Tal Swicegood的动态

The Entrepreneurs’ Guild and FlawlessLaunch.com present another new series and this one is coming in from the back door!?We call it “Business Burps, Belches and Blunders”.?Sometimes kids have to learn the hard way (think: electrical outlets and stovetops).?Why not businesspeople??In our decades of experience, we have seen almost everything.?Too often, simple actions take a business up to, then off the cliff.?We have scores of them to share.?Here is number twenty-six: “Not Paying Yourself”. One of the most irritating things I see when I work with a small start-up, or a small business beginning to struggle, is for them to either not pay themselves or stop paying themselves.?Why would you do this??In rare, and I mean rare, circumstances, a short-term hiatus may be necessary to bridge a financial gap or take care of an extraordinary issue (the pandemic was one such event).?However, the point I want to make is you must have alternative funding avenues if you get into this situation on a regular basis.?Cash flow is the bane of most successful startups.?Not having enough cash to build inventory, grow sales, hire staff, etc. is the biggest problem these folks tend to have as they ramp up. The other problem small businesses tend to experience is paying themselves too low a salary, hoping that the rest of the team will pull things forward.?Do not do this.?If you cannot pay yourself, your staff or any other entity that is critical to your business, then something is very wrong.?Take this as a sign to re-evaluate where your money is going and what you spend on expenses and how you drive revenue.?If you take the short cut by taking a haircut, then you are only hurting yourself and your frustrations will surface in other areas.?Keeping your salary at the right level will allow you to evaluate your business properly.?Never mask a problem by taking something out of your pocket.?They tend not to run deep. [email protected]?????????????????????????[email protected]??????????????? www.FlawlessLaunch.com? https://lnkd.in/eawRRcjX #Entrepreneurship&Startups???????????????????#BusinessLeadership&Motivation #Pockets #Salary #Business #shortfall #payments #expense

The Entrepreneurs’ Guild and FlawlessLaunch.com present another new series and this one is coming in from the back door!?We call it “Business Burps, Belches and Blunders”.?Sometimes kids have to learn the hard way (think: electrical outlets and stovetops).?Why not businesspeople??In our decades of experience, we have seen everything.?Too often, simple actions take a business up to, then off the cliff.?We have scores of them to share.?Here is number forty-six: “Ignoring Bad and Good Staff”. It almost seems obvious that any staff member who is not cutting the mustard so to speak should be re-trained, disciplined or removed from your roster.?Attendance, lack of interest in the job, calling out sick a lot for no real reason (yes, one of my clients experienced a person calling out “sad” for a day) and general malaise are all reasons to take corrective action.?FYI - there is a process for this to keep you out of trouble with employment law.?More on that for another day - many businesses hedge on dumping bad staff for fear of reprisal. Yet the flip side may be even worse!?Yes, you also may be ignoring your heroic staff members who pull more than their weight, solve big problems and keep your business afloat during tough times.?Do you reward them??Have you said thank- you lately??Do you give them an extra day off??Buy lunch??These people rarely call in sick and often, you have to tell them to stay home when they are.?Be smart and pay attention to all of your employees.?The ones you take for granted may be the most valuable and the ones more at risk of leaving your business.?A happy staff is a great thing to have and often, is a rarity these days.?They will help you make a lot of money so when profitable, share those spoils.?They will surely stick around for another year. [email protected]?????????????????????????[email protected]??????????????? www.FlawlessLaunch.com? https://lnkd.in/eawRRcjX #Entrepreneurship&Startups???????????????????#BusinessLeadership&Motivation #Staff #Good #Bad #Employees #Management

