Who Are Your Best Customers?

Figure out who your best customers are. And go on a hunt for similar clients. Ask yourself; what are their profiles, what line of business are they in, what other things do they have in common? Remember, if you fish for minnows and catch a thousand, you still only get a bucket full. If you fish for whales and get one you have a ship load full.

Understand The WHY

Talking about mergers and acquisitions, it is usually straightforward to agree on the WHAT, WHEN and HOW when we enter into a new relationship with another party. A corporate lawyer recently told me that most arguments and problems stem from disparate views on WHY we are doing this in the first place. Spend time upfront and make sure you have a common understanding about WHY.

Freedom Of Speech

Freedom of speech is a human right. Use it to get exposure as often as you can. Whatever business you are in, think about ways to get exposure in your industry. Take all the opportunities you can to get in front of people. Don't forget to practice at social gatherings such as weddings or birthday parties. If you are uncomfortable speaking in public, start small and grow from there. Join a network club or take a class. Get known to as many as possible in your field of business.

Show Up

According to Woody Allen; "80 percent of success is just showing up." For instance, did you show up at the gym today? Just showing up means you’re 80% of the way to a good workout. Same thing with opportunity. It’s easier to make significant progress on a project or close a sales if you simply show up to do it. So increase your chances by 80%. Show Up (and don't give up)!

Create Value First

The fundamental principle for all businesses is value creation. If you can provide something of value and extract value from the marketplace at cost lower than price, you can make a profit. There is a difference between chasing after versus creating value. Focus on your value creation. To be successful in business create something of value first, instead of waiting to add value later.

Be Thankful And Enjoy The Ride

We can not change the world. What we can change is how we view our place in it. Maybe we need to get better at looking back at our day and realize that it was not that bad after all. People, like Oprah Winfrey, often talks about being thankful and reflect on at least three good things from the day each night. Let's learn to enjoy the ride even more.

Build Relationships

Make friends and business will come. Concentrate on the needs of your customers. If you make a sale, you can earn a commission. If you make a friend, you can earn a fortune. All things being equal, people want to do business with their friends. And even when things are not equal, people still want to do business with their friends.