9 Things That Women with Multimillion Dollar Businesses Focus On

Good Evening WELLies!

I'm heading to the beautiful Napa Valley in the morning for a 3 day retreat with my Women Presidents Organization (WPO) chapter, and wanted to share what we will be focusing on so you can do the same for your business too. Sharing is caring right? :)

As a bit of background, WPO is a global organization of women entrepreneurs who own multimillion dollar companies. I have been a member since 2007 and it has been instrumental in growing my business through great times and extremely challenging times, so as soon as you hit 7 figures, I would love to recommend you for membership.

So getting back to the retreat, in addition to incredible speakers (and a little spa time of course!), our facilitator will guide us through the following 9 questions so we can go deep on strategy and tactics, and ensure that we hit the ground running this year. 

The 9 focus areas we will work through are:

1. What are the core values of your business (what do you stand for)?
2. What is your core focus (what is your purpose and passion)?
3. What is your 10 year target (revenue, team members, etc.)?
4. What is your 3 year target (revenue, profit, team members, etc.)?
5. What is your 1 year target (revenue, profit, team members, etc.)?
6. What are your primary marketing strategies?
7. What are your goals for this year (revenue, profit, team, etc.)?
8. What are your focused activities this quarter to achieve your goals?
9. What are the roadblock that may slow down your success?
These are simple yet very powerful questions culled from a book called Traction.

Even if you don't have 3 days to ponder them, I would love for you to set aside at least 3 hours. Growth planning isn't a luxury, so don't feel guilty about taking this time because your business and your sanity depend on it! I also encourage you limit yourself to 3 to 5 answers for each question. As a small but growing business, less is usually more so focus on what will move your goals closer with the least amount of effort.

Want to see those 9 strategies in action?

Come and meet 2 of my WPO sisters at SYMPOSIA :: 2015 Conference for Women Entrepreneurs on January 30th and hear their amazing stories about how they handle growing a big business head on, keeping their marriages in tact, and somehow raising 5 awesome kids between them in the process... Impressive!

Alright, my suitcase beckons! If you retreat while I'm retreating, reply and let me know how it went, and until next time...

Be Profitable & Be WELL!

XO, J.

P.S. Click here, then on Lara and Sharon's pics to read their bios if you want to take a peek...(THEY ROCK if I do say so myself!)

P.S. Double dip and bring an accountability partner to the conference... Now THAT's a strategy!

How to Become a Thought Leader in 4 Simple Steps

Before we jump into this week’s article, don’t forget that Charter Membership pricing (half off!) for the accelerate! Business Growth Membership Program for Women Entrepreneurs ends Thursday, February 27th at midnight!  

The members are loving the training modules, productivity tools, private Facebook group, and consulting calls, so if it’s been on your radar, I don’t want you to miss out.  For more info click here and I look forward to seeing you inside the accelerate! Member Portal along with the others very soon!  
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How to Become a Thought Leader in 4 Simple Steps
By Julie Gordon White

At the recent annual retreat for my Women Presidents’ Organization chapter, I had the privilege of participating in an intimate workshop with nationally renowned champion of women entrepreneurs, Denise Brosseau. The workshop was based on her new book, “Ready to Be a Thought Leader? How to Increase Your Influence, Impact and Success”.  The forward is by Guy Kawasaki, so you know the book is excellent if Guy is willing to put his name on the cover.

In Denise’s workshop and in the book, she shares 7 excellent steps to accelerate your success by becoming a thought leader. Denise expertly explains the ideas behind each step with examples and exercises, so I highly encourage you to spend a weekend soaking it in.
 
Thinking about my own experience in becoming a thought leader as a champion for women entrepreneurs as well, there are 4 strategies that have helped me succeed as an influencer, so I'm sharing what has worked for me in hopes that it will support your thought leadership strategy as well.

1} Take a Stand
When I first started selling businesses, and before I began selling multimillion dollar companies, I was the queen of... flower shops! Really! My first year and a half as a business broker was literally spent selling 25 florists. When I started my companies, I established two firms -  BlueKey Business Brokerage M&A for the larger deals I knew I would do in the future, and Flowershop Brokers.  By taking a stand for florists and claiming the niche in the name of my company, I very quickly became the go-to broker to sell a florist in Northern California. And now as the founder of The WELL for Women Entrepreneurs, I am proudly taking a stand for women business owners.  I believe that when you are bold enough to not just state your position, but actually live your position, you get very clear about who can benefit most from your expertise, and potential customers can make a faster and easier decisions about working with your company as well.  When you decide to truly "own" your space, be prepared that you may initially feel limited, but in fact, the outcome is actually the exact opposite. Demonstrating to the world who you are and what you believe in has a magical way of attracting the exact clients, customers and partners that are perfectly aligned with your philosophy or expertise. And when all are in alignment, business becomes easier, more fun and more profitable.

