1

VOL. NO.

Michiana Shop & Greet

7 Major FearsThat Hold Entrepreneurs Captive

2

BIZ FO D

for

Executive Editor

Editor, Layout and Design

Advertising Inquiries

Subscriptions

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher

nancy@success4biz.biz

701 N. Prairie Street, Sturgis, MI

269-651-3555

http://smallbizforward.com

http://success4biz.biz

@smallbizjunkie

Www.facebook.com/bsuconnector

Www.linkedin.com/in/nancybecher

Vol. No. 2 by in of in 2332-5887

No part of or into form by from ipt will if by

All to will for to right to

Zachary Harker

3

BIZ FO D

for

Executive Editor

Editor, Layout and Design

Advertising Inquiries

Subscriptions

Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Nancy Becher

Nancy Becher

nancy@success4biz.biz

701 N. Prairie Street, Sturgis, MI

269-651-3555

http://smallbizforward.com

http://success4biz.biz

@smallbizjunkie

Www.facebook.com/bsuconnector

Www.linkedin.com/in/nancybecher

Vol. No. 2 by in of in 2332-5887

No part of or into form by from ipt will if by

All to will for to right to

in in

in to in it

information our in in

or at:

Floor. 49091 651-3555

CEO: K

A for

in in of

a

of in

BSU helps small business succeed through mentoring projects, networking groups, and entrepreneurial forums. From business know-how to business networking, BSU has it all. For more information about our one-on-one consulting, business retreats or networking forums contact me at:

701 Prairie Street, 2nd Floor, Sturgis, MI 49091

Phone: 269-651-3555

Email: nancy@success4biz.biz

CEO: Nancy K Becher A trusted and caring service provider for the entrepreneur and small business owner in need ofmarketing and advertising advice, as well as a large networking group of businesses.

4

Contents9 What it Takes to be Successful in Business

11 February Events

14 Security Strategies For 2015 and beyond

16 Looking at the Future with a Plan

19 Human Resources Your Business Partner

21 Leadership Building your Team in 2015

22 Michiana Shop & Great

25 Mastering the Rockefeller Habits

5

26 Tips for Business Success Expos, Community Events, Fun raisers

30 Being Connective Strategies for Growth — Client Segmentation

32 Target Market

36 Members

38 7 Major Fears That hold entrepreneurs Captive

42 Smart Goal Worksheet

46 What’s up at BSU

6

Office Wow. February? Already? Where did January go?

I’m not ready for February yet. I don’t have my goals

cemented on paper. Those business cards are still

sitting on my desk and not in my database. There are

papers everywhere. What am I going to do? I don’t

have my processes and procedures in place yet. The

strategies aren’t there to get me kick-started. I’d

better get a push on. What about you?

Does this sound like you? Are you already three

months behind and it’s only the second month in the

year? We’re all so ready to get new programs and

policies under way as the new year rolls around, but

then by mid-month…life happens and we all get

sidetracked (at least a little. Come on, admit it.)

For me, there were some health issues that put me

out for a couple of weeks. For you it might be the

snow and ice or sub-zero temperatures. The lack of

sunlight gets to some of us. Family colds and flu are

notorious at this time of the year for keeping

someone from meetings, events, and office hours. It

happens, but do we have our plans together so that

when the inevitable happens, we can recover without

losing our minds and our customers.

This month Small Biz Forward is focused on helping

you with your strategies. Whether it’s showing you

how to create a CRM program or organizing your

office, the authors want you to have processes in

order before the end of the month that will help

guide you in finding more time in your day to do the

things you really want to, instead of looking through

300 business cards

trying to find the

guy you met at the

networking meeting last month.

We’re also going to share with you a great event that

you need to put on your calendar for March. Being in

business means you have to let other people know

about what you do and find out about others and

their passions as well. Throughout this month’s

magazine you’ll be reading about the Michiana Shop

and Greet on March 26th. Not only is this a time to

buy locally, but it’s also a time to help others – there

will be several charities there, an auction, a luncheon

to support GoodWill, and if I know Karen Bachert,

the founder of Your Business Needs Fans and the

Shop and Greet, there will be a lot of fun too! Put it

on your calendar and come on out.

No matter what day of the week or what month in the

year, it’s never too late to start thinking about,

planning and implementing strategies to help you

grow and become more successful. Sit down, grab a

cup of coffee (or tea), and look through the pages of

this issue. And then, put some of the techniques,

suggestions and skills to work in your business. I

guarantee – you won’t regret it.

 

Nancy

7

ResourcesIf you want to keep up on business news, http://smallbusiness.com/ is a great place to start with the headlines. There are categories for managing, starting, and more. Each category has articles that pertain to those particular topics.

Another site that gives you quick tips on questions you might have with running your business is: http://www.smallbusinessnotes.com.

If you’re a business in Michigan, check out the Small Business Association of Michigan https://sbam.org/. There’s a free directory to get listed and to find other businesses located in the state. They have an interesting radio podcast that has guest speakers and talks about what’s happening in the business world in Michigan. It’s a great place to hang out if you want news and views on being in business in Michigan.

YBNF TIP Ask a Question

Best way to increase the number of people who are seeing your page in their newsfeed is to get others to comment on your posts. Why not write your post in the form of a question - a question with an easy answer to get people started. Even “Yes” or “No” questions often get comments. Also, remember the value of inviting people to visit your page in your post.For example: Do you have a Facebook Business page? Yes or No? Please comment and let all our YBNF friends know about your page. Also, please feel free to visit our page, click on the NOTES tab to find more tips to help you with your Facebook Business page at:www.facebook.com/YourBusinessNeedsFans

8

9

I love to read and usually have several things

going at once: magazines for both personal and

business, either a romance novel or an adventure/

mystery and generally two or three business books --

all at the same time. My latest book is Dave

Ramsey's EntreLeadership. I'm just getting started

but already I am thoroughly enjoying it. He talks

about some of the necessities of running the office:

not the marketing, not the billing and invoicing, but

the reasons WHY we do what we do and how we can

better do them to make our lives that much better.

I didn't know that he had been a multi-millionaire

business in his 20s, only to lose everything and have

to start all over again. GASP -- he's just like us all.

Not everything was always perfect for him. He had to

learn to acknowledge failures and start over again.

Who of us can't nod in agreement there? I know I

sure have and hopefully, I've learned and am not

trying to do the same thing all over again.

As you start to read this book, you will hear about

dreams. I was just in a debate on Facebook the other

day about dreams. The person who put up the first

post was saying that dreams are worthless. You have

to ACT to get somewhere. Then a whole bunch of us

jumped in and started to clamour. Wait a minute.

You have to have a dream first before you can act on

anything. Right? What do you think? Ramsey agrees.

And says that "dreaming is the lifeblood of

businesses..." However, I think this next part is what

we all agreed on. In order to do something more

than just sit with our heads in the clouds dreaming,

you MUST take action. Again, I loved Ramsey's take

on this. For him dreaming came first, and those

dreams then (with passion and belief) turned into

vision -- where the person develops the dream out

and sees how it is going to take shape. After

envisioning it, then, he goes on to say that goals

(written down, specific and measurable with a time

limit) need to be created and completed.

It is really important to do this exercise

periodically even if you've been in business for

awhile. I just came across this statistic that says 56%

of small businesses fail due to a lack of such back

office work. You need to know WHY you're in

business, who you work with, what you offer (this is

a value, not product/service question), and have a

plan for putting it all together.

