So much excitement, so little time! :) Keeping my mind on business and getting ready for a “last hurrah” in Mexico

Yep — it’s time again for the 50 mile Rosarito – Ensenada bike ride on Saturday, in MEXICO!!!

This will be my third time participating in the ride (over the last four years, I skipped 2006).  I’ve been training for it, slowly, over the summer.  I hit 50 miles this past Saturday and felt pretty good afterwards.  The toughest part is that 50 miles here is not like 50 miles there.  I don’t have a realistic way here in Chicago in September to train for the grueling uphill climbs and intense heat and sun beating down there in Mexico.  But other than that, I am ready and really excited!

If you check out the website for the ride, you will notice that this is the LAST RIDE for this historic 29-year, semi-annual ride.  I am very sad for that, and I hope that the decision to cancel future rides will be reversed once the economy and travel business pick back up.  I can only assume this is what has led to low participation.

But it got me thinking…

What would you do if you found out that your business only had a year left, then it was being “canceled”?  Would you give up and just relax, maybe not even show up for work?  Would you “train” even harder to make sure the last hurrah was a huge success?  Would you protest, organize and try to save it?

It’s not a perfect analogy, because I didn’t create nor run the Rosarito ride, but it has been something over the past four years that I have enjoyed looking forward to, and training for each year.  And now that this might be (I can’t even bring myself to say “it will be”) the last time I will get to do this, I have even more enthusiasm and excitement to make it a great ride and vacation. 

What if we looked at each opportunity in our business as the last time to do it?  The last time to make a great networking contact; the last time to get in front of a room full of people and provide outstanding information, direction and service; the last time to be of tremendous value to a client…?  How would you approach these “last times” – business as usual or very differently?  Then the obvious question becomes, why not approach every opportunity, interaction and deal as if it were your last? 

Hmmmm…………..

Q: How should you anser “What Does Your Business Do?”

The below question and answer is reposted with permission from MVPF’s owner.

Q: I was just asked a quest which kind of stomped me: “What does your business do?”

It’s kind of embarrassing to be in a business or to have an advocation  and not be able to state it in a clear sentence or two.

So, as a practice, I tried putting something together as if I were providing social media consulting services to MVPF:

“My Virtual Power Forum provides social media consulting services to members of an online community of 8,900 professionals who join in to help each other do business better by powering up our professional networks.”

I know it’s hodge podge but, what about you? What does your business do?

Keep STRONG!
Vincent Wright
Social Media Consultant
Twitter.com/VincentWright | Linkedin.com/in/VincentWright |
MyLinkingPowerForum.com | MyVirtualPowerForum.com | MyLinkedinPowerForum.com | 

A: Hi Vincent and members of MVPF,Very good question and conversation thread!

Here is a condensed version of the instruction I provide to people in my workshops and coaching programs to help formulate a great answer to that question:

First, answer the below four questions.  Then combine the answers for questions 1 – 3 into one or two short sentences that really are compelling to your target.

1.) Who are your customers (if in sales) / people that you work with (if self-employed) / target hiring manager (if in a job search)?
2.) What is their problem or challenge (what pains do they face each day)?
3.) What benefit do they end up with (the measurable, tangible result they get after buying from you/working with you/hiring you)?

4.) What do you help them do?

Tag the answer question 4 in a very condensed way to the end of your sentence that answers questions 1 – 3, or have a longer version ready to answer when the other person asks, “Oh, how do you do that?”. 

Then describe a little bit about the process/product/background that you take your target client/hiring manager through to get to the results you mentioned.

Here is an example for my own business when I meet someone:

“I help entrepreneurs to define and execute their best strategy, improve their skills and effectiveness, and increase their revenue, so they can have more time, money, and energy to devote to the things that really matter in their lives.”

“Oh, how do you do that?” is usually the follow up question, and what I hope they ask if I piqued their curiosity.  Then I explain a little bit about the business success process that I take clients through.

They key is to avoid long monologues and only give information about myself or my business if people want to hear more. That way you aren’t “selling to them” without knowing if they are interested.  You are developing a relationship and respecting them because you aren’t boring or annoying them with info they don’t care about, but instead having a meaningful conversation.

Hope this helps!

Best,
Jason 

Huge tip on accountability and achievement…

I just heard a great tip on how to start your goals off in the right mindset:

Phrase your goals in the present, not in the future.  For example, “I am going to double my revenue this year” places the action and the end result both in the future, and subconsciously puts your accountability and commitment in the future as well, as something you can figure out later.

