How did you do?
Do you feel less alone?
Have you planned any events or methods for connecting customers?
What are you doing differently for your staff?
Have you changed your marketing?
Are you part of a mastermind?
As Crystal Clear Bookkeeping becomes Crystal Clear Money Management for Small Business, we are keenly aware that we are starting with a solid customer base. This is one of our biggest assets. We are building this business around the questions and experiences of our business owners.
Posted by Frances Schagen on August 17, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/week-6-wrap-up-of-your-team/
“Thank you for coming. The reason I invited all of you is that I need help turning my roofing venture into an effortless business and I think, no, I know that you can help me do that.”
“How could we refuse what with you buying us supper and all.” said Mike. Everyone smiled at that.
“It’s a pleasure to help you, Janet. Helping small business succeed is my passion.” said Susan.
“Let me introduce everyone. This is Maggie, she works with me and she is taking on some of the management now that our crew is growing. Karen works at the bank and is my oldest friend. I have listened to her advice all along. Susan is a business whiz and coach. Mike is a sales guy and another good friend. He taught me what little I know about sales and he’s a fun and funny guy.”
“That’s who we are and I hope we can meet every quarter so you can give me some advice and keep me moving forward with growing my business. The topic for this quarter is managing growth. The phone hasn’t stopped ringing after the Boat Club job. Thank you for the idea of putting a business card holder on the truck, Mike. I had to refill it twice over that week and a half.”
“I could put together two more crews to handle all the work coming, but I’m not sure I can manage that much growth that fast.”
“First of all, put up your prices. When you have more work than you can handle, put your prices up. Don’t forget, you are getting this work because you are the Roofers Who Care. That means you have to be very careful with your hiring. Your roofers have to care, too, which means you have to care about your roofers.” Karen shared her expertise.
“Oh, she cares about us all right. We were very lucky finding Robb, Steve and Alex. They are working out really well. I know you weren’t sure about them, but I learned enough about them working on the Boat Club job to know they will do us proud.” Maggie beamed.
“How did you find them?” asked Susan
“They were people we met along the way. Different roofers ask Michelle and I about openings, and we can talk to the Building Supply drivers, too. They see and hear a lot.”
“Recruiting isn’t something you turn on and off. It’s an ongoing part of running your business and you should have a process in place for identifying good candidates and bringing them into the culture of your business.” Susan knew what she was talking about. She had seen many businesses ruined by bad hires.
“Janet made up a process, what did you call it?” “An Induction check list” “Induction check list .that takes ½ a day and covers everything. By the time we take them through it, they are clear about how we expect them to work and act.”
It was Mike’s turn,”The reason you are getting all this business is because you really do care and the way you work shows it. There are many good roofing crews around who could not have done that Boat Club job and made them as happy. It is much more than just hammering nails, it’s about deportment, demeanour and attitude. Your new crews will continue to grow your sales or they will not. No pressure, Janet, but you better hire, train and treat your new people carefully.”
When Janet paid the bill, she knew she just got a huge bargain. It’s a great feeling knowing others’ care about how she was doing.
Posted by Frances Schagen on August 16, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/08/16/janet-gets-advice-with-her-dinner/
“How are Robb and Steve working out?”
‘”They are a little faster than you guys, but not as careful.” Michelle frowned. She was competitive and Janet could see her thinking about speeding up her work. “I couldn’t imagine putting them anywhere near Mr Wilson’s roses.” That eased the competitive spirit a little.
“We don’t get to see them very often.” prompted Maggie.
“I have a surprise for you. We got the contract to reroof the Boat Club.”
“Holy cow, that’s huge.” “Isn’t that a heritage building?”
“Yes, Maggie, it is a Heritage building, but as long as all we do is replace the cedar shakes, we’ll be in keeping. We’ll all be working on that one together. We’ll also have to hire some grunts to get the materials to the roof. The gardens surrounding the Club House mean we won’t be able to boom the materials onto the roof this time.”
“Do we have to wear gowns to work there?” They laughed. The Boat Club is considered the ritziest place in Town and it is no stranger to Gowns and Tuxes.
“We will have to be on our best behaviour. This will be a great chance to instill more of our “Roofers Who Care” culture with the new crew.” Janet felt Robb and Steve didn’t listen to everything she said and take it all the way to heart. They were too experienced for her to need to train them, but that also meant they had their own bad habits. Without hovering, she hadn’t been able to see how they acted.
Another hot and sunny day working at the Boat Club. There were six of them working, because they needed two young grunts to keep the roofers in shingles. One of them was a great worker and he was interested in the work. Janet was already trying to figure out how to add him to the team. But the other….
“Fuck!”
Janet’s face flamed red and she looked around the patio to see who else had heard that. No one seemed to react, maybe they were too far away, but this would never do.
She gave the new guy a stern talking to about appropriate language and sent him back to work. Later she came across him sitting on a chair on the patio, he said he was on break. Janet told him to take his break somewhere else.