Another statistic states that most successful

businesses have groups they belong to, boards that

they share with, educational programs they go to and

more -- as it is very important to get ouside thoughts

and views on what is happening. So, here's hoping

that after reading this you will start to work on your

back office: you'll find someone to support you and

guide you, and you'll take that dream and turn it into

the vision and goal that you want. You will then be

SUCCESSFUL!!!!!

What it Takes to Be Successful in Business Nancy Becher

1010

Entreprenuer

Co-Creating a Better Future

Cafe SeriesThe

* Connect* Get inspired* Best business practices* Discover new ideas

CALL NOW for Details and to Register574-971-5234

Every 3rd SaturdayCafe style atmosphere9am - Noon$49 per person

Come to the monthlyEntrepreneur Cafe Series, a

workshop designed to help youget clear on what's most

important to create the successyou've always wanted.

How can you make this yearyour best year yet?

www.coachcharrise.com

11

February 2015

Business Success Unlimited

Just A Reminder…

The BSU MastermindProgram has started back up online the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of February

Every Monday

Georgetown Plus Networking, Northeast Innovation Center, Forth Wayne, IN

• Meets every Monday at 11:30am

• Join us for FREE LUNCH and A new way of

networking

• $3 & 2 Business Cards gets you in!

• Bring promotional materials and be ready to

share about your business!

• RSVP for a display table for $15 during the

group Call Randi: (260)-312-7862

• Come Early & Stay late & NETWORK

Every Wednesday

Exit 25 Networking, Agaves (Exit 25), Fort Wayne, IN

• Meets every Wednesday at 11:30am

• Join us for RELATIONAL Networking &

Promote each other to Success!

• $3 & 2 Business Cards gets you in!

• Bring promotional materials and be ready to

share about your business

Premier Women’s Network Michiana

Premier Fort Wayne, 1st Tuesday

Premier Niles, 1st Thursday

Premier Angola/Auburn, 3rd Tuesday

Premier Warsaw, 3rd Tuesday

Premier Mishawaka, last Tuesday

Call Mary Jo Smith @ (574) 514-5193

Women’s Business Bureau

• Kalamazoo Country Club, MI 49006

• Contact Jan Murphy: (334)-560-6955

Success Roundtable• Fetzer Center, WMU Campus

February 18th from 11:30am-1:00pm

Call Nancy Becher for registration

(see ad in magazine for further details)

12

• • • • •

-

—

–

--

• • • •

13

LOVE is an action. We usually desire to give special gifts to those we cherish. This month, may I suggest one of these three items to get you started? A hostess thank you for a successful party

you attended, or a special gift to a sweet friend that enjoys chocolate, or the coffee design for one of your Starbuck's aficionados.

Either way you gift it, you will be creating a sweet memory to last all year long! Go ahead . . love on someone this month!

Kathy Williamson YOUR Personal Home / Office Decor Consultant #604 (574) 850-4424 www.mysimplysaiddeisgns.com/604 Simply Said with Kathy - Independent Consultant #604

14

Security Strategies for 2015 and beyond

With the many growing threats to business, security has to also play a key role in your business growth strategies, from everything from background checks for new employees to cyber security. The threats to our business are very real and the list of vulnerabilities grows each day along with the victims of cyber-attacks, employee theft and even violence against employees and employers.

At the close of 2014, Sony was the victim of a large scale cyber-attack that includes the reported theft of over a terabyte of data if not more. It also included malware which wiped PC’s clean of all data. Think what a small attack on your business would do to you, how much data do you have stored on PC’s and laptops that are connected to your Wi-Fi network. Now remember, Sony was a secure intra-net system, so those responsible were able to get past all security they had

in place. Many experts believe that this attack could not have been stopped once it was started.

As our businesses grow our systems grow, our number of employees grows and so do our facilities. As these grow so must our requirements to raise the bar on security. This does not mean we need to go out and hire a security firm and put armed security guards at every entrance

but we do need to review what we do have in place. At a minimum a review of who has access to our offices, our Wi-Fi and especially our client data base. Do you conduct background checks on new hired employees?

If they are dealing with your financials what is their credit history. How about drug testing? All of these are serious questions as an employer we must ask ourselves. How far do we need to look into

our potential employees history, this will depend on many factors.

The security of our offices needs to be considered high on the list. Things to consider is who has access; keys; do we have close circuit television systems in place and what do they view, is it what we need to see. Remember not every employee needs access 24/7 and this type of access should be limited to very few and only to key and essential personnel. Along with this, any employee who does enter after normal working hours should be required to sign into an after hours access log if entrance into a key pad for disarming the alarm system is not required. This is just a way to keep honest employees honest.

15

While we are on the subject of travel, how many of us travel with a copy of our medical history and medications with us. There is now a way for us to take a copy of our medical information with us and wear it just like a medical alert bracelet.

( h t t p : / / m e d i d s . c o m / U S B -medical-ID-bracelet.html#.VKcF-OktDug)

This may be an item to provide all staff members who travel so that during an emergency the medical staff can instantly have medical information and emergency contacts for them. The device listed works on an usb drive and permits medical staff to both upload and download information about their patient in time of medical necessity. And for a cost of around $40.00, this may be a good investment in our employee’s health and wellness.

One area I have not discussed prior is taking the time out of your employee’s day and provide them with some security training. Areas to discuss should be everything from stalkers, situational awareness, travel safety and security and whatever area the employees feel will benefit them with saying safe. Conducting a security survey and audit on a yearly basis will permit you to have a better feel for the safety and security of your business.

Ed Becher, (Ret.) US Marine and Former ChiefInstructor,USDept.ofState,UniformedBranch,DiplomaticSecurity Service is the owner of Center for Protection,Security and Personal Safety (The Bodyguard Academy)whichisaprovideroftrainingandresourcestokeepyou,your staff and clients safe. He can be contacted at ed@thebodyguardacademy.comorbyphoneat(269)651-3355.

16

WITH A PLAN

Looking at

At a certain point in your business life, you get over the first round of middle-of-the-night heebie-jeebies (check out this link for an interesting discussion of the origin of the phrase: ht tp://en.wikipedia .org/wiki/Heebie-jeebies_ (idiom)) regarding the wisdom of starting your own business, whether you are any good at running a business, and whether you will be able to keep the wolf from your door. At that point, the temptation is to keep on doing what got you that far. Please resist that urge. Instead, think ahead to how to make your business more of what you want it to be.

How do you envision the next 5 years of your life? Are you happy with the quality and quantity of the time your business takes out of your life? If not, then consider bringing on additional staff or adding a partner or investor. Each of these steps requires you to envision how this next phase might look. While there are numerous permutations to each option, each may require you to a) become a better manager; b) give up some of day-to-day control of operations; c) share the financial benefits of your business; d) give up the comfort of your having your business life conform totally to your needs; or e) some or all of the above! Each option will also require you to seek competent legal and financial advisors to prepare the necessary financial, legal, contractual or other documents you will require. For example, with employees, come

decisions about benefits, HR matters and perhaps creating a company handbook. With a new partner, come issues such as key-man provisions, buy/sell agreements and shareholder/partnership control and decision-making. With a financial “angel”, you may have to forego certain choices in order to

insure that you are complying with any agreements you have reached.Another strategic consideration is your age and your personal situation. Are you starting to look ahead to retirement or do you have a good 30-40 years until that happens? Do you envision having a change of marital status or starting a family in the short-to-mid-term future? Are there financial obligations such as student loans, caring for elderly family members or medical needs that may continue or begin? Take a few hours to let your mind think over these possible tracks you may follow in your life, explore how you would handle them and what you might need in terms of help or adjustment to your life to make the situation as stress-free as possible. Would the purchase of long term health care insurance be appropriate? Do you and a family member need to do estate planning or financial restructuring

to prevent waste or diminution of assets? Have you protected yourself from creditors sufficiently? Might the underlying cost of one or more options put your business in financial peril.

