Small Biz Forward january 2015 by Nancy Becher

NEW YEAR - NEW FACE TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH

THE ART OF PERSUASION GROWTH AND SECURITY

VOICE OF YOUR BUSINESS SPEAKERS GROUP

SMALL BIZ

FORWARD Tips for the small business that get results VOL. 22 NO. 1 $4.95

SMALL BIZ

FORWARD Tips for the small business that get results

Executive Editor Nancy Becher Editor, Layout, and Design Nickolas Bond Advertising Inquiries nancy@sucess4biz.biz Subscriptions 701 N. Prairie Street Sturgis, MI 49091 (269)-651-3555 http://smallbizforward.com info@success4biz.biz Twitter @smallbizjunkie Facebook www.facebook.com/bsuconnector LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nancybecher

Vol. 22 No. 1 Small Biz Forward is published monthly by Celebrate Business Publishing, a division of Business Success Unlimited. ISSN 2332-5887 No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted into any form by any means without written consent from the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs will be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All letters sent to Small Biz Forward will be treated as unconditionally assigned for publication, copyright purposes and use are subject to SBF unrestricted right to edit and comment

BSU helps small business succeed through mentoring projects, networking groups, and entrepreneurial forums. From business know-how to business networking BSU has it all. For more information about our one-on-one consulting, business retreats or networking forums contact me at:

701 Prairie Street 2nd Floor Sturgis, MI 49091 Phone:(269) 651-3555 Email:Nancy@success4biz.biz

CEO: Nancy K Becher A trusted and caring service provider for the entrepreneur and small business owner in need of marketing and advertising advice, as well as a large networking group of businesses. ii

Event Calendar

CONTENTS Cover Story 23

New Year - New Face

Features 5 Office to Office Thoughts and Letters to the Editor

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s So Much to Know

Helping Your Business Grow

The Art of Persuasion

How to Get What You Want

33 Being Connective Growing Your Abilities 3

7 41

CONTENTS 37 No Brain No Gain Do’s and Don’ts

Voice of Your Business Speakers Group

Lifestyle 10

Google Resources

Challenging Yet Attainable

Maintaining Positive Momentum For 2