May Day Clarity

Although Spring is already in full swing (my itchy nose tells me so!), to me, May feels like the official gateway to summer. And as we move forward through the second quarter, it's critical to focus on what needs to happen in order to make our business dreams come true this year, which brings me to one if my favorite topics - CLARITY.

Being concerned about clarity can seem fluffy, but in fact, clarity is the basis for all things strategic and powerful in your business.

When we lack clarity, we lose our way. We chase our tails. We think we are bored or uninspired. We might even go as far as to change our entire business model because secretly we think we are wrong. Wrong about what to do to grow our businesses- maybe even wrong for trying to be an entrepreneur at all. Sigh.

Last week I had the privilege of advising 8 incredible women entrepreneurs in private 1:1 sessions. Some were start ups striving towards their first $100K, some were established and trying to breakthrough their self imposed $200K limit, and some had mature multimillion dollar companies  in "post-recession re-invention mode" looking for a powerful plan for acceleration.

The interesting thing they had in common was that they had all lost their clarity.

Without clarity, they were frustrated, making things more complicated than they needed to be and down right stuck. However even with all of that, they were all still committed to their mission and eager to find their way "back" quickly.

Through my hour with each of them, it was very exciting to help them draw out the answers that they already knew but weren't trusting, and also contribute ideas and a filter to help then form clear, do-able and energy igniting plans... aka... Clarity!

The bottom line is that we all get stuck. We all lose our way.

When you find yourself spinning in circles, not taking action and maybe even feeling a little down, know that it's not the end of your entrepreneurial journey - you probably just need to regain your clarity.

So if this feels a little too familiar, I encourage you to reach out to a respected peer, a spouse or partner that knows you inside and out, or a trusted advisor to help clear the way. But whatever you do, do something!

And to help you take the first step, here is a link to a short talk I gave about clarity as the closing remarks of SYMPOSIA, my conference last January for women entrepreneurs. In the talk I share with you how I personally regained post-recession clarity, and how that clarity is the reason we are connect right now through The WELL. :)
 

Clarity Video Link: 

http://www.growatthewell.com/clarity-video.html



Again, welcome to May and if I can help you sharpen your clarity privately like the women above or through our accelerate! group program, don't hesitate to ask!

Until next time,

Be Profitable & Be WELL!

XO, jgw.

P.S. Be sure to bookmark the page with my video on clarity because you never know when you just might need a little breakthrough! xoxo

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.

Are you an Owner, President or CEO?

Today we celebrate Presidents' Day, and it reminded me of a question I get asked by women entrepreneurs about what title they should call themselves.  

In today's world, I think titles are less about posturing and more about positioning. 

When I say posturing, I mean making yourself look bigger than you are to impress others which is so 80's, and so not now! (I know because I lived through the 80's "fake it till you make it" mentality, big shoulder pads, and even bigger hair...ugh!).

When I talk about positioning, I'm not referring to marketing in this situation, I'm referring to your entrepreneurial mindset. I think choosing a title is actually more for your benefit than the person who is reading your bio or business card.  Here's what I mean:

Owner
If you title yourself as the owner, you are a sole proprietor telling yourself and the world that you are courageous, independent and willing to accept responsibility for the good AND the bad. Further, you are taking the road less traveled and forging ahead to become economically independent and self-sufficient... Hear me roar!

President
If you title yourself as President, not only are you serving the world with your unique gifts and talents, you know that your growth path to success includes a team.  Presidents are leaders and by declaring, "I am the President", you are positioning your business to grow bigger, more profitable, and beyond what you can do on your own. Hail to the Chief!

CEO
If you title yourself as CEO or Chief Executive Officer, you have established your business as a corporation, you have a group of advisors or a board of directors (formal or informal), and you know that in addition to a team, you will need access to capital to grow a multimillion dollar business.  You may step into your CEO stilettos right out of the gate or after being on your entrepreneurial journey for many years. There's no right or wrong time to establish yourself as the CEO, so don't compare yourself to others, just step in and step up when "WAY bigger" feels best to you. 

For me, because my boutique M&A firm is a professional practice and a corporation, I titled myself "Principal & CEO". As a practice organized as a corporation with 10 team members and a vision of multi millions in transactions, the title seemed fitting. And now that most of my time is spent in pursuit of training millions of women entrepreneurs to grow bigger, more profitable and sellable seven-figure businesses, guess what my title is? CEO, of course - it's the only way I roll! 

So to wrap this up, my bottom line message is to choose your title thoughtfully.  It's more about creating a personal mindset to grow the business of your dreams than telling the world who you are, so choose your title carefully and then own it as a vehicle to manifest your vision. Who knew titles were so powerful?!

So what do you call yourself? 
Do you think your title represents your vision (current and future)? 

I would love to know your thoughts on titles and hear your story, so please comment below!

XO, jgw.

P.S. If growing a bigger, more profitable and someday sellable business is your manifest destiny, click to learn about our accelerator program - it's a proven road map with a personal guide to get you there! 