However, by stating “I am doubling my revenue this year,” you are telling yourself that you ARE in the process.  And even if you feel that this is not true, it really is.  Just by writing down a goal, you are taking the necessary first step to accomplish it.

To sum up, switch “I am going to” to “I am”, and you’ll be in a better place to make much more happen.

Best,
Jason

Jason E. Rosado
Business Coach

Helping small business owners and entrepreneurs achieve your ideal business in 12 months or less. Guaranteed.
Please see my website to sign up for your FREE “Business Success E-Series”!

“How I spent my summer vacation”

Do you love summer? 

I do! Always have.

I love playing tennis, beach volleyball, going to barbeques and the pool.  Being social outdoors, hearing live music at festivals and Navy Pier. Going to movies and out to eat.  Walking around Michigan Ave and seeing performances at Millennium Park.

Every year, my wife and I ride in Bike the Drive and the L.A.T.E. Ride.  If you enjoy bicycling, you need to join us for either or both of these two events in Chicago!

Come August each year, I start to train for the September 50-mile Rosarito-Ensenada Bike Ride in Mexico, by riding on the North Branch Trail (going to do 35 miles today, matter of fact.).  Some friends and I meet up with another good friend that lives in Los Angeles, and we all drive down to Mexico together for the weekend, doing the Ride on Saturday.  It’s a truly breathtaking experience!!

My wife and I have had friends and family house gets in and out to stay with us all summer.  We went to NYC in May, and we’re going to Minneapolis in September.  As well as visiting dear friends, both weekend trips are also centered on seeing one of our favorite musical acts, Pat McCurdy, and vacation activities such as Broadway shows, great new venue-finding (also known as eating and drinking) and sightseeing.

Swapping business events for life-balance and energy-boosting events has kept me just as busy, once in a while stressed, but always looking forward to the upcoming volleyball games or relaxation time.

During this summer, I have taken my networking activity down to about 25% of normal in order to get all this activity in. As many of you have mentioned, the frequency of my articles these months has also been reduced. Even with slower business building activity, I’m happy to say that business has expanded over the summer.

I started a new, exciting group coaching program for entrepreneurs and home-based business owners that focuses on helping to kick-start your business with networking, marketing, sales, time management, leadership development and team building lessons.  I didn’t advertise or market it publicly but invited select people to participate in the inaugural group.  The results have been great!  I’m looking forward to telling you more about the second group starting later this fall.  But back to the subject at hand…

Summer is coming to an end. Labor Day at this very moment is bitter-sweet.  I am lamenting the end of the warm days and short nights.  But I also have a renewed energy, sense of purpose and vision.  I am looking forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events, providing more insightful free teleclasses and articles to assist you in growing your business.  I see only great things on the horizon for all of us, and I am very excited about the fall!

And one lesson I am taking with me from this summer, and I ask you to do the same, is to make time for the *truly* important things in life: spending time with loved ones; taking time for yourself to focus, recharge and stay fresh; always serve to give; and remember that we are all in this together.  We can’t build a better world without genuinely helping ourselves and each other.

Have a fantastic Labor Day weekend.  Enjoy the holiday.  Let me know if I can ever be of assistance to you.  And I will see you all more in the fall.

All the best,
Jason

P.S.  In the spirit of serving, I want to mention that I have a very wide and deep network of high quality professionals that I rely on, and I am more than happy to share them with you.  These are exceptional people that I know personally, and they provide outstanding services.  All work in Chicagoland, and many beyond.

Attorneys – Business creation, estate planning, employment law, personal injury, intellectual property
Business Advisors – Business strategy, skills & effectiveness, and revenue building, financial planner, business/liability insurance, business & sales coach, bookkeeper, accountant, audio & web conferencing, group health insurance, life/health/disability insurance, IT specialist, printing and engraving, business banker, collections specialist
Heath Experts – Chiropractor, skin care, joint, muscle and carpal tunnel relief, personal care, massage, yoga, acupuncture, dentist, better sleep, stress reduction, more energy
Personal Services – Personal banker, car/home loans, hair stylist, auto insurance, personal/home finance planning & bookkeeping, debt reduction, personal printing and engraving, gift services, home IT specialist
Real Estate Advisors – Residential realtor, attorney, mortgage broker, home inspector, property appraiser, remodeling coach, home buying/property investment consultant, kitchen & bath design, home/condo/renters insurance
Web Gurus – Webpage developer, graphic designer, online advertising, webpage video production, marketing copy development

Feel free to ask me about these or any other professional needs you have that are not listed.  I’m here to help you.