About Me
- Waltmorey
- Pinellas Park, Florida, United States
- I founded Core Business Solutions with the goal of helping business owners improve operating results, add value, and recapture the energy and passion that was present when the business was new. We also have the expertise to assist start-up companies create the foundational structure needed to provide the best opportunity for the business to grow and prosper in uncertain economic times. Our goal is to help the business entrepreneur/owner, through mentoring and coaching, develop or enhance managerial skills while providing that independent and objective advice and expertise usually provided by a board of directors.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Do you have what it takes to own/manage a small business?
6:12 PM | 
Posted by
Waltmorey
Napolean Hill once said “The starting point of all great achievements is desire.”
You will be your own most important asset, so an objective appraisal of your strengths and weaknesses is essential. To determine if you have what it takes, YOU need to answer some questions about yourself:
- Am I a self-starter?
- How well do I get along with a variety of personalities?
- How good am I at making decisions?
- Do I have the physical and emotional stamina to run a business?
- How well do I plan and organize?
- Are my attitudes and drive strong enough to maintain motivation?
How to Beat Business Burnout
Burnout -- and the boredom that results -- constitutes the No. 1 reason small business owners pack it in and either sell out or shut down. According to market research published in Family Business, burnout is the primary motivator in 50 percent of all business closings. It makes sense. Successful business owners don't just commit themselves to their companies...they become consumed by the quest. Many put in long hours. They neglect their health, families and outside activities; then end up physically ill, emotionally depressed, even divorced.
Ironically, a major cause of burnout is success, achieving a
single goal long sought. That's why many owners get restless, discontented, bored.
Fortunately, it doesn't have to be that way.
To beat burnout:
1. Separate work and play...and be sure to take time to play. Example: Make it a household rule not to discuss business after 7:00 P.M. Or make the kitchen or family room and, most definitely, the bedroom a "No Business" zone.
2. Get adequate sleep...no less than six hours a night. Long-term sleep deprivation can distort thinking and reduce productivity. But adequate sleep can enhance stamina and clear-headedness.
3. Devote time to mental regeneration every day. Some business owners meditate, others read the Bible or review inspirational books.
4. Exercise daily, even if its only half an hour of walking while working out a business problem.
5. Have a mission...a sense of purpose. This goes beyond mere objectives. A mission describes (A) what you want to achieve and (B) why you want to achieve it.
6. Believe in what you're doing. There's nothing more exciting or challenging than being a business owner. What you do benefits your customers, your employees and, most of all, your family. Don't lose sight of that.
7. Have a Business Confidant – Talk over your issues or plans regularly with someone you can trust (family member, business advisor or coach, good friend, etc.) and who will respect your confidentiality and your goals and objectives. Get their feedback and vent with them when you need that.
8. Be organized. Maintain clear objectives and activity plans for the year, quarter, month, week and day.
9. Work smarter...not just harder. An hour of planning can save ten times that in increased productivity. Follow the carpenters rule: Measure twice, cut once.
10. Don't settle into success. Repetition of a successful process or activity can lead to mind numbing boredom. Take at least one calculated risk each year.
11.Maintain your priorities. Business is important...but not at the expense of health and happiness. Also, remember that it is relationships that give true meaning to what you do.
Maintain positive relationships with family, customers, business friends and employees. Avoid negativity [especially negative people] at all costs.
As a professional busines advisor I can help you avoid 'burn out' by helping you to develop your priorities, plan and organize your efforts, keep you accountable to your goals and objectives and be a confidential and impartial sounding board when you really need to vent!
In about 2-3 weeks or so I'll review another subject designed to provide business owners with information they can use to help them work "on" their business.
Until Next Time : Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Love Generously and Live In The Moment
All My Best,
Walt Morey
Core Business Solutions
Executive Business Advisor- Accredited by the Institute for Independent Business
http://www.corebizsolution.com/
Ph: 727-647-8242
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Friday, March 11, 2011
TRADE SHOW IDEAS THAT WORK!