Later six of them were cleaning up the tools and packing the truck. Maggie said, “The new guy isn’t working out.”
“Which one?”, asked Janet. Everyone else looked at each other and Janet noticed that one of the crew wasn’t there helping out. It was the one she had spoken to earlier. “Where is he?”
“Must be break time. Again.” said Robb.
“I have to fire him, don’t I? I’ll see about getting us another helper tomorrow.
“I can keep up. I pretty much did it on my own today.” said Alex, now a part of the crew.
“We can pitch in by bringing up a bundle every time we go up on the roof.” Steve was a big guy.
The next day the Commodore approached Janet, “You seem to be short a crew member.”
“We had to let one of them go. We will carry on with five for now.”
“Putting together a crew that pulls together isn’t easy. You know what they say, ‘hire slow and fire fast’. Good for you. I’ve had to fire a good number of men in my time and it’s never easy, but it comes with leadership. I wasn’t sure if I should talk to you about him, but I see you had his number.”
“I’m sorry, did he disturb your guests?” Janet thought of that word ringing out over the patio.
“No, not at all. We want you to succeed and he was making for choppy waters. Very good Corporal, er, Janet”
Janet liked the idea that even her customers wanted her to succeed.
Posted by Frances Schagen on August 15, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/08/15/janet-builds-her-team/
Mastermind
I can’t stress enough how important your mastermind group is to your success. They will cheer you on and be your biggest advocate when you are flying high. They will brainstorm with you, advise you and open doors for you when you need a hand. They will hug you, pat you on the back and kick you in the pants when you need that, too.
If you don’t have a mastermind group, think of 5 or 6 people in your community you really admire and ask them. Ask your peers. Look within your industry association or start one. Ask around at the next Chamber, Rotary or networking event you attend.
You can meet as often as you like. Weekly is great if people are busy trying new things and deep into business development. That keeps things moving. Monthly meetings are good for keeping things sailing smoothly. Quarterly are good for checking in and keeping an eye on economics and industry trends. If you feel like you want to meet weekly and those you invite are talking quarterly, you will have to keep looking. Expectations have to match.
There are many forms the meetings can take from very formal and structured to very free-form. Again, It depends what the group wants. You may even start with one type and find you morph into another. As long as everyone is benefiting.
Customers
You knew that your customers were one of the most important members of your team already. The more you can get them talking to and helping each other, the more value you bring. Hold events that bring people together. Share resources like bringing in speakers, negotiating bulk ticket prices for a group of you or building a small library.
The best way to grow your business is to make your current customers deliriously happy. They will spread the word for you. That means put more of your resources to customer satisfaction than to customer acquisition. Look to Zappos to see that principle in action.
Sell what they want and you can find that out by asking them.
Staff
Treat your staff the way you want them to treat your customers. With respect, caring, and professionalism.
Vendors
the people you buy from are very attuned to industry trends. Ask them if you have a problem. They have likely seen it solved several different ways.
Vendors can also be a source of financing for growth. They have a vested interest in your success and growth.
Posted by Frances Schagen on August 14, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/08/14/important-members-team/
This week we will explore how we are not alone and there are many people who want to see us succeed and who can help us succeed.
Our exercise for this week is to open our eyes to all the people around us who want us to succeed.
Take a sheet of paper and list all the people on your team. Keep at it until you fill your page. Include people who help your business by keeping you moving, massage therapist, mechanic, instructor (you are taking a class in something creative, right?).
As you look over this list, ask yourself these questions:
Do they really know what we do? Can they tell others what we do?
Do they?
Do they know who we work best with?
Posted by Frances Schagen on August 13, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/week-6-your-team-exercise/
Sometimes it feels like we are working on our own because we have full responsibility for the success of our business. While no one will take that responsibility from us, there is a large group of people who are rooting for us, want to see us succeed and will help when we ask.
For Instance:
Asking your customers to bike to your shop by putting in a bike rack, may work for some. Putting together a compelling argument for your Mayor and Council to change the parking rules in front of your store, may work better. In fact, you might band with your neighbour shops, or your Economic Development group to look at the parking situation and make the changes that work for all of you.
Your customers want you to succeed, because they want what you offer. Your Mayor, Council and Economic Development Agency want you to succeed because you are part of what makes your community vibrant.
This is one example of how the people around you can help you and work with you.
Posted by Frances Schagen on August 12, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/week-6-your-team/
Marketing is having a great story and telling it.
Your story is what you do and how you do it. It’s your history, your culture and your mission. It’s your vision, your dreams and your plans. It’s who you work with, how you interact and what you do for them.
Your story is what makes people want to work with you. It’s what turns you into a person or company who is likeable and trustworthy.
Predictability = Brand Image
People want your story and how you tell it to be predictable. They want to know it’s you, every time. They don’t want to confuse you with someone else and they want to follow your continuing narrative.
Environment = Media
Your people want to come across it where they are looking. They want it in a way they can relate and with language they understand. Which media you choose is based on where your audience hangs out and which ones make you comfortable.
Team Building = Content
Your people want to know that you are there for them and that there are others there, too. They want a conversation and they want to be heard. Everything you say should speak to them and help them know you care. That, of course, assumes you do care.
Well Paid = Business Model
Your people want what’s fair for both of you. They want to reciprocate when you give them good stuff. Your price, your products and your offer are all part of your story. They tell people if they belong working with you.
That’s marketing, branding, usp, tactics, social media, and strategy all rolled into one story. Your story isn’t just about what you say, it’s what you do and what others say about you. You can’t just make it up. Not any more.
The basics of your story answer these questions:
Who are you and what do you do?
With whom do you work best?
What do you do for them?
Where do you reach them?
How do you relate to them?
What do they want to hear from you?
What’s your offer to help them?
What’s your core message?
How can you wrap that to make it easily communicated?
Bernadette Jiwa tells us, in today’s post, what goes into our brand story and how everything we do communicates it. http://thestoryoftelling.com/20-elements-of-brand-story/
Here’s Your Effortless Marketing Plan Worksheet. Your Story and How You Tell It
Answering those questions will give you a start on your story and ideas about how and where to tell it.
photo by Mike Baird
Posted by Frances Schagen on June 25, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/story-marketing/
It’s not so that your team needs to be balanced. You need to know what your team’s focus is and what strengths are needed to meet that focus.
The Barcelona Soccer Team squad are all the same and all with the team’s strengths. They are dominating their league. They force the other teams to play to their style and the whole team is strong in their style.
I knew a team that was very creative. They brought in one person to be their process person. She drove everyone, including herself, nuts. I always wondered what happened there. I always assumed that they needed that process person and they just didn’t give her the space to do what she needed to do.
It could be that they were never going to use her processes and it was a matter of thinking they needed something they didn’t. It’s hard to say, because that project didn’t make it.
Daniel Pink
Have a listen to this video of Daniel Pink and Marcus Buckingham talking about teams and strengths.
http://www.danpink.com/office-hours
Marcus Buckingham
Posted by Frances Schagen on February 15, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/should-your-team-be-well-balanced/
This is a partial list of all the people in your life who are invested in you and your business. I hope this makes you realize you are not alone in your business, even if it’s only you.
Family
Cafe staff
Caterer
Stationary Store Owner
Hairdresser
Courier
Postal Carrier
Landlord
Rotary club
Chamber of Commerce
Lions Club
Networking Associations
Hobby clubs
Culture organizations
Sport Teams
Sport Facilities
Yoga Instructor
Mechanic
Sign Maker
Neighbours (We’re Canadian, eh?)
Subcontractors
Suppliers
Industry association
Operating Staff
Staff admin/reception
Tribe
Customers (Our Business Owners)
Realtor
VA – research
VA – admin
Electrician
Carpenter
Handyperson
Banker
Cleaning
IT
Marketing
Librarians
Facebook Friends
Twitter Followers
G+ Circles
Trainers
Website designers, hosters
Graphic designer
Printer
Local Small Business Organizations
Phone company
Radio Stations
Newspaper reporters
Payroll company
Mastermind group
Friends
Boards you are on
Other Business Owners
Mentor
Cheerleaders
Sparks/innovator
Inspirer
Bigger picture person
Hugger
Shoulder rubber
Financial Advisor
Accountant
Lawyer
Mayor
Town Council
Politicians
Each of them brings a piece you need for you, for your business, or for your community.
Who else is on your team?
Posted by Frances Schagen on February 1, 2012
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/whos-on-your-team/
I wrote on the Business Owners Success Club about getting out and how important it is to meet people. I wrote about 2 people I met at a breakfast and I had planned on following up with them.
When I first meet someone I’m all ears, I want to find out about them. I want to know what they are passionate about. If I can help them, I do it. I get a thrill from passing on a tip or a hint or a great resource. My favourite, though is when I can connect 2 people I think will be able to help each other. The ball, is then in their court. I love doing that!
Once in a while a meet someone whose passion matches mine and that’s when I can practically hear that ‘Click
In this case, I met with both of them over the past 2 days to discuss a project having to do with automating accounting. Both meetings went well, and in both cases we are moving forward to the next step.
In an initial meeting, I’m looking for values compatibility, for matched expectations and for personality fit. I’m only trying to figure out if I want to keep talking to them – to set up the next meeting. We’re exploring and asking questions. Before we end the meeting, we agree on how and when to follow up and what we should do or bring for the next step. We are still exploring, and in a lot of ways we are helping one another get clear about what we want.
That’s how you build a team: one person/group at a time.
Who have you clicked with recently?
Posted by Frances Schagen on November 30, 2011
http://youreffortlessbusiness.wordpress.com/2011/11/30/first-meetings/
