Make It Real                 September 2009
 
News and Views from Clarity to Business, LLC
Discover what you love.  Build your business.  Prosper.
In This Issue
A Business Plan To Love
Numbers & Marketing Accountability Groups
Join Our Mailing List
Greetings!  
 
After months of writing and editing, I'm thrilled to announce the publication of
Passion, Plan, Profit:12 Simple Steps to Turn Your Passion Into a Solid Business. I'm deeply grateful to everyone who read the drafts of the book, took it for test drives at business plan workshops, or simply supported me in completing it.
 
coverofpassionplanprofitTo commemorate the book's release, this month's newsletter features ten reasons for developing a business plan--reasons beyond the usual "every business does" or "you should have one" (not true, and yes, you should), etc. 
 
I hope you'll tell your friends and colleagues about Passion, Plan, Profit. It'll change your business and your life, if you take the actions and adopt the attitudes I recommend.
 
Promise.
 
 
Tel: (602) 561-8499
10 Reasons Why You're In Love With Your Business Plan
 
(Or What The Puppet Would Do)
 
Imagine it's early 2010 and you've completed your business plan. You not only completed it, you're also in love with it.
 
Here's why:     

christywpuppet1. You did your business plan with someone else and it was fun. Really. As you read this, I'm finishing my business plan for Passion, Plan, Profit:12 Simple Steps to Turn Your Passion into a Solid Business (yup, selling a book requires a business plan)with Suzanne Lorenz and Sam Beasley, authors of Wealth and Well-Being. We're having a blast.

2. Your business plan re-connected you to the purpose of your work. My purpose is to do what I can to help passionate business owners make money doing the work they love. I got tears in my eyes Tuesday evening talking to a group of small business owners at the El Mirage Chamber of Commerce. I love what I do. You can love what you do, too.
 
3. Your business plan helped you understand what's unique about you and your business. This is one of the first steps to attracting more clients and making more money.

4. Your business plan clarified where you want the business to go--your vision. It's easier to get somewhere when you know where that somewhere is.
 
5. You got very specific about who your best customers would be, and how they want you to talk (market) to them, a key to earning more money.
 
6. Your business plan made you feel righteous. You did the work many business owners never take time to do, and you learned from it and your business is better for it.

7. Doing your business plan made you feel competent.
 
8. Your business plan helped you understand your business numbers, another key to earning more money.

9. It also helped you clarify your values--you're clear about what's important to you and it shows in the way you run your business.

10. Did I mention that it was fun to write your business plan?  
 
There are lots of ways to do your business plan. Passion, Plan, Profit:12 Simple Steps to Turn Your Passion Into a Solid Business will take you through these ways step-by-step. Contrary to what you might believe, you'll have fun doing it. Promise.
 
 


TIP
 
Mirror, Mirror mirror
 
What business do you most want your business to emulate? Why?
 
You can admire or want to be like a business that does the same work as yours. Or you can admire a business that's completely different that has qualities you'd like to mirror in your own business.
 
Perhaps a business you think highly of has outstanding customer service, is in a great location, or has systemized all their processes so everything runs smoothly.
 
If you're having trouble thinking of a business you admire, think about where you spend your own money.  
 
Now, what's one small action you could take right now to begin incorporating the traits you admire into your own business?
 
Accountability Groups Help You Fully Own Your Business
 
Do you want to be more accountable to the so-called "important, not urgent" tasks of your business?   
 
Now is your chance to carve out the time. Starting in October, I'll be leading two business accountability teleconference groups.
 
The first group will be dedicated to the numbers aspect of your business, the second group to marketing it. We will create a safe, supportive environment in both groups; the numbers group will meet monthly, the marketing group twice a month, both for three months.
 
Numbers Accountability Group
 
This group will consist of six people who want to get more familiar with their business numbers.You'll learn to view your business through your sales and expense numbers. The group will also do a monthly forecast. We'll then compare our results to our forecast the following month.  
 
Marketing Accountability Group
 
In this group you'll learn about new social marketing tools available to help small business owners reach their perfect clients. You will also create--and act on--your own marketing plan and measure the results.
 
At the end of three months, we'll evaluate our progress and decide if we want to renew for another three.
 
Get more information here. Don't wait too long to sign up--attendance in each group is limited to six participants.    
Complimentary Coaching Consultation  
 
If you are a business owner and want to become more successful and accountable to your goals, need help generating more revenue, or simply feel stalled; please contact me at (602) 561-8499 or cms@claritytobusiness.com for a complimentary consultation. Find out if coaching is right for you. I help business owners make money doing the work they love.