| Over my decade or so of serving business with their | | | | to keep costs low and offer competitive alternatives. |
| technology needs, I have had the luxury of watching | | | | With a narrow solution offering, becoming an expert in |
| many solution providers blossom like a tall tree in a | | | | specific solutions becomes easier and allows lower |
| Niagara park, while the opposite has also crossed my | | | | overall business costs. Training staff becomes less of |
| path where many have crashed like a pileup at the | | | | an expense, often done in-house. Marketing efforts |
| Daytona Speedway. | | | | focused and sales processes nailed down, all resulting |
| So why do some firms blossom and others crash? | | | | in a lower cost of doing business and again, allow them |
| There are several reasons for success. One common | | | | to have a competitive offering. |
| denominator that shows up time after time, especially | | | | Constantly improve your strengths; outsource your |
| in bad economic times, is the successful businesses | | | | weaknesses - A necessity and required read for any |
| understand the power having extremely tight solution | | | | business owner is Clifton StrengthsFinder 2.0. |
| offerings for their clients. Companies who recognize | | | | StrengthsFinder allows an owner to understand their |
| this trend are now attempting to get back to the | | | | strengths and the strengths of their team. It is a |
| basics, which made them successful to avoid falling | | | | well-known benefit in business to hire employees who |
| flat on their face. | | | | compliment your strengths or brings particular |
| In tight economic conditions, many small businesses are | | | | strengths to a team that has been missing. The same |
| looking to simplify and 'cut the fat.' Complicated | | | | said about the solutions that small business |
| products and services, replaced with solutions that are | | | | professionals offer to clients. Focusing on your |
| simple to use combined with minimal training and | | | | strengths and outsourcing or collaborating with others |
| investment, plus maintains or even improves | | | | will compliment and improve solution offerings. |
| productivity. Small business owners who can make | | | | Focus - Perhaps one of the hardest areas for many |
| these smart investments, and at the same time find | | | | professionals is the idea of focus. With all the |
| ways to keep the cost of support down are the ones | | | | distractions in the world today, from email, the |
| who will survive and even thrive through the downturn | | | | telephone, multimedia & social networking, focus is |
| - and they are looking for business partners to help | | | | really the 'holy grail.' When your business can focus on |
| them. | | | | its goals, the chances of succeeding increase |
| Business owners who still baffle their prospects or | | | | dramatically. Having a focused solution stack and |
| clients with technical jargon and convoluted solutions | | | | offerings will provide you with immediate competitive |
| will struggle to win new clients and keep existing | | | | advantage. |
| business over those who truly put themselves in front | | | | People still matter - Make the right hiring choice, |
| of as trusted business advisors. A business advisor | | | | especially today. Now is the time to trim the fat and to |
| who invests the time to learn about their prospect | | | | ensure the right people are 'on the bus' who |
| clients' businesses and design a solutions that meet | | | | understand where you are going. Alignment of |
| and even exceed their business needs. | | | | strengths and focus points will quickly weed out those |
| How is business going to succeed in today's world? | | | | who do not belong. |
| The path to success is clear - Small Business today | | | | Be real - Employees, partners and clients can spot |
| have many advisors influencing on many aspects of | | | | phonies. It is actually built-in to us as human beings, and |
| their business. Your business should not be any | | | | people will know if you are not being sincere. You |
| different. Many small business owners wear many | | | | cannot be everything to everyone, and the best thing |
| hats in their business. They are experts in the products | | | | to do is admit to your weaknesses, and play to your |
| they sell or the service they offer. They look to outside | | | | strengths. Never try to be something you are not and |
| advisors to assist them in making decisions, which will | | | | 'keep it real' at the expense of everything else. |
| have an impact on their business, and your services | | | | It is a dog-eat-dog world, so focus on relationships and |
| should be no different. All business owners and staff | | | | keeps them strong. Strong relationships will ensure that |
| today must be advisors with specific solution offerings. | | | | no one cuts your grass, especially with those clients |
| They must pick the clients that fit their model and | | | | and prospects you work hard to keep. Do what you |
| become experts in those areas. It is the harsh reality | | | | do well, and surround yourself with those who bring |
| that you cannot help every business and not every | | | | new strengths to the table. In addition, remember you |
| business can use you. | | | | cannot be a fit for everyone. Align with the best and |
| Keeps costs low and provide competitive offerings - | | | | keep it simple. This is the formula to winning in the |
| One of my favourite reasons why small business | | | | world today. |
| owners need to have specific focus areas is the ability | | | | |