Build and Balance Newsletter
                                                                                                                                 August 2010
In This Issue
Should you reply to salespeople?
The Growth Coach is growing!
Can you still afford to be technophobic?
Just say no
Upcoming Events & Resources
The Growth Coach Website
Your Growth Coach

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Michael is ready to work with you to grow your business. Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Let's start right now!
Join Our Mailing List
My Network Spotlight

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I believe in a strong network and maintain it by giving referrals to professionals I know, like and trust. In each issue I spotlight people in my network. I encourage you to do business with the people listed below.

Accounting
James Wassermann CPA
650.364.4800

Better Banking
Bank of the West
J.P. Verzosa
650.994.1492

Beds and Furnishings
Bedroom Express
Ira Fruitman
415.583.2221

Business Insurance
CAL Insurance
Brent Harrill
415.661.6500

Business Copywriting
and Editing
Written Right
Susan Monroe
650.579.2717

Chiropractic Services
Dade Donovan DC
650.348.4233

Commercial Cleaning  and Residential Carpet Cleaning
PARICLIN
Paris Millan
650.346.1320

Contractor and Electrical Services
Bay Counties Electric and Construction
Carlos Lopez
415.271.3525

Credit Card Processing
Retriever Equipment
Rel Kempf
650.375.1400

Estate Plans, Business Law, and Immigration Services
Tandoc & Wehr, P.C.
Lisa Tandoc & Jeff Wehr
650.342.3523

Financial Planning
Mass Mutual
Quan Nguyen
415.743.1008

General Contractor
Hargens, Inc.
Tom Hargens
650.876.1801

Health and Wellness
Nikken
Lelana Crayne
650.342.3089

Healthy Aging
GeneWize Life Sciences
 Sara Haller
650.743.2568

HR Consulting & Staffing
PAC HR Solutions
Manisha Patel
650.594.2900

IT Support
Business and Home Computer Services
Wil Del Barrio
650.743.0976

Landscape Services
Weeds by Wilk
Sue Wilk
650.888.2120

Life and Long Term Care Insurance
New York Life
Weezie Harwood
650.356.1075

Local Advertising
San Mateo Daily Journal
Jerry Lee
650.344.5200

Local Online Community
Peninsula Shops

Massage Therapy and Spa Services
Osetra Wellness
Sophia Barnes
866.826.7189

Mortgage Solutions Consultant
First American Title Lenders Advantage
Arthur A. Navarro
650.533.6626

Personal Training
Chris Hargens
650.444.1973

Posture Management
and Healing Services
Sharon Caren
Sharon Caren
650.359.6579

Promotional Products
Proforma Brand Solutions
Mark Borson
650.787.7897

Real Estate Loans
Real Estate Financial Services
Sally Adam
415.292.1999

Rockabilly and 50s Music
Dave Crimmen
650.589.5852

Small Business Brand and Logo Design
elf design
Erin Ferree
650.358.9973








Greetings!

Hello! This newsletter is intended to give you ideas to grow your business, balance your life,and save time. Additionally you'll find updates on new Growth Coach happenings. If you find it useful, please share it with a friend or colleague who might like it, too. They can then join the list by clicking on the Join Our Mailing List button in the left column.

I'm debuting a new look for the newsletter this month with the able assistance of Erin at Elf Design. It's not a radical departure, but one I'm very happy with. Let me know what you think. If you'd like help updating your marketing materials, you'll find Erin's contact info in the Network Spotlight column.

We're now two-thirds of the way through the year. Are you happy with what you've accomplished thus far? If not, then go after the next four months with a renewed passion to get a lot of important things done. Write down goals and action plans and go for it. If you need help to ensure your success I'll be kicking off a new group workshop in September for owners looking to tackle BIG personal and professional goals. Contact me for details and pricing.

If you'd like to see me write about a topic of interest to you in the future, let me know and I'll see to it. Thank you for your loyal readership, and a big welcome to my latest subscribers!

Should You Reply to Calls and Emails From Salespeople?

Woman looking at phone
I've noticed a dangerous trend taking place in business circles today and that's ignoring emails and phone calls from people you know are trying to sell you something.
 
I'm sensitive to this trend because I have been in sales off and on for more than 15 years now.

I appreciate that everyone is busy. I'm hardly able to keep up with the email and phone calls from clients, partners and prospects. However, I make it a point to reply to just about everyone who reaches out to me, which includes the unsolicited contacts. Why?

For starters, I believe that what goes around comes around. I coach all of my clients that if you own a business, you are in sales. Whether you are an attorney, contractor or web designer, you are in sales. Without someone selling your service, nothing happens.

So, if you're in sales, then there are times when you are the one making the call or sending the email hoping to engage a prospect in a dialogue. If you regularly ignore calls and emails from those trying to sell you, then I think you're setting the stage to receive the same treatment. And you know how frustrating it is to be totally ignored, doesn't it?

