. We can make promises and deliver on them, earning the trust of our clients. We may even choose to become a respected innovator. Or strive to become a leader in our industry.

The potential pay-off here is huge. Because if we focus on building our own business correctly, we’ll never have to worry about the competition again. And all the while, we’re proactively increasing the value of the services we provide and the value of our business.

For serious business owners, there’s only one choice. My friend, we need to focus on the things we can control. And do everything we can, with everything we have, to create a profitable business that we can rightly be proud of. This is the proven route to success.

Are you excited about your business? You should be. Here’s why!

By Jim Connolly | November 26, 2018

attract best clients, great clients

How excited are you about your business?

Here’s why I’m asking. It matters. It really, really matters. That’s because people notice. They notice when you’re enthusiastic and just as importantly, they notice when you’re going through the motions.

The thing about enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is highly contagious: When someone talks to us with enthusiasm, we feed off their excitement. We lean forward and pay attention. We feel more confident about them. It’s a positive experience, which leaves a powerful impression on us.

However…

A lack of enthusiasm is equally contagious: When someone talks to us about their business with too little enthusiasm, we feed off their lack of interest. We politely nod. Our interest drops. There’s no energy. We soon forget them and whatever they said.

We can’t expect our customers, contacts or the marketplace in general to be enthusiastic about our business, if we’re not. It starts with us. So, don’t hide your excitement. Don’t keep it a secret. Let it shine through everything you do.

I’ve had some ideas. And now they’re yours. You’re welcome

By Jim Connolly | November 17, 2018

marketing, pick you, choose you

I shared a few ideas with business owners this week, which they found useful. So, I thought I’d share them with you.

Here they are in no particular order.

Become a proactive collector of ideas

When you get an idea, stop what you’re doing and capture it. Then set a little time aside at the end of each day to focus on what you’ve captured.

I usually grab ideas using the voice recorder on my phone. Especially if they come to me whilst out walking, which is where most of my best ideas come from. Later, I get them down in writing. This allows me to dig a little deeper. If an idea still seems like it could be useful, I keep it. By the way, this post is the result of an idea I had yesterday.

Invest in something your business needs

Invest in something today, which you know your business needs. Succeeding in business it challenging enough, when we give our business everything it needs. If we choose to starve our business of these resources, it’s impossible to survive… let alone thrive.

Make a tricky decision

Find a decision you have been avoiding and take action on it. Indecisiveness destroys progress. It’s also a major source of stress and unhappiness. It’s no coincidence that the most successful business owners are all proactive decision makers.

We need to remember that the decision to avoid a decision (to do nothing) is also a decision. By proactively making decisions, we regain control.

Share something useful

Publish something today, which will be useful to your marketplace and showcase your expertise. This might be a blog post, vlog, newsletter, social media update… whichever you prefer. The key is to make sure that what you’re sharing is useful (to them) and not just a sales pitch.

Useful, knowledgeable people are always in demand. Think about that for a moment.

Start a new book

Start reading a book today, which will educate you or inspire you. The internet is useful for lots of things, but nothing quite beats a book, for delivering the written word with the focus and detail required.

This need not be a business book.

None (literally not one) of the most useful things I have learned from a book, came from a business book. They came from books on; faith, art, design, psychology, comedy, sport, music, history and lots more.

I’m not saying business books have no value. Just that the big lessons tend to come from outside the narrow business arena.

For example, a business owner who’s starting with very little money, will probably learn more from a book about the amazing success of Andy Warhol, than a business book. Plus, it’s extremely hard to get noticed, if you feed your mind on the same ideas from the same business gurus as your competitors.

I hope you found at least one of these ideas and suggestions useful, my friend. If you did, the next step is to put it into action and measure the results.

Unforgettable kindness

By Jim Connolly | November 13, 2018

Your friends, colleagues, customers and contacts have something in common.

They’ll remember what you did when times were tough for them. They’ll recall how you treated them when they needed a break… when your support meant everything.

Yes, even those who fail to say thank you, will remember you. Not everyone finds it easy to show gratitude, especially when they’re embarrassed by their situation.

On a personal note, I still remember people who helped me when I was starting out in business. I remember those who believed in me, when no one else did. I remember those who introduced me to useful contacts. And I remember those who mentored me and guided me.

Of course, the opposite is also true

People soon forget yet another pat on the back, when they’re going through a boom period. And they’ll quickly forget yet another offer of help, when they clearly have absolutely no need for it.

As a business owner you already know that your time is scarce. So, use it wisely. Where it can have the greatest impact.

Australian business owners topped my list

By Jim Connolly | November 12, 2018

As regular readers will know, I have long been an advocate for adopting a global approach to business. It’s not something that works for every industry, but where it’s possible, it’s exceptionally effective. That’s because it affords you greater protection against economic conditions, whilst also providing you with a wider spread of business.

I was mindful of this earlier today. I discovered what I’d already guessed: That the biggest market for my paid services in 2018 has been Australian business owners. If you’re interested, here’s the top 5.

Australia.
UK.
Canada.
Ireland
New Zealand.

The United States has topped my list, every year for almost 20 years. But things change in business. And the rate of change has never been greater. Which is why as business owners, we need to adopt an agile mindset. Because what looks certain today can change in a heartbeat.

3 Fantastic opportunities

By Jim Connolly | October 29, 2018

Here are 3 fantastic opportunities, which are available to you today.

