Real Small Business with The McGraw Council: Recent Episodes
John Beaman
We interview small business owners from across the country who share their story and their tips for other small business owners so they, too, can succeed! Join The McGraw Council at www.themcgrawcouncil.com to partake in our small business support center and join our small business community!
In this episode, Tara Doyle-Enneking of the Puyallup-Sumner Chamber of Commerce joins us to share her experiences as a business owner and chamber executive! Listen to hear her story and her tidbits for small business owners! Sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com for more great content, support, and resources!
In this week’s podcast, we had the honor of Dennis London with London Security Solutions join us to share his experiences and background to relay his story of small business ownership! Dennis is a former Marine and ultimately started his own business and in this podcast, he will share how he built his business to become a sustainable model as well as his tips for business owners! Remember to like, comment, and share! Sign up at www.themcgrawcouncil.com for more great support and content!
Trust Your Gut
You have one for a reason, so be sure to use it and trust! Yes, verify what you can, but also rely on your instincts and trust your gut. More often than not, it is accurate!
Keep Your Friends Close But Your Enemies Closer
Basically, know what your competition is doing and not doing. You need to know because this will help you differentiate yourself in the marketplace which, in turn, will allow you to serve your customers better! This, obviously, creates opportunity!
Financial Control
If you don’t control your finances, they will control you. Make sure you know exactly where, when, how, why, and how much money moves in, out, and within your business. Cash flow is the lifeblood of small business, so make sure to watch it very closely!
Don’t Be Afraid of the Truth
Yes, the truth can hurt sometimes, but you should always embrace it. Denying reality or deliberately avoiding the truth will only hurt you and your business. Accept truth, embrace it, and then adapt as needed – this is how individuals and businesses both thrive!
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Laura of the Madison-Rivergate Area Chamber of Commerce joins us to share her background in psychology and how it relates to customer journey mapping. This is a very practical tool small businesses can use to support their marketing efforts. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share! Subscribe at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com to get more great content!
Build Your Profile
Know who your audience is and then you can identify how to reach them. The more detail you have, the better.
Map Your Customers’ Journey
Know your customers – the more you know, the better you can replicate it. This will help make your business more consistent and sustainable!
Know Your Triggers
Know what triggers your customers and prospects to move through the customer journey map, and then give them more! Helping them find what they need and want will help you thrive!
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Matthew McReynolds joins us to share his journey to business ownership. Ben started his career and education in sports management but later found his calling as a partner in a home service business in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Listen to hear his story and his insights for small business owners! Remember to like, comment, and share! Sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com for more great content and to access our various resources for small business owners!
Pursue Excellence
Yes, it is difficult and time-consuming to achieve excellence, but it is absolutely worth every bit of the effort. This will set you apart from the competition and help you build a strong brand and culture!
Invest in Your Teams
Your teams will make you or break you in business, so make sure you invest in them. Yes, some will leave for other opportunities, but it is far better that you improve them while they are with you than for you to settle for anything less than excellence!
Prioritize
You have time for the most important things in your life, just not everything. Therefore, make sure you prioritize the important things in life. 24 hours is plenty to achieve what you want, you just need to have focused goals.
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Ben Agee joins us to share his journey to business ownership. Ben started his career and education in sports management but later found his calling as a partner in a law firm in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Listen to hear his story and his insights for small business owners! Remember to like, comment, and share! Sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com for more great content and to access our various resources for small business owners!
Trust the Experts
When you seek out professional advice and guidance, trust the subject matter experts. Yes, it is a leap of faith, but once you have verified they are competent and trustworthy, you will find it very beneficial to trust them.
Don’t Skimp on the Essentials
When you have essential things or resources you use for your business, don’t be cheap on them – you will only kick yourself. If you are investing into something for your business, make sure it is worth every cent and get a good one; you will thank yourself later.
Take Care of Your Mind
We don’t live our lives in silos, so everything that we do or feel impacts other areas in our lives. In this perspective, remember to take care of your mind. Yes, stress is naturally part of the small business owner journey, but you must be able to unwind and destress. This will help you be your best self and, consequently, the best business owner you can be.
In this podcast, Brandon Burton, a podcast host, joins us to share his small business journey! Brandon shares his story to business ownership, what helped him grow and succeed, and what he is doing to take his business to the next level! Remember to like, comment, and share! To get more great content like this, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Meditate/Pray
When you start your day, take some time for yourself to pray and/or meditate – Brandon says this helps him keep a clear, calm mind. Doing so will help you keep focused and keep your mind clear of what we all commonly know as “mental trash” – your mind is key to your success!
