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| Business Development |
 Growing Your Business From the Inside Out By Natashia Halikowski, President of Intuitionworks Have you been looking for the secret doors of success? The answer is basic… before all else there must be commitment. As a business owner, when was the last time you stopped to take stock of the level of commitment that you are bringing to your business? Commitment is the key to implementing your business growth strategies. I strongly believe that commitment will energize your business. The truth is we all procrastinate, putting off till later the very strategies that will in fact save us time today and generate future business. It is through consistent diligence and brutal honesty that we can build and sustain excellence. I invite you to take the time to research answers to the following questions. Reflect and thoroughly answer each question in detail, the more detail the better. By taking the time to review your business performance, either monthly or quarterly, you too can create not just a good business, but a business of excellence. •How are you committed to your business? If you aren’t committed, you cannot expect your customers to be loyal to your business. Is your business your passion? Creating passion creates electricity. This type of commitment generates growth momentum. •What is your business story, and what story do you share with your clients, peers, friends and family? Take the time today to review and clarify your story. Or ask a friend or peer to tell your story back to you. If your story is concise and clearly defines your product and the benefits to your client/customers, you will be able to grow your business with ease. All too often the story of our business is weak and the results can be observed by our levels of repeat product sales. •Who are your best clients and why? If you know who your clients are and they are aware you are interested in them, you will see a huge difference in response. Have you asked your clients about themselves and showed an interest in their concerns? Not only will you gain inroads in their activities, but you will be the first they call in terms of referrals. And guess what…one person knows 20 people, each of whom knows 20 more. That equals 400 potential clients. Your best clients would be happy to help out with referrals if they knew you would like the assistance. This knowledge is key to building strong customer relationships when you are prepared to ask for it. •Who would you like to have as your clients and where are they? Set your client goals and get networking. Take action. Ask for help meeting the key people that you would like to have a relationship with. •Who is your competition and what are they doing? It is time to be brutally honest with yourself. Take that honest look in the mirror and compare you business performance with your competition. How do you rate? At the same time be fair with your competition and even try building strategic alliances. •What are your clients saying about you? Are your clients and customers excited about your products? If not, then it is time to review the importance of outrageous customer service. If your customers are indifferent, it is time to question the response you have been generating. •What is the big picture for your business for the next year? Dream a little and then break down the dream to steps and actions you can take weekly and even daily. •How do you spend your time? Are you using each 24 hour period prudently, or do you find that you are spending too much time driving in your car, or being a caretaker for others? By taking a week or so to watch your time, you a can uncover time that can be reallocated to your business. Surely it is time to retire Superwoman. •Are you watching your energy? Try to remain positive and nurturing of yourself. As simple as this sounds many people forget what they need. Remember that lack of care breeds fatigue and the end result is zero focus and a very bad attitude. •What mistakes have you made during the past year and why and how can you learn from them? The next phase is to review your reflections and research. When you are willing to take this approach, you’ll find that your attitude and commitment towards your business will become a force to reckon with. The real power and strength of your business comes from you and your attitude. Your client/customers can tell if you are authentic or just there. Natashia Halikowski is the president of Intuitionworks, a company that provides training, seminars and personal coaching. Intuitionworks focuses on harnessing your intuition to expand and enhance personal and professional performance. email: intuit@cadvision.com or contact 403.238.5424. |