Trade shows are great ways to market products and services and I’ve worked more than 50 trade show’s in the past 35 years and these included many types including product shows, industry specific shows, large association shows and recruiting expo’s just to name a few. Here are a few ideas and tips that have worked well for me, to help your trade show participation to be a positive one.
Before you decide to be a vendor at a trade show, it’s important to determine your objectives for the event. What are your expectations or what do you want to gain from your participation?
Goals for trade shows could include:
1- to collect leads for new customers or clients
2- to introduce a product or service to a particular market segment
3- to increase your company’s visibility within a business segment
4- to develop contacts within a new business segment
5- to actually sell a product or service
6- to test market a new product and get customer feedback
In fact, you will typically have many of these goals in your plan for your trade show. To avoid disappointment be sure of exactly what you’re looking to accomplish by attending the event.
In most cases you’ll want to attract as many of the trade show attendee’s to your trade show table or exhibit as you can. Some ideas to help you do that are:
• Provide some type of food, beverage or candy giveaway; this always works well as attendee’s like the idea of a little snack or drink or munchies and will typically spend more time at your trade show location
• Use a giveaway such as a promotional item (mug, pen, keychain) to attract more people to your table or exhibit and these items can help spread your contact information to many more people
• Provide a high perceived value item (gift basket, gift card(s), restaurant gift certificate, etc.) as a prize in a raffle or door prize(s) and require each attendee to give you a business card or complete a brief entry form to deposit into a fish bowl or box. This allows you to harvest contact information from all your visitors during the event which becomes an excellent up-to-date marketing list
• Provide a brief talk or demonstration or presentation about your product or service at scheduled times throughout the show and highly publicize these prior to and during the trade show. Handing out as many fliers as you can on the show floor can help drive attendance
• Hire spokes models to work your trade show exhibit and have them walk throughout the trade show floor encouraging attendee’s to stop by your exhibit along with passing out your info
Other tips to help you:
1- Never stand and/or sit behind a trade show table or exhibit as that puts a barrier between you and your potential contact or customer. To be effective you need to mix easily with your audience. Stand in front of your exhibit and greet each passer-by with your best smile and introduce yourself and invite them to enter your raffle or to collect some information or give them one of your giveaway items or offer them your candy or snack (see above) if you are using one. Use some icebreaker open-ended questions (How do you like the show today? Or Is the trade show all you expected? or How does this show compare to the last one?) so you can get your prospect to converse with you.
2- Dress comfortably but professionally and look and be your most positive best.
3- Always provide some type of literature or other take-away item along with your business card to each attendee. If someone wants to buy your product or service have the paperwork available so you can make the sale right there.
4- Providing a simple small bag (a plastic grocery-sized bag with your business card attached to the outside of it) to your trade show customers as it’s a thoughtful convenience for them to put all their trade show literature and other items in. They will remember you for it and as they walk around the show your business card will be seen by others. I've witnessed other attendee's ask where someone got their bag and immediately visit that trade show exhibitor that provided the bag.
5- Be sure your table or exhibit is manned at all times. Have at least 2 people manning your show table during the entire event so one can take a break while the exhibit is still manned. An unmanned trade show exhibit reflects very poorly on your brand.
6- Never leave a trade show early. Stay to the very end. You never know who may walk up to your table in the last few minutes. In the last 30 minutes of several shows I worked I made very large sales or contacts that lead to large sales. Many trade show producers will not invite vendors to future shows if they are seen leaving early. Keep your commitment to the trade show organizing group.
7- Be sure to get plenty of rest and relaxation the night before any trade show date and avoid late night activities during a multiple day event as you'll find if you're not well rested your trade show experience and performance will not be a positive one. You need to have high energy to effectively meet and greet potentially hundreds or even thousands of people during a trade show type event. You probably paid a good amount of money to be at the event, so don't waste it!
These are the procedures that I’ve found to be very effective when I’ve participated in a trade show or expo of any kind and certainly there are many more. Just by attending many shows you can see what other vendors do that will inspire you to improve your show experience both for you as well as your potential customers.
As a professional busines advisor I can help you develop a plan for your trade show event to be sure your experience is both effective, positive and profitable for your company.