Finally, think about how you can improve your talents or expertise – either quantitatively or qualitatively. Have you wanted to get an advanced degree in something? Try online courses or seminars. Do you want to expand your business to provide additional services or products? Get involved in organizations or events that relate to that area of expansion. Read up on how the successes in your new areas got to where they are. Find yourself a mentor and be willing to give up a little independence in order to learn something new.

Having a Plan B, or even a Plan C or D is not a sign of weakness. It’s the way to sleep through the night!

BarbNicastroisaproblemsolver,strategistandbusinessexecutivehighlyxperienced

inanalysis0fcomplexdocumentorfactualsituations.Sheusesapragmaticbusinessapproachtopreventorresolveissues.Extensiveleadership,publicspeaking,negotiation,mediaandmotivationaltrainingexperience.

17

18

BEFORE AFTER

19

HR: Your Strategic Business Partner Human Resources is a key strategic force in major corporations. The most common question asked, “Is our company using our HR Department strategically?”

The Answer: Human Resources has a large influence when it comes to how staffing relates to strategy and how organizational structure relates to implementing strategy. It is important to know what the focus is for HR in order to understand how they partner with your business. Whether you are growing or starting up, it is important to partner with HR to create best practices and maintain legal compliance.

As we continue to think about our organization’s direction for 2015, it is important for us as leaders, to include the HR Director to help set and implement the strategic direction of the organization which requires developing and assessing the organization’s employees and creating the organizational proficiencies required to support the strategic direction. It also requires creating a strategy to include having the unique perspective and knowledge of your the talent market.

It is important to ensure HR executives understand business strategy and how it relates to organizational capabilities and core competencies and how those connect to the organization decisions. HR has the ability to use their knowledge to help the organization set its strategic direction and develop its business plans focused on talent development and talent selection.

As you think of HR being your strategic partner here are the main contributions they can make. Ensuring they have the most efficient information systems that produce metrics and analytics needed for them to communicate with Executives, including the CEO. They need to be able to deliver effective and efficient HR services to all departments. Providing great service is the key, if HR doesn’t operate effectively with the service they provide it is hard to convince others in the organization that its input on business issues will be worth anything. As you gear up for your next executive meeting, be sure to include your HR leader. The insight they will bring to your team will be enlightening as you continue to build your business strategically.

Susie Olivarez is the Owner & Senior HR Consultant at Iron Sharpens Iron - Discovering Your X Factor.She can be contacted at: www.your-x-factor.com

20

Tips and Techniques for the Busy Entrepreneur As entrepreneurs we all wear many hats, but that doesn’t mean we are experts at doing all the things we have to do as business owners. SBF gives you the ability to learn about new ways to think about running your business as well as ways to run the back office work that must be done. Articles on marketing, security, social media and more are geared to be read in quick bites but in ways that you can put to work immediately in your own company.

701 Prairie Street Sturgis, MI 49091

http://smallbizforward.com

269-651-3555 info@celebratebusinesspubl

ishing.com

21

LeadershipBuilding your Team in 2015

After a start-up period in your business when you’re the only one getting paid, there comes a time when you need to pay someone else to help you if you’re going to be ultimately successful. Here are a few things to consider.

Don’t be afraid to train your competition. Over the years I have heard people complain that whenever they train someone that person ends up going into business for themselves. They’re worried that they’ve trained their competition and it’s going to hurt their business. I’ve been training my own competition into existence for several years now and the main comment I have about this is that there are soon going to be seven billion people in the world; surely you can find a few of them to be your clients. Take charge of your own marketing and get after it. Also consider that training others positions you as the expert in your field. If you’re kind to those who hang out a shingle in your field, and send them referrals, they’ll send you clients, too.

Look for interns. Sometimes people in college or just out of high school will work for very little money to get experience in your field. This may be just a few hours a week and could be an entry point for trying out the idea listed above (train your competition).

Build a team by hiring for expertise that you don’t have.

I recently became CEO of a small nonprofit which has historically coached nonprofits for development. One challenge I faced immediately is that I have never worked on a major capital campaign, nor have I coached anyone through a major capital campaign. This means an opportunity to learn something new, but also an opportunity to learn by bringing in new team-mates. I am tasked with finding some people who do have expertise in this field and bringing them on board with us. Eventually, I’ll want to build a team of storytellers and artists, grant writers, and administrative assistants so that our nonprofit has a team of people. My job is leadership. Remember when you’re bringing people on to your team to find someone who has expertise in an area you don’t have. This shouldn’t be threatening; in fact, it’s an opportunity for you to breathe easier! I like to think in terms of building a team in a way that’s similar to casting a troupe for Community Theater. Think of your business like a play. To execute each role, you need different people. Some

of them may even come into conflict with you, but this can be healthy!

Look for partnerships with others. When hiring either to train your competition or to build a team of experts in areas where you aren’t an expert won’t fit your situation, you may need to develop relationships with people who aren’t going to come under your financial roof. I’ve seen plumbers, painters and general contractors partnering together in networking groups so that there’s a lot of cross referrals happening. Nobody’s really hiring each other, but they are aware of experts in parallel fields and they refer each other regularly to their clients. This can make your business look bigger than it really is. There are many ways to forge partnerships that don’t mean you have to have someone on payroll.

Adding people to your payroll comes with all sorts of additional expenses; responsibility for health care, tax withholding, and so forth. If you’ve never had paid staff before, be aware of all the expenses before you decide to bring someone on. Consult your tax professional.

AdamFlemingisaleadershipcoachandcoachtrainer.He’sowneratEpicLifeStudiosandCEOatEvergreenLeaders,aswellas

atrainerandcoachforCoachingMissionInternational.

22

M i c h i a n a Shop & Greet

Growing in PopularityAstheNewYearbegins,manyofusasbusinessownersevaluatethestrategiesweareusingtogrowourbusinessesandexplorenewoptionstobettersupportoursuccessin2015.Certainly,socialmedianeedstocontinuetoplayanimportantroleaswereviewourwebsites,updateourLinkedInprofilesandcommittoaregularscheduleofFacebookBusinessPagepostsandadvertisingtargetingbothcurrentandnewclients.

For some, the Marketing Plan includes TV, radio and newspaper advertising. For others, strategically-planned P.R. Campaigns are penciled in throughout the year aimed at increasing company visibility and strengthening our business following. Strategies that combine our efforts to “give back” to our communities by supporting local charities and to actively participate in our local Chamber of Commerce are always good decisions that require personal commitment of owners and managers. Networking opportunities are readily available too, but can easily be missed if we don’t take

the time to review the various groups in our area and confirm annual memberships that includes active participation.For all who live (and do business) in Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan, the Michiana Shop & Greet Event held on March 26 at the Gillespie Conference Center in South Bend, IN is a worthwhile event to consider. Now in its third year, this event is growing in popularity and extending its offerings, all in the name of encouraging everyone in Michiana to shop, do business and support local non-profits.