The Entrepreneurs’ Guild and FlawlessLaunch.com present another new series and this one is coming in from the back door!?We call it “Business Burps, Belches and Blunders”.?Sometimes kids have to learn the hard way (think: electrical outlets and stovetops).?Why not businesspeople??In our decades of experience, we have seen everything.?Too often, simple actions take a business up to, then off the cliff.?We have scores of them to share.?Here is number fifty-four: “Rearranging Your Sock Drawer”. Many years ago, I used to mentor entrepreneurs starting out for the first time.?Their most pressing problem was, most often, marketing and networking to get the word out that they were starting a new venture.?One of the hardest things was trying to get these people out of their house and talk to someone.?I heard all the excuses too.?Think of Junior wanting to ride a bike but hesitating to get on the damn thing for the first time.?It is frustrating.?More importantly, the longer one waited, the harder it was to actually get started.?Many entrepreneurs who are shy, not good at social communications and not so lucky to have a product or service that readily can get to market have this problem. Rearranging your sock drawer endlessly to prepare for that perfect opening will, well, just delay a bad opening.?Waiting for perfection in the name of ?just good will not cut it today in the fast-paced world we live in.?Plus, the longer you wait, the more you will have to change your approach as the environment will have changed.?We do not advocate “going to court without a briefcase” so to speak, but we do want you to plan then get out to network, market and talk to your potential customers.?Waiting for perfect will not make you better and it may cause you to focus on your presentation and not the person to whom you want to connect.?Our advice??Wear sandals. [email protected]?????????????????????????[email protected]?????????????? ?www.FlawlessLaunch.com? https://lnkd.in/eawRRcjX #Entrepreneurship&Startups???????????????????#BusinessLeadership&Motivation #Socks #Networking #Marketing #Communications #Newbusiness

The Entrepreneurs’ Guild and FlawlessLaunch.com present another new series and this one is coming in from the back door!?We call it “Business Burps, Belches and Blunders”.?Sometimes kids have to learn the hard way (think: electrical outlets and stovetops).?Why not businesspeople??In our decades of experience, we have seen everything.?Too often, simple actions take a business up to, then off the cliff.?We have scores of them to share.?Here is number forty-three: “Not Using Your Staff’s Talents”. In the corporate world, it is almost readily apparent in just about every department where you will find a host of employees doing sub-skill tasks and moaning endlessly about it.?Too many employees, not enough training, mismanagement, jobs not aligned to needs, and a whole list of reasons why these skilled staff members are not producing and. . . they are causing problems to boot.?You would think in small business this would not happen.?But it does.?Why??The owner has that ego that tells him or her that they know and can do everything.?They don’t and they can’t.?Employee turnover is guaranteed. I harped on delegation in prior posts.?I also railed at owners who do too much.?Yet the hardest task of all??It is pushing your best employees to do more and for them to start taking over your job.?This sounds like a self-defeating process - but it is not.?If you push them, they can push you and your business to new heights.?Also, staff for the most part – newsflash – are not motivated by money!?Yes, this is true.?Exciting and challenging jobs trump money in most cases.?If you pay fairly and promote your staff to do new things, you will have a thriving business.?They will stay with you and if you want to take a vacation, you can leave without the fear of all hell breaking loose when you step out the door.?Postscript:?they also can add significant value to your company when you decide to sell. [email protected]?????????????????????????[email protected]??????????????? www.FlawlessLaunch.com? https://lnkd.in/eawRRcjX #Entrepreneurship&Startups???????????????????#BusinessLeadership&Motivation #Employees #Turnover #Delegation #Skillsets #Smallbusiness

Legacy. It's something I talk about often, and yet, 99% of entrepreneurs don’t have a legacy plan. Most never even think of one. They’re so caught up in the hustle, in chasing that next client or product launch, that they forget what really matters—what you’re building that will outlast you. Here’s why it’s so important: without a legacy, your business is just a job with an expiration date. You work, you get paid, and when you stop working, it’s over. But when you build with legacy in mind, you’re creating something that can continue, grow, and impact future generations. It’s not just about money—it’s about influence, reputation, and the mark you leave on your industry and community. I've been an entrepreneur for 30 years, and it’s because I understood early on that every decision, every relationship, every client interaction, had to serve a bigger purpose. It’s what allowed me to transition from a carpet cleaning business to running a media company that helps others build their legacy through books, podcasts, and marketing. I wasn’t just building for the now—I was building for the future. Yet, so many entrepreneurs miss this. They think short-term, driven by immediate returns. But when you think long-term, when you start planning for a legacy, you create something much more valuable than any sale or client win. You create something that endures. The real question is: what are you building that will live beyond you? Because that’s the difference between those who survive in business for a few years and those who thrive for decades. Legacy matters. It’s time to start thinking about yours.

