Small Biz Fuel

This week was one of my most invigorating in recent memory.  I delivered marketing training to three different organizations – a business women’s network, a local chamber of commerce marketing group, and a seminar audience of networking group members.  Each comprised small-business owners and managers who chose to voluntarily participate in a session designed to support their success.  That alone, sharing time with business owners and managers who were serious about their success, was enough to fire me up.  Yet, the real inspirational impact on me came from their openness to and hunger for new ideas and outside insights.  This trait is foundational to successful business people.

It’s been said, “You can’t solve a problem with the same level of thinking that created it.”  When we learn to bury our pride, reorganize our limits, and pursue the knowledge and support of others, we are on our way to a new level of thinking.  Matched with our own knowledge, skills and passion, a new level of potential is eminent.

I too drew upon the knowledge of others this week.  The sessions I conducted filled me with the knowledge of others.  As they posed questions, challenged my positions, and encouraged my delivery, their insights expanded my ability meet the challenge of my next audience.   In addition, I was treated to a presentation by Alecia Huck of Maverick and Company.  She reminded me that in marketing “everybody equals nobody” and “If people can’t remember where they parked their car, why do we expect them to remember details about us?”  While her presentation held much more content, these two points jumped out at me.  So much so, that I used them within 24 hours to support the content of my own presentations – with proper credit to Alecia.

Let others elevate your thinking.  And, do the same for them.  Speaking of other’s knowledge, we recently began our Small Biz Tele Series.  In these weekly calls, participants will learn from others about a variety of small business topics.  Check out our Listen Live link to hear “Merchant Services – Clearning up the credit card confusion.”