Posts tagged coach

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?

Facebook Marketing White Paper

Business Consulting Meandering Genius Performance Measurement Process Improvement Promotion Tuesday Strategic Communication Strategic Planning

Three years ago, my wife and I opened up an equestrian business in Bulverde, Texas, where we board horses and train riders. We quickly discovered the importance of Facebook Marketing in this very social business.

Like many small business owners, we struggled to engage our audience on social media. However, as a business consultant, I’ve worked to fully understand the ins-and-outs of the maze of digital advertising — especially advertising without spending money!

I put together a short, helpful white paper called, The Five Deadly Sins of Facebook Marketing.

If you are interested in the FREE white paper, request it via this link: https://mailchi.mp/549ddf9c3390/fds.

What Motivates Us

Business Consulting Leadership Meandering Genius Motivational Monday Organizational Commitment

I often talk about motivation and its importance. Motivation causes us to act or behave in a certain way. It feeds our willingness or desire to do something.

I believe, all motivation comes from within. People might say, they’re going to “motivate someone,” but it’s like the saying, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”

Our biggest motivators come from inside us. Being part of something bigger than yourself is a strong motivator of purpose. Companies use pay and benefits as motivators to get people to work for them. That’s perhaps the biggest external motivator a company or boss can provide.

My wife and I own an equestrian facility. There isn’t a lot of money in the equestrian business, unless your a top competitor, huge breeder, or high-society barn. We believe in building a strong understanding and desire in horsemanship. We keep our prices reasonable to allow for many people to afford us, but also run a respected facility. We like it when the people who work with us feel motivated by what we do and our purpose.

Just yesterday, it was an ear-to-ear smile of a kid on a horse that made the job so worthwhile.

It’s these moments that business owners should look for to kindle motivation in their employees.

Share Your Success

Business Consulting Change Management Leadership Life Meandering Genius Performance Measurement Process Improvement Strategic Planning Stuff Success Sunday

“Seventy percent of success in life is showing up.” – Woody Allen

As we step into the last week of February, what is the one thing you most want to accomplish this week?

For me, this week, I start teaching tomorrow my first business class with Hallmark University — Business Intelligence and Analytics. It’s both an in-person and online course. I want to make this an effective and impactful experience for the students.

So, my one this is: To Deliver Value This Week!

Share with me and everyone else your one thing this week! Let’s make it happen!!!

Startup Resources — Funding

Business Consulting Meandering Genius Start-up Saturday Strategic Planning

Here’s a fantastic resource for startups in San Antonio. This information covers all sorts of topics from education to funding. Over the next few weeks, I’m going to feature some of these resources.

Funding is always a hot topic for startups. Where am I going to get money to make this thing happen? How much money do I really need?

Liftfund is local organization that has been microloans and small business loans to deserving entrepreneurs for over 20 years. They are just one of the many funding options in San Antonio and elsewhere.

Money is always crucial when starting or growing a business. When building your business plan, determining startup costs is very important. Here is an idea to use.

Draw a line down the center of a peice of paper. Top-left, write Must Have. Top-right, write Nice to Have. Sit down with your partners, spouse, friends, etc. and brainstorm money and things needed and place them in the appropriate column.

Write down everything…even if it doesn’t cost money. For instance, “Facebook and LinkedIn Business Pages,” should be Must Haves, but are free. A LinkedIn Premier Business account; however, will cost you.

This rather activity will help you think through the money you need to start and what you need to grow.

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!!!

Who Am I — Success Incubator

Business Consulting Change Management Leadership Life Meandering Genius Organizational Commitment Process Improvement Promotion Tuesday Strategic Planning

Your success is my success…I’m a success incubator!

In the early 90s (Air Force cop), I got involved in quality. In 1998, I retrained as a fulltime internal coach and consultant. I was always the problem solver, so I moved from job-to-job every couple of years.

When I retired from the Air Force, I really wanted to help people–the business person. I created my own consulting business, Crosscutter Enterprises. Crosscutting is a jeweler’s way to bring out the brilliance of a diamond–I crosscut your business.

A month later, Booz Allen Hamilton (top 10 consulting firm) called me about a job they hadn’t posted and I hadn’t applied for. My interview was more of when can you start. Over three years, Booz changed and I left to work again with business people who need my help.

A month later, USAA called offering a contract. A month later, the exec I worked with told me he was going to hire me at the end of my contract–he did. For seven years I led four strategic engagements.

Today, I’m back…looking to work with you–businesses that need an expert to help them grow and solve problems.

Let me be your success incubator!

Time to feed your brain!

Life Meandering Genius Motivational Monday Music Nature Tips

Happy Monday!

There are four positive chemicals that improve your mood and health. They are Dopamine, Serotonin, Oxytocin, and Endorphins. Here are eight simple daily habits to feed your brain — start them today!!!

🥛 Switch out one caffeine drink a day with a glass or bottle of water.

🚶‍♂️ Park far away from entrances and walk into work or the store.

🕤 Go to bed 30 minutes earlier than you currently do and get a little more sleep.

🎶 Listen to music at least once every day.

💨 Take five minutes every day to do deep breathing — clear the mind, slowly inhale, hold it, slowly exhale … repeat.

🤗 Hug someone once a day…a partner, a family member, a friend, even (possibly) a stranger. Just hug at least one person every day.

🐴 Pet an animal once a day. Personally, we have horses, donkeys, dogs, and cats, so I have no problem with this. But try to pet an animal once a day.

🤣 Read something that makes you smile or laugh every day…consider getting a joke-a-day app or something.

Do these very simple things every day and your mood and health will improve. No need for drugs or expensive programs. Just take little steps to feed your brain!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Business Consulting Meandering Genius Start-up Saturday Strategic Planning Tips

Recently, I was talking to a Branding Coach at a networking mixer. She said, her most difficult challenge in working with new business clients is that they don’t even know what business they want to be in.

Many people dream of starting their own business … striking out on their own as an entrepreneur. However, they don’t really know what they want to be when they grow up.

There are so many challenging questions that start-ups face, but this one is daunting.

Here are a few ideas … I would love to hear yours:

▶️ Take what you do today, and turn it into your own business. You know you’re already good at it. You can create a side-hustle or create your own company.

▶️ Turn a hobby into a job. I love golf, and about 15 years ago, I came up with a pretty neat business model around the sport.

▶️ Buy into an existing business. There are many franchise opportunities that exist. Also, businesses are always being sold by others for various reasons. If you don’t know what you want, take a look at what already works that you can buy.

Consider four things when starting out on your own. 1. You love what you do. 2. You are good at it. 3. People need it. 4. People will pay for it. At the center of these four, is PURPOSE.

Stop Dumbing Down Your Work!

Business Consulting In Your Face Friday Leadership Meandering Genius

I’m not sure who started teaching leaders that “less is more.” I have watched the move away from presenting and providing detailed information about an issue, project, effort, etc. Today, we’re sharing so little detail on the item that leaders don’t have enough information to make sound decisions.

This is a terrible trend! This is creating a culture of employees only doing enough work to provide three bullet points on a single slide–the result of an organization becoming “PowerPoint Deep.”

Leaders think they’re too busy to need all the data and information to make a decision. The higher you go, the less detail. I’ve attended training classes on executive level presentation. We expect people to be brief and concise in their message to the point of obliterating the facts.

Stop!

Leaders — get out of their glass tower, walk around, and really understand what’s going on. You need to see the data and research. You need to understand the problem. Otherwise, the culture you’re setting is that no one that works for you understands the work. Why would they go to the trouble of researching a subject, collecting data, and analyzing the findings if the you aren’t going to look at it?