Plans are great, but it’s action that makes a difference. And a great way to ensure action is accountability. I talk to business owners all the time who feel like they’re underperforming. They’re unclear about how to reach their goals, grow their business, and stick to a business plan. This isn’t new. Business leaders have long struggled to stay accountable to their goals.  Why is it so hard? Often, we hear the phrase “hold someone accountable.” But is it possible to hold yourself accountable? Many business owners try, but oftentimes find themselves abandoning their goals, projects, and ..read more

As we go into 2021, I began to talk to my colleagues and fellow business owners. Fortunately, many reported business was good! But not great. So where’s the disconnect? How are businesses that are performing well, still not thriving? I’ve narrowed down the culprits of the steady (but not spectacular) business: The comfort zone, talent/team, and timing.  Let’s break those down.  1. The Comfort Zone We’ve all heard “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” And while that seems like good advice it’s probably holding you back. Once a business gets into a comfort zone it’s hard to leave. W ..read more

2020 is over.  That’s a relief! But don’t be quick to dismiss this year. Find helpful key takeaways from 2020 to carry over into 2021. Here are 10 Steps to take to get an accurate (and insightful) end-of-year review.  Write Down Wins  Categorize Wins Target New Areas of Focus  Accountability Strategy  Maintain and Nurture Network  Write Your Gratitudes  Goal Assessment  Team Review Review Your Toolkit  Take Time to Recharge         1. Write Down Wins  A win is any accomplishment. They can be goals, benchmarks, new h ..read more

Email marketing is an effective tool and can alert your clients (and potential clients) of important information they need. While emails are one of the most effective marketing tools in a business leader’s arsenal, it is one of the easiest to misuse. But there’s a way to guarantee to make it an effective and successful tool. For example, are you getting a lot of “unread” notifications? If your clients aren’t opening your content you’re not getting the desired reaction. We want email marketing to attract rabidly loyal fans that devour our content, so we’ve devised 5 tips to bolster your strate ..read more

The New Year is the season for change, ambition, and resolutions. But no matter your intention, a lot of goals aren’t achieved.  Why? Vague ideas result in an uncompleted goal. Example: "I want more clients this year." It feels more like a wish than a goal. You can solve this by adding specificity to your goal. Specificity looks like this: a singular, detailed, and attainable goal. You can transform any large, vague goal into a specific one by breaking it down into small, attainable parts. Let’s look at our example: I want to get more clients this year.  The end goal is more cl ..read more

A market funnel is a great way to discover, nurture, and land leads. It’s a flexible tool that allows you to control your client’s journey from introduction to purchase (and so much more!) But taking on building and maintaining your own funnel can be daunting.  Why Invest in a Professional Market Funnel 1. Lower Cost in the Long-Run Getting a funnel professionally built will save you time and money (no hassle or research!) A professional team will be able to assemble a funnel using the ideal service that best fits your needs. They can maintain it seamlessly and effectively. In the ..read more

 Have you accomplished the last goal you set for yourself?  It’s OK if you answered no. Almost all goals go unaccomplished. Why is that? We fall into the trap of tackling goals at a sprint. At first, we get really excited. We work really hard. We want to get it done, so we set unrealistic expectations and work loads. As time goes on we lose that momentum and eventually give up.  What if instead when you set a goal, you stuck with it until you accomplished it? And you kept doing that for every goal you set. Can you imagine how much your business could grow if you achieve every g ..read more

The next two marketing service providers we are going to compare are Salesforce and ActiveCampaign. These are some of the most recognizable names in the Marketing automation and SaaS industry. While they are both great options, determining which is a perfect fit for your business will vary on your size and needs. I will go through their features, pros and cons as well as my own personal recommendation. Salesforce  Brand Recognition Scalability Classic Features, Functions and Integration Opportunities Experience and Established Presence  Want to reach your ultimate goal ..read more

When it comes to your business you want the best. But how can you choose the best when every service claims to be it? I’ve looked at the top-performing and most popular CRM services. Over the next few blogs we will break down the top four. I will provide recommendations based on industry standards, functionality, customer satisfaction, and expert opinions. Remember every business is unique so consider your business's needs and goals (the more specific the better) before making a final decision.  Our first pairing is: ZOHO vs. SugarCRM.   ZOHO PROS:  Best for Small to Midsi ..read more

More and more businesses are going remote.  Some of my own clients find transferring their leadership and management skills remotely to be a difficult adjustment. But the best leaders adapt and thrive.  So what makes a remote leader effective? Delegating and managing your team (no matter where they are physically) takes excellent organization and communication skills. You have to remain invested in your team. Keep up with their progress and nurture their performances. Here are 8 tips to get you on track to be the best remote leader possible. 1.   Have solid goals We’ve all hear ..read more