Wednesday



TAKE THE LEAP 






Our future seems so uncertain because it appears we’re in uncharted territory. We’re facing new experiences. Adapting to anything new can often feel like leaping off a cliff.  We must take the necessary leap and let go of our outmoded ideas to embrace the new. We’re facing the need to let go of what doesn’t work about our old ways and embrace a new way of doing business. Today’s marketplace requires a new way of thinking, a new business perspective. 







Tuesday

MARKETING RESET: Integrate!
















Connecting proven methods with new marketing techniques will deliver better results. Search your competition on Google. Assess your present marketing tools and methods. Find out what you need to be doing in your industry to show up and stand out on the new media. Then, take action! Why is this essential? Because from this day on, nothing will ever return to “normal” regarding marketing our businesses.

Thursday

MARKETING RESET: Be Present; Be Transparent.


Business today moves at the proverbial speed-of-life—if you aren’t prepared to fully engage and be smart, you and your business will suffer. Like it or not, your presence is demanded in two worlds: the real world and, more so every day, the online/virtual world. Resistance is futile.

Make sure you have your search engine optimization up to speed. Be sure you have a blog, a Facebook page and a YouTube Channel. Journal and post your customer and employee experiences. Be open to comment and use comments to improve your business practices. Your customers are looking for you - make sure you're where they're looking - especially on line.

Tuesday

MARKETING RESET: Remember Who You Are





Your story is your brand—keep it real. Gather your thoughts and assemble your marketing under the umbrella of telling your story. Everything you need to succeed is already inside of you. It’s simply your job to communicate this. Best of all, the Internet now allows virtually any business to tell their story with style and en mass like no other time in the history of mankind, and to do so quickly, easily, and cost effectively.

Even better, kick it up a notch and have your audience tell your story. Ask a customer or client, and video it. "In thirty seconds or less, what do you like best about the experience you just had with our business." Get it on YouTube! Voila! Instant infomercial! And best of all it's free! It doesn't get any better than that.

Thursday

Resistance Is Futile; The Hive Mind Is Always Right





These days, using the social network to find out what customer's are thinking is so easy.

One thing I notice, whether it's a customer or client or the audience weighing in on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" - the audience is always right.

When you want to improve a service, reshape the direction of your business, regain customer or client confidence - just ask. Do a little research using the Internet. Also remember to ask your customers or clients directly, what they really want and need and do that - Just like "Star Trek's Next Generation", "The Borg, Hive Mind" - the big mind that exists on the Internet and outside of our own, has the right answers for us - As business owners, we just need to learn to ask and listen with new ears.

Wednesday

Change Can Be Tough, Even When We Choose It



Adapting to anything new can often feel like stepping off a cliff. But we must take this necessary leap by letting go of our old ideas about business and embracing the new—new technology, new ways of reaching out to customers, etc. Today’s adjusting marketplace requires a new way of thinking, a new business perspective.

Monday

It's National Small Business Week • May 16 - 20, 2011


President John F. Kennedy established the first National Small Business Week in 1963 to focus attention on the contributions small business makes to the economy. Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. The U.S. Small Business Administration National Small Business Week honors our estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America. Small businesses are major contributors to the strength of the American economy. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. They also create 60-80 percent of new jobs in the country. Small businesses drive innovation, create 21st century jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.

What will you do to celebrate your accomplishments this week?

>>>Read More: http://www.nationalsmallbusinessweek.com/

Friday

About Leading On

"Gravity hasn't been suspended"

Things have certainly changed but remember, gravity hasn’t been suspended. By design or default, you get what you create. You probably started your business with a test of courage and, most likely, a little naivety. Now that you know more, don’t let that stop you. Your leadership and strength of character will once again help shape your future. 


How are you leading your business on through these more challenging economic times?

Thursday

Make Sure Your Plan B Includes These Things

Here are six things you can do right now to help you hit the reset button:
  1. Lead On
  2. Remember who you are
  3. Be present; be transparent
  4. Integrate
  5. Reach Out
  6. Measure the meaningful
What do you do as a leader, today that perhaps five years ago you never thought you would?

Monday

Hitting The Reset Button













Hitting the reset button (or more quickly adapting to marketplace needs) makes us more competitive. The more competitive (i.e., organized and efficient) we are as a business, the more likely we are to meet our personal and business goals and show positive financial results.

Saturday

It’s Time to Hit the Reset Button!














Not every business survives a changing economy. Those that do will do so by accepting, rather than shying away from, change. They will make the leap to something new or, as I like to say, they will “hit the reset button”. 