The Entrepreneurs’ Guild and FlawlessLaunch.com present another new series and this one is coming in from the back door!?We call it “Business Burps, Belches and Blunders”.?Sometimes kids have to learn the hard way (think: electrical outlets and stovetops).?Why not businesspeople??In our decades of experience, we have seen everything.?Too often, simple actions take a business up to, then off the cliff.?We have scores of them to share.?Here is number forty-seven: “Not Tending to Your Difficult Child”. I’ve managed a lot of staff in my time and so has Thom.?I’ve harped on some staffing issues in these blogs of late, but this is one that may surprise you.?One of the most difficult positions to manage and manage well is. . . wait for it. . . the salesperson!??You got that right.?Here is what goes wrong with this most of the time.?Businessowners think all they have to do is incentivize someone with a load of commissions and off to the races everyone goes.?Have you ever managed one of these beasts??They can wear on you in a New York minute, and they can take your business down with you.?How??Their incentives do not match you and your company’s plans, goals and relationships. I’ve met hundreds of men and women in this field, and most were average at best.?The top ones??(. . . the best I ever met was a very young woman who loved to “beat up” the guys.)?They actually embraced the company’s mission and vision, they aligned themselves with the owner (and vice versa!) to meet relationship building, possessed cohesive and complementary goals (think commissions, quotes, etc.) and they earned more than the owner.?What??Yes! ?As the saying goes: ?“If you want to make a million dollars, pay your salesperson 2 million”.?Congruent goals and commissions may be the hardest business equation to get correctly.?We know a few folks who do this well.?If you can align your compensation structure with the right personality, you’ve got gold.?Otherwise, it’s like taming a belligerent tiger.?You will lose that battle. [email protected]?????????????????????????[email protected]??????????????? www.FlawlessLaunch.com? https://lnkd.in/eawRRcjX #Entrepreneurship&Startups???????????????????#BusinessLeadership&Motivation #Sales #Child #Smallbusiness #Strategy #Allignment

The Entrepreneurs’ Guild and FlawlessLaunch.com present another new series and this one is coming in from the back door!?We call it “Business Burps, Belches and Blunders”.?Sometimes kids have to learn the hard way (think: electrical outlets and stovetops).?Why not businesspeople??In our decades of experience, we have seen everything.?Too often, simple actions take a business up to, then off the cliff.?We have scores of them to share.?Here is number fifty-three: “I’ll Have Mom Do the Books”. Most new start-ups, at the solo-preneur level, wear many hats.?One of the most critical parts of getting everything done is to figure out what you can do and what you cannot do.?When Thom and I help these folks, too often they are mired in the family ties of Mom, Dad, Uncle Bill and Aunt Betty doing things for them.?Additional help is welcomed but. . . once in a while, these owners let the help become permanent staff and most of the time, that help is not professional or skilled at that full function.?We have seen it all and the most heartbreaking is when family members goldbrick, fake or just plain steal from the owner.?And yes, the title of this post is correct.?I, personally, have seen “Mom” steal twice.?More often it’s the spouse or significant other and that I have seen dozens of times. It is OK to have a helping hand to man the counter, stack inventory, sweep the floors and help unload trucks.?But keep them away from the till and banking functions.?It is too tempting.?The owner may not even be able to keep track of everything that is going on in the beginning- ?and this is when evil processes creep into the business.?It is best to find a reliable outsourcing of some functions (payroll, accounting, taxes, etc.) . . . even general banking functions if the owner signs checks and performs the critical financial movement of money.?Be diligent in what you outsource and delegate to whom.?You don’t want to find out that mom’s new car came out of your pocket. [email protected]?????????????????????????[email protected]??????????????? www.FlawlessLaunch.com? https://lnkd.in/eawRRcjX #Entrepreneurship&Startups???????????????????#BusinessLeadership&Motivation #Mom #Stealing #Delegation #Solopreneur #Management

"Your business can only grow as fast as you are growing" - Sarah Dusek I was listening to this episode (https://lnkd.in/eKTYia6E) of "Build" with Stephen Scoggins last night while cooking dinner and this quote made me pause and reflect. It's incredibly true. Also; highly recommend this episode! Since starting Meerkat Development I've made a focused effort to wake up earlier, eat healthier, get more exercise, pick up the bass again, set up cadenced phone calls with friends and family, and most importantly of all, meditate (or at least find space daily to just be "with myself", whatever form that takes). I call it being "comprehensively happy" and it's helped massively with keeping up with the "busy-ness" of starting a business (see what I did there?) by ensuring I still have time for the non-Meerkat Development things in my life that still make me excited/feel good and allow me to grow as a person. It also allows me to adopt a more level approach to the twists, turns, ups, and downs of early entrepreneurial life, allowing me to "stay the course" with more focus. What do you like to do to ensure you're still growing as a person outside of your chosen occupation/career path?