Do It Today
If you identify something that should have been done years ago but you just found out today, just get it done today. Brandon quotes the famous Chinese proverb as he notes the best time to get it done was years ago, but the second best time is today!
Enjoy Your Life
If you aren’t excited to get up everyday and solve more problems for people, something is wrong in your business. Take a few moments to identify that so you can focus your energies on doing what you love! You only have one life to live, so make sure your business is in alignment with your life!
In this podcast, Josh Jordan, also known as Triple J, joins us to share his journey to business ownership! Josh is a very entrepreneurial individual who not only owns multiple businesses that are profitable, but he also has a corporate job as well! Listen to this podcast to learn how he did it and how he keeps pushing forward! Remember to like, comment, and share! To get more great content like this, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Read “Rich Dad Poor Dad”
Josh was very specific on this one – read this book! Josh says it did wonders for him and says it will do the same for you!
Dream Big
If you want to succeed in business, you need to have a big vision and big dreams! Then you build the plan to get there, and then you execute – which plays into his next tip!
Never Give Up
Never, ever give up – there will be moments when it seems really easy to do that, but don’t give in. If you truly have a dream and passion you’re chasing, give it all you’ve got!
Workout
Life is a combination of our mental, physical, and spiritual silos – we don’t operate in just one. Therefore, make sure you take care of each one to ensure they all work together, and the physical is often left out. Take care of each silo to maximize your best self!
In this podcast, Tatiana Chamorro of Hite Digital Dallas joins us to share her business journey, why she started her business, and what helped her grow and scale! Tatiana has a few tips for small business owners as well! Make sure to like, comment, and share! For more great content, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Set Goals
If you want to succeed, you must have goals with timelines, otherwise they will never get done. Set clear goals, achieve them, and move on to the next ones!
Love and Embrace Processes
Processes are what make your business sustainable and scalable, so embrace them! Yes, it can be difficult, but the long-term payoff is well worth it!
Communicate
Communication, communication, communication – you must excel at communication with your team, your vendors, your customers, etc. If you wish to succeed, you must communicate well.
Love What You Do
If you don’t love what you do, what’s the point? If you don’t love what you do, you’re in the wrong business. If, however, you truly love what you do, nothing will stop you and you will find a way to win!
In this podcast, small business owner Jeremy Pence of Spidermen Services shares his journey to business ownership and how he built his business! Jeremy moved to a new state and started his business from the ground up and in this podcast, he will share how he did it! Remember to like, comment, and share! For more great content, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Take the Plunge
Yes, always have a gameplan, but at some point you just have to commit and make the decision. You know when you get there and when you feel it, trust your gut and make the commitment! You will be thankful you did.
Delegate
Yes, it is difficult giving up control of your business to someone else, but that is what must happen if you are to grow and scale your business. Delegate specific tasks and responsibilities, or outsource it, as doing so will help you thrive in the long run!
Don’t Give Up
There will be tough times in your business but you must stay strong. If you have a passion, you can and you must pull through. Yes, it may be difficult, but when you have achieved your vision, you will be beyond thankful you persevered!
In this podcast, Bobby Gladu of Artisan Masonry shares his story on how he built his business from the ground up, literally growing from one trailer and a wheelbarrow to over 120 employees! Below are his suggestions for what small business owners should implement right away but before you do, make sure to like, comment, and share as well as sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Be the Leader
As a small business owner, it is your responsibility to lead your business. Bear this duty with honor, and lead your team to success!
Hire the Right People
Business ownership is a team sport; if you can’t build a good team, you can’t win. Hiring the right people allows you to increase capacity and scale your business, so it is absolutely 100% essential!
Do What’s Right
Do the right thing everyday and good things will happen to you; it’s really that simple. Don’t compromise who you are, simply stick to your guns and do so with integrity and everything will work out just fine!
In this podcast, John Beaman discuss a few of the components of the customer journey map from a 40,000ft level and shares the five steps of the customer journey map. Below are his suggestions for what small business owners should implement right away but before you do, make sure to like, comment, and share as well as sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Build Your Customer Avatar
Before you can build any kind of real marketing effort, you need to know who your perfect client really is. If you don’t know this, nothing you do will succeed. So take some time and build a detailed customer profile!