My second reason is that you just might learn something. I spoke to a Yelp salesperson a few months back who called me unsolicited. We arranged for a phone appointment and he walked me through how advertising on Yelp works. I learned things I didn't know, which help me be better informed for my clients. The salesperson was happy to educate me and I was grateful for it. This happened with a Google Places salesperson, too. I even got some free advertising activated as a result of taking his unsolicited call. That was worth my time.

My third reason is that you never know what might come of engaging with a stranger. I've had two people in the last month reach out to me for a consultation on growing their business.
 
One of them expressed a real interest in meeting me after speaking on the phone. I sent them an email with more detail on how I work and when we could meet. The email bounced back. I called back, reached the person and was given an alternate email address. I sent an email. No response. Ten days later I sent another email. No response.

By choosing to now ignore my attempts to follow up on his original inquiry he is missing out on:

1. Leads for his business. I pass leads to people in my network every week. I don't know anyone else who does what he does. Indeed, I might even be a prospect for his services, but by treating me as an unimportant salesperson he'll never know.

2. Key introductions. I regularly facilitate connections between people in my network to help business get done.

3. Free business-building education. I do free seminars all the time and get great feedback on how educational and helpful they are from people who don't do business with me.

My point is you just don't know what exploring a relationship with the person on the other end might lead to unless you take a minute to find out.

Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox now on this topic. Let me just say this, if you've been pretty cold to salespeople to now, I hope you'll rethink this behavior. It just might be good for you.  Email me your thoughts.
The Growth Coach is Growing!
Bianca Kourk joins the team
I am very grateful for the fact that I cannot handle my business on my own. When I started the practice nearly two years ago it was always my intention to have professional help as soon as possible. That time has come.
 
I'd like to officially welcome Bianca Kourk to The Growth Coach! Bianca has been a personal friend of the family for many years. After she graduated from UC Irvine and moved back to the Bay Area I asked her if she'd like to intern with me to get some professional experience and help me with a few things. Bianca agreed and proved herself to be so capable that I asked her to join the team in early July.

Bianca handles numerous administrative tasks, assists me at live events and supports various marketing initiatives. If you've been to one of my events you've likely already met her. If you have any questions about billing or need a resource such as a copy of a past presentation, a monthly marketing system template, or a new Strategic Planner, please contact her with the request at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the business,which makes it possible to have Bianca on board.
 
Can you still afford to be technophobic?
 Just the other day I was in a session with a client and I pulled out an Echo. What's an Echo you say? It's a new smartpen. Right, not smartphone, smartpen. You can see it on Amazon here.
 
After explaining what it was to my client I said that I'm always looking for ways to be more productive and efficient and this smartpen was my latest investment towards that aim. My client replied that I not only look for new technology, but I give it a shot when I find it.

This is absolutely right. One of the characteristics of a Guerrilla Marketer is that they embrace technology. As small business owners we're often stretched to the limits of our personal productivity. It would be fantastic if we could simply hire additional people as soon as we get a little too busy, but that's not so easy to do. Then what can you do to get more done?

Look for technology solutions such as these:
- Social networking to reach more people
- Online calendaring to accelerate meeting scheduling
- A smartphone to always be in touch
- A laptop that will last for hours without a charge and can connect to the internet just about anywhere
- Access to your home PC from your phone or laptop
- A conference line you can use at any time
- A rapid scanning solution for running a paperless office
- A simple way to record all meetings and share notes
- A website you can update yourself at 0 expense anytime
- A wireless headset that sounds so good people don't even know you're driving
- Simple email marketing to reach a lot of people regularly
- A way to record what you do on your computer so you can easily share it with someone else and teach them
- Use RSS to stay in touch with multiple blogs easily

I use every one of the items on the list above to push my productivity higher and higher. If you're technophobic, then you're going to shy away from this list and that will be to your detriment. In 2010 it's just plain unlikely you can grow your business without technology by your side.

Think long and hard now. Is your fear or ignorance of new technology holding you back? Resolve to change from this point on. If you want help, contact me. I can help you to change and start using technology to your advantage.
Time Saving Tip of the Month
Just say, "No."
Man in foreground with others behind him.

This is definitely one of the oldest time saving tips in the book. However, I know that there is someone reading this who needs to hear it again.
 
It's okay to say no. It's actually a good decision if you're already stretched to the limit with your other commitments. I've said yes at times in my past and then paid the price by having no free time at all to just do nothing sometimes. Even worse I've done a poor job of honoring the commitment I should never have made. That feels terrible.

On the flip side, remember how good it feels to do nothing and have no burning commitments that you're ignoring? Not since childhood? Oh you are in trouble. You can experience that feeling again as an adult. Just start saying, no. Stop trying to please everybody.

The people asking you to do things will start to fade away and will eventually go ask someone else. Try it. 
 
Thanks for reading this month's issue. Please forward it to someone else who could benefit by receiving it, or share it through a social network.

I want to express my deep appreciation to everyone who supports this business in one way or another. I could not be here without you. Many of these people are listed in the column to the left. Won't you scan that list and contact one of them today to start a business alliance or to inquire about their products and services? Thank you very much.

Remember that true fulfillment comes when you build and balance.
 
Yours truly,
 
Michael Neuendorff
The Growth Coach