In about 2-3 weeks or so I'll review another subject designed to provide business owners with information they can use to help them work "on" their business.
Until Next Time : Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Love Generously and Live In The Moment
All The Best,
Walt Morey
Core Business Solutions
Executive Business Advisor Accredited by the Institute for Independent Business
http://www.corebizsolution.com/ Ph: 727-647-8242
Before you decide to be a vendor at a trade show, it’s important to determine your objectives for the event. What are your expectations or what do you want to gain from your participation?
Goals for trade shows could include:
1- to collect leads for new customers or clients
2- to introduce a product or service to a particular market segment
3- to increase your company’s visibility within a business segment
4- to develop contacts within a new business segment
5- to actually sell a product or service
6- to test market a new product and get customer feedback
In fact, you will typically have many of these goals in your plan for your trade show. To avoid disappointment be sure of exactly what you’re looking to accomplish by attending the event.
In most cases you’ll want to attract as many of the trade show attendee’s to your trade show table or exhibit as you can. Some ideas to help you do that are:
• Provide some type of food, beverage or candy giveaway; this always works well as attendee’s like the idea of a little snack or drink or munchies and will typically spend more time at your trade show location
• Use a giveaway such as a promotional item (mug, pen, keychain) to attract more people to your table or exhibit and these items can help spread your contact information to many more people
• Provide a high perceived value item (gift basket, gift card(s), restaurant gift certificate, etc.) as a prize in a raffle or door prize(s) and require each attendee to give you a business card or complete a brief entry form to deposit into a fish bowl or box. This allows you to harvest contact information from all your visitors during the event which becomes an excellent up-to-date marketing list
• Provide a brief talk or demonstration or presentation about your product or service at scheduled times throughout the show and highly publicize these prior to and during the trade show. Handing out as many fliers as you can on the show floor can help drive attendance
• Hire spokes models to work your trade show exhibit and have them walk throughout the trade show floor encouraging attendee’s to stop by your exhibit along with passing out your info
Other tips to help you:
1- Never stand and/or sit behind a trade show table or exhibit as that puts a barrier between you and your potential contact or customer. To be effective you need to mix easily with your audience. Stand in front of your exhibit and greet each passer-by with your best smile and introduce yourself and invite them to enter your raffle or to collect some information or give them one of your giveaway items or offer them your candy or snack (see above) if you are using one. Use some icebreaker open-ended questions (How do you like the show today? Or Is the trade show all you expected? or How does this show compare to the last one?) so you can get your prospect to converse with you.
2- Dress comfortably but professionally and look and be your most positive best.
3- Always provide some type of literature or other take-away item along with your business card to each attendee. If someone wants to buy your product or service have the paperwork available so you can make the sale right there.
4- Providing a simple small bag (a plastic grocery-sized bag with your business card attached to the outside of it) to your trade show customers as it’s a thoughtful convenience for them to put all their trade show literature and other items in. They will remember you for it and as they walk around the show your business card will be seen by others. I've witnessed other attendee's ask where someone got their bag and immediately visit that trade show exhibitor that provided the bag.
5- Be sure your table or exhibit is manned at all times. Have at least 2 people manning your show table during the entire event so one can take a break while the exhibit is still manned. An unmanned trade show exhibit reflects very poorly on your brand.
6- Never leave a trade show early. Stay to the very end. You never know who may walk up to your table in the last few minutes. In the last 30 minutes of several shows I worked I made very large sales or contacts that lead to large sales. Many trade show producers will not invite vendors to future shows if they are seen leaving early. Keep your commitment to the trade show organizing group.
7- Be sure to get plenty of rest and relaxation the night before any trade show date and avoid late night activities during a multiple day event as you'll find if you're not well rested your trade show experience and performance will not be a positive one. You need to have high energy to effectively meet and greet potentially hundreds or even thousands of people during a trade show type event. You probably paid a good amount of money to be at the event, so don't waste it!
These are the procedures that I’ve found to be very effective when I’ve participated in a trade show or expo of any kind and certainly there are many more. Just by attending many shows you can see what other vendors do that will inspire you to improve your show experience both for you as well as your potential customers.