Know the Emotional Triggers
Humans are emotional beings, and purchases are consequently emotional as well. If you want to generate the best results from your marketing efforts, know what emotions your prospects experience and guide them to the right conclusion. Knowing their emotional state will help you to better solve their problems!
Focus on the Loyalty Loop
Once a customer purchases from you, you have shown them how great you are – use this to your advantage! Identify the ways in which you can make that customer buy from you again, again, and again – this can cut out 40% or more of the customer journey map and save you much time, money, and headache in your marketing efforts!
In this podcast, Kyleen Andrews joined us to discuss her journey to small business ownership and share what it was like going from employee to employer! Kyleen had a few very specific insights for those starting a business and even a few insights for those who have been operating for a few years! Remember to like, comment, and share to help other small business owners! Sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.comfor more great insights!
Have a Strong Why
If your why isn’t strong enough, your business will die off because you will lack the passion to push through. If your why is your true passion, however, nothing will stop you from achieving your goals!
Grow and Learn – Always
If you’re not growing, you’re dying – it’s a painful reality of our world. Never stop learning, never stop growing. As soon as you’ve mastered one thing, seek to master another because this is how we increase our scale and scope!
Recognize That You Can’t Know Everything
Simply recognizing this will help you shift your train of thought from “how do I do this” to “who can I hire to do to this,” and this is the key to growth! Delegating various roles and responsibilities to others will allow you to focus on building your business which unlocks the next level of growth!
Give Up Control
Over what you can’t control – that is the key! Focus on what you can control and do not stress about the other stuff. Yes, be aware of it and influence it when you can, but realize that it is outside of your control and that your efforts are better spent elsewhere.
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, small business owner Tom Burke shares his journey of business ownership! Tom is starting a new business in the northwest and shares how he started and is building his small business! Enjoy this podcast and listen to the story of this new American Dream being born! Below are Tom’s insights and if you want more great content like this, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com! Like, comment, and share to help support Tom in his business venture!
Build a Great Team
Team management is essential to small business ownership, even if you are a solopreneur. Why? Because at some point in time in some way, you are dependent on other people. Therefore, build a good team you can trust!
Build Community
Your community is a great resource for your business if you know how to connect properly. Give back to your community, invest in it, and it will return the favor to you and your business!
Be Kind to Yourself
As a business owner, you are going to make a mistake or two – rather than beating yourself up, simply adapt and make a change; beating yourself up accomplishes nothing. Be kind to yourself and don’t be afraid of making the mistake; just don’t make the same mistake time and time again.
In this podcast, we discuss a few of the insights some of our previous podcast guests have shared with us and what these insights mean for the small business owner. More specifically, we talk about four key things: being precise, having a strong business plan, having a clear marketing plan, and focusing on building the business as systems and processes. As we small business owners do this, we will be able to scale our businesses and achieve our dreams because we will have success that is repeatable, predictable, and sustainable! Focus on building a business, not a job, and you can achieve your American Dream too! Like, comment, and share and also remember to sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
In this podcast, small business owner Anthony Siciliano shares his journey to small business ownership and his passion to chase his dreams! Anthony shares some of the highs and lows one can expect in business ownership as well as his three tips for small business owners to implement! Remember to like, comment, and share! To get more great content like this, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Be Precise
Whenever you have a goal in mind, or ask for help, or anything of the like, make sure you are precise. When you are precise, you have a specific target that is easy to see and understand! When you are vague, not only will you have a hard time achieving your goal, but others won’t be able to help you either.
Love It
Whatever you do, make sure you love it! If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life! Moreover, people will know your true passion, so make sure that you love your business if you want it to be your dream!
Keep Good, Clean Records
Too many small business owners fail to keep clean records and it often comes back to haunt them. Don’t allow yourself to fall into this category. Keep good records, and watch your achievements grow!
In this podcast, Randy Rhew, owner of Randy Rhew Farmers Insurance Agency, shares his story of small business ownership, why he has the desire to own a business, and what has helped him succeed and thrive in the insurance world! Randy has experience in the corporate world with Xerox and as a small business owner, so he has seen both sides of the equation! Remember to like, comment, and share! To get more great content like this, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Build a Business Plan
Build a good business plan because it is the foundation for your business. Building a good business plan empowers you and your team members to grow and thrive, otherwise you may be wandering around, wondering if your hard work is paying off at all.