Friday

Project Reset 2020







I have been talking to business owners in Sonoma County for more than twenty-five years. I am constantly amazed to find out just how hardworking, risk taking and creative business owners  truly are. Unfortunately most people don't know that. I've decided to do something about it. Our collective stories are an inspiration and a powerful resource for new and existing business owners that find themselves struggling in this challenging economy. Often the transformation required to bridge difficult times feels just like starting over.


Starting next month, I'm selecting several local business owners to tell us their stories. Our conversations will be recorded in video and audio. The videos, images and text we create together will be broadcast on our social network. Select stories may be included in my upcoming book, Everyday Hero.

Monday

The Quantum Leap














Making The Quantum Leap
By Sherryl Dever and Brian Howlett
From Surfing The Social Tsunami.

The Quantum Leap

In our business lives we have experienced the economic hills and valleys of each decade.

Then in 2008, something happened that many of us never expected, the valley of the 2000s decade turned into a canyon, a grand canyon.

Everything has changed. This change is creating new demands on our business and forcing us to change the way we do business.

The changes include:
The worldwide economic shift is impacting the American economy.
Millennials, or the Y Generation have entered the American workforce and consumer markets.
Ever expanding technologies.
Shifting regulations by government agencies.
The reduction of available “easy” credit from the banking industry.

With every change comes opportunity.

Not every business survives a changing economy. The businesses that do survive are the ones that are willing to change, make the leap. Because the economic valley of this decade is very broad and deep our business leap has to be a Quantum Leap. A Quantum Leap is a leap of mind, a shift in perception. Making the leap can feel like stepping off a cliff because taking the necessary leap means we have to let go of our old ideas about business and embrace the new way of doing business. The new economy requires a new way of thinking, a new business perspective.

After you’ve made the Quantum Leap everything about business will look different.

What has changed is the technology, the global economy, and marketing and business culture.
Let’s make the Quantum Leap together and take a look at some of the new ways of thinking about your business:

Quantum Technology.
The Internet has changed the old way of doing business forever.
Clients communicate through their preferred technology.

Quantum Economy.
The old way of doing business will not return
The global economy will become vital again over the next decade.
Frugality and efficiency are new status symbols.

Quantum Marketing.
Your story is your brand.
Your story has to be relevant, entertaining, informative, authentic and transparent.
You have to be represented in all media all the time.
Your market is your tribe. Tribe is developed by conversation not by broadcasting your opinion.
Cater your story to the culture of your market.
Hosting events is an essential marketing tool.
There are now four cultural distinctive generations of Americans. If your products and services are used by all four generations your advertising has to appeal to all four.

Quantum Business Culture.
Someone will always be cheaper, no one can be better.
You have to deliver on the promise of your marketing.
Every aspect of your business is visible to the public.
You have to know the profile of your consumer and cater your products and services to meet their needs.

The Quantum View:
The core business values will never change.
Follow your passion and your higher purpose.
Provide great product and great service at a great price.
Always be available and accountable.


Make the Quantum Leap with Confidence.
You have years of experience in creating a successful business. Your clients have enjoyed the benefits of your knowledge, goods and services for many years. You’re feeling like your clients have gone away. The truth is the world population is expanding. That means that right now there is a greater need for your business skills.

Make An Educated Leap.
Talk to your existing clients and friends. Ask them where they go for information about goods and services. Find out how important customer service is to them when making a purchase. Have your customer suggest ways to make your office or retail space more comfortable, inviting or efficient from a client’s point of view.
Google search your competition. Imitate their marketing successes and avoid their failures. Research their client base and learn from your competition how to expand your marketing exposure.
Bring in the experts. You don’t have to add full time staff to leap into the new marketplace. Outside expert professionals bring the new business perspective with them and will help you objectively and efficiently redirect your business into a new prosperity.

Make An Efficient Leap.
Everything you need to make the Quantum Leap is available to you within your budget.
Create and join business communities in order to share resources. Resources can include professional services, space and supplies.
Trade services. Ask your service and material suppliers if they are willing to trade in order to minimize capital transactions.
Streamline your place of business. Eliminate old clutter and useless inventory.

Massive Opportunity



Web 2.0, economic demand, culture shifts in acceptance of technology are culminating in much the same way as desperation was the mother of invention experienced by the masses in the 1980s. These driving forces, just like in the 1980’s, will spawn massive opportunity for small and mid sized businesses.