As a professional busines advisor I can help you develop a plan for your trade show event to be sure your experience is both effective, positive and profitable for your company.
In about 2-3 weeks or so I'll review another subject designed to provide business owners with information they can use to help them work "on" their business.
Until Next Time : Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Love Generously and Live In The Moment
All The Best,
Walt Morey
Core Business Solutions
Executive Business Advisor Accredited by the Institute for Independent Business
http://www.corebizsolution.com/ Ph: 727-647-8242
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Power of NO!
Below is by Andrea Waltz who is the co-author of "Go for No!", a terrific book I recommend to anyone in sales. I've explained this technique to many of my clients in sales and it does work for them.
Check this out:
You walk out of the office, shoulders slumped and head hanging low. The meeting did not go the way you had hoped.
Shoving through the glass doors and exiting the building you heave a sigh, the words of your prospect still ringing in your ears, "No, we're going to pass." Motivation is dwindling fast. For a moment, you think about heading back to the office and blowing off your last call of the day in favor of catching up on paperwork.
But what if it didn't have to be this way?
Imagine getting a "no" from a prospect and then pushing through those same doors happy, excited and energized. Imagine actually thinking to yourself, "Hooray, the client said no!"
In order to tap into the "power of no" there are 3 key strategies that you can apply today.
1) Change your mental model of "success" and "failure."
Most people operate with the following mental model:
SUCCESS (Yes) << YOU>> FAILURE (No)
They see themselves in the middle, with success on one end and failure on the other. They do everything they can to move toward success and away from failure. B
But, what if that model was wrong? What if that model was reconfigured?
YOU >> FAILURE (No) >> SUCCESS (Yes)
What if, rather than seeing failure as something to be avoided, it became a "stepping stone" on the path to success? Put another way: Yes is the destination, but "no" is how you get there.
To achieve significant success in today's world, top performers do not see success and failure - yes and no - as opposites, rather opposite sides of the same coin that depend on each other.
Success is, to a large degree, a numbers game. As such, one of the fastest ways to increase your success is to intentionally increase your failure rate. In other words, increase the number of times you hear prospects say "no" to you. Of course, increasing the number of times you hear "no" will eventually increase the number of times you hear "yes".
2) Create "no-awareness" by counting your "no's".
Here's a question for you: How many total "no's" did you personally obtain yesterday? Last week? Last month? Where are you for the year? Do you know? Well, you should!
Most people, if they actually counted the number of times they hear "no" during a typical day or week, would be shocked to see how low that number actually is. If you don't know your number, it's time for you to start counting every "no" you hear, because the very act of counting your "no's" will increase your no-awareness and that, in turn, will enhance your no-focus.
3) No doesn't mean never, it means not yet.
Woody Allen said that 80 percent of success is simply showing up. While the power of showing up should not be underestimated, the reality is that showing up - in and of itself - is usually not enough. The key to success is to show up, and then to keep showing up! In a word: persistence.
Is this to suggest that when someone keeps telling you "no" you should stay at it forever? No. Though Winston Churchill famously declared one should never, never, never quit... knowing when to quit is an important skill. The problem is most people think that time has come long before it actually has!
How do you know the perfect time to quit? Unfortunately, there is not a definitive number of "no's" at which one should throw his/her hands up and go home - after all, every situation and every prospect is different. So the answer always begins with an analysis as to whether the person you're trying to sell to is a qualified buyer. If they are unqualified (they neither want nor need what you have to offer), then you should pack it in and move on. However, if they do need what you've got - even if they don't want it yet - then pursue them for as long as it takes!
So the next time you walk out of a prospect's office having collected another "no", remember these five key points and say, "Hooray! I just got a no!" Because when you increase your failure rate and go for "no", the "yes" will eventually come... they always do!
In about 2-3 weeks or so I'll review another subject designed to provide business owners with information they can use to help them work "on" their business.