Build a Marketing Plan
How do you reach your prospects? What converts them to customers? How long should this take? A good marketing plan will tell you these things and what you need to do to acquire new customers. Using a strong marketing plan makes your whole business stronger!
Plant Your Roots
Plant your roots in your community and really engage it. Yes, it is a long-term strategy, but so is business ownership, so it should be an easy choice. Engaging your community gives you credibility and more loyal customers, so whichever community you are part of, be sure to engage and contribute to it.
In this podcast, Dave Barta, CFO at Exterran Corporation, joins us to discuss his business journey and some of the differences as well as similarities between large corporations and small businesses! Dave has extensive experience in both realms and shares his insights in this podcast! To get more great content like this, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Plan
Yes, plans change and our surroundings change, but you must have a plan and structure to succeed. Failing to plan is planning to fail – it’s as simple as that. You must plan for your success to identify what you need to do each day in order to achieve your greatest goals!
Profit is Good
We are all in business to earn a profit – embrace it proudly! When we conduct business and we profit from it, that means someone else perceived a gain in some value; restated, the parties involved in the transaction both benefitted and improved. This is the goal of business: mutual success and mutual profit!
Employ the Best
Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you and, in some cases, are better than you. This will allow you to grow and scale your business! Don’t fall into the trap of hiring down; that never wins in the long-run. Always hire up!
In this podcast, Laura Knotts of the Madison-Rivergate Area Chamber of Commerce joined us to share her small business life story and as well as more information about her Chamber! Laura also shared some great insights for small business owners which you can read below! To get more great educational content like this, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Join Your Local Chamber
Any small business owner looking to connect with their community on a deeper level should join their local Chamber of Commerce. Doing so doesn’t waive a magic wand over the business, but it certainly provides great opportunities to grow, a model that historically works very well.
Mange Your Work/Life Balance
As a small business owner, you wear many hats at one time. However, you must also take time to nourish yourself. You cannot sustain 24-hour days forever, so be sure to take care of yourself too.
Understand Personalities
You will meet a variety of personalities throughout the business world, so learn to be comfortable working and communicating with different ones. This will help you increase your reach and greatly improve your ability to grow your business through improved communication!
In this podcast, Victor Cantu of Toro Steam Cleaning joins us to share his business journey and what inspired him to start and build his own small business! As always, Victor also shares his insights for small business owners which you can listen to right here! For more great content like this, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Get a CRM Now
It doesn’t have to be a big, complex CRM (customer relationship management) system, but get something that works. This will help you understand your clients, serve them better, and grow your business!
Live Within the Business’s Budget
Don’t work from a budget you want, but rather work from the budget you have. Working backwards will help you maintain discipline and make better business decisions which will pay dividends in the future!
When You Hire, Hire Them, Train Them, and Trust Them
Hire, train, trust – that is the model for growing your team. Everyone will be different and it’s up to you as a small business owner to harness the power of your team! Hire, train, trust – empower your team and they will empower your business!
In this episode of Real Small Business, veteran and small business owner Jeff Skinner joins us to discuss his experiences in business and what inspired him to start, own, and operate his business! Jeff owns Black Level AV and is very involved in his community! Listen to the full podcast to hear his story and read below for his tips! Sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com for more great content like this!
Start with a Relationship Mindset
Be authentic but build your business by building business relationships. Build your business with the right mindset and this will catapult your business to the next level. However, do not be insincere at all – people will catch on and it will damage your brand.
Understand Finances (especially taxes)
Know your financial situation, plan it, and track it. This is hugely important because it will impact your cash flow, especially when planning for taxes. These can be significant expenditures but with proper planning, you can handle it and thrive!
Get Buy-In from Family
When you start a small business, it is a family commitment, so make sure that you get them on board and totally supportive of it. When your family supports you in your business ventures, you are empowered to take your business to the level you envision.
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, John Beaman discusses our most recent podcast, our upcoming seminar series, and a new certification course that small business owners can take to create structure in their businesses. In a nutshell, John discusses the podcast with Bruce Fain and why it resonates on a deeper level. John also talks about Bruce’s upcoming seminar series with Turtle Creek Financial Group and why it relates to the small business owner. The six-part series starts on June 3rd and you can watch live on Facebook and YouTube!
Also, John briefly discussed The McGraw Council’s new program in which small businesses can earn a Certificate of Excellence. In this program, small business owners build and create structure with help in a supportive environment so that the business can become a successful system that works beyond one or two people. Visit www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com to learn more and subscribe for more great, helpful content!
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Bruce Fain of Turtle Creek Financial Group shares his business journey and his insights for small business owners! Sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com for small business support, resources, and more!
Pray
Bruce is truly devoted to his faith and integrates into his lifestyle and business practices. Bruce starts every day with prayer and ensures that his faith is always a driving force for his business to keep it on the right course!
Plan
Plan, plan, and then plan – having dreams is a wonderful thing but they do not come to fruition without planning. Make a good plan, and then take action! However, remember that you are not writing a dust collection; use your plan and leverage it!
Persevere
Life will always have a moment or two when it tries to keep you down. When this happens, push through and persevere! This is where the faith and planning come into play – with the right foundation you can push through!
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Tim Cypert of Cypert Insurance shares his life journey and how he ultimately became a small business owner. Tim shared the highs, the lows, what inspired him to be a business owner, and then he also shared his three tips for small business owners! Sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com for small business support, resources, and more!
Make Sure Your Spouse is On Board
Before you start a business, make sure your spouse is 100% on board before you start. Owning a small business is exhilarating and can be incredibly rewarding, but it will also have its great challenges. If you have a spouse, it is imperative that you make sure you are both 100% supportive of the endeavor because it will impact both of you as well as your family.
Have a Work Ethic
This should go without saying, but it is a common problem. Word hard on the little things and all of the big things will come together. Simple things like returning phone calls quickly (within 24 hours) can do wonders but you have to work it because it won’t happen by itself.
Give More Than You Receive
Always strive to give back more than you receive. Why? For one, it’s simply a good thing to do to serve and help others as we have been called to do. Secondly, it always comes back to help you accomplish your goals. Give back and watch the magic happen!
In this episode, Dr. Asa Hadsell joins us as he shares his small business journey and his experience in business ownership! Dr. Asa is a former Big 4 tax consultant and is now a small business owner! Dr. Asa shares his tips for small business owners which are below but, if you want the full context, listen to the podcast above! For more free help and support, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Focus on Serving Others
When you focus on serving others, success follows; it is a very common pattern in humanity. That being said, serving others does not inherently mean being a martyr. Lead through service, give back, but realize it does not inherently mean being the martyr.
Get a Mentor
There is a saying, “the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago… the second best time is now.” This applies to finding a business coach and/or mentor – surround yourself with good people you can trust and watch yourself grow!
Control Your Personal Finances First
If you cannot manage your personal finances, you are not yet ready to manage a business’s finances. Once you have control over your own finances, then you can start to think about starting a business but until then, ensure you have control over your own finances first.
Be Willing to Grow – Personally
Yes, growth is a part of business, but this also includes personal growth. You must be willing to grow personally, and you must seek growth. If you do not grow personally, you cannot grow your team, which means you cannot grow your business.
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Mike Ross of 91 Media joins us to share his business life story! Mike is an entrepreneur who helps small businesses communicate and build relationships with their customers but, as of late, Mike has expanded into the world of apps which he discusses! Mike also shares his insights for small business owners and if you want to get more of this applicable help, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Build Processes
Mike stresses the importance of building processes – not only does this make your business scalable and a real business, but it also saves you massive time. If you do not have your business built on processes yet, you should begin to build your processes immediately.
Delegate
Whenever you can delegate tasks and responsibilities that others can do without compromising quality, do it immediately. This will allow you to focus on building your business, which is a role that only you can perform and perform well. Delegate whatever you can so that you can put your time and energy towards growing your business.
Implement Agreements
Although it may seem unnecessary at times, if you provide a service, be sure to implement clear and enforceable agreements. Not only will this help you collect payment but it will also help you avoid various legal issues. Implementing clear agreements will support your processes around product/service delivery and will help you keep your business moving forward!
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Gerald Hendrik of Rockwall Wealth Advisors joins us to share his business journey and his tips for small business owners! Gerald started his small business during the pandemic but was building it years in advance! Watch the full podcast to learn how Gerald did it successfully! For more insights and guidance, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Enjoy the Grind
As Gerald says, if you want to succeed as a small business owner, you must enjoy the grind. Why? Because it is going to be a grind each and every day. If you enjoy the grind, you will enjoy your business! If you enjoy your business, you are more likely to succeed!
Just Start
As Gerald notes and discusses throughout the podcast, when the stars align, pull the trigger and get going! Yes, have a plan in place with a very clear vision, but when the stars align and everything checks out, overcome any potential fear and pull the trigger!
Be an Expert
Gerald says this should go without saying but, sadly, too many small business owners start before they are an expert and what happens is that they end up losing their dream. If you are consistently one of the most knowledgeable people about your craft, that’s a great sign. If, however, you disproportionately find yourself asking for help or advice about your specific craft, you may want to wait to start your own business. Patience is a virtue!
Small business owner Colin Clemitson of www.growcashflow.net joined us on our podcast to share his small business life story, how his business helps other businesses, as well as his insights for other small business owners. To get more insights on business, best practices, insights, and more, sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com and get started today! Again, thank you to our sponsors who made this podcast possible!
Build Your Customer Avatar
If you do not have a customer avatar built for your business yet, start building it as soon as possible. This customer avatar does not limit your ability to serve others outside of the avatar but it gives you a very good reference point to target as your ideal client.
Differentiate Your Offering
You must differentiate your offering in your customers’ eyes. This differentiation must be something truly unique otherwise you will enter commodity space. When this transpires, you enter a price war, and that is not profitable space for small businesses.
Test Your Productivity
For one day this week, test your productivity by measuring your revenue-generating activities. Start off by measuring what you accomplish every 15 minutes for one workday (eight hours). If you find that less than 20% of your time is spent on revenue-generating activities, you likely need to adjust your schedule. Your efforts must contribute to revenue growth or your business will not thrive.
In this podcast, Zac Wilcox with Wilcox Consulting joins us to discuss his business life story and his business journey! Zac owns a young business and shares what it looks like to own and operate such a young consulting business while also sharing his three tips for small business owners! For more great content and other small business support, sign up to receive our newsletter at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Institutionalize Your Purpose
If you wish to achieve your vision and take it to its maximum potential, you must institutionalize your vision. You must make it part of the fabric of your business as this will ensure you live your vision throughout your business! Note, however, that this does not mean bureaucratizing your business – list to the full podcast to learn the difference.
Don’t Overwork
Yes, you must be willing to put in the long hours and long days to succeed but identify what you mean specifically when you say success. It will take time and effort to get where you want to go but realize that operating at a sustainable pace will be important for your success.
Align Your Values
If you have not recently done so, do a quick evaluation within your business to see if it is truly aligned. If your stated values and the values your employees act out do not align, you must seek to remedy this right away. An aligned business is secure, whereas a misaligned business is vulnerable.
In this podcast, Dr. Shah Khan shares his small business journey in the startup mode! Dr. Shah is in the middle of starting his business and he shares a glimpse into the process of starting a small business. Moreover, Dr. Shah also shares his tips for small business owners! Remember to sign up at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.comto receive great content like this as well as how you can incorporate it into your business!
Find Good Mentors
Dr. Shah shares how important good mentors are to an individual’s and business’s success. Surround yourself with people you want to become; by doing so, you will empower yourself to grow and thrive!
Feel the Pain
When you are experiencing pain, know that it can actually be a very good thing. As people, we don’t grow when we’re comfortable but rather when we’re uncomfortable. If you are experiencing pain, strive to use it for your growth and how else you can use it for your success!
Discipline
Discipline is essential to success and it must be implemented across your business. One prime example of using discipline to succeed is ensuring you consistently enforce your standards and procedures; this produces consistency in your business. Discipline will not only help you grow and improve as an individual but it will also help you thrive!
In this podcast, small business owner Savannah Hill shares her experiences in small business and how she built the business of her dreams! Moreover, Savannah also shares a few tips for small business owners and what it meant for her, especially during a crazy year like 2020. Below is the summary but definitely listen the full audio for a great story! Thank you to a sponsors Acciva, JobFormance, McGraw Capital Partners, and Merchant Masters for making this podcast available! Sign up to get free business help at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Network
Regardless of your business, Savannah notes the importance of networking, especially in your local community. Even if you serve a large geography, you will have a local home base so-to-speak, so definitely network in various groups and especially the local groups!
Set Goals, Especially for Your Education
Set goals for yourself and your business but especially for your own education. It is imperative that you continually learn so that you can be in the best position possible to succeed! However, this is does not happen by itself; set goals for yourself to learn so that you will continually improve and grow!
Hire the Help
It is difficult to do at times but, as a small business owner, you must be willing to hire help that you can outsource. This will allow you to focus on what only you can do and will help you scale your business.
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Per Angerstig joins us to share his life experiences in small business ownership and what he has learned in his career. Per is a very talented individual with a wide variety of experiences and from his experiences, Per learned a few key things that he shares with you! Join us at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com to partake in a mentor group to implement these components into your business!
Be Passionate
As a small business owner, you should be passionate about your business – it is vital to your success! Moreover, you should be passionate about the business, not the money; the money will follow if you are good at your business. As the business owner, it is up to you to be to the most passionate individual in your organization!
Understanding the Timing of Your Success
Most small business owners overestimate how fast they will succeed in the short run but massively underestimate their projected success over an extended period of time, such as 10 years. It is important to understand this because success takes time. You can, however, enjoy great success in the long run if you stay persistent!
Get the Right People
It is imperative to the success of your business that you get the right people on your team. If you get the wrong people, not only will you identify it very quickly, but it can also destroy your culture very quickly. Get the right people on your team and it can make all the difference in your business!
In this podcast, Preston Wetherington of NiftyFifty Solutions joins us to share his small business story as well as his tips for small business owners! Thank you to our sponsors Acciva, JobFormance, McGraw Capital Partners, and Merchant Masters for making this podcast possible! Join The McGraw Council today at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Sleep
If you are to function at max capacity and efficiency as an individual, you must get sleep and rest. Yes, there are definitely seasons when you will work the extra hours, but you must be able to get sleep and stay rested as it is essential for your success.
Trust Your Team
This can be difficult for small business owners but it is vitally important to your success. If you cannot trust your team, you either need to improve your ability to delegate and trust or you have brought on the wrong team members. Regardless, learn to give your trust to those who have earned it.
Establish Relationships
Regardless of whether it is personal or professional, build your relationship network. These are real relationships with real people, and the right relationships will help you become a better individual and a better business owner. Therefore, establish strong relationships!
This is a short podcast discussing a few takeaways from our mentor groups this past week. During this week’s meetings, a few things that really stood out were the “I think” vs “I know” thought process, the importance of continuous learning, and the importance of having plans in writing. These are all important and relevant to the small business owner. If you want to join a group, simply sign up at Join The Council - The McGraw Council, Inc.!
One of the reasons why having plans in writing resonated with me so much is because how often I see them lacking. Almost half of the small business owners I talk to don’t have a business plan in writing, only about 20% have a real marketing plan, and probably less than 15% have a true financial plan for their business. These plans are not weights holding you back but rather tools to help succeed; if you do not have them, it is imperative that you get them written ASAP. Remember, it is your responsibility as a business owner to drive your business forward, and these plans will enable you to do so.
In this podcast, small business owner Rob Kochanski in Wisconsin shares his business life story! He shares how he got into small business, what he does, and why he loves it! He also shares his tips for small business owners, so be sure to listen and hear the details! Join The McGraw Council today at www.themcgrawcouncil.comto receive all of our business support and assistance!
Surround Yourself with Good People
Surrounding yourself with good people is imperative to your success. You will learn from the people with whom you spend time, so make sure they are good people who bring you up!
Be a Reader
One way to learn something new continually is to read, and it doesn’t have to be a lot. Simply reading 10 pages a day of a new book is a great way to learn!
Be Self-Aware
You must be self-aware if you are to succeed in business. If you do not know yourself, you cannot succeed or lead other people. Self-awareness is pivotal to succeeding in business ownership, so be sure to know yourself!
Celebrate Success
Even if it’s a small success, take time to celebrate and recognize it! It doesn’t take long and it is big for your positivity! Take some time to celebrate that which you accomplish!
In this episode of Real Small Business, Leah Hoppes of Vision Force Marketing joins us to share her life story of business – why she got into small business, the highs and lows, what she does specifically, as well as her tips for small business owners which you can find below! Remember to like, comment, and share as we all unite to help small business owners achieve their American Dream! Join us today at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com!
Setup Your Google Profile
Make sure to setup your google page as it helps your customers find you – more specifically, it increases your reach and visibility. This is particularly important if you are a local business but can be very useful for wider regions as well.
Audit Your Website
Make sure that your website is properly linked, updated, and secured – you can do some of this on your own, but you may find it beneficial to consult with your web builder. Your web builder know exactly what you mean when you say you would like to audit your website but definitely follow up on this as it will help you become more visible to your customers.
