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Writing brilliance is a lot like life
I watched and waited for Sunday to come for more than a week. Temperatures were forecast in the 60s (it reached 69 sunny degrees â yippee for me!). Majority daylight hours were to be spent building a cold frame (or three). That greenhouse in my kitchen was starting to get in the way (the office […]
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Smart small business owners watch great public speakers
Thereâs something about a well-done speech that stays with you. As a small business owner, professional writer and marketing consultant, Iâm always on the lookout for communication done well. Public speaking ranks high to my mind, so, I tend to seek out opportunities that allow me to learn from the masters. Sometimes those gems hit […]
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If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave
âIf you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.â Mo Willems I was doing that rapid buzz through e-mail thing so many of us do to cross a âto doâ item off our lists when this gem of a quote brought me back to mindfulness. Itâs timely, of course (as so much is when […]
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Looking for clever small business solutions? Try asking the animals.
They say animals are honest. Iâve met enough crafty ones to realize some have a grand sense of humor. No need to climb aboard that anthropomorphizing high horse (the mere suggestion draws flame wars in some equine circles). That’s not where I’m going here. Instead, consider spending time paying attention to the critter characters around […]
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Moving a small business
There are some things about Virginia that leave me awestruck. I paid $1.39 a gallon for gas yesterday. To be fair, this was at a Kroger station where my monthly grocery bill nets discounts (I had to ask the milk stocking clerk about this to learn that my 20 cents off was due to spending […]
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Small business owners can ditch plans and still smile
Unexpected life circumstances can derail our carefully crafted small business plans. Sometimes itâs best to simply deal with the urgent and not beat yourself up for getting off track on the important. Rarely are important items so urgent that they become lost opportunities if you donât act immediately. Admittedly, Iâm a list maker and a […]
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Small business selling is done best when you’re having fun
Perhaps the single most critical issue in spurring small business selling success is the enjoyment factor. If you, your prospects and clients donât like the experience, youâll have a tough time creating a sustainable venture. The great thing about fun is itâs contagious. If youâre enjoying yourself and what youâre creating through your business, your […]
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Forget about features and benefits – offer small business selling solutions
Yogi Berra quipped âItâs like dĂ©jĂ vu all over again.â Feeling reminiscent when some self-proclaimed guru offers the latest and greatest ânewâ technique for effective small business selling? Whether you come from the pyramid selling âproofâ days or todayâs internet âexpertâ arena, the truth hasnât changed â attracting new clients is best done by solving […]
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Assemble a team for fun small business selling
I know, I know â you donât have the money or arenât ready to let go and delegate. Fear not. This post isnât necessarily about that. Think about this â is there something your clients need that you canât do? Ah ha â thatâs where your loose team of go-to people can make you shine. […]
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More isn’t better with small business selling
Whether itâs what youâre selling or how youâre communicating, quantity does not trump quality. The âexpertsâ (curious, this moniker that used to be earned is now self-appointed) would have you believing more products and more noise offer the key to more money. Sometimes this works, but itâs not a good way to build a loyal […]