We're Talking Tactics! How to Stop Networking & Start Leading

Holiday events abound, and create a plethora of marketing opportunities... or do they? Networking has always been an excellent way of meeting people face-to-face, building relationships and doing business, but what if there was a better way... 

Do you agree or disagree? What's your best networking tip? Post your comment below and share your goodndess!

Also, of you haven't registered for SYMPOSIA :: 2014 Conference for Women Entrepreneurs on January 10th in San Francisco, time is ticking!  

Meet Susan Thomas, SYMPOSIA speaker on COURAGE. 

Susan has won dozens of awards for service excellence and innovation in PR, marketing communications, and video, including the 2013 Golden Gate Female Entrepreneur of the Year, all while raising 4 beautiful children with her husband and overcoming some incredible personal challenges. Come hear and learn from Susan's inspiring 7 figure journey... The day promises to be MAGICAL!   www.SYMPOSIA2014.com

We're Talking Tactics! 6 Tips to End Perfection Peralysis & Become a 100% Finisher!

If you're reading this, you probably know that I consult with and coach women entrepreneurs to determine the best strategies to grow their sales to a million and beyond, but did you also know that I walk my own talk by having my own coaches for various aspects of my business? Well I absolutely do (and if I didn't, you shouldn't be working with me!).

During a recent conversation with my accountability coach, she said something that made a huge impact, so of course I want to pass her message on to you.  When we were reviewing my commitments, she said, "Now I understand what's happening. You are a 90%er."

I have to admit that I was stunned for a second, but then immediately had a huge revelation. "Yes I am!" I said, and was so excited to realize why it's taking longer than I want to finish projects that are really important to me.  

As we talked about it further, I got real about the fact that when something is really important to me, the last ten percent suddenly feels like running uphill at mile 12 of a half marathon with only 1.1 miles to go, because I want it to be.... perfect! So yes, sometimes I struggle the same issues I discuss with many of you - Perfection Paralysis. 

I used to be a frequent 70%er, so getting to 90% is progress, but now with full acknowledgement and a few strategies, I'm pushing to one hundred with ease and enjoyment!  Because truth be told, it feels GREAT to finish something completely.  Exhale.

So here are my 5 tips to help you push through perfection peralysis (so we can be in the 100% club together!):

1) Decide what percentage of your projects you are currently finishing now.

2) Determine your top 3 projects that will make the most impact if you finish them 100%.

3) Choose ONE project to focus on now and commit to a reasonable 100% completion date.

4) Take a short walk or get a drink of water when you get the the part that's hard to complete, but come back to it right away. 

5) Find an accountability partner or coach and commit to a day and time every week to check-in until your project is 100% complete.  

6) When the going get's extra tough (usually just as you are about to breakthrough), focus on the great feeling you'll have when you can finally say... DONE! 

Growing your business is a journey, and hopefully these six tips will make the journey that much more satisfying and fruitful.

Lastly, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't tell you how to work my awesome accountability coach if that's the piece missing for you, so learn more about Ali Schiller at www.AliSchiller.com. She is fantastic!

Until next time, Be Profitable & Be WELL! 

xoxo, jgw.

P.S. That picture is of me FINISHING my first half marathon.  See the pure joy in my face after running 13.1 miles? All because I finished what I set out to do... yippee!

P.S.S. Get focused on your most profitable strategies and projects for next year at my conference just for women entrepreneurs "SYMPOSIA :: 2014".  The speaker line up is beyond inspiring so click to learn more and reserve your ticket at www.Symposia2014.com before we sell out!  

Fish Where the Fish Are

When I was the Director of Sales & Marketing for the Sheraton at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco (way back in the 90's lol!),  I always used to tell my sales managers to "Fish Where the Fish Are". What I meant was that it's much easier to attract a customer (fish) if you drop your sparkly lure into a pond stocked with those that will most likely be attracted to what you offer them.  

In your business, what is the overflowing pond 
that your most targeted fish swim in?

In many cases, trade associations are great places to find raving customers.  Trade associations are groups of people who gather for a common interest, so if your product or service can support their interests (as end users or referral sources), your company will quickly become the shiniest lure and your net is guaranteed to overflow! 

Are you currently marketing your business to trade associations? Post a comment to tell me about it or ask a question below! 

Try at Trial Membership!
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This is critical to survive and thrive >> RT @WSJSmallBiz: Small businesses negotiate lower commercial-lease rates http://on.wsj.com/hAxCji

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!

Maybe so... RT@IncMagazine: Solopreneurs, it may be time to reevaluate your business. Check out our survival tips. http://ow.ly/3UUAb

Legacy= Love: RT@IncMagazine: 80% of the world's businesses are family owned. Survive, prosper and hire family members: http://ow.ly/3UMSN

NYTimes.com: How Six Companies Failed to Survive 2010

This page was sent to you by:  jgwhite@bluekeybma.com BUSINESS DAY   | January 06, 2011 How Six Companies Failed to Survive 2010 By EILENE ZIMMERMAN The owners of failed businesses have a million stories about why they failed. Here are some of them. Advertisement Copyright 2011  The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy