Shawn Doyle has been running his own profitable business for 12 years, and he’s learned a few things about making it happen.
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In July 2014 my business hurdled across an important landmark; I’ve been my own boss for 12 full years. Business is amazing. Revenue and profit are at record levels.
It’s not what you want to sell; it’s what your customers want to buy.
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As a professional speaker and trainer, I have engagements already booked through first quarter of next year. Lately people have begun noticing my prosperous little business and have started asking questions: “What is your secret?” and “How have you built a business from nothing to something? This gave me pause to think and to articulate the five key principles I have used to build my business:
#1 Listen to your customers.
It’s not what you want to sell; it’s what your customers want to buy. The best ideas (if you are listening carefully) come from your best customers. I have a Leadership Development program that I conduct for my clients across the country. One day I got a call from a training Director and he said “This may sound crazy, but would you be willing to license your program to us so we can conduct it on our own?” Fast forward to eighteen months later, I have 2 large clients on multi- year licensing agreements for my products and I have several more in discussion. Translation: generate additional revenue without having to actually be present. I don’t know if I ever would have thought of this on my own.
Question: What are your customers telling you that you are not hearing?
#2 Do your homework.
When I work with a client, I do my homework in advance on their industry, company, issues and challenges. In the internet age information is all available at your fingertips. During a recent training session in Charlotte, a participant said to me on a break “thanks for today- you really seem to know our business”. They now have asked me to do additional days of training next year. Preparation is the mark of a professional. Apparently some people don’t prepare so this can be one of your distinctions.
Question: What should you and your people know about a client before you engage them?
The point is this- perform no matter what. No excuses. No whining.
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#3 Deliver no matter what- no excuses.
A few months ago I flew from Philly to Portland to facilitate full day training for a client. Every connecting flight was delayed and delayed and delayed. I finally landed at 3:30 am, got to the hotel at 4:30 am and was in bed by 5:00 am. I was back up at 6:30 and started training at 8:00. I did a full day training session for 40 people on 90 minutes of sleep. Did they know it? Nope. I only told them at the end of the day. The point is this- perform no matter what. No excuses. No whining. When you perform despite the challenges and difficulties, it is also a chance reinforce and enhance your reputation.
Question: What excuses do you allow you and your organization make for not delivering?
#4 Control overhead.
As Sheryl Crow once said “This ain’t no country club this is L.A.” Well here is my version “this ain’t no social club this is a business.” I don’t have a fancy office or tons of overhead. I run lean. I think if you can’t be disciplined with expenses and overhead, then maybe, just maybe you shouldn’t be in business.
Question: Are you controlling overhead where it makes sense?
#5 Stay sharp.
I belong to and participate in three industry groups and I invest in attending two-three conferences each year. These kind of activities keep you sharp and in the loop on what is going on in your industry. In the last three years, some of the ideas I have gained at these conferences have had a huge influence on how I operate my business. If you go and keep an open mind, a new idea or two will jump start your thinking. The investment in staying sharp can pay off ten fold. It has for me.
Question: What could you join or be part of to keep business and industry knowledge sharp?
As Oprah Winfrey once said “When I think about the future, the future is so bright it burns my eyes.”
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So those are a few thoughts at the one decade plus point. I am sure I will learn much more in the next decade. It is an exciting place to be; owning a growing and dynamic business. Some nights I am so fired up I can’t sleep (in a good way.)
As Oprah Winfrey once said “When I think about the future, the future is so bright it burns my eyes.” It’s how I feel right now. How do you feel about your future?
Now go make something happen.
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This post is republished on Medium.
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Photo credit: iStock
Nice one Shawn. We can all learn (and be reminded) by these.
David
Thanks for the great feedback and good idea about how to use it!
Great advice from Shawn – Now print it out and keep it on your desk and ask – What can I do NOW to take action on one of elements from the list?
Great stuff, Shawn, especially this:
What are your customers telling you that you are not hearing?
Ken
Thanks for the great feedback.