The Small Business with Lori Brooks Show

Ryan Stewman on perseverance and paving the path to a brighter future.

Ryan Stewman, the Hardcore Closer, joins the Technology = Equality Community for episode #69 to share a wild journey from the day he was given a beeper number to changing millions of lives. He witnessed the rise and rapid fall of entrepreneurial relatives while his parents opted for the security of traditional careers. Ryan started his entrepreneurial journey in an unconventional manner and transformed his illegal experience into a profitable practice. Listen in as Ryan shares insight on how the lack of a safety net and perseverance can pave the path to a brighter future.  
Ryan Stewman on perseverance and paving the path to a brighter future.
 
 
“If someone gives you a cool nickname, Go with that shit!
Do not resist cool nicknames!”
~Ryan Stewman
Strategy: Success may come and go in the blink of an eye! Look at every situation as an opportunity to be sure you never miss one. Instead of creating excuses, develop a solid foundation you have control over, then evaluate all feedback to help yourself grow.
Wisdom: Everyone is moving forward in life, create a plan so you know where it is you’re trying to get to. The road may be far bumpier than you anticipate, but keep moving forward. Keep doing what you’re doing and never quit!
Wish: Ryan would love for someone to develop an automated social media marketing content organization and backlink/ funnel coordination program.
Tools: Click here to grab your FREE copy of ‘Elevator To The Top’ Today!
  
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How to create your sales practice secret weapon.

Take a moment to think about all the deals you have closed over the years.
How many client files do you currently possess?
Can you name all of your clients, where you met, their family makeup?
When you finished closing the deals and you received your commission... what did you do with the client record?
How to create your sales practice secret weapon.
There have been numerous studies over the years regarding customer acquisition vs retention and the best way to grow sales. I will spare you the details and provide a link to view a simple infographic and a list of additional resources on this information.
What I do want to be clear on is that it is about 5-7 times more expensive to find a new customer, then it is to keep a current customer happy. The fact is if you focus on selling to existing clients, you can increase your revenue by a minimum of 25%.
Now think about it, you can grow your practice, grow your income without creating new products or spending time finding new people. Take the time to focus on finding the right message and the right method to continue reaching the clients who already know, like and trust you.
There are far too many business owners focused on growing their practice, but with no solid direction or plan. Most sales professionals I've worked with over the years tend to close the deal and the client file is put away. Stored among the many clients they have worked with through the years. Does this sound familiar?
Are your clients' records put away?
If there's no follow-up, then there's no contact, there's no conversation. How do you intend to grow the relationship? How do you intend to continue serving them? How do you intend to gain referrals?
Your clients need you to solve the problem you are the best at solving. Focus on what this problem is and how you can help them even more.
I'm going to help you begin developing your sales practice secret weapon right now.
Take a moment to focus on the big problem you solve for your clients. What information are your clients naturally searching for? Now use the short SETI Method to develop a plan of action.
The S.E.T.I. Method stands for Sort, Examine, Template, Implement. This is a simplified technique I use in my practice and with my clients to quickly develop a sales practice secret weapon for any industry.
Begin by sorting your clients into groups based on similar purchase habits. To keep the process simple, try to stick to the number three when creating your groups.
Once you have three groups, examine the history to verify which of the three is the most profitable for your practice. This can be done in a number of different manners based on the type of sales practice you operate. If you're a Realtor you may choose to group clients into buyers, sellers, and renters. If you're in financial planning you may choose groups aligned with product types or a specific location.
Once you define your groups, clarify why they are who they are. What is it about them personally that connects the group members? Now you can begin creating a customized plan to keep in touch with each of your groups. Determine the best message and connection methods for each group to begin implementing.
This plan, as simple as it may seem is rarely mapped out in a sales practice. The communication template you have now developed is your client retention plan, your sales practice secret weapon. You should continue to tweak or change the template plan as you go.
Once your template plan is developed, try to find tools to help automate the implementation process of your sales practice secret weapon as much as possible. Remember to check out the infographic and list of resources using the link included here.  Click here to connect and schedule a free 4th of July BONUS strategy session to help you automate your sales practice secret weapon!

Peter Aquart on perspective and personal growth.

 
Peter Aquart, COO and co-founder of American Wealth Builders is on a mission to help the average person take control of their finances. Peter discovered his niche of simplicity at the very young age of 13. He has since designed and implemented an entire software system for turnkey real estate investing and has owned and operated over 15 businesses. Peter joins the Technology = Equality Community for episode #68 to discuss perspective, personal growth and the evolution of your passion.
"We have an obligation to everyone else around us and to this world to grow into the best person you can become!" ~Peter Aquart
Strategy: Marketing and sales are the most important piece of your business. Find your market, go where the demand is and be passionate about your service. Take decisive action and always ask questions to help gain a better understanding of both systems and situations.
Wisdom:  Never stop learning! Take the time to evaluate yourself and your business, but always keep an open mind to gain new perspectives. Your passion may end up being an evolution along with the growth of your skill set. Once you understand the value of your service figure out how you plan to deliver this value.
Wish: To help as many people as possible regain control of their financial future through real estate investments.
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My dad is the best at just about everything... Happy Father's Day!