This year, the Michiana Shop & Greet will kick off with a Fashion

Show Luncheon, 12:00-2:00p.m. showcasing a number of local non-profits including Goodwill Industries of Michiana, Hello Gorgeous and Dismas House. The fashions for the show will include a variety of both men and women styles for business, business casual and evening attire provided by Goodwill Industries. Kerri Spencer, Kerri’s Avenue Salon, one of the sponsors for the show will be the M.C joining our special celebrity guest. The Goodwill Industries Roadshow Boutique is also an addition to the Michiana Shop & Greet this year and will be open throughout the event, 2:00-8:30. Tickets for the Fashion Show & Luncheon are $35 and include a delicious three- course luncheon, all-day entry into the Michiana Shop & Greet Expo plus $10 in Michiana Bucks to spend at the Roadshow Boutique, the LIVE Charity

auction or with any of the vendors.

23

Immediately following the Fashion Show & Luncheon, the doors will open to the expo which will include 45 vendors and the following sponsors: ProForma Printhouse, IEntertain, Llc., WSMK Radio, Business Success Unlimited, Premier Women of Michiana, Kerri’s Avenue Salon. Sponsorship spots are available. For more information about sponsorship opportunities or booth space, contact Karen Bachert 574.344.8895 or email: Karen@YourBusinessNeedsFans.com.

The schedule for Stage Presentations and Special Guests (including Voice of Your Business Speakers) will offer something for everyone. Highlights will include LIVE Radio Broadcast with WSMK Radio and Speed Networking which will begin at 5:30. The M.C. for both the Fashion Show at 12:00 and the Speed Networking at 5:30 is Kerri Spencer, Kerri’s Avenue Salon. Networking and Door prizes will be given away starting at 3:00 including a D.J. Party Package provided by IEntertain, LLC that will be given away at 8:00p.m. Vendors will include networking groups, business organizations, colleges, realtors, finance, business consultants, travel, fashion, retail, foodie favorites, non-profits and more. A Cash bar will be provided.

An annual highlight of the event is the LIVE Charity Auction at 7:00 hosted by Karen Bachert, Michiana Shop & Greet host and owner of Your Business Needs Fans. Paddle Sponsor for the auction is Ann’s Younique Products and Ann Hudson will be our “Vanna”.

In closing, we hope to see you at the Fashion Show (12-2:00pm) and at the Michiana Shop & Greet, 2:00-8:30, March 26, 2015 at the St. Mary’s Campus - Gillespie Conference Center, 53995 Indiana State Road 933, and South Bend, IN. Tickets for both the Fashion Show Luncheon and the Michiana Shop & Greet are $35 and include a three course luncheon and $10 in Michiana Bucks to spend at the Expo. Tickets for the Michiana Shop & Greet ONLY are $15

(available at the door) and include $10 in Michiana Bucks to spend at the event. For more information on how this event might help your business, please follow us on our new Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shopandgreet or www.facebook.com/yourbusinessneedsfan, visit our website at www.YourBusinessNeedsFans.com or call Karen at 574.344.8895. Spokespersons for this event are Karen Bachert, Owner of Your Business Needs Fans and host of Michiana Shop & Greet, and Kerri Spencer, Kerri’s Avenue Salon.

Karen Bachert

24

“Who’s Gonna Be There?”Here is a sneak peek of some companies and organizations that will be showcasing their products and services at the Michiana “Shop & Greet.” Adding vendors daily. Call Karen 574.344.8895

Bendix Coffee

Better Way Imports

Business Success Unlimited

Healthy Living / CK Designs

Dismas House

Facelation and Henna Art

Forever Young Publishers

Goodwill Industries of Michiana

Hello Gorgeous

IEntertain, LLC

It Works (Kerris Avenue Salon)

Kerri’s Avenue Salon

Pink Zebra

Premier Women of Michiana

Proforma Printhouse

The Center for Protection, Security and Personal Safety

Thirty One Gifts

Trine University

Scentsy

Sell It Again Jo

Support Michiana

Nerium WNIL 1290AM,

The Voice

WSMK Radio 99.1

“Voice of Your Business” Speakers Group

Younique

Your Business Needs Fans

Are you going to be there?

25

Mastering the Rockefeller Habits,

by Verne HarnishI want to introduce you to a 2002 book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits by Verne Harnish. Despite the age of the book, it’s a business classic for a reason. One of the reasons I love it, is that it hits on systems and processes…my specialty!

This is a book filled with simple, practical, easily implementable tools for business leaders of growing businesses. Verne Harnish has had a 30 year career working with CEOs and executive teams in fast-growth businesses, and is highly aware of what it takes to promote fast, controlled growth…instead of the out-of-control growth that can hurt a successful company.

Harnish explains and uses Rockefeller’s disciplined and systematic approach to business as examples. Rockefeller’s practices were vastly different from the chaotic risk-taking of his contemporaries. Harnish teaches entrepreneurs how to make strategic choices and keep the business and employees aligned with those choices and accountable for them

This book will help you set clear priorities, use data and feedback wisely, and create a pattern on which your company runs, in order to maintain alignment to your strategies and priorities and to keep everyone accountable even during periods of incredibly fast growth

It also reminds you to keep in touch with what you loved about your business when you first began. Those feelings and goals you had during your business incubation are still there, and can still drive you to bigger successes. Give Mastering the Rockefeller Habits a read and let me know what you think.

Never stop learning, never stop growing your business!

Kristi Pavlik, Chief VisionaryOfficer at Adonai BusinessSolutions, helps entrepreneursnavigate their business journeysto success! For more than adecade, Kristi has been teachingentrepreneursandsmallbusinessownershowtotransformbigideasintobusinessmodels thatsupportprofitandgrowth!

Active in the business management field for over20 years, Kristi is a skilled professional who helpsentrepreneurs from beginners to business leaders“get out of their own way”. She shows them howto implement practical, real-world solutions totheir business speed-bumps, resulting in improvedefficiency, increased productivity and significantprogresstowardtheirgoals.ClientswhoworkwithKristi

areamazedathowshecanhelptheirbusinessmoveforward. She can help you launch a new business,growan established business, or explore unchartedterritorywithindustryleaders.Businessownersarethrilledattheresultsonabusinessandpersonallevel.

26

Tips for Business Success Expos, Community Events, Fundraisers

When considering participation in various events, businesses benefit by thoughtful planning. Here are a few things to consider:

1Pick the best spot for your company. Consider sponsorship, booth space, or perhaps simply attending. There are specific benefits tied to each opportunity. Ask

questions of the Event Organizer and don’t hesitate to suggest participation beyond what might be offered. For some expos, stage presentations of interesting topics will give you added visibility and probably also get your name and the name of your business in the program, on their website, and perhaps even in their press coverage. Ask about table sponsorship for fundraisers too and invite some people you would like to connect with to sit at your table.

2 Take advantage of Pre-Event Happenings. For example, the Organizers of the Michiana Shop & Greet hosts pre-planning meetings for sponsors/ vendors

and also invites everyone to a pre-event party with their radio station sponsor, WSMK Radio at a Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce After Hours. By getting involved early you can meet other vendors and sponsors and expand your own benefits. Making new connections is a big opportunity in participation in any business or community event.

3Consider donating your services or products for charity events or door prizes at an expo. Ask to present them yourself for added benefit and question how your

company will be acknowledged for your donation.