2} Grow an Online and Offline Tribe
I can’t emphasize enough about the importance of building a tribe online and offline. Creating your online tribe through social and digital media, is the platform for your thought leadership. When you “connect, like and comment”, focus on supporting those in your tribe. On LinkedIn, connect with others who are in alignment with your stance through their business or group membership.  On Facebook, like and comment on pages that relate to your tribe. On twitter, follow and retweet posts from other thought leaders in your tribe. Similar strategies can be used for Google+, Pinterest and Instagram if that’s where your tribe hangs out. Also don't forget to post status updates with links to articles that would not only be of interest to your tribe, but would also establish you as credible source of important information. To grow a large platform, it takes a village, so when you support others in your tribe, they will eventually support you back. And even though it’s easier to reach out digitally, don’t forget the value of a good old fashioned face-to-face.  Nothing moves a relationship forward faster than meeting for coffee or at an association gathering of like-minded people. Online is faster, but offline is lasting, so spend time on both to build a tribe of your ideal peeps.

3} Write About It
Since you’re reading this now, you know I am walking my talk! Even in a 140 character world, we all still love information that creates shortcuts to things that matter to us.  So once you’ve declared your position, write about it on your own blog, and guest post on others.  If you are really committed to creating a legacy, write a book about it. Not only was my book, “EXIT! 12 Steps to Sell Your Business for the Price You Deserve” one of the best credibility boosters for my niche and helped generate tens of thousands in fees,  it is also a lasting legacy for my children and their children because they will always know that mom (and eventually grandma) had something to say in a bigger than usual way, which is pretty, darn, cool.

4} Talk About It
Once you establish your stance or expertise and you begin writing about it and then start gaining momentum with your platform, one of the most powerful things you can do as a thought leader is to speak about it... everywhere! You can book yourself at association meetings, retreats, teleseminars, webinars and now, Google hangouts. You can speak live or recorded as a video. The bottom line is be seen by your platform in person from a stage (and I use the term “stage” loosely), both off and online as often as possible.

The opportunities are endless with technology, so be creative, get out there and walk your talk so you can spread your message, inspire others, and become a thought leader to accelerate the growth of your business!

So let me ask you, what do you believe in? Who’s in your tribe?

I would love to hear what gets you up in the morning, so comment below and declare your stance!

Until next time, Be Profitable & Be WELL!

XO, jgw.

Your 1st Thing 1st Recording is Here!

Did you missed the call we had on January first on how to ensure a focused and accelerated first quarter of the year? If so, no worries! Normally the recording would only be available for a week, but here it is as my gift to you! 

The extra cool bonus strategy is to bookmark this post and listen to it at the beginning of every new quarter, and then watch your revenue skyrocket! 

OK, click below to start the recording, 

and then post your 1st Thing 1st in the comments below... 

Until next time, Be Profitable & Be WELL! xoxo, jgw.

We're Talking Tactics! 3 Smart Tribe Tips to Engage More & Sell More Stuff

Women Entrepreneurs GrowatTheWELL.com (click to find out how you can grow a bigger, more profitable business that you love too!)

Great Stocking Stuffer for the Business Owners in Your Life :)

20 Hours left to get the EXIT! Book before Christmas > http://tiny.cc/fzuhj

 (just like these 7 figure women business owners!)  

Jim Collins & Confessions of a Turtle

I just finished reading an expert from Jim Collin’s new book (with Morten Hansen) called “Great by Choice.” I am a huge fan of “Good to Great” and “Built to Last”, so was excited to get a peek at his latest release. The excerpt is titled “How to Build a Great Company in Tough Times,” and as usual, Jim doesn’t disappoint.

The theme of this piece reflects on my personal philosophy of slow and steady wins the race. I am comfortable admitting that I probably won’t be the first person across the finish line, but I do know without a doubt that I will always finish when others fail because they burned out during the journey.

Jim’s book addresses this concept, but adds something even more powerful that I have to confess I am not very consistent with. That idea is to have both “a floor and a ceiling” for achievement, and never fall below or above your commitment. He calls it “The 20-Mile March”. Here are few key snippets from the story he tells about two explorers on separate quests to reach the South Pole. They both embark at the same time and have the same environmental circumstances to deal with, but at the end of excursion, the 2 explorers had completely different outcomes.

