Money, Money, Money! An important conversation in Business

Money can be one of the most uncomfortable conversations in business, and even personal relationships. As a corporate mediator for many years, I saw the discomfort that many people faced when the topic of money was on the table. Being successful in business requires many skills, one of those being the ability to manage money, another is the ability to talk about money, and the third is to have a relationship with money that will support a healthy business. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing Karin Mizgala and Sheila Walkington of Money Coaches Canada on my Radio Show .  They provided some wonderful tips for businesses and entrepreneurs to deal with money in a different way. Their tips help you move from stuck to unstuck, and include:

1) Knowing what you want. Have a clear plan, a vision, goals, and a focus on your top three goals. These will simplify your life and help you manage the finances more effectively.
2)  Know the numbers. You must know your financial reality to be able to find new solutions and make the best decisions for your company.
3) Delegate don't abdicate responsibility. Keep on top of your finances, and learn what you need to learn to understand them. Be open to changing your habits, and your beliefs, about money.
4) Create a plan and systems.  Set up a system to easily and consistently track your day to day expenses, and know how much you need to earn and save to reach your financial goals. 
5)  Just DO IT!  Create an action plan and start today.  


What habits and beliefs can you change to get on top of your finances quickly (and with more ease)?

What immediate action can you take today to know your numbers and create your action plan that supports your goals?

You can listen to more of the Money Coaches Canada tips at: 

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/charmainehammond/2013/06/12/guests-money-coaches-canada-and-dave-rodwell


Join the conversation. Please share your comments, thoughts and tips on this blog so others can benefit.

Please follow Charmaine  on social media at:

 Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/charmainehammond

Twitter: https://twitter.com/hammondgroupbiz

 Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hammond-International-Inc/161986823865485?ref=ts&fref=ts

 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GPSYourBestLife?ref=ts&fref=ts

Secrets to Business Growth

Are there secrets to business growth?

Fact of the matter is that much of what businesses and leaders need to be doing they already know, however sometimes the challenge is in the "getting it done" phase.

To understand business growth (at warp speed), it is important to know your BIG WHY

What puts a bounce in your step?

Why do you love to do what you do?

These questions and more were the basis of the conversation I had with Terri Levine, the Business Mentoring Expert who specializes in helping business owners achieve more record-breaking growth.  Terri is the founder and CEO of The Coaching Institute, which is one of the top coach training programs in the USA.  Terri has been on all the big news stations including NBC, CNBC and MSNBC and is in more than 1500 publications.  She is also a best selling author of several books including Sell Without Selling, Coaching is for Everyone, and Stop Manage Start Coaching. 
Some of the most important aspects of successful business growth include, and where the biggest challenges lie are:
- Focus (or lack of focus). Many business owners do not have a sharp focus which makes rapid and successful business growth more challenging.
- Not unique enough- it is important to stand out.
- They don't build strong and long lasting relationships with their clients. Terri sees her clients as extended family
- Not being automated
- The lack of systems that work.
- No plan (or if there is a plan it is not being updated, modified and utilized)
- Missing the points to build fun back into business

I concur with Terri's comments, and the ones that resonated for me the most were  systematizing your business, having a business coach, and having crystal clear focus.

If you were to choose the top three points to work on in the next 90 days, what would they be?

Why these actions versus others?

What actions can you take immediately to achieve big results in record time?
You can listen to the interview with Terri Levine here.

Listen to internet radio with Conversations with Charmaine on Blog Talk Radio

You can find out more about Terri Levine at www.terrilevine.com

Terri Levine

How can you expand your business and make more money…TODAY?

How can you expand your business and make more money…TODAY?

That was the question of the day .....what can you do right now, today.

One word to describe a one hour tele call with Patricia Drain…. WOW!

Patricia talked about a lot in a short time, but everything she said had incredible value to how business women can take their business to the next level.  What would you say the number ONE myth about women business owners is?  Patricia said that that my is that “we are not really as powerful as we think we are”.  The truth, according to Patricia is that we are powerful enough and when we recognize our potential and value, we can think bigger. 

Patricia Drain- Business Coach and Strategist, MSI (Multiple Streams of Income) Expert
Professional Speaker and Author.  And, the createor of the new global association for women
entrepreneurs....The International Women' Business Owners (IWBO). 

http://tinyurl.com/0612ch   

Are you thinking big enough about your business asked Patricia.  What a great question, and for some, it might cause a little bit of discomfort. Thinking big, I mean realllllllly big can be uncomfortable but, it is necessary to grow our business, and take it to new levels.  Recognizing you power and potential is important.  How about this to start your day?  Ask yourself Patricia’s living question:

Am I thinking big enough about __________ (my product, my clients, my offer, my prices/fees)?

I was on the end of my chair waiting to hear Patricia’s number one way to expand your business, she shared how she doubled, then tripled her revenue.  Market Consistently! By marketing consistently, weekly or daily, you will increase your business, build your list and expand your business relationships.  There are many ways you can market consistently, Patricia started by doing an e-zine, the added weekly Thursday tips of the weeks (with an offer), using videos, and staying in front of her clients and list. In fact, Patricia suggested that we are all probably closer to the sale, money and customer then we think.  Marketing consistently will take us further faster. One of the mistakes business owners often make is marketing only when they are slow or need more business.  This creates inconsistently and makes it tough to meet business and client demands, a consistent approach works best. 

Some other fabulous tips to boost your business are to:

#1 Know your numbers (know how many calls it takes to turn a prospect into a customer, your conversion rate, etc.).  I call Fridays my Vital Statistics Day- this is the day we look at our business numbers.

#2  Consider raising your fees

#3  Feel the fear and sell anyways.  Remember, it is not about you…. It is about them (your client, your customer, your subscribers, etc.)

Patricia created an organization called the International Women Business Owners (visit http://tinyurl.com/0612ch   to learn more, there is a link on that page to join IWBO about ¾ of the page down.  So appreciate Patricia’s generosity… she offered listeners the opportunity to register for IWBO through the above link for only $297.  What a small price for such great return. This group is for you if:

Patricia suggested that now is the time to get super clear on being able to describe your business…. In only FIVE words.  What five words would you use?  I’d love to you to post them on facebook or email me at charmaine@hammondgroup.biz.  That way I can help promote you!

So for homework…. Yes… stepping into action….

1)     Know your numbers

2)    5 words to describe your business

3)    Review your fees and prices, can you raise them?

4)    What is your marketing plan? What will you do to market consistently?

5)    How will you increase your list?

6)    Are you thinking BIG enough?

• You want more tools to grow your business
• You want to be around Big Thinking business owners
• You want to hear from experts who have built successful businesses
• You want to build your list with other business owners with whom you can identify
• You want to connect on a personal level with women all over the world