27

4Promote your own participation in the event. Even when it is not your event, Event Organizers appreciate you inviting others to “come see you” at their event.

Your personal invitation will bring people and their friends to your booth. Invite on Facebook, when attending networking events, with an email campaign and even with your own Press Release. Sometimes you can purchase tickets in advance for very low prices or even get tickets for free to distribute to your clients and potential clients.

5 Put your best foot forward. Make your booth or presence stand out. How your booth looks and how you present yourself is key. Personal style and grooming is

important. A smile and a warm handshake make a good impression. Man your booth with the right people. For example, at last year’s Michiana Shop & Greet, Premier Women of Michiana held a membership drive at their booth offering a special discount on annual membership with great results.

6Set specific goals, plan your follow up and assess your results. Number of sales, number of leads, overall brand exposure opportunities, and specific connections

made, are all important results to measure. Consider planning a follow up event of your own and invite folks to your gathering personally when they visit your booth.

For additional information on the Michiana Shop & Greet and/or these tips, please contact Karen Bach-ert, Owner of Your Business Needs Fans and Event Organizer for the Michiana Shop & Greet.

Karen@YourBusinessNeedsFans.com 574.344.8895

28

Business Activities

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Across

2. Informal group composed of knowledgeable individuals who help guide the activities of a (usually) small or startup firm. Members of the board of advisors do not normally own shares in the firm, and (unlike the members of the board of directors) normally do not have the legal responsibility for its operations.

4. A systematic process of envisioning a desired future, and translating this vision into broadly defined goals or objectives and a sequence of steps to achieve them.

7. A set of detailed methods, procedures and routines created to carry out a specific activity, perform a duty, or solve a problem. 8. A method or plan chosen to bring about a desired future, such as achievement of a goal or solution to a problem.

9. Modification of a concept or object to make it applicable in situations different from originally anticipated.

Down

1. The systematic use of technical knowledge to meet specific objectives or requirements.

2. Set of documents prepared by a firm's management to summarize its operational and financial objectives for the near future (usually one to three years) and to show how they will be achieved.

3. The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.

5. Analysis involves reviewing the economic, political and market factors that influence the way the industry develops. Major factors can include the power wielded by suppliers and buyers, the condition of competitors, and the likelihood of new market entrants.

6. An observable and measurable end result having one or more objectives to be achieved within a more or less fixed timeframe.

29

Business Activities

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Across

2. Informal group composed of knowledgeable individuals who help guide the activities of a (usually) small or startup firm. Members of the board of advisors do not normally own shares in the firm, and (unlike the members of the board of directors) normally do not have the legal responsibility for its operations.

4. A systematic process of envisioning a desired future, and translating this vision into broadly defined goals or objectives and a sequence of steps to achieve them.

7. A set of detailed methods, procedures and routines created to carry out a specific activity, perform a duty, or solve a problem. 8. A method or plan chosen to bring about a desired future, such as achievement of a goal or solution to a problem.

9. Modification of a concept or object to make it applicable in situations different from originally anticipated.

Down

1. The systematic use of technical knowledge to meet specific objectives or requirements.

2. Set of documents prepared by a firm's management to summarize its operational and financial objectives for the near future (usually one to three years) and to show how they will be achieved.

3. The obligation of an individual or organization to account for its activities, accept responsibility for them, and to disclose the results in a transparent manner. It also includes the responsibility for money or other entrusted property.

5. Analysis involves reviewing the economic, political and market factors that influence the way the industry develops. Major factors can include the power wielded by suppliers and buyers, the condition of competitors, and the likelihood of new market entrants.

6. An observable and measurable end result having one or more objectives to be achieved within a more or less fixed timeframe.

30

BEING CONNECTIVEStrategies for Growth — Client Segmentation

The entrepreneur that is established and desiring stronger revenue growth would we well advised to dedicate 4-8 hours a week to business planning. One activity that can provide surprising results is segmenting their existing customer and prospective customer groups. Updating these groups on a consistent schedule will ensure that the appropriate marketing messages are being delivered to the correct market and the correct education is being provided to lead lesser customers into becoming stronger customers.

The first round of segmenting is commonly the A-B-C grouping. In your contact management system, set up a field for ABC segmenting. Go through your

list of customers and identify those who you count on for consistent orders that always bring you good profit—Group A. Next identify those customers

whose activity level have them at the profit level-but barely or whom you know or expect to be placing orders in the coming quarter that will move them to this level or higher—Group B. Lastly, are those customers for whom your work or service for them does not result in profit—Group C.

The Group A customers are those customers with whom you

will want to focus the majority of your effort upon. Provide them with extra perks, be it an annual calendar, an exclusive client appreciation event, special delivery options, an anniversary lunch, something that makes the client feel special, you develop a better personal relationship, and find more ways to help each other’s businesses with reaching their goals. Focus on this groups needs and how they match with what you offer. Match them carefully and you are likely to discover that with your Group A focus, even while serving a smaller number of customers regularly, that your sales will rise.

The Group B customers have potential to move up to Group A and your assistance may be the spark that gets them there. A good weekly or monthly e-newsletter with an article about an example of how another business achieved by applying your product or skill, or introducing a new product and describing its benefits can make the difference for those Group B customers that make the buy, grow as a result, and become star customers. An annual picnic or open house is a fine reward for their business and gives them the opportunity to ask some general information questions in a more relaxed atmosphere, learn from other customers how they are applying what you offer, and possibly come across that a-ha moment that spurs desired growth.

31

Gail M. Turluck is the President of Connective Marketing of Richland, Michigan. Connective Marketing offers communications services including writing, e-newsletters, newsletters, web site content writing and updating service, editing, proofreading; Send Out Cards; the Body by Vi Project 10; and more on a contract or consulting basis. She may be contacted at gail@connectivemarketingllc.com or by visitingwww.connectivemarketingllc.com.

The Group C customers should not be ignored, yet they can often clamor for the majority of your time and this must be minimized. A monthly or quarterly newsletter with a survey or other information gathering tool can provide you with their potential upcoming needs without you or a staff member having to dedicate long hours of discovery phone calls. Keep in mind that a few of these Group C customers will become Group B and even Group A customers. When they initiate a contact, be direct and meet their need efficiently. This likely will benefit them as well, as it can cause them to increase their efficiency and see business growth. To keep the relationship warm, an anniversary or holiday card annually is a good idea.

Segmenting prospective customers can be a little more challenging. It is tempting to label Fortune 500 prospects as Group A prospects, but if what

you offer is something they rarely have use for, they may belong in Group C. Often, it will be the insecure new business owner who has heard about your business, thinks he or she has a need for what you offer, and after meeting you—and being wowed byyour attention to what he or she has to say—is the one who will come forward with an order and move them into the Customer segment. When you meet new business contacts strive to discover a minimum potential for your business strengths and assign an A, B or C potential at that time. Always enter the prospective contact into your contact management system immediately, identify their segment, and make sure they receive the appropriate e-newsletter communication. Also, jot a brief handwritten note to state how you enjoyed meeting them and look forward to helping them with their business needs

It is recommended that the segmentation be reviewed at least quarterly; annually is not frequent enough. The Segmentation Review is an item that must be marked in your business calendar and is an appointment that you set in red ink and it cannot be changed nor moved. As you utilize and apply segmentation it will benefit you to learn more about the process and how to refine it into sub-segmenting as well. The most important thing, however, is for the small business owner to get started, implement the process, discover its benefits, and use that weekly planning time in later weeks to learn how to improve the process.