The opportunity to make promises and deliver on them. Set deadlines. When you tell a client; “It will be with you at 3pm Thursday”, it has a much bigger impact than saying, “It will be with you later this week”. This is a powerful way to earn trust and build a great reputation. (More here).
The opportunity to invest in others. In short, leave people better than you find them. It doesn’t have to cost you a dime. If you find an article, which you think a contact or client will find useful, share it with them. Even something as simple as a smile from you, can have a positive impact on another person. It could be the only sunshine they see today.
The opportunity to learn something new (and useful). Access to knowledge has never been easier or less expensive. Here’s why this is such a great opportunity: There’s a direct link between what you know and the size of the problems you can solve. Those who earn the highest fees, solve the biggest problems.
The opportunity to do more than people expect from you. Those who over-deliver are always in short supply. That’s why there are no traffic jams on the extra mile.

Opportunity is knocking. Today and every day.

16 Examples of how the most successful business owners think differently

By Jim Connolly | October 25, 2018

When we examine any industry, including yours and mine, we see something extremely valuable. And today, I’d like to share it with you.

Marketing different

It’s a pattern.

Only a small percentage of business owners build a valuable community around their work.
Only a small percentage of business owners look for opportunities to inspire and encourage others.
Only a small percentage of business owners create a story worth sharing.
Only a small percentage of business owners proactively look for big problems to solve.
Only a small percentage of business owners invest enough in their education.
Only a small percentage of business owners are eager to lead.
Only a small percentage of business owners listen to their marketplace and build experiences around what they hear.
Only a small percentage of business owners are truly committed to go the extra mile.
Only a small percentage of business owners selectively choose their clients and ignore the rest.
Only a small percentage of business owners are willing to make tough decisions and back them up with action.
Only a small percentage of business owners refuse to surrender their focus to the never-ending stream of interruptions.
Only a small percentage of business owners strive to out-care their competitors.
Only a small percentage of business owners intentionally take time, every day, to look after their mind and body.
Only a small percentage of business owners care enough to create or share a useful blog post, newsletter, vlog or podcast.
Only a small percentage of business owners are willing to visibly stand out from their competitors.
Only a small percentage of business owners are committed to do work that matters, rather than work that pays the bills.

I could go on.

That pattern matters. It matters because it’s also only a small percentage of business owners who succeed in any meaningful way.

And that’s no coincidence my friend.

Is too much choice destroying your marketing results?

By Jim Connolly | October 18, 2018

How many different levels of service or pricing options do you offer?

That’s a really important question. Because if, like many business owners you offer too many options, it’s needlessly ruining your sales results.

Allow me to explain.

Here’s what happens when we offer too much choice.

The more options we put in front of someone, the more choice they have.
The more choice they have, the harder it is for them to decide.
The harder we make their decision process, the less likely they are to hire us or buy from us.
So, they move on. And we lose a client enquiry. Ouch!

In short: Clarity sells.

Too much choice and ‘toxic complexity’

Too much choice adds what I call toxic complexity to a marketing message.

Toxic, because it causes confusion.

Complexity, because it makes our message too complicated for a prospective client to easily understand.

One of the oldest sayings in marketing is, “A confused mind always says no!”. In other words, when faced with a buying decision, a confused prospective client will not proceed. They’ll say no. And we are the ones who pay the price for their lack of clarity.

The solution?

Seek out unnecessary complexity. I recommend you look at the number of service levels, pricing options and packages you provide. Remember to take into account how many items are listed within each option or package.

Then consider whether you actually need to offer so much choice, so much complexity, so much potential for confusion. And if not, reduce. Everything that needs to be there should remain. But nothing else.

By simplifying the decision making process for your prospective clients, you make it easier for them to hire you or buy from you. And when that decision is easier, more prospective clients will become actual clients.

7 Proven ideas to help you attract more clients

By Jim Connolly | October 10, 2018

Look at the 7 ideas below. Each one represents something, which your clients and future clients are attracted to.

If you currently attract too few sales or client enquiries, you’ll almost certainly be missing one or more of the following.

People love to succeed: What are you doing, to help them achieve their dreams?
People love to feel secure: What are you doing, to help them avoid risk?
People love to learn: What are you doing, to educate them on something important to them?
People love to belong: What are you doing, to create a community for them?
People love to save time: What are you doing, to help them reclaim wasted time?
People love to talk: What are you doing, to give them a story worth sharing?
People love to relax: What are you doing, to reduce the stress in their lives?

Are any of those areas missing from your marketing message? If they are, look for ways to incorporate them.

Business development 101: Success leaves tracks

By Jim Connolly | October 9, 2018

Following this post, a number of readers asked if I had any business predictions for 2019.

There’s one prediction I can make with a massive degree of certainty. The business owners (and leaders) who thrive in 2019 will be the same as those who thrive every year.

These include.

The business owners who do all the work. Not just the stuff they feel comfortable with. They know that when you’re just 1% away from switching a light on… you’re still in the dark!
The business owners who persist intelligently. Here’s what that looks like: They persist with what’s working. They desist what isn’t.
The business owners who back themselves. When they believe in something, they take decisive action.
The business owners who focus on what’s important, rather than what’s noisiest. They’re very aware that when you flitter your focus away, you flitter your time away, too.

Thankfully, we don’t need to guess what works. That’s because success leaves tracks. And when we follow the tracks, we see the same core methods of operating, again and again and again.