Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Are-Your-Goals-SMART.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Are-Your-Goals-SMART.html Research has shown that the most successful people are those who regularly set goals. Most people would not start out on a trip without some kind of a map or GPS navigational system on board, yet many people run their businesses with very little directional assistance. This can cause a lot of wasted time and energy, sometimes going in circles or going in a direction that becomes a dead end. You'll end up somewhere, but will it be where you want to end up? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Leadership-According-to-Napoleon-Hill.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Leadership-According-to-Napoleon-Hill.html When you became a business owner, you also became a leader (whether you intended to or not). In your business, you are charged with leading your team -- your employees, contractors, consultants, and business partners -- to achieve results. Though leadership is often a challenging trait to describe, Napoleon Hill (in his famous 1937 book, Think and Grow Rich) does a fantastic job explaining the attributes of an effective leader. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Are-you-Prepared-to-Sell.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Are-you-Prepared-to-Sell.html Before you can have an effective sales conversation with a prospect (where you begin a relationship that will ultimately lead to sales), there are several items that you need to have prepared and be ready to effectively communicate. Though it seems obvious, you need to understand (know inside and out) the basics of your business: what your business is, what you offer, and why you offer it. The clearer you are about what your business does, the easier it is to have the sales conversation. To get clear about your business, consider these questions: http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Six-Steps-to-an-Effective-Business-Proposal.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Six-Steps-to-an-Effective-Business-Proposal.html For many businesses, especially service based businesses, a proposal is necessary to communicate the price of the service to the client. It becomes the formal document that describes what the service provider will be doing for the client and it also sets the client's expectations for the project. Though the proposal is only one of many steps contained within the sales process, it is an important decision-making point for the client to ultimately decide whether to buy from you or not. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Business-Networking--Old-vs-New-Paradigm.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Business-Networking--Old-vs-New-Paradigm.html The old paradigm of networking is to show up at a community mixer or professional meeting with your business cards, shake some hands, aggressively pass out your business cards to everyone in sight, collect business cards along the way, and pontificate about your wonderful products or services. The goal of the old paradigm was to get in front of as many people as possible because, eventually, someone would realize that they need your product or service. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/A-Smooth-Business-Operation.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/A-Smooth-Business-Operation.html Every business has its operations, whether they are highly organized, in disarray, or somewhere in between. Your business operations are HOW you design, produce, deliver, support, and maintain the products and services your business offers. The purpose of having business operations is to document, manage, and improve repeatable processes and systems that make your business sustainable, efficient, and profitable. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/The-Art-of-Effective-Communication-in-the-Small-Business-World.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/The-Art-of-Effective-Communication-in-the-Small-Business-World.html As with any profession, effective communication is essential to the success of small business. Whether you are meeting with a client, emailing an employee or phoning a vendor, you need to give great care to the quality of your communications to ensure that all parties comprehend the intended message. Below are two points to consider in the back of your mind with all of your communications. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/How-to-close-the-deal-with-an-effective-Sales-Conversation.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/How-to-close-the-deal-with-an-effective-Sales-Conversation.html Sales are a key component to building a thriving business. However, many people who start businesses are not natural sales people. If you find yourself in this category, try following the below step-by-step sales process. Though you'll need to adjust it for your particular business, it will provide you with a framework to closing more sales. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Money-Mindset-for-the-Small-Business-Owner.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Money-Mindset-for-the-Small-Business-Owner.html Making money is probably a big part of why you are in business. In business, as in life, money matters. With it, you can make a difference; without it, you’re limited in what you can do. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Taking-Aim-with-your-Business.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Small-Business-Consulting/992/Taking-Aim-with-your-Business.html At the start of a new year, it's a good idea to take stock of your business by reviewing your Vision, Mission, and your Main Business Goals.