Client segmentation is an ongoing process that can result in stronger customer relationships and improved connectivity in reaching business goals. Get started today.

32

Defining Your Target Market

What exactly does target market mean? Defining your target market is crucial to your success. Understanding your target market is crucial before spending money on marketing. Many times business owners waste money by marketing to the wrong groups. Determine who will want your product and service and who can afford it. If you are selling baby clothes, your product most likely will not be accepted in the business networking community. Find groups who meet and cater to stay-at-home moms or moms with home-based businesses and young children.

Knowing Your Target Market Is ImportantStudyyourmarketinsideandout.

When I ask people what their target market is, I typically get the answer, “Everyone is my target market.” Next, I ask them, “How do you plan to market to everyone?” Very few people don’t have a clue about what I am asking. The truth is, you rarely can be all things to all people. If your customer base is so broad, how do you plan to market to the whole world? How can you afford to market to the whole world? When will you have the time? Do you have the financial means to market to an undefined market?

As much as we all want to believe that everyone wants or needs our product or service, it’s not usually the situation. Defining your ideal target market will save you a lot of time and money. Do some research on the internet about your products and services. Learn as much as you can about your competitors. Examine what is currently happening in your industry and then look at what is specifically happening within your target market.

Ask yourself … What am I doing to stay current with the trends in my industry? How will these trends affect my target market?

In order to anticipate the trends in your industry, you need to study and stay current with what’s happening in it. The best thing that you can do is become the target market’s “go to” person. Be the expert everyone goes to for information and resources.

33

Don’t Forget Your Current Customers

Deliver what your customers need and want. Listen to your customers and provide extraordinary products and customer service. The successful and innovative businessperson is a great listener. Being a great listener and asking well-crafted, open-ended questions go hand-in-hand. The best way to learn more about what your customer wants or needs is to talk to them and market to them directly based on what you learn from them.

It’s not about what you want or need, it’s more about what other people want and need. Take the time to look and listen to what your ideal customer is saying about his or her current and future expectations. Become an innovator in your industry!

Ask yourself …How can my products and services solve a problem or fill a need or desire?

Being an innovator means thinking out of the box and making your own opportunities. Listening to your customers amounts to doing your homework and providing yourself with a firsthand impression of the industry and your ideal customer.

Listen carefully and discover what need or expectation is not being filled within your target market and figure out a way you can fill this void better than anyone else

Get Acquainted with Your Competition

Fearing competition or avoiding it reflects a lack of confidence in yourself and what you are selling. One of the best ways to get acquainted with your competition is to network with them, not to avoid them. If you are aware of how your competitors are marketing themselves, then you have a greater opportunity to know how to counter-market yourself. Be sure to understand the differences between your benefits and be able to explain the differences. Don’t be afraid of friendly competition. If you avoid it, you will never be able to sell against it. Knowing as much as possible about your competition could be beneficial to you. Typically, your competition is only selling the positive benefits of their products or services. You can point out the differences and overcome any weaknesses of your competitors if you know what they are. Most importantly, you can learn what your product strengths are against your competitors as well as the weaknesses which will help you overcome objections from your prospective customers.

Insalesandsalesmanagementforovertwentyyears,Janhastrainedpeopletosuccessfullymarkettheirproductsandservicesthroughadaptiveandconsultativesalestechniques.ArecenttransplantfromAtlanta,JanistheFounderofWomen’sBusinessBureau,awomen’sbusinessorganizationinKalamazoo.Jan’sexpertiseliesinbuilding

groundflooroperationsintofast-growing,profitablebusinesses.ContactJan:

Phone:(334)-560-6955(cell)Website:www.womensbusinessbureau.com

34

Here at Small Biz Forward we connect with a large network of small businesses that could be looking for the product or service you are offering !

For advertising rates and other information call

(268)-651-3555

You can also check us out online @ Smallbizforward.com

35

Inspiring Change

You can tell who the strong women are. They’re the ones you see building

each other up instead of tearing each other down.

Women’s Business Bureau

Open a chapter near you!

269-389-0556

www.womensbusinessbureau.com

36

Members2nd Story MarketingThree passionate and energetic women providing marketing services for small businesses including marketing plans, campaigns, managing social media, newsletters, press releases, event management and more. 2ndStoryMarketing.net

Charlene Books Reflexology/ReikiRelax, release & Transform Your World charlenebooks@gmail.com charlenebooks.myitworks.com

Connective MarketingProvides communications services to small businesses Connective Marketing offers non-profit management and consulting services. Connective Marketing has a particular focus on sailing and sailboat racing organizations and events. Be confident you can drop your dock lines and sail away knowing your needs will be met. 1245 West Gull Lake Drive, Richland, Michigan 49083

(269) 203-7130 T (786) 358-3605 F

gail@connectivemarketingllc.com ConnectiveMarketingllc.com

Epic Life StudiosAdam Fleming is a leadership coach as well as an Account Executive for the credit card processing company, WorldPay.

(574) 238-7872 gail@connectivemarketingllc.com gail@connectivemarketingllc.com

Heartwood Renaissance AcademyA private school dedicated to helping students succeed. We teach students to SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS. The staff and teachers help DESIGN, BUILD, and TEST each child’s skills, confidence, and self-esteem to fly with courage into their adult futures with the ability to overcome obstacles and accept challenges.

(269) 273-0160

ID Life Susan Ruch, Founding Partner: #IDLIFE provides “Individually Designed” Vitamins & Nutritional Supplementation based on Medical facts and “Chrono-Biology.” All Products are Organic/Natural, Gluten Free, Non-GMO & Casein Free. Visit to Learn More at www.IDLife.com/Health4Life

gail@connectivemarketingllc.com Facebook: Susan Eckley Ruch Twitter: @susaneckleyruch LinkedIn: Susan (Eckley) Ruch

Kerri’s Avenue SalonHigh End Hair at Affordable Prices. We use top quality products, attend education classes on a regular basis, and work with all textures of hair. Free consultations are always available, just call. Check us out at our new location! Kerri’s Avenue Salon Too 420 West Cleveland Rd. Granger IN 46350

(574) 243-3901 Kerris-Avenue-Salon.com

Niles Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce The Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to serving the needs of Businesses and the Community. For further information on joining the Chamber please call.

(269) 683-3720 NilesMI.com

MembersMembers

37

MembersMembersPremier Women’s Network To Uplift, Encourage, and Inspire all Women in Business and Career Seekers to Achieve their Highest Capabilities through Networking and Education.

(260) 747-5202

Schooley MitchellJerry Sarno and Schooley Mitchell will save your business or organization; 1) Time; we do the work so you concentrate on your core business. 2) Money; we save $$$on your telecom spend, if we don’t, there is no fee. 3) Peace of mind.

(269) 408-8679 SchooleyMitchell.com/jsarno

The Center for Protection, Security and Personal SafetyProviding quality training for those working in the private security industry.

(269) 651-3355 CenterForProtection.com

Your Business Needs FansEncouraging businesses create and maintain their online presence by teaching best-practice Facebook marketing and so much more.

(574) 344-8895

Want to Join?

Feel free to email or even call us to find out all the great benefits of being a member!

Tell us a little about your company and what you may be looking for.

