Posts in Take A Leap Wednesday

Networking With Your Chamber

Business Coaching Business Consulting Meandering Genius Take A Leap Wednesday Tips

On this Take A Leap Hump Day, let’s talk about getting out and #networking with your local #chamber.

If you have a #business and you don’t belong to at least one #chamberofcommerce in your area.. shame! The #benefits from a chamber greatly outweigh the costs…if you use them.

Over the last two years, I’ve (as Crosscutter Enterprises) supported my local chamber’s #strategic #planning. One of the things we uncovered is that #businesses that belong and are active in the chamber #stayinbusiness.

#Active, meaning you attend events and #engage with other businesses in your area. Every chamber holds events, like breakfasts, lunches, or evening #mixers, annual events, #ribboncuttings for new businesses, and #educational activities. These provide you the opportunity to #network with other businesses.

Running our #equestrian #business (Fine Print Farms), we joined and got involved with the chamber. Our ribbon cutting/open house was attended by about 150 people! I attend nearly every monthly #membermixer and have gone to several ribbon cutting events. Our business has become a recognized location in the city.

If you want to be #successfulinbusiness, join your local chamber and attend their #networkingevents.

#success #incubator #coach #consultant

Look Before You Leap

Business Consulting Meandering Genius Strategic Planning Take A Leap Wednesday

Has anyone ever told you to, “Look before you leap?” If you’re thinking about leaping into a new small business, look before you leap means, create a plan.

Many businesses fail in four years and most fail in ten. There are many reasons why they fail, but the root cause is that they don’t have a good (or any) written plan.

Too often, small business owners think a plan is for getting a loan or an investor. They download a typical business plan template from the internet and fill it out. This is not the purpose of planning and isn’t what lenders are looking for. They want to see that you have thought through your business strategy and have a good implementation approach.

Also, many businesses think they build the plan once and leave it alone after that. A plan should be a living document, annually updated, and quarterly reviewed to ensure you’re on track.

New businesses should create a “Strategic Business Plan.” This contains the typical business plan items a lender looks for, but also overcomes the five reasons 70% of all plans fail. These plans are accompanied by a current “Annual Operational Implementation Plan,” which outlines steps for the year to make the business successful.

Have you looked before you leaped?

Faith and Start Ups

Business Consulting Life Meandering Genius Organizational Commitment Strategic Planning Take A Leap Wednesday

Faith is a huge factor in your success of your new startup. You must believe in what you’re doing and that you will be successful.

Three years ago, my wife and I bought a run down horse farm in Bulverde TX. Our vision was, and still is, to create a “premier equestrian destination.” Officially, we had our Open House two years ago and we’re still running Fine Print Farms today.

I remember back about a year and a half ago, I was over at Cowboy Church, next door. The pastor was talking about “being called by God to do something in life.” The lady sitting next to me asked me, “What did God look like, when he asked you to buy that broke down farm next door?” My response, “Suprisingly like my wife!”

Trust me…we’ve had some significant rough patches and we will have more. Our faith of our vision has often been tested. Our faith will continue to be tested!

In any and all startups, you need three things:

🔭 A VISION of what your business will look like in the log term.

🔒 A BELIEF that the vision will come true.

🕯 And FAITH in your belief of that vision.

You will be tested…and it will be hard. Everytime you’re tested, close your eyes, picture your vision, and believe. Have faith in what you believe!!!

Take A Leap Hump Day

Business Consulting Meandering Genius Process Improvement Strategic Planning Take A Leap Wednesday Think Big

Happy Hump Day!

Voltaire said, “Great is the enemy of good.” While Cardone said, “‘Thinking big’ simply isn’t enough.” Which statement do you believe?

What is your passion? Are you living it? Are you aiming low and hoping to hit the mark? Are you accepting the status quo…the, “We’ve always done it that way,” or “That’ll never work?”

Taking a leap doesn’t mean completely throwing out the old for something totally new and scary! You can take the leap, just by doing one thing a week that scares you. It might be enrolling in a new college class, taking a different route to work, parking in a different location, or even eating at a new restaurant.

Taking a leap is a way to hijack your sedentary brain and shock it into awareness. Wednesdays are perfect days for taking little leaps. Simply start doing one thing different that improves your work or life.

What’s your one thing this week?