Clarity: July 2007 Edition 19, Abundance, from Thistlesea Business Development

"ABUNDANCE"

Issue: 19

"Because your business should lead to Abundance."

Inside - July 2007 Edition

Greetings!

In this issue of "Abundance", I share "5 Ways To Gain More Clarity In Your Business. On this 4th of July, consider some very interesting quotes in "And That's The Truth" and in another "DID YOU KNOW".

I have added a link to the ThistleSea Business website that will allow you to listen to the "Business in the Fast Lane" radio show featuring: ThistleSea Business Development, or click here to Listen Now.

I wish all of the "Abundance" readers a enjoyable, safe and relaxing Summer and 4th of July Holiday.

Contact us at (724) 935-1930 you desire to improve your business.

John D. Laslavic, LPBC
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5 Ways To Gain More Clarity In Your Business.

clar·i·ty

-noun

1.	clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity. Source: Dictionary.com

As business owners, we all must continuously take stock of our businesses to determine those things we do really well and those things that present us with the biggest opportunity to grow. To succeed, we must find the truth that will bring us the clarity we need to evaluate our current situation, help us design the remedies and take the actions needed for the improvements we desire to become permanent.

Here are some of the ways you might want to consider to find clarity and identify improvements:

1. Determine what you want and put it in writing. Is your business providing you with the results you desire? Are you happy and fulfilled?

2. Assess your current situation by listing your strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. This will help you identify areas of your business that haven't been fully exploited, that require further development and/or might need a little dynamite.

3. Measure your results against a standard. Identify key quantifiable measurements of your business performance. In areas where data is available, compare your business results to the standard. Ask yourself, where do I exceed the benchmarked performance and where does the business fall short and make needed adjustments.

For data on your business, contact industry groups, associations, universities, business experts, etc. You will be surprised how much data is available to use in your comparisons.

4. Get an outside opinion from objective advisors.

Let's call it the ABCs of business. Your Attorney, Business Coach and CPA. Most highly effective and successful business owners understand how to use these three professionals:

Your attorney can help you look at your business structure and help you maintain compliance with the federal, state and local laws. In addition, your legal counsel should help you protect your business from outsiders and will usually recommend a subject matter experts should your business or situation call for specific legal expertise.

Your licensed professional business coach will assist you to identify your business model's strengths and weaknesses and work with the owner to improve the business performance going forward. In addition, the business coach will provide you with methodologies, tools and objective advice including best business practices.

Your CPA or accountant will usually agree to help you analyze your financial data to identify past performance issues and assure your compliance on all accounting and tax matters and deadlines.

5. Survey your customers, suppliers and objective outsiders to determine market needs, opinions, likes, dislikes, trends and indicators. Based upon the data and if you are not restricted, try something new. Then, measure the results of the change and replicate what works. Find what can be your differentiator in the market. What will make your customers keep coming back over and over again?

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth
- Mahatma Gandhi

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And That's The Truth...

Frustrated Business Owner

Some quotes to consider this time of year:

"I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it's hell."
Harry Truman

"It is error alone which needs the support of government. Truth can stand by itself."
Thomas Jefferson

"The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted."
James Madison

"Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on."
Winston Churchill

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."
Joseph Goebbels (Propoganda Minister)

"...the chief 'truth' that guided the Founders was 'that men were corruptible and that power always corrupted.' They believed that 'greed and lust for power ... were inquenchable in mortal men.' ... The great concern of the Founders was tyranny. After all, they had just barely escaped the clutches of King George ... The last thing they wanted was a power-hungry president, a domestic King George ... The Founders did not trust men's natural inclinations. ... (they) envisioned a supreme legislative branch as the heart and soul of America's central government. They assumed that Congress, drawn from all parts of the country, would initiate bills, set budgets, approve wars, provide national leadership, and if necessary, impeach and toss out a wayward president. After all, who would give supreme powers to one man, or woman?"
- From The Christian Science Monitor, "To the Founders, Congress was king," by John Dillin (1/20/05) quoting from Dr. Carol Berkin's book, A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution.

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Some Good Reasons to call ThistleSea Business Development?

If you are a business owner or know a business owner who:

Wants to reduce or eliminate the STRESS caused by the business.
Is growing quickly and needs an objective ear to talk to about the business.
Deals with difficult business issues or situations.
Desires to enjoy family, have more free time, better vacations, and build the best company.
Is losing sleep because of the pressures of the business.
Works hard to increase business volume and improve profits.

Give John a call today at 724 935-1930 for a free initial consultation.

"Because your business should lead to "Abundance."

July 2007 - In This Issue

5 Ways To Gain Clarity In Your Business.

And That's The Truth.....

DID YOU KNOW?