Nancy Becher: nancy@success4biz.biz

269-651-3555

Members

38

You have a dream. It’s a brilliant business idea that you can’t get out of your head. You’ve done the market research. There’s nothing currently on the market that’s quite like your product idea. You know what your target market is because you’ve done that research too. You know what it will take to succeed; you’ve created the business plan and it’s rock solid.You’ve got the startup money in your bank account. You’ve done your homework. Yet, you don’t feel quite ready, for some nagging, undisclosed reason….So every day you wake up with dread that you are still going to that J.O.B. because you would really rather be doing your dream.

Fear number one: Fear of startingYou know that once you begin, you’re committed. People will call you crazy for quitting that “cake” job you have. So much could go wrong, and right now your worst possible day at your J.O.B. is caused by the idiot in the next cubicle. It’s really not that bad, collecting a regularpaycheck, is it? When you’re an entrepreneur, stuff gets real. It’s all you - there’s nobody in the next cubicle to blame your bad mood on. Maybe you need to do a little more research? What if your dream takes longer to get momentum than you think it will? All of these doubts and fears swim around frantically in your head...and so you don’t begin at all. It’s like groundhog day. Every day is the same; fears playing over and over like a broken record until you’re rendered impotent. Stuck. Your coach reminds you that all of your fear is in the future. When you speculate about what might happen, you are filling in the blanks with the worse case scenario. That rarely happens. You are believing your thoughts, which are based in ego, which is always interested in keeping you safe. Your coach says to just begin, and stay in the present moment - today. You will navigate the challenges as they come. And you both know they will come.

7 Major Fears That Hold Entrepreneurs Captive

39

Fear number two: MoneyFinancial stress can kill your entrepreneurial spirit, if you allow it. You’re afraid you don’t have enough money saved to begin. You’re afraid you’ll run out. What if your projections are wrong? How will you pay your mortgage, or support your family? What if you build it and nobody comes? Your coach has taught you that money is created. There are many ways to create it, and one ofthem is holding an actual job while you fund your dream. Working for someone else’s dream is often simply a means to an end. While you’re doing your dream you may need to get creative, and do what it takes to breathe life into your bank account. Money is a creation, just like the product or service you’ve developed.If you need to take a part time job to make the ends meet, your coach encourages you not to confuse that creative act with failure. It’s creation.

Fear number three: Fear of failure/successSpeaking of failure, you’re petrified that you will crash and burn in this venture - and then what? You will have to face your friends and family’s judgement, not to mention your own self deprecating vindication. You will be considered a failure. Or, what if your business is a huge success? When you have created a multi-million dollar business and are being interviewed by Fast Company because of your brilliant business acumen and your even more brilliant idea, will you still have anything to talk to your friends about? Will they be there to support you, and to celebrate your success, while they’re still living their small life at their dead-end job? You doubt it. You are afraid you’ll be alone, misunderstood, and isolated from those you hold closest to your heart. That, my friend, is fear of success, crazy as it sounds. Your coach asks you compelling questions. If you fail, does that make you a failure? Is failure a personality trait, or is it simply something that happened? And what is success, anyway? How do you define it? It’s best to know what success looks like at the beginning, so you’ll know it when you see it. She tells you that it’s true that you may lose some friends along the way, and that could happen whether you’re doing your dream or not. You get to decide if it’s worth the risk.

40

Fear number four: PerfectionismYou keep adjusting, positioning, perfecting. Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) says “Perfectionism is fear in really good shoes.” Perfectionism is about not wanting to be seen as anything less than perfect. You see flawless execution. In your perfect world, there are no mistakes, missteps, or miscommunications.

Your coach teaches you that perfectionism stops you from launching, and sometimes 80% is good enough. It doesn’t need to be perfect, as it will always be evolving - a work in progress.

Fear number five Too young/too oldYou believe you are too young to start a business. You haven’t learned enough yet, so how can you expect to compete against other, more experienced business owners? Or, you believe you are too old. You can’t possibly learn the new ways of doing business, competing against younger people who grew up with technology. Your coach teaches you that these are limiting beliefs that could easily be questioned. You come to the table with the level of experience you’ve earned, and that’s always valuable to someone. What you don’t know, you can learn by staying out of your “comfort zone” and being willing and open to new ideas. Life is your most valuable teacher, but only if you are living in a way that exposes you to its richest, most complex experiences.

41

Fear number six: Giving up controlIn order to grow, you know you can’t possibly be the one who does everything in your business. It may take you months or years to figure this out, but there is a limit to your bandwidth. For example, if you often find yourself working more than 12 hour days, it’s clear that you’re trying to do it all, and that may not be healthy. Your fear is that nobody will do things exactly the way you do them. And that could very well be true. If you want to grow, you must outsource or delegate. You know this but it scares the crap out of you. Your coach reminds you that when you do too many things, some of which you’re not really qualified to do, you are in danger of burnout. Not only are you at risk for a crash and burn, but you’re probably not doing your best work for every task. She encourages you to keep what you rock at and outsource the rest. You must learn to relinquish control, as it’s mostly an illusion anyway.

Fear number seven: Not ______ enoughYou are not smart enough, not attractive enough, not outgoing enough. You don’t have enough of this or that or the other thing. The market is not strong enough, or your potential clients don’t have enough money to hire you. Every day, you believe thoughts of something being “not enough”. Every day, this fear stops you from moving forward powerfully. Your coach says that fear is the only thing that ever stops you, or anyone. Fear is a dream killer. Fear can also be your friend, as it often points you to that place outside your comfort zone which is beckoning you to step forward.

While fear is a dream killer, action is a fear killer. When you’re in action, your fear gets quiet.You will always be tempted to believe your fears are real, and occasionally they are. They can always be traced to a belief that could be questioned. And you can always take one tiny baby step toward what scares you. This is the hallmark of entrepreneurs; to successfully navigate fear. Being skilled at recognizing fear for what it is, and doing the work anyway, sets us apart from others. Smart entrepreneurs face the truth about themselves, making inner work a top priority. And this makes all the difference.

CharriseMcCroreyisaleadingbusinessandleadershipconsultant,lifecoach,writer,speaker,andentrepreneur,whospecializesinservingclientsallovertheworld.Hersuperpowersincludeafinelytunedsenseofintuition,madcouragetosaywhatistrue,andanunremittingabilitytoinspireandlightpeopleup.Sheisanendlesssourceofoptimism,inanever-cynicalworld.

She’stheequivalentofDorothy’smagicshoes,helpingthepeopleseewhat’salwaysbeeninsidethem,sothattheyusetheirnaturaltalentstocreateabetterfuture.Herworkispoweredbyhercommitmenttoaskingprovocativequestions,whichoffersaproductivespacefortheanswerstoemerge.Throughacommitmenttohavingconversationsthatmatter,sheencouragesleadersandentrepreneurstogetclearonwhattheyreallywant,whilegentlyguidingthemintoboldaction.

Youcancheckheroutatwww.coachcharrise.com.

42

2015

Business Success Unlimited

1/1/2015

SMART Goal Worksheet

SMART Goal Worksheet

S.M.A.R.T. Questions…

Specific Does your goal clearly and specifically state what you are trying to achieve? If your goal is particularly large or lofty, try breaking it down into smaller, specific SMART goals.

Measurable How will you (and others) know if progress is being made on achieving your goal? Can you quantify or put numbers to your outcome?

Attainable

Is achieving your goal dependent on anyone else? Is it possible to reframe your goal so it only depends on you and not others? What factors may prevent you from accomplishing your goal?