Setup Analytics Pages
Be sure to setup Google and Bing analytics for your website as this will tell you very valuable information such as which pages are viewed most, how long the average use is, where the traffic is coming from, and much, much more. This, in turn, will help you identify where business comes from as well as what you can do to improve and grow your business.
Ensure All Information Matches
Ensure that all information matches across all of your public information; if your address says “St.” rather than “Street”, make sure it is the same across all of your platforms. Even small differences like this can disrupt the major algorithms and reduce your visibility, so ensuring that all information matches is not merely dotting i’s and crossing t’s but rather ensuring you are as visible as possible.
Shane Hollas, a small business owner in Texas, shares his life story and experiences of working in and with small businesses as well as how it relates to his corporate work in the past! Shane owns a Maaco franchise as well as another small business and he shares how he built, and continues to build, those businesses as well as his three tips for small business owners! Join The McGraw Council today at www.TheMcgrawCouncil.com to achieve your American Dream!
Work “On” Your Business
Take time to be strategic and evaluate where your business is going, what drives it, and how you will react to the various external forces around you. Taking this time to be strategic is something only you can do effectively because you are the business owner, so be sure to use this time to position your business well!
Control Your Finances
Even if you have a bookkeeper, CPA, or even a CFO, know and control your finances. If you don’t know your finances, you won’t be able to control them and your business’s life depends on your ability to do so. Know and control your finances!
Know It’s a Daily Challenge
Owning and running a small business is not easy – and it never will be. Know that when you start your small business journey, you are committing to a life filled with daily challenges but, you can overcome them! Recognize the difficulties and proceed to the solutions while keep your spirits high!
In this episode of Real Small Business with The McGraw Council, Tim Nichols of 3 Million Percent joins us to share his business life story as well as his tips for small business owners! Tim shares what his path to business ownership looked like and includes some incredible background, especially as he shares the highs and lows! Join The McGraw Council at www.themcgrawcouncil.com today receive more insights, free products/services, and more!
Be Bold
Tim stresses the importance of being bold in your business – you cannot afford to stay in the comfort zone. If you truly want to grow your business and take it to the next level, you must be bold!
Build Community
Build community among your customers, prospects, and other people you meet and with whom you regularly interact. Building community is essential so you do not become isolated but also to make working with you a better experience for others which, in turn, will lead to more opportunity for you!
Never Stop Learning
No matter what, always ensure you are learning something new. When you stop learning, you miss out on various opportunities to grow and thrive. Perhaps even worse, if you stop learning, your competition will overtake you; therefore, never stop learning!
Get Coaching
View your business the same way you view athletes – even the best athletes have coaches, even the ones who are seasoned veterans. Coaches can help you see different things in different perspectives and this will help you improve and grow!
In this podcast, Susan Boles of Scale Spark joins us on our podcast as she shares her background and business expertise, ranging from military to data management to CFO services! Susan joins us from Arkansas for a very fascinating podcast! Below are her three tips for small business owners as well! Subscribe at www.themcgrawcouncil.com to get all the latest small business support!
Know Your Numbers
You do not need to know every number about your business, but you should know the basic ones such as net profits and profit margins. Also, make sure you know what these numbers mean to you and your business.
Know How Your Business Supports You
Businesses must create a profit or support you in way that is truly benefiting you. If the business is not supporting you, you probably need to make a few significant changes.
Have Fun and Experiment
Try new things, do some small tests, and track your results; this will not only keep it fun and engaging but also serve a definitive purpose in giving you insight into you business and what your customers like about it! This, in turn, makes your business even better!
Doc Rannigan of Doc's Roofing in Rockwall, TX joins us to share his business experiences as well as his advice for small business owners! Join The McGraw Council today at www.themcgrawcouncil.com to receive the latest updates and advice for small business!
H.A.L.T. Hungry, angry, lonely, or tired - if you feel any of these emotions, immediately HALT and analyze why. Doing so will help you avoid making bad decisions!
Remember to Take Time for Yourself Just as you care for other people, you must remember to care for yourself. If you're unable to care for yourself, you will not be able to support your team, your family, your friends, or anyone else effectively. Therefore, be sure to care for yourself.
Stay Consistent It takes time to succeed - it is very rarely achieved overnight. If you are not sticking to your plans consistently, you will never know if you are achieving them successfully.