When Your Business Needs Professional Help
Perception Lab, Inc. –– The secure way to grow your business℠
We've all experienced this: your coughing and wheezing; you go to the doctor. Your car suddenly refuses to start; you take it to the dealer. Like many folks, you've tried to loose weight and can't; you join a gym and work with a professional trainer. Your tooth is really beginning to give you trouble, and so you book an appointment with your dentist. Sounds about right, right? Right.
The common line in all the above was this: at some point, you figured it out that you needed professional help. In most of the cases I cited, it was about real physical discomfort (or just pure frustration). But what about your businesses? How long will you put up with your situation's "pain?" It sounds funny, but for some of you, you haven't suffered enough! That is, to realize you need professional help. Read on.
What form does "professional assistance" take with small businesses?
Ah, that's a GREAT question. So how do you tell if you're in need of professional assistance? Hmmmm. Very subjective territory. It's difficult to say UNLESS one has worked with many business across the US from a wide variety of industries and who is able to predict the likely scenarios which warrant such assistance; in this case, that would be your humble ezine consultant (me). :-)
Here are the major symptoms that indicate you are ready for professional assistance. But that's too easy. Let's a make it interactive: I've given you the top 9.5 reasons for seeking professional assistance for your business. All you have to do is read each rationale, if it applies to you, add to your overall score. So, be brutally honest with yourself, right? Right. Let's get started.
Your score is now zero. Start reading and adding (as appropriate).
1. Your business has never been professionally assessed regarding how your market views your business vs. how you want it to be viewed
If this applies to your business, add 5 to your score now.
2. You have no customer feedback data on a regular monthly basis being used to plot your business' growth strategy
If this applies to your business, add 5 to your score now.
3. You presently have zero alliances or joint ventures actively sending you new business
If this applies to your business, add 4 to your score now.
4. You have little repeat business or referrals from past clients
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
5. Your ads stink (you know it and someone has told you so) and generate little new business
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
6. You've tried as much as you know to grow your business and have had really poor results
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
7. Your people need training for customer care, account management or project management, but you don't know where to start
If this applies to your business, add 2 to your score now.
8. You thought the business was going great until suddenly your sales began to free fall and the end is not yet in sight
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
9. You do not have an advisory board OR your management team does not have expertise in growing a services businesses
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
9.5 You have zero financial buffer (no cash saved up) and sales are declining
If this applies to your business, add 5 to your score now.
Score Your Business: Add up your scores and see if your business qualifies for professional assistance.
If you scored 35 or better:
DOA: Your business is about to implode unless you act today! Seriously, it may be too late. Let's discuss it.
If you scored 27 - 34
Bleeding Out: You are in bad shape and need help immediately. Call me.
If you scored 18 - 26
Limping: You need help and should get started soon. Send me an email about what you have going on.
If you scored 9 -17
Sore Muscles: You're on the right track, but could easily benefit from coaching. Drop me a note about your business.
If you scored < 9
Pretty much fit. Congratulations! Call me, and we'll talk about partnering together.
™© 2006 All Rights Reserved Perception Lab, Inc.
We've all experienced this: your coughing and wheezing; you go to the doctor. Your car suddenly refuses to start; you take it to the dealer. Like many folks, you've tried to loose weight and can't; you join a gym and work with a professional trainer. Your tooth is really beginning to give you trouble, and so you book an appointment with your dentist. Sounds about right, right? Right.
The common line in all the above was this: at some point, you figured it out that you needed professional help. In most of the cases I cited, it was about real physical discomfort (or just pure frustration). But what about your businesses? How long will you put up with your situation's "pain?" It sounds funny, but for some of you, you haven't suffered enough! That is, to realize you need professional help. Read on.
What form does "professional assistance" take with small businesses?
Ah, that's a GREAT question. So how do you tell if you're in need of professional assistance? Hmmmm. Very subjective territory. It's difficult to say UNLESS one has worked with many business across the US from a wide variety of industries and who is able to predict the likely scenarios which warrant such assistance; in this case, that would be your humble ezine consultant (me). :-)
Here are the major symptoms that indicate you are ready for professional assistance. But that's too easy. Let's a make it interactive: I've given you the top 9.5 reasons for seeking professional assistance for your business. All you have to do is read each rationale, if it applies to you, add to your overall score. So, be brutally honest with yourself, right? Right. Let's get started.
Your score is now zero. Start reading and adding (as appropriate).
1. Your business has never been professionally assessed regarding how your market views your business vs. how you want it to be viewed
If this applies to your business, add 5 to your score now.
2. You have no customer feedback data on a regular monthly basis being used to plot your business' growth strategy
If this applies to your business, add 5 to your score now.
3. You presently have zero alliances or joint ventures actively sending you new business
If this applies to your business, add 4 to your score now.
4. You have little repeat business or referrals from past clients
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
5. Your ads stink (you know it and someone has told you so) and generate little new business
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
6. You've tried as much as you know to grow your business and have had really poor results
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
7. Your people need training for customer care, account management or project management, but you don't know where to start
If this applies to your business, add 2 to your score now.
8. You thought the business was going great until suddenly your sales began to free fall and the end is not yet in sight
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
9. You do not have an advisory board OR your management team does not have expertise in growing a services businesses
If this applies to your business, add 3 to your score now.
9.5 You have zero financial buffer (no cash saved up) and sales are declining
If this applies to your business, add 5 to your score now.
Score Your Business: Add up your scores and see if your business qualifies for professional assistance.
If you scored 35 or better:
DOA: Your business is about to implode unless you act today! Seriously, it may be too late. Let's discuss it.
If you scored 27 - 34
Bleeding Out: You are in bad shape and need help immediately. Call me.
If you scored 18 - 26
Limping: You need help and should get started soon. Send me an email about what you have going on.
If you scored 9 -17
Sore Muscles: You're on the right track, but could easily benefit from coaching. Drop me a note about your business.
If you scored < 9
Pretty much fit. Congratulations! Call me, and we'll talk about partnering together.
™© 2006 All Rights Reserved Perception Lab, Inc.
posted by Mark Stephen Ware @ 12:43 AM
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