One of the standard practices of the 150+ Cover Honorees who I have interviewed for my publications (Real Estate Executive Magazine, Premier Agent Magazine, & SMALL BUSINESS TODAY Magazine) is the annual review of their current business plan. If you have not done so in a while (since last year or beyond) and are not where you expected to be in the 4th quarter of 2013, maybe it is time to review, make corrections, and get busy implementing a refreshed business plan.
First, take a look at the goals you put in place at the beginning of this year. You are now in the final two months of the year; if you are not where you intended to be, ask yourself, “Why not?”
To help move your business forward, quickly and efficiently, here are several tips from our SBT September 2012 Cover Honoree, Rita Santamaria, CEO of Champions School of Professional Development and Champions School of Real Estate:
- Call your good customers and ask them for any feedback they can give you to help increase your business. Use this feedback to start ASAP to reach the level you expect based on your good business planning and goals.
- Work on your marketing program over the next 30 days. Your networking may need to expand either on a personal level or through your website and social media level.
- Do an assessment of where your contacts and referrals are coming from. This is the area which deserves extra emphasis, including old school “thank you notes” to those loyal persons who are helping you succeed.
- Have someone take a look at your current website and give you an assessment from a potential client point of view. How does your website look? It should be easy to navigate. Make sure that there is a phone number as well as an email contact on your home page.
- Do you have an app for your website? In today’s world of technology, being accessible via a mobile device is mandatory. People will contact you while traveling and they typically are using their mobile devices.
- Spend time away from your business to do better “in your business”. Business owners need time to “sharpen their saw”. Your best new ideas for change that can take your business activity to the next level often happen while you’re away from the daily “must-dos” on your task list.
- The same routines that keep us comfortable and predictable, where our ideas are safe and our skills are sufficient; will not produce a company that is wise and skillful. Take a company temperature reading and make plans for change today.
____________________________________________________________
This month’s cover honorees, Darryl King & Karen Becerra of the Principle Partnering Group, know the value of keeping their bottom line and know that the only thing permanent is change.
These partners (for over 10 years) complement each other well and work with an incredible staff to keep raising the bar on their own success and the success of others. They, personally and in tandem, are mentors to many groups and individuals in addition to being two of the most generous individuals whom I have ever encountered.
I am quite confident that you will enjoy their story and implement their “Key Take-Away Points” that follow their story.
Speaking of “stories”, in this month’s issue, we shine the spotlight on an organization that Barbara and I are proud to be major sponsors, members, and board members of. The organization is the “National Association of Women Business Owners.” I am very proud to be the only male member of their Board in the history of the organization! In fact, quite often, I am the only male in attendance at their monthly luncheons!
We are also very proud to feature Ms. Jamay Fishback and her team at J. Hilburn Custom Men’s Clothiers. My beautiful suit and accessories that I wore to the “Houston Business Legends” event on October 9th was a collaboration of selections from Jamay and my wife, Barbara. They both keep me “looking good!”
Well, it is time to let you get started with this very special issue of SMALL BUSINESS TODAY Magazine. Also, don’t forget to listen to the SMALL BUSINESS TODAY Magazine TALK SHOW each weekday from 4:00pm to 5:00pm on www.MJWJTalkRadio.com.
Good Reading, Good Sales, and Have a Blessed Thanksgiving Holiday,
Steve Levine
Executive Publisher
