Brian Moran

Love the analogy. Just remember...when traveling on your path to success, respect the rules of the road and enjoy the journey.

Communication is a dialogue, not a monologue. I will ask business owners, "How well do you know your customers?" "What are the different reasons they buy from you?" "What other companies do they consider when making a purchase?" The more you know about your customers, the more you communicate with them, the better your chances for success. On social media, where are the important conversations taking place? Don't post on FB if everyone is on Instagram. Also, have an "A" list of the top people in your ecosystem. Use social media to stay on their radar screens in a non-invasive way. Emails, texts, and phone calls can be "invasive" communications, but most people like recognition when they post online.

Strategy and planning for small businesses happens in the clouds. They need to take a 20k foot view of their ecosystem to identify where they've been, where they are now, where they want to be at the end of 2024--and then write a GPS Plan that details their path, month by month, to success. The plan included 9 key components (the core four are: sales, brand, financial, and HR). They also must play the "What if" game because business rarely goes according to plan "A." Lastly, never go to the clouds of business alone--go with advisors and key members of their team--so they don't miss anything. Once the GPS Plan is set, drop down into the weeds of business and execute like hell! This is what we teach at www.bricksorsticks.com

Nobody should ever be offered a job based solely on their social media presence. However, there are plenty of candidates who've lost job opportunities based on what they say and do on social media. I believe that a strong social media presence can open lots of doors for candidates; it may even get them an interview. They still need to nail the in-person (or Zoom) meeting and have solid references. In other words, be the complete package, and not just a highlight reel.

I have a real estate client that started her agency in 2020 and has grown her business by double digits in each of the last three years, including 2023...by being a contrarian. It's easy to do when every other agent posts the same gimmicky videos and print ads that shine a spotlight on them. My client works her butt off to make sure deals don't fall through. She attends local events, donates her time and gifts to local charities, and walks around her towns to stop in and say hi to local business owners. When she closes a deal, she asks for an online review. Today, she has almost 100 5-star reviews. Her secret? She's genuine & sincere while also being disciplined and committed. No gimmicks!

Less than 5% of all business owners are entrepreneurs. About 80% are small business owners and 15%, and growing, are a segment I call "passionate business owners." Part of the stress comes from not knowing or understanding what type of business owner one is...which is critical when they come to forks in the road (hire new employees, open a new location, launch a new product or service). In the future, you should consider addressing the group in your questions as "business owners." Most stress for business owners comes from (1) not knowing where they want to be at the end of the year, (2) not knowing how they will arrive there successfully, and (3) Not knowing what obstacles will be in their path to success. Fear of the unknown!