Features vs. Benefits. Services vs. Pain Points. Clients won’t pay for services or features. yet so often that’s what they hear from business owners when they introduce themselves or worse what they come visit your website. You might hear them say “I need a coach” (for example) but it’s they “why” they need that will get them to take out their pocket-books and sign up. They pay you to help them get past a place they’re stuck. They pay you to do something they don’t want to learn how to do. They pay you to do something that isn’t a good use of their time, etc. etc. Simple Sample: Feature/Services: Providing a mixture of coaching, consulting,

I listened with interest to the Financial Talk today on the show. It’s wonderful that we’re going to have more small business owners out of this latest economic fiasco. BUT.. a) Anyone considering starting a business should ask them these two questions “If time and money weren’t a problem, would I be starting a business or going out to get a job” AND “If I started a business and someone offered me more money and benefits go work for them, would I go back to Corporate America” If the answer is yes, put your nose to the grindstone and create a strategy for an updated career. 2) Money: Do you have 1 1/2 years of money

Does your business plan look different for 2009? As you look back at 2008 and begin to plan for 2009 are you making changes in the way you do business? What will you measure in 2009? What marketing and prospecting will you do? Will it be different than 2008?   The above question was asked on Linked in by Donna Amos of http://www.donnaamos.com/  and my answered it below, with some revisions.  Thanks Donna for asking the question and for voting my answer as the best! So, how would you answer Donna’s question?   My clients have been getting ready for the “official” announcement of a recession since October 2007. So for the most part they’ve all increased their

I posted this question in HARO (help a reporter.com) to successful business owners who work with other business owners. “What sage advice were you given when you started your business that you didn’t follow and not only wish do you wish you had followed the advice — you eventually found yourself having to “doing it”? Specifically how did that advice help you grow your business.” Below are the great answers I received. Enjoy and take their sage advice to help you grow your businessAND go visit their websites, too. Grow yourself to grow your wealth When I was 17, in direct sales, my first manager said to me, “your business will always grow in direct proportion

20 Lessons small business owners everywhere can learn from the death of an 85 year old company. On May 29, Bear Stearns turned itself into history. It is also part of her-story — mine. Back in 1976, I was recommended to work at the Bear, never thought I’d get the job, and yet the Bear took a major risk of hiring me (it was 1976, I’m a “girl,” you know; back then, women working at trading desk was an enigma – even in NYC.). Ace Greenberg was the Chairman then and he always said that the reason for the company’s success was that the foundation of the company was heavily invested in all the PSDs it hired