Small Business Secrets

Why you deserve success Adopting an attitude of abundance Asking yourself powerful questions Assessing your entrepreneurial readiness Embracing the challenge of entrepreneurship Maintaining confidence as a business owner Using the entrepreneur’s mirror Rewarding yourself along the way Staying productive each day

Exploring the elements of a simple plan Putting it all together Reviewing and using a single-page business plan Testing your business concept Testing and tracking performance Simplifying the goal-setting process Refining your message Crafting your company story Crafting your pitch

Developing your sales system Generating sales leads offline Generating sales leads online Getting publicity with the authority ladder Working with scripts to improve sales Utilizing best practices to close more deals Refining your message

Building a basic organization chart Building an Employee Loyalty Strategy Correcting employees when needed Crafting a job and pay range Developing people and paths Interviewing candidates Selecting and hiring vendors Finding the right tasks to outsource Leading from a distance Establishing guidelines with family and friends

Finding funding opportunities Understanding crowdfunding Using best crowdfunding practices Reading a financial report (P&L and Balance Sheet) Tracking expenses and receipts Understanding small business accounting Determining your pay as owner Operating on a shoestring budget

Building a customer loyalty strategy The role of customer loyalty Seeing your business through your customer’s eyes Helping customers who aren’t right for your business Working through complaints

Competing with big businesses Making the most of business competition Viewing your competitors productively Increasing business with MVCs

Finding your most valuable service or product Dropping your least valuable service or product Setting prices for services and products Deciding on your channels

Exit strategy options The importance of an exit strategy Determining when to part ways Determining which cause is right for your business

Managing your time Focusing both at home and at work Moving past business failures Measuring your success

Avoiding common pitfalls of entrepreneurship Avoiding common small-business-structure mistakes Avoiding opportunity traps Building company values Business Entities and Compensation Considering future leadership needs Considering the leap from passion to business Creating single-page documentation Determining your company vision Discovering what truly motivates people Discovering your most valuable customers Enlisting employees and customers in innovation Filtering the big-business perspective Finding the right tasks to outsource Getting guidance outside of your business Getting rich your own way Identifying areas for improvement Knowing when to raise or lower prices Launching a business with little or no money Leveraging documentation to increase efficiency Making a smooth transition Making the most of networking opportunities Making the transition to full-time business owner Managing family and friends Putting it all together Reading a financial report (P&L and Balance Sheet) Solving problems with the SAM Cycle Testing and tracking performance Understanding the basics of accountability in small business Understanding the costs and benefits of a remote workforce Understanding the power of networking Understanding the role of employee loyalty Understanding the role of sales in small business success Understanding why charitable causes are critical for business Using the five senses to create an experience Viewing your competitors productively Working through complaints Working with scripts to improve sales