Until Next Time : Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Love Generously and Live In The Moment
All The Best,
Walt Morey
Core Business Solutions
Executive Business Advisor Accredited by the Institute for Independent Business
http://www.corebizsolution.com/
Check this out:
You walk out of the office, shoulders slumped and head hanging low. The meeting did not go the way you had hoped.
Shoving through the glass doors and exiting the building you heave a sigh, the words of your prospect still ringing in your ears, "No, we're going to pass." Motivation is dwindling fast. For a moment, you think about heading back to the office and blowing off your last call of the day in favor of catching up on paperwork.
But what if it didn't have to be this way?
Imagine getting a "no" from a prospect and then pushing through those same doors happy, excited and energized. Imagine actually thinking to yourself, "Hooray, the client said no!"
In order to tap into the "power of no" there are 3 key strategies that you can apply today.
1) Change your mental model of "success" and "failure."
Most people operate with the following mental model:
SUCCESS (Yes) << YOU>> FAILURE (No)
They see themselves in the middle, with success on one end and failure on the other. They do everything they can to move toward success and away from failure. B
But, what if that model was wrong? What if that model was reconfigured?
YOU >> FAILURE (No) >> SUCCESS (Yes)
What if, rather than seeing failure as something to be avoided, it became a "stepping stone" on the path to success? Put another way: Yes is the destination, but "no" is how you get there.
To achieve significant success in today's world, top performers do not see success and failure - yes and no - as opposites, rather opposite sides of the same coin that depend on each other.
Success is, to a large degree, a numbers game. As such, one of the fastest ways to increase your success is to intentionally increase your failure rate. In other words, increase the number of times you hear prospects say "no" to you. Of course, increasing the number of times you hear "no" will eventually increase the number of times you hear "yes".
2) Create "no-awareness" by counting your "no's".
Here's a question for you: How many total "no's" did you personally obtain yesterday? Last week? Last month? Where are you for the year? Do you know? Well, you should!
Most people, if they actually counted the number of times they hear "no" during a typical day or week, would be shocked to see how low that number actually is. If you don't know your number, it's time for you to start counting every "no" you hear, because the very act of counting your "no's" will increase your no-awareness and that, in turn, will enhance your no-focus.
3) No doesn't mean never, it means not yet.
Woody Allen said that 80 percent of success is simply showing up. While the power of showing up should not be underestimated, the reality is that showing up - in and of itself - is usually not enough. The key to success is to show up, and then to keep showing up! In a word: persistence.
Is this to suggest that when someone keeps telling you "no" you should stay at it forever? No. Though Winston Churchill famously declared one should never, never, never quit... knowing when to quit is an important skill. The problem is most people think that time has come long before it actually has!
How do you know the perfect time to quit? Unfortunately, there is not a definitive number of "no's" at which one should throw his/her hands up and go home - after all, every situation and every prospect is different. So the answer always begins with an analysis as to whether the person you're trying to sell to is a qualified buyer. If they are unqualified (they neither want nor need what you have to offer), then you should pack it in and move on. However, if they do need what you've got - even if they don't want it yet - then pursue them for as long as it takes!
So the next time you walk out of a prospect's office having collected another "no", remember these five key points and say, "Hooray! I just got a no!" Because when you increase your failure rate and go for "no", the "yes" will eventually come... they always do!
In about 2-3 weeks or so I'll review another subject designed to provide business owners with information they can use to help them work "on" their business.
Until Next Time : Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Love Generously and Live In The Moment
All The Best,
Walt Morey
Core Business Solutions
Executive Business Advisor Accredited by the Institute for Independent Business
http://www.corebizsolution.com/
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Why Are People Skeptical About Network Marketing?,
Network marketing, which is also known as MLM has gotten a bad reputation in years past. This is due to so many people believing the myths about this type of business, which is what makes them skeptical to start this type of business.
There are many reasons why they are skeptical, but the main reasons concern the myths that have been spread about this business type in the past. You need to know what these myths are and have the truth revealed about them, so you can see why this is a very legitimate way to start your own business.
Below are the myths that make so many different people skeptical about an mlm business.
One: MLM is nothing, but a Pyramid scheme - This is something that has been talked about on the internet and offline by many people, but it is not true. You need to understand the different between a pyramid scheme and a legal business, which is what mlm is.
