This is a good time to take stock of what’s working and what’s not in your business. Here’s my list of the top five people and practices I recommend to accelerate your success and reduce stress in the coming year:

Number One:

An accountability partner. This is someone you trust and are willing to share the good and the not so good about yourself and your business. An accountability partner who will tell you the truth, be a shoulder to cry on, and who sees you clearly and is willing to be there for you and you for them is just about the most important person next to yourself in your business. You you need someone who can act as a sounding board, a cheerleader, a den mother, and sometimes just someone who will listen and not try to change you. If you’re like me you’ll go to the ends of the earth when someone else is depending on you. Meet with your buddy frequently, at least once a week, by phone or in person.

Number Two:

A trustworthy  bookkeeper. Follow the money and you’ll see where your passions are now and where your passion generates income.

Number Three:

A professional group were you feel inspired, appreciated, challenged and have fun. For me, it comes in the shape of the Bay Area Consultants Network. I’m not just a member there, I’m on the executive board, and I contribute as a board member to help shape and guide the group. I’m privileged to participate in the general meetings, hearing and interacting with great speakers each month. And I get to eat bacon for breakfast.

Number Four:

Do something fun and maybe a bit outrageous at least once a week. For me, that means singing with the rock chorus, Vox Populi. I love to sing and I get to do it for fun for about two hours every week. It lifts my heart and lifts my spirits. I can be tired and discouraged when I arrive, yet by the time I leave rehearsal, I have a light heart and have shared songs and  laughter. We are singing at a charity event in Sonoma on Thursday night, Larson Winery, 6-9pm. $25 for a spaghetti dinner, live auction and music by Vox Populi and Ten Foot Tone. For more information, to purchase tickets or make a donation, contact Jennifer Sunia at 707.888.0274 or jensunia@gmail.com.

Number Five:

Exercise your mind, exercise your heart and exercise your brain. I do all three at my health club, Parkpoint. When I’m working out I’m taking care of my body and mind. I feel happy and relaxed and this allows me to connect spirit. Of course I’m surrounded by like minded people, most of whom don’t take themselves too seriously. This helps me keep my life in perspective.

What ever you do in life, if you have someone who is on your side, helps you keep track of the money, appreciates you, and a place to laugh, and a place to be just who you are, for me that’s a good life.

 

The lure of Amazon often trumps going to your local bookstore. Buying shoes from Zappos can sometimes be easier than purchasing the same items from the shoe store in your town. But, wait, something is missing. The personal touch of your relationship with your neighbors and the people in your community.

When we buy locally it is a vote of confidence in the community. When money stays and circulates with in your local economy, that money circulates many times over and tends to remain among your friends and family. When we send our money overseas, the benefit goes to anonymous companies while our local businesses go wanting. Helping to stimulate local businesses raises the stakes of your investment in a place where you live.

The first 10 years I lived in Sonoma I commuted to work in San Francisco, Napa, and Petaluma. As a commuter, I got the dark, went to work in the dark, and most often, I came home in the dark. My waking hours were spent away from home as were my dollars. Most of my income went outside the community where I live. When I began to work where I live I began to send money more regularly to in the community. One day I realized I was also connecting to people in town. It felt good to exchange money with people I know. It was at that time I finally felt like I was once again part of the economy and the vitality of the place I call home.

With the prevalence and the ease with which all of us can purchase with the click of a mouse, a local businesses need to pay attention to what brings customers in the door. Knowledge and trust are a factor in my buying decisions. Relationships, history, personal care, a sense of belonging, mutual respect, connection, all of these factors play a part in my decision to spend money where I live.

I find mega malls and cookie-cutter shopping experiences boring. I look for unique, one-of-a-kind, special items and shops. I enjoy finding out the stories behind unusual products. When I travel, I want to experience the ambience of the place rather than looking for the same things I can find anywhere. When I’m at home I want to find the special things that make the Valley of the Moon one of the top places to visit and to live.

Just as the locavore movement in food has taken hold, I am an advocate of buying local business services, clothing, whatever I need if it is available locally, I will try that option first before going far afield. But, many times local businesses are unaware that they are making it hard to buy from them. They make price their goods and services higher without providing premium service or connection. Those local businesses that get it right are involved, aware and engaged with those they serve.

Some of my friends created a network of local businesses, business owners, independent contractors, and people who live inside of Sonoma Valley. The group they created is a combination of online and face-to-face interaction. They initially started the group to fill a need they had and a desire to find talent within the geographical radius of Sonoma Valley. Because they created WiredSonoma, new businesses have started, people found people to populate their businesses, and individuals in the community are more connected to each other.

Before you consider outsourcing hitting the button and making a purchase online, or sending the work you have overseas or outside of your community, take time to explore whether it is possible to find what you need in your own backyard. You may be surprised that just what you need is a close as your next-door neighbor.

When you are in need of a friend to comfort you in times of trouble or when you want to celebrate a success, will that anonymous online presence answer your call at 3 am? Will they be there to help you move into your new house or say a prayer when someone you love is hurt? Get to know your neighbors. And make a difference.

This is a photo of my friends, Randy and Deb Myers. He is wearing a hat I brought back from a fabulous hat store in New Orleans, Meyers Hats. Myers Hats is a family owned business, with five generations of Meyers on board. I was thinking of Randy on our vacation in New Orleans. When we saw the name of the store, we had to go in and they helped us find just the right hat and fit for our friend. We were delighted to bring bag this piece of the Crescent City in the form of a hat for Randy.

Randy is battling cancer. Both he and Deb have given to those they know and now it is time to give back.If you live in Sonoma County, come and help support my dear friends, Randy and Deborah Myers at the Create Ease Benefit, October 24, 2010. If you can’t come in person, you can make a donation at www.AstateofEase.com

 

I attended the kickoff meeting of the North Bay Webify Your Business Meetup, www.northbaywebify.com. The group follows a format and tips published by Patrick Schwerdtfeger in his book, Webify Your Business, Internet Marketing Secrets for the Self-Employed (available at www.Amazon.com). You can also get these tips as individual e-course by signing up for them at www.WebifyBook.com (if you are patient).

Meetups are great for connecting with people who share your interests. There are thousands of meetups and you can find one or more that matches your passion and geographical location. Visit www.meetup.com to find a meetup that fits you.

My friend, Karen Clark took on the leadership role for this meetup. It is a complement to her new business, My Business Presence,

Karen has been using social medial to build her business. She recognized that her knowledge was something of value and wanted to share this with others. I leader my own meetup focusing on marketing conversations and brainstorming.

The Webify meetup is a form of mastermind group. Time to network, share, and declare your goals for the coming week. The beauty of this format is that we are coming together with a focus. The structure is to have a face to face discussion on one aspect of the web each week. We work on small steps to build a big web presence.

The act of setting a goal is only half of the equation for success. Follow through is the place where most people fail, they make plans but don’t take action. Engaging in conversations with accountability partners can make the difference. Making a commitment in front of others strengthens our resolve to get it done.

Small steps lead to big wins.

 

I’m reading Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath.
They came up with the traits that make an idea stick.
Sticky ideas are:

S = simple
U = unexpected
C = concrete
C = credentialed
E = emotional
S = stories

Can you improve your marketing using this model?

Did you know that it usually takes 7-9 exposures to a product before a prospect becomes a client? Every year, over 30,000 new products are introduced. How can you stand out amid all this information?

A sticky message helps potential clients remember you. It gives them a clear understanding of what you do and who you do it for, as well as the outcomes they can expect when they work with you.

Real Life Test

I used the “SUCCESs“  framework as a starting point to teach a roomful of 60% consultants how to revise their audio logos.

I asked them to include:

• Who do you serve
• What challenge (or pain) do your clients/prospects face
• What solution/result do you provide

And do it all in 8 words or less

Once I laid the groundwork, they each had about a minute to come up with a new audio logo.

They got to test their message by sharing it with their table mates.

If they did it well, their audience would ask them for their business card and:

“How do you do that? “

The goal of your audio logo is to start a conversation, not to close a sale!

And when you get people to ask you questions, they are more likely to pay attention to what you say. They are invested in hearing how you can help them.

In summary:

Most people were able to pare down their essential message to 8 words or less.

Several participants thanked me for helping them see that less can be more!

What can you do?

• Focus on who you are speaking to (What’s in it for them)

• Choose your words for
  • clarity
  • simplicity
  • emotional impact

• Make it easy for your potential clients to identify themselves as someone you can help.

• • Get the attention of potential clients
  • Make them curious
  • Stimulate them to ask for more information

I reduced my audio logo to:

“I help overwhelmed entrepreneurs attract more clients.”

If you want to know how, come to my workshop on July 21st.
For details, just click this link.