| How many times have you heard or even said at | | | | their special offers on the designated date did not |
| a business networking event or when talking with | | | | make good on their promise? And what is even |
| another small business owner: I want my business | | | | more interesting, every one of those small |
| to grow but I can't do this or can't do that? Just | | | | business owners who failed to make good on |
| think about how much all those buts and cant's | | | | their promise had personally told me one of the |
| are costing you? | | | | following statements: |
| Part of my marketing plan is to use public | | | | - I want to grow my business, but I got busy! |
| speaking as a way to secure new clients. | | | | - I want to grow my business, but I ran out of |
| Recently, I am organizing another speaking event | | | | time! |
| and had the opportunity to provide the | | | | - I want to grow my business, but the person |
| participants with information about other small | | | | who used to do that is no longer here! |
| business services. | | | | - I want to grow my business, but my plate is full! |
| Since I am fairly well networked, I contacted | | | | - I want to grow my business, but I forgot! (I |
| various small business owners who might be | | | | sent 2 emails and made one phone call to remind |
| interested in providing something of value to be | | | | everyone) |
| given to each of the 30 participants. I contacted | | | | These small business owners then asked me |
| only business owners who I knew were actively | | | | when I was available to receive their special |
| targeting this demographic and psychographic | | | | offers? Not only had they ignored the initial 2 |
| market. | | | | week time frame, but they wanted me to |
| Each small business owner had 2 weeks to put | | | | accommodate them even more! Once again, the |
| something together for what I called Business | | | | Yes, but excuse raised its ugly head. |
| Building Opportunity bag. The participants who had | | | | What I have learned from this experience, is that |
| registered for this forthcoming speaking event | | | | at least 50% of small business owners be them |
| were all other small business owners, | | | | real estate agents, Realtors, financial advisors, |
| entrepreneurs, real estate agents, Realtors, new | | | | new car salesmen, new car saleswomen or |
| car salesmen, new car sales women and | | | | professional sales executives truly do not want to |
| professional sales executives. | | | | take the actions necessary to build their |
| Now if someone presented you with the | | | | businesses. They live with the Yes I want to |
| opportunity to directly reach 30 of your targeted | | | | grow my business, but victim mentality where |
| market what would be your response. Mine would | | | | everything is beyond their control. |
| have been: And where do you want me to | | | | If you want to be the exception, then remove |
| deliver this and is tomorrow OK? | | | | the Yes I want to grow my business, but from |
| Would you belief that 50% of those small | | | | your thoughts and take advantage of every |
| business owners who I contacted and personally | | | | opportunity. You will see your sales soar. |
| spoke with promised me that they would have | | | | |