Pyramid scheme - This is when you give money to someone else for nothing in return. A good example of this type of scheme is the chain letters that everyone has gotten at some point in their life. This is definitely the type that you want to avoid because you will only be ripped off.
With MLM it is an actual legal business system that provides customers with an actual product or services. So, if you become involved in mlm, then you will be selling a product or service to someone in return for their money and this is what all legal businesses, online and offline do also.
Now that you understand the differences, you can see that mlm is definitely not a pyramid scheme. You just have to be sure that you take time to choose the right opportunity that is legal and not set up like a pyramid.
Two: You can get rich overnight - This is a myth that has turned many people away from this type of business and it should turn you away. If you find an opportunity that promises this, then you want to run the other way as fast as you can.
No business that is legal is going to make you rich instantly. There are so many mlm opportunities that you can use to start a business that will not make this impossible promise. Just look at multiple companies to locate one that is legit and not a scam.
Three: Salespeople are the only ones that can be successful with mlm - This is not true anymore because of the internet. It will help you to have experience with selling, but it is not necessary to achieve success.
With the help of the internet, you don't have to be a salesman, you just have to be willing to learn whatever is needed to help you succeed and to be willing to work hard.
Now that you understand the reasons that so many people are skeptical about network marketing and the truth about these myths, you need to decide if you can be successful with this type of business. Just remember that mlm is definitely legal and a great way to earn money when you find the right opportunity for you.
In about 2-3 weeks or so I'll review another subject designed to provide business owners with information they can use to help them work "on" their business.
Until Next Time : Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Love Generously and Live In The Moment
All The Best,
Walt Morey
Core Business Solutions
Executive Business Advisor Accredited by the Institute for Independent Business
http://www.corebizsolution.com/
There are many reasons why they are skeptical, but the main reasons concern the myths that have been spread about this business type in the past. You need to know what these myths are and have the truth revealed about them, so you can see why this is a very legitimate way to start your own business.
Below are the myths that make so many different people skeptical about an mlm business.
One: MLM is nothing, but a Pyramid scheme - This is something that has been talked about on the internet and offline by many people, but it is not true. You need to understand the different between a pyramid scheme and a legal business, which is what mlm is.
Pyramid scheme - This is when you give money to someone else for nothing in return. A good example of this type of scheme is the chain letters that everyone has gotten at some point in their life. This is definitely the type that you want to avoid because you will only be ripped off.
With MLM it is an actual legal business system that provides customers with an actual product or services. So, if you become involved in mlm, then you will be selling a product or service to someone in return for their money and this is what all legal businesses, online and offline do also.
Now that you understand the differences, you can see that mlm is definitely not a pyramid scheme. You just have to be sure that you take time to choose the right opportunity that is legal and not set up like a pyramid.
Two: You can get rich overnight - This is a myth that has turned many people away from this type of business and it should turn you away. If you find an opportunity that promises this, then you want to run the other way as fast as you can.
No business that is legal is going to make you rich instantly. There are so many mlm opportunities that you can use to start a business that will not make this impossible promise. Just look at multiple companies to locate one that is legit and not a scam.
Three: Salespeople are the only ones that can be successful with mlm - This is not true anymore because of the internet. It will help you to have experience with selling, but it is not necessary to achieve success.
With the help of the internet, you don't have to be a salesman, you just have to be willing to learn whatever is needed to help you succeed and to be willing to work hard.
Now that you understand the reasons that so many people are skeptical about network marketing and the truth about these myths, you need to decide if you can be successful with this type of business. Just remember that mlm is definitely legal and a great way to earn money when you find the right opportunity for you.
In about 2-3 weeks or so I'll review another subject designed to provide business owners with information they can use to help them work "on" their business.
Until Next Time : Live Simply, Speak Kindly, Care Deeply, Love Generously and Live In The Moment
All The Best,
Walt Morey
Core Business Solutions
Executive Business Advisor Accredited by the Institute for Independent Business
http://www.corebizsolution.com/
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