My dad is the best at just about everything. From dancing to fixing things to navigating back roads! 
If he doesn't know how... he will undoubtedly figure it out if you ask him to.
Looking back now, there is nothing he has ever given up on (no matter the time it takes) and there is nothing he can't accomplish. As a child, I didn't understand why my father seemed to have such amazing luck, or why things always went the way he planned. I always thought it funny that my father kept a notebook and several pens in his breast pocket. Much like mom, dad always had a list!
 
My dad is the best....
The reality is dad was always overboard with the listing of things!!!
When we were kids, if we became sick; he kept the

Outsourcing to grow your practice.

All these years, I really have just laughed off most of what my big sister has told me. Mainly because anytime we are together we are busy just joking around. For those of you who know us, you understand why I was surprised. As I continued to grow my practice I had the following revelation... READ MORE
 
 

How to streamline any process with the 4-D Strategy.

Streamline your sales practice with the 4D Strategy.
I am not a shoe rack sales person.... but you might find the time to streamline processes and build your sales practice if you try one!
Often I am asked where I find the time to build this business. I try to explain, but audibly, it sounds like I just cram things into my day. The reality is, I just have more time in my day to accomplish the simple things because I ensure they can be accomplished quickly. Simple tasks can eat up time where you least expect it to.
Let's move on to the clear benefits of investing in a shoe rack.
Really the amount of time saved in the morning, not to mention the amount of time saved throughout the day can add up quickly!
Think about it. If you are like I once was, your shoes are everywhere! I mean everywhere.... bedroom floor, under the bed, in boxes, in the closet, in the living room, by the door, in the car, in the trunk.... yeah, everywhere!
Why is this important, well, often I wouldn't have a clue what shoes I did own and end up with double! Or better yet, finding something to wear and spending hours looking for the right pair
!
We have all been there, admit it!
Ok, so if you have a large shoe rack, you can keep all shoes in a central location.
Obviously!
 
Ok, stay with me though... and let's rewind a bit to the theme I tend to always come back to;
Time is money! 
When your shoes are organized, it's easy to pick the right pair. This trickles into the outfit, the accessories, and things just tend to fall into place from there. You can quickly create your masterpiece outfit for any occasion without hesitation or a scavenger hunt! This, of course, turns into massive amounts of time saved!
So how do you decide where (if not on shoes) you can begin saving a little extra time in your day?
1. Start by taking note of each step of your day-to-day actions.
2. Give an estimate (mentally or on paper) of how long each action takes. This estimate can be anywhere from 30 seconds to, however, many hours you generally take for each of the actions noted above.
3. Choose the three actions which take the most time.
4. Ask yourself the following questions and label each of your actions with one of the four D's. This action can be deleted, delegated, delayed, dominated.
Deleted: Is this action necessary for me to have a fulfilled day? If the action is not a necessity. Cut it out!
Delegated: Can anyone else do it? If so, can you guess what you should do? Yes, get it off your plate as soon as possible! Find the person who is qualified to accomplish the task.
Delayed: Do you have to do this every day? If not, set a recurring schedule to perform the associated action.
Dominated: Is there any way to make this action smoother? Can you reduce the number of steps required to accomplish the task? Get creative and always remember to batch actions.
Take the new hours you now have; no longer looking for shoes, and get back to building your business!
For more tips and tricks visit wwww.Technology-Equality.com

Trevor Crane on confidence and sharing Your Story.

Join me for a very special bonus episode as I chat with Trevor Crane about the difference between confidence and conviction, and manifesting his entrepreneurial journey. Trevor Crane is the kind of guy who thinks of an idea, takes action and keeps moving forward. Trevor's  entrepreneurial journey began with an 'Aha' moment as a child which left him with a passion for providing for his family at large0. Listen in as Trevor shares humble beginnings, explains why you need to share your story and gives a special gift to the Tech=E Community!
Trevor Crane on confidence and sharing Your Story.
"Your message matters!" ~Trevor Crane
Strategy: What is it that motivates you and brings you to life? Determine where your passion lies and get started. If your passion is not where you are..... it's time to get out. Focus on your end goal and take consistent, persistent action to stay on your chosen path. Once you have committed to a specific direction, find a mentor or a coach to share best practices and guide you to the shortcuts along the way. No matter what, GET HELP! Then be sure to share Your Story!
Wisdom: Take special note of the journey others have traveled prior to your own.When wisdom is present, you should be too!  Try to live a life without regret by remaining in the present, surrounding yourself with your favorite people while doing the things you are passionate about.
Wish:  Trevor would love to find a way to reduce the urge to juggle.
Tools: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Mark Mehling on the need for a second plan.

Mark Mehling on the need for a second plan.
Mark Mehling joins the Technology = Equality community for episode #67 to review why you should begin creating your second plan. Mark shares a $10,000 idea and an extraordinary story of a series of unfortunate events. From breaking and entering to an AHA moment that changed his life, listen in as Mark and I explore perspective and discuss developing a client profile, pricing your product, content curation and so much more!
"The whole world is marketing!"
~Mark Mehling
Strategy: Research and understand to whom you are marketing. Always script out how you plan to market to your audience and the media you will use to market your message. Create authority in your industry and provide "BIG" perceived value; then be sure it exists! Test and explore your pricing methods. Curate your content and re-purpose for future projects.
Wisdom: Develop an entrepreneurial perspective before you begin your journey. Take the time to define what's important to you and what you are looking for. Define the must-have pieces of your future, then begin working towards them.
Wish: Mark wishes more people would go analog, not everything has to be digital! Hard copy is still in high demand!
Tools:
                   Dan Kennedy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Do You Suffer From Organization Anxiety?

Does the idea of clearing your space of clutter make you anxious and want to run in the other direction?
My mother, the original 'Organization Maven', always uses the number 3 to clear any space of clutter and avoid the ever dreaded 'Organization Anxiety'.
Organizing a home with four kids is a challenge, but my mother always made it look simple. I can hear her now "Seriously, you kids are so weird these days." If she ever read the title to this blog she would just laugh! She thinks the things our generation concern ourselves with is silly.
Yes in her eyes I am, and always will be a kid.
I like it like that! :) 
My mother would always start an organization project by sorting almost everything into sets of three.
It's an easy number to deal with and it always seemed to keep her organization efforts simple so she could keep up with them. Three rooms a day, three categories to sort, three steps for each space, etc. The number three dissolves some of the anxiety out of any project.
Choose the three spaces you plan to tackle. This method can apply to any space big or small. From a couple of drawers to a couple of offices. Decide which space to start in and begin sorting items into your three key categories.
The Brooks Three Keys
1. Keep
2. Trash (Not Sure)
3. Replace elsewhere or Donate
Once you decide on a starting point, create your 'Three Keys'. They can be any three that you choose. (Note: when adding additional categories you risk time wasted on deciding which category to place items in. Try to stick to three and make your 2nd Key the "Not Sure" key. Don't tackle this pile until you have finished clearing your three spaces.)
As you begin clearing out your space place each item into one of your 3 Keys.
Once cleared, you now can quickly place what you have chosen as your first key items back in your freshly cleared space. Trash your second key and move on. Or, if your anxiety is directly related to the label "Trash", as mentioned make this key the undecided pile.
In an hour you will have three, freshly tidy spaces.
No matter how big or small, remember to never dedicate more than twenty minutes at a time. This way you won't feel as though all of your time has been gobbled up cleaning. Instead in twenty-minute intervals, you will quickly begin to see the benefit of your efforts.
Now that you only have a pile of undecided items, that's right... back to three.
This is the time to make a solid decision to create a trash pile. By now, there are far fewer items to decide on, thus decreasing your organization anxiety. Before you commit to the trash pile, decide if any items are not useful, ie. broken or missing parts, or has the item been fully used (dried white out, finished label tape, empty non-reusable containers) and dedicate these items to the trash.
Now decide if the remaining 'in good order' items could be placed with similar items elsewhere in your space. If not, and you feel the item is still useful, but you haven't touched it in over six months, donate or sell the items online.
In sixty minutes you have now accomplished clearing three spaces and possibly found some extra cash.
For more great tips and tricks to keep you organized, visit
www.technology-equality.com
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Lee Gesmer on segmenting your practice to scale.

Attorney Lee Gesmer was born and raised in Boston, MA and knew from an early age he would one day run his own business. His father anticipated it would be in his textile mill, Lee had his heart set on music. Lee joins us for episode #66 to share his journey from Rock n' Roll to Litigation. Listen in as we discuss how segmenting each area of Lee's practice allows his team to scale with ease.
"The only way to build a law firm is with happy clients!"~Lee Gesmer
Strategy: Look at each area of your practice and begin to sort out each step; from your clients to your procedures. Understand what it is you provide and who you want to serve. Customer happiness matter more than anything in business. Determine how your practice can best serve your clients. Set procedure and service standards for each segment created. Most important, once standards have been established, be sure your entire team is on board with the plan.
Wisdom: If you have an idea you have been thinking about... stop thinking and start doing! Waiting is just holding you back from what you want and the future is never guaranteed. Why do tomorrow what you can get done today?
Tools: Lotus (IBM) 
CopyrightX
Evernote
Tim Ferris
Wish: Lee plans to witness and enjoy the ease in the succession of his practice.  He is currently enjoying the growth of his firm as they begin to mentor and train new generations of attorneys for years to come.
Reach Out Via: Gesmer.com