I have been attending some events during Small Business Week which have made me think about some of the things that a small business or in fact any business should consider – whether they are just starting out or have been going for a few years.
1. Know your market. Probably something you hear all the time from coaches, mentors and marketers. It still bears thinking about. I believe it is something that is ongoing – you should review your market regularly. Your business is an evolving entity and so your market may also be an evolving changing entity. In fact the more you niche or even micro niche the better. Micro niching allows you to shine a bright light on the clarity of your message. Such a bright light allows others to see exactly what you are doing and you know what that may just be exactly what they need. Knowing your niche allows you to know where they play and what language they use – you can be there and use the language that resonates with the clients that you want and who need you.
2. Get a mentor and/or a coach. The best thing you could possibly do when starting up is to get a mentor and coach. Having someone to bounce ideas off, to give you guidance and to believe in you until you believe in yourself is invaluable. The brilliant thing about mentors is that you can have several and at the same time. As you grow so will your need for different mentors. Talk to any business owner or entrepreneur who is striving for success and they will tell you about their mentors and their coaches. It’s wonderful you don’t have to do it all alone.
3. Find your story and share it. Everyone has a story hidden within them. You need to find your story and then you need to have the courage to let people hear your story, to open your heart and be authentic and genuine. Today people are doing business with those who they like, know and trust. Sharing stories are a way of encouraging that like, know and trust – let your clients see you and share with them how and why you started your business. Share your client’s stories, your successes and your challenges. People will relate to these and your business will start to grow.
4. Set goals with practical plans. You will have heard all about goal setting, know about SMART goals – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timely. However, even though business owners set goals after goals, many don’t achieve those goals. They fall by the wayside, forgotten and half completed. Why? A couple of reasons – no plans are put in place to achieve them and they are never revisited, reviewed or reset. As is said – A goal without being written down with a plan is just a dream. Set you goals – put in place a plan to achieve that goal including the resources you need and then revisit, review and if necessary reset. Be flexible – things change that may impact on the goal you originally set.
5. Add public speaking to your personal development. Why public speaking you might ask – I don’t want to speak from the stage, I don’t want to be a professional speaker, I don’t want to speak to audiences – these are a few of the responses I hear when I mention public speaking. It’s not about speaking from the stage or to audiences – the power is in the public speaking journey itself – it is the confidence you gain when you get up to speak and it is the strategies and techniques you acquire which are completely transferable to your business or your life. Communication underpins everything you do and public speaking is the tip of the communication iceberg. It impacts on your credibility, your bottom line, your sales and your time. It really is no good having the best product or service if you can’t step up and speak about it – you only have to listen to Shark Tank and some of the pitches to realise how some public speaking skills could have added more power to the pitch. It is my belief that public speaking is the key to your success. Discover more in Why Public Speaking Is the Secret to Your Success In Business and Life.
I have only mentioned 5 tips here – there are many more things to consider and plan for as a small business today. The key words for me are mentor, plan, flexible, learn, authenticity and review.
Contact me on info@trischel.com.au – book in for a complimentary strategy session for a quick check on your business.
Trish Springsteen
International Award Winning Public Speaking Mentor Coach Author
Trish typically works with published authors helping them to turn their books into keynote presentations, with introverts giving them the confidence to come out from behind their computers and share their message and passion and with advocates helping them to have the confidence to step up and speak out.
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