Small business success is centered around owning a compelling vision. Most business owners and sales professionals have missed opportunities or unplanned challenges which popped up directly in front of them. While it is important to keep your entrepreneurial vision in front of you as a motivator, ignoring the path directly in front of you is […]

Most businesses say that customer experience is important to their mission, yet very few intentionally do the necessary work to create amazing customer experiences at every level. When a business designs a predictably awesome customer experience, the barrier of price and commodization fade away. Weaving awesome customer experiences into the fabric of a business requires […]

You booked that speaking gig that you really wanted, congratulations! You have undoubtedly marketed and courted the event planner, and sold them on why you were the best candidate for their event. 91% of speakers stop marketing themselves to a client when they have closed the deal. This is a HUGE mistake! We are in a relationship business, not […]

Flexing your small business marketing muscle involves beginning with a strategy. Let’s face it, no business owner hires a marketing firm to produce results which are broad and non-targeted. Here is a short video of a little marketing motivation shot from my kayak: httpv://youtu.be/WkU9Rq1REQ4 The most effective marketing campaigns: 1. Begin with marketing strategy. The […]

3 Reasons Having a JOB Can Grow Your Business When many people start their business, they believe that it will be a road paved with gold. Not so. How you navigate the ups and downs of your new business will determine how successful you will be. A young entrepreneur  (we’ll call her Tammy) called me, let […]

A smartly dressed executive steps onto the stage to address his audience. Within five minutes of his opening salvo of “Good morning!” his audience is tuned in…to anything but what this CEO, CFO, or other executive is talking about. Some executives are complete failures when it comes to speaking to group; others captivate their audience’s […]

There are some CEOs who are pretty good, then there are those who weave their personality and vision into the fabric of an organization, creating a lasting legacy. A few years ago, I had the great pleasure of meeting the CEO of Ascentra Credit Union, Paul Lensmeyer (as a bonus, he is a huge Green Bay Packer fan). Ascentra […]

“If I could just find someone to book my speaking dates, life would be great!” says 90% of the speakers on the planet. Get over it. Unless you are a celebrity, or a very established speaker; it is up to you to fill your calendar. Successful motivational, sales, and other expert speakers invest 90% of […]

What does motivation have to do with kayaking? Check this out… Would you paddle a kayak or canoe on a raging river without the protection of a life jacket? Would you go skydiving without a parachute? I would sincerely hope not. Millions of people every day engage in behaviors that are just as risky and […]

Referral Roulette Your Bank Can’t Afford to Play! Every bank gambles. The bank bets that the customer will repay their loans on time, they bet that their investments will create a respectable return, they bet that their customers will instinctively send solid referrals to them.  2 out of 3 ain’t bad. Referrals are extremely profitable for […]