It is interesting how many entrepreneurs have a “million” ideas.
Millions, of IDEAS.
Not dollars. It takes converting the idea into something that can be bought, something that people see value in that creates the success. The idea, without implementation, is just an idea.
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Systems are important. Being in business since 1997, this is HUGE! Are you just spinning your wheels? This is what I do, even when I talk with people on my Partnership Mastermind I tell them, get a system to be able to put it together for success.
Michael Gerber, of The E-Myth (you have read this right? It’s like the KEY if you are a new entrepreneur) says “create a system and repeat it 500 to be successful. hmmm…are you in business or just playing around?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
Partnership is one of my BIGGEST business goals, in this video I talk about what partnership is and means to me:
Several years ago I partnered Adryenn Ashley to make a CD series about Social Media. We created a workbook, 6 CD’s and a bonus DVD with tools we love. Each of us were able to sell it separately in our business, to use it as a gift, a prize at events, or to package with other offers. Individually, we incurred the profits and costs associated with doing so. Here is why this created such win/win: every time I sold one my customers also learned about Adryenn. And the same was true for me, every time she sold one they learned about me. To this day, it still generates business for me.
I desire more BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) partnership thinking like this, I believe there are tons of creative ways to do this as entrepreneurs! Do you partner with others? Have you had success? Have you also struggled with partnership?
In 2012, The SNCC Way grew up and gained two business partners to help it thrive with new energy and ideas.
I have definitely learned some lessons over the years about partnerships, some the hard way! I have also learned that it’s easy to think partnership won’t work with”what you do” which is why BHAG thinking and masterminds really work!
Interested in Joining a Mastermind to learn more about partnerships in your Business? Participating in this mastermind in NO WAY requires you to partner with anyone in the group, including Ann. This is a place to learn and improve the partner experience for entrepreneurs! We are ALWAYS taking applications to join us!
***Please note that the investment you are willing to make will not be the ONLY determination for selection into the mastermind, so share honestly and openly! [/box]
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I had an interesting experience when it comes to practicing “givers grow” as a small business owner. I am at a place in my career with the development of things to achieve where I need a coach. This has been something I have thought about doing many times in the past; I just wasn’t ready!
For years, one particular coach has been recommended to me by clients and friends. This woman is obviously smart and savvy and gets results for her customers. Every time I see her at events she tells me I need to achieve this goal for my career, and she’s the one to help me. I look at her website, and I can see that she does EXACTLY what I need. I have talked to her about my struggles and limiting beliefs around this goal at parties and networking events and she always looks at me wide-eyed and says she can’t wait to help me. And I have walked away, not ready.
Recently, I was at a conference and another woman who does the exact same type of work was there. I walked up to this woman’s booth, and we started talking. I shared with her my desire and goal and that I felt like I needed some help. She immediately asked me about five questions and then offered me a “givers grow” idea. She suggested a powerful next step that actually excited me and motivated me and made it easy for me to keep moving forward before I ever considered hiring her.
About an hour later the other woman, whom I’ve known for years, appeared and we started to talk. She knows now that I am trying to achieve this goal in my business. And again, wide eyed, she looked at me and said, “I can’t wait to work with you.”
I have to tell you right now I am more motivated and more excited to give my money to this woman I just met who offered me help without payment over the woman I’ve known for years who I know gets tremendous results. Do you know why?
Do you practice the “givers grow” model in your business? Do you look for ways to offer help to people before they ever pay you? Do you realize that you remain on the hearts and minds of potential customers when you do?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
I believe in delegation; it’s critical for success and I have learned some lessons as a leader and business owner over the years! Here are some tips to think about when you delegate:
1-delegate to people that can create and think. Honestly, if you have to do all the thinking and creating, then you are pretty much doing the work! If you can hand off a project on a high level with clear expectations to someone that can take initiative, problem solve, and create and think for you- BAM!
2-hire people by the project, not the hour. I hire by the project. I always felt cheated when I hired by the hour. We always know we can do it faster, better, quicker, easier ourselves, right? That’s the whole thing about delegation. And if I thought to myself I could do it in 30 minutes and they charge me an hour‑and-a-half or two hours for it, it’s like “Dang!” There’s that feeling in the back of your head and yeah, it doesn’t feel good. People get better over time. They get faster at it. It takes so much time to do it but I’ve just learned that when I say to people, “This is the project. I’m willing to pay you this much a week or this much a month to do it. And whether it takes you 25 hours or whether it takes you five, I’m going to pay you the same.” And what I have found is that motivates people to get smart fast versus just do the work.
3-REPLACE the time you took doing that project with something new that will help increase revenue into your business.Is it a new program for customers to buy? Maybe you need to spend more time marketing? Whatever it is, don’t just sit and “watch” them doing it.
Most of my clients that are “stuck” bringing in more money to their business are not delegating. Is it time for you?
Ann M. Evanston is a “Chief Breakthrough Officer” teaching other Business Warriors how to slow down, and find the most unique part of their business that makes them stand out among the crowd. She has been named one of the top marketing consultants by About.com, is a guest blogger for Showcasing Women and takes pride in moving you from “blah, blah, blah” to “BOOM, BOOM. BOOM!”
It is interesting how many entrepreneurs have a “million” ideas.