We welcomed just the loveliest group of Dorset entrepreneurs to this morning's Business Masterclass on Strategy and Planning! ?? Here's a little bundle of signposts to resources that address the barriers or unmet needs we touched on: Strictly Business ?? ?? Tips on Getting Clients Over the Line with Less Time and Greater Efficiency — A few actionable insights, courtesy of our pal Chat GPT, to help you convert prospects more effectively: https://lnkd.in/ebDcGhPX ?? Formula to Help Set Financial Goals and Price Your Product/Service — Check out the end of this thread for a handy formula to help set your financial targets and price your offerings accurately: https://lnkd.in/ebDcGhPX ?? Traction by Gino Wickman — Such a read for entrepreneurs! This book lays out the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a framework to help you gain clarity, discipline, and traction in your business. It's packed with actionable advice on how to scale and optimise every aspect of your organisation. A few bargain-buys are currently floating around on Vinted: https://lnkd.in/ed7tzFMe Community, Wellbeing, and Growth ?? ?? The Motherkind Podcast — Great for solidarity and pragmatic advice, especially for entrepreneurial mums balancing business and life: https://lnkd.in/eWW2d98t ?? Law of Attraction Changed My Life Podcast — A bit "out there," which we appreciate isn't everyone's bag, but it's full of practical tips on leveraging the power of suggestion to create the life and business you want: https://lnkd.in/eghjdrcW ??♀? The Alexander Technique — Discover the benefits of this practice for entrepreneurs: improve posture, reduce stress, and increase overall body awareness. Check out these videos to get started! https://lnkd.in/esRuCMB7 ?? Nothing Much Happens Podcast — Perfect for restful, productive sleep. This "ear balm" is particularly good for minds that find it hard to switch off: https://lnkd.in/eW8TvfZU #BournemouthEvent #Dorsetbusiness #BCP #Entrepreneur #Business #Masterclass Dorset LEP Digital Skills Hub

Exciting Launch Alert: MMMP Weekly Business Journal ?? I’m thrilled to share something I’ve poured my heart and strategy into: The MMMP Weekly Business Journal, launching April 8th! This isn’t just another planner—it’s a tool born from the transformative strategies, habits, and reflections that have revolutionized my entrepreneurial journey. Why This Journal? Through years of experience, I’ve discovered the unparalleled power of journaling in maintaining strategic focus, driving personal growth, and enhancing operational efficiency. It’s these insights that have inspired the creation of a bespoke journal for entrepreneurs. Designed for accessibility, it’s your new companion at the coffee shop, office, or on global travels. Key Features: ? Structured for Success: Utilizing techniques like “three stars and a wish,” it’s designed to celebrate your wins and address areas for improvement systematically. ? Downloadable & Fillable: Immediate access post-download means you can start journaling on any device, anywhere, anytime. ? Tailored to Entrepreneurs: Every page is crafted with the unique challenges and aspirations of entrepreneurs in mind, making it more than a journal—it’s your roadmap to achieving your business goals. ?? Special Pre-Launch Offer: Only $9.99 ?? To thank my network and early supporters, I’m offering a special pre-launch price of just $9.99 to those who join the pre-launch email list. This is more than a discount; it’s an invitation to a community of forward-thinking entrepreneurs eager to elevate their strategic planning and reflection. ?? Reserve your copy now and lock in the pre-launch price! Pre-launch ends tomorrow - don’t miss out on this exclusive offer. ?? https://lnkd.in/g3NYUTmr The MMMP Weekly Business Journal is more than a planner; it’s a commitment to strategic excellence and personal development. Join us on this journey and transform the way you approach entrepreneurship. #businessjournal #makemoneymediating #podcast #journaling #success #susanguthrie