Relevant

Why is achieving this goal important to you? What values in your life does this goal reflect? What effect will achieving your goal have on your life or on others?

Time-bound

When will you reach your goal? Again, if your goal is particularly large, try breaking it down into smaller goals with appropriate incremental deadlines.

Today’s Date: _______________

Date by which you plan to achieve your goal:

What is your goal in one sentence? (What’s the bottom line?) __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ The benefits of achieving this goal will be… __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________

Verify that your goal is S.M.A.R.T.

Specific: What exactly will you accomplish? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________

43

2015

Business Success Unlimited

1/1/2015

SMART Goal Worksheet

SMART Goal Worksheet

S.M.A.R.T. Questions…

Specific Does your goal clearly and specifically state what you are trying to achieve? If your goal is particularly large or lofty, try breaking it down into smaller, specific SMART goals.

Measurable How will you (and others) know if progress is being made on achieving your goal? Can you quantify or put numbers to your outcome?

Attainable

Is achieving your goal dependent on anyone else? Is it possible to reframe your goal so it only depends on you and not others? What factors may prevent you from accomplishing your goal?

Relevant

Why is achieving this goal important to you? What values in your life does this goal reflect? What effect will achieving your goal have on your life or on others?

Time-bound

When will you reach your goal? Again, if your goal is particularly large, try breaking it down into smaller goals with appropriate incremental deadlines.

Today’s Date: _______________

Date by which you plan to achieve your goal:

What is your goal in one sentence? (What’s the bottom line?) __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ The benefits of achieving this goal will be… __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________

Verify that your goal is S.M.A.R.T.

Specific: What exactly will you accomplish? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________

44

Measurable: How will you (and others) know when you have reached your goal? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Attainable: Is attaining this goal realistic with effort and commitment? Do you have the resources to achieve this goal? If not, how will you get them? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Relevant: Why is this goal important to you? Hone in on why it matters. __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Time-bound: When will you achieve this goal? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________

ACTION PLAN What specific steps must you take to achieve your goal?

This action plan may just get you started. Feel free to create a more detailed step-by-step plan.

Task / to-do item Expected

completion date Date actually

completed

OBSTACLES / CHALLENGES What obstacles stand in the way of you achieving your goal?

Obstacle How will you address the challenges if/when they arise?

Network of Support & Accountability

When working towards achieving a goal, it is helpful to have a one or two people whom you agree to check in with on a regular basis. Keeping others informed on your progress can be a useful external motivator! Who can you can share your goal with? 1) Talk with one or two individuals who will genuinely want to see you succeed in achieving your goal. 2) Explain to them why achieving this goal is important to you. 3) Ask if they will support you and hold you accountable in reaching your goal. 4) Select and agree upon future dates/times you will report updates on your progress.

Contact’s signature

Frequency of updates on progress (i.e. weekly, bi-weekly, monthly?)

List future dates/times you will report your progress

Agreed upon method of communication (i.e. face to face,

phone, email updates…)

Date your goal is ACHIEVED

Congratulations on creating a SMART goal and sticking with it! Be sure to share your achievement with your network of supporters and find a way to celebrate your success.

45

Measurable: How will you (and others) know when you have reached your goal? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Attainable: Is attaining this goal realistic with effort and commitment? Do you have the resources to achieve this goal? If not, how will you get them? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Relevant: Why is this goal important to you? Hone in on why it matters. __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ Time-bound: When will you achieve this goal? __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________

ACTION PLAN What specific steps must you take to achieve your goal?

This action plan may just get you started. Feel free to create a more detailed step-by-step plan.

Task / to-do item Expected

completion date Date actually

completed

OBSTACLES / CHALLENGES What obstacles stand in the way of you achieving your goal?

Obstacle How will you address the challenges if/when they arise?

Network of Support & Accountability

When working towards achieving a goal, it is helpful to have a one or two people whom you agree to check in with on a regular basis. Keeping others informed on your progress can be a useful external motivator! Who can you can share your goal with? 1) Talk with one or two individuals who will genuinely want to see you succeed in achieving your goal. 2) Explain to them why achieving this goal is important to you. 3) Ask if they will support you and hold you accountable in reaching your goal. 4) Select and agree upon future dates/times you will report updates on your progress.

Contact’s signature

Frequency of updates on progress (i.e. weekly, bi-weekly, monthly?)

List future dates/times you will report your progress

Agreed upon method of communication (i.e. face to face,

phone, email updates…)

Date your goal is ACHIEVED

Congratulations on creating a SMART goal and sticking with it! Be sure to share your achievement with your network of supporters and find a way to celebrate your success.

46

what’s up at BSUAngola Connects – meets 2nd and 4th Friday of the month in Angola, IN. Businesses hold meetings in which they get to know other members of the group, both personally and professionally. Each meeting the focus is on exploring a different member’s business and learning networking/business strategies. Through support and interaction, members gain increased confidence while building relationships and referrals with other business owners. You’re not alone, come share your story with us! Cost is $35/year and goes to the group for marketing purposes.

Success Roundtable- meets 11:30-1:30 the third Wednesday of every month at Fetzer Center, Kalamazoo . This once a month meeting will give you the opportunity to hear what the experts say and interact with other business owners in a relaxed learning environment. Each month a new speaker will share real world stories of how their business has developed and how you can learn from their experience. Members will gain valuable insight on what it means to be “in business”. Your business education starts here, at the next Success Roundtable! Cost is $30 per event. (This takes place in Kalamazoo, MI.)

Business Abundance Development programs meet every Thursday from 7pm to 8pm. This is an online program.Members work together building key pieces of their business with the help and support of others in the group. An example is our latest 6-week series on marketing plans. From establishing a target market, to identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats(S.W.O.T. analysis}, this group will help you apply the fundamentals of business to your particular situation. It’s hands-on, and it’s real world... This group also focuses on the one thing that is common to all of our businesses....sales. We discuss the issues that help us all find more clients. Topics such as “Networking 101, getting to know each other,” “Now that you’ve got all those business cards, what do you do with them?,” and “Social media do’s and don’ts” are examples of recent discussions. Cost is $25 per session.

Mastermind Groups - meeting times vary; apply now for the next available group. Some are online, some are in person. Napoleon Hill coined the term”mastermind” in the early 20th century while working with individuals such as Henry Ford,Andrew Carnegie and Franklin Roosevelt. The idea is that when you have several people focused on one thought, question or idea, you find solutions as a group that you would not have found alone. Business Success Unlimited believes the same...it’s the power of brainstorming, accountability, support and education all rolled into one...it’s your very own personal Board of Directors! Apply now- groups are hand-picked based on length of time in business, type of business and your individual personality style. You will thank us later....

Cost is $95 for 12 hours (over 3 months).

Success Roundtable – same time, NIIC Center, Fort Wayne, IN. Last Thursday of the month. See above.

Success Roundtable – same time, tbd, South Bend.

4746

Member Values and Benefits

Empowerment Circle

Listing on Web and in Small Biz Forward

Most Events Free

Member-to-Member Discounts

One FREE Business Card Listing in Small Biz Forward Yearly

Listing on BSU Facebook Page

Private Facebook Chat Group

Subscription to Small Biz Forward FREE

Quarterly 1/4 Page Ad in Small Biz Forward FREE

Cost

$49 Per Month Cost $75 Per Month

48