“The 20-Mile March is more than a philosophy. It's about having concrete, clear, intelligent, and rigorously pursued performance mechanisms that keep you on track. The 20-Mile March creates two types of self-imposed discomfort: (1) the discomfort of unwavering commitment to high performance in difficult conditions, and (2) the discomfort of holding back in good conditions.

Twenty-Mile Marching helps turn the odds in your favor for three reasons.

First, it builds confidence in your ability to perform well in adverse circumstances. Confidence comes from actual achievement, accomplishing stringent performance standards year in and year out, no matter the industry conditions. Accomplishing a 20-Mile March, consistently, in good times and bad, builds confidence

Second, 20-Mile Marching reduces the likelihood of catastrophe when you're hit by turbulent disruption.

Third, 20-Mile Marching helps you exert self-control in an out-of-control environment. Most elements of operating a business are beyond our control- financial markets, customers, employees, but if we focus on an achievable goal that all team members can align themselves with we can manage our way to success in spite of all of the chaos around us.”

As I begin my 2012 planning, I am going to make a commitment to the “Weekly Discipline” I will adhere to in order to achieve my floor and ceiling achievement goals. Slow and steady still wins the race, but you have to be clear and consistent about your training. That is the secret sauce to getting to your desired finish line again, and again and again!

Want to become “Great by Choice” too? Comment below and I will send you my Weekly Discipline Worksheet to get you started in the right direction so we can step into the winner’s circle together!

Congrats Susan!! RT @SusanSolovic: My new book is being delivered to my publisher #AMACOM -- today. Very exciting!!! #smallbiz

Just added 2 new books on my recommended list I want you to read (business and food -what else is there?) www.linkedin.com/juliegordonwhite

Speed reading "The 80/20 Principle" by R. Koch again to get a handle on my overbooked schedule. WOW! It gets batter every time. Read Chp 13!

Let's send massive strength & healing to a great sales leader, Chet Holmes (The Ultimate Sales Machine) who is now fighting lukemia xoxo.

From Suze to Julie :)

Julie Gordon White, Principal
BlueKey Business Brokerage M&A
510.812.2233 Direct
License 01347013
www.bluekeybma.com
www.linkedin.com/in/juliegordonwhite

www.pinkbizbroker.blogspot.com

Via BlackBerry so apologies for typos!

Sell Dreams, Not Products...Luv This >>>

Carmine Gallo, in a new book titled “The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs,” outlines Jobs “insanely different principles for breakthrough success.” I’m not convinced that Jobs’ world is that simple, but Carmine has boiled it down to eight principles, which I suggest every entrepreneur can learn from, as follows:

What is innovation? Innovation is a new way of doing things that results in positive change. It makes life better. Innovation can be big or small but the principles apply to many aspects of life. As such, The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs is more than just about innovation. It’s about principles that have guided Jobs throughout his life. Innovation is about thinking differently, making new connections and making things better.

Author Carmine Gallo offers not rules, systems, or steps to greater innovation, but inspiring principles that can be applied to your own situation to get you to think differently. The principles are:

1.Do What You Love. Think differently about your career. Jobs advises, “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. ...My goal wasn't to die the richest man in the cemetery. It was to go to bed at night saying, we've done something wonderful."

2.Put a Dent in the Universe. Think differently about your vision. Jobs attracts like-minded people who share his vision and who help turn his ideas into world-changing innovations. Passion fuels Apple’s rocket, and Job’s vision creates destination.
3.Kick Start Your Brain. Think differently about how you think. Innovation does not exist without creativity, and for Steve Jobs, creativity is the act of connecting things. Jobs believes that a broad set of experiences broadens our understanding of the human experience.

4.Sell Dreams, Not Products. Think differently about your customers. To Jobs, people who by Apple products are not “consumers.” They are people with dreams, hopes, and ambitions. Jobs builds products to help them fulfill their dreams. "Some people think you've got to be crazy to buy a Mac. But in that craziness, we see genius" says Jobs.

5.Say No to 1,000 Things. Simplify. Think differently about design. Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, according to Jobs. From the designs of the iPod to the iPhone, from the packaging of Apple’s products to the functionality of the Apple website, innovation means eliminating the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak. Jobs: "I'm as proud of what we don't do as I am of what we do."

6.Create Insanely Great Experiences. Think differently about your brand experience. Jobs has made Apple Stores the gold standard in customer service. The Apple Store has become the world’s best retailer by introducing simple innovations any business can adopt to make deep, lasting emotional connections with its customers. Use analogies or metaphors to think about a problem. By finding the similarities between two things that are unalike, your brain makes new and sometimes profound connections.

7.Master the Message. Think differently about your story. Jobs is the preeminent corporate storyteller, turning product launches into an art form. You can have the most innovative idea in the world, but if you cannot get people excited about it, your innovation doesn’t matter. Make your brand story consistent across all platforms: presentations, website, advertising, marketing materials, social media.

8. Confidence is a key to innovation. Jobs told Stanford graduates, “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” “Most important,” writes Gallo, “how you think about yourself and your business will have the greatest impact on the creation of new ideas that will grow your business and improve the lives of your customers.”

Gallo provides a lot of background on Jobs and in doing so has written an inspiring, down-to-earth book that will encourage you to imagine what you could do by thinking differently.

Catch Carmine Gallo “Live” in Singapore – visit www.aventis.edu.sg or http://www.aventisgroup.com.sg/Innovation%20Secrets%20of ...

# # #

The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs is more than just about innovation. It’s about principles that have guided Jobs throughout his life. Innovation is about thinking differently, making new connections and making things better.

Size Matters!

Couldn't resist the title :). Seth strikes with another very provocative post... Enjoy!

[You're getting this note because you subscribed to Seth Godin's blog. www.sethgodin.com]

An atomic theory of business size The magic of the periodic table is that every atom is one thing or another--there isn't a stable element that's sort of oxygen and sort of nitrogen. If there were, there would be millions of elements, not a few hundred.

That's because electrons are (more or less) either here or there. The quantum levels ensure that there are no weird hybrids. A business follows a similar model. A local mom and pop store is just the right size for mom and for pop. The rent is low enough for the two of them to cover it. It's stable. They can't afford a $200,000 a year CFO. It wouldn't be a stable situation.

This is backwards but here you go: businesses that exist exist because the marketplace allows them to function at the right size. There were a lot of bowling alleys in the 1960s because the number of people you needed to run one plus the rent was just covered by the revenue you could expect. There was a right size, one that people were willing to take on and run.

The next level up from Mom and Pop feels different. Different furnishings, different rent, different payroll. It's not a little bigger, it's a whole quantum level different. And then down the street is the chain store, the one with 40 outlets and regional vice presidents and regional newspaper ads. Those things naturally go together, the scale is right.

Rightsizing your business is one of the most important decisions you can make. Just because you're thriving at one scale doesn't mean that a little more effort or a little more investment magically take you to the next. They probably don't.

Want to sell your popular donuts at Whole Foods? That's a quantum leap, not an incremental step.

Want your auction software company to become a public behemoth? It requires a leap of size and commitment, not a gradual creep.

Want to go from freelance work as a programmer to running a business like Fog Creek Software? Totally different list of requirements.

This is actually a good thing. It's good because rightsizing allows you to be profitable and live as a human. Those chasms in between are where people fall down.

One of the side effects of the internet revolution is that several new stable business sizes appeared. Groupon can do a billion dollars in revenue nationwide with far, far fewer employees than it took Target to hit the same level. A solo author can reach more people and generate more impact than she ever could have a dozen years ago.

These new sizes don't mean that the rules of quantum scale have gone away, though. That popular self-published author might be able to successfully employ six people, but there's no way she magically scales to sixty without something else changing. Several times I've run businesses that the market liked but couldn't find the right scale... adding more people didn't add a significant enough amount of revenue, and fewer people would have cost us our customer base. Just because it's a good idea doesn't mean that there's a scale that works.

When in pain, consider your scale. When you're too big or too small for the revenue or the impact you seek, you'll feel it in your bones. Leap.

Julie Gordon White, Principal
BlueKey Business Brokerage M&A
510.812.2233 Direct
License 01347013
www.bluekeybma.com
www.linkedin.com/in/juliegordonwhite

www.pinkbizbroker.blogspot.com

Sent Via BlackBerry!

I <3 Seth Godin

"[You're getting this note because you subscribed to Seth Godin's blog.]

Make big plans ...that's the best way to make big things happen.

Write down your plans. Share them with trusted colleagues. Seek out team members and accomplices.

Shun the non-believers. They won't be easily convinced, but they can be ignored.

Is there any doubt that making big plans increases the chances that something great will happen?

Is there any doubt that we need your art and your contribution?

Why then, are you hesitating to make big plans?"

Julie Gordon White, Principal
BlueKey Business Brokerage M&A
510.812.2233 Direct
License 01347013
www.bluekeybma.com
www.linkedin.com/in/juliegordonwhite

www.pinkbizbroker.blogspot.com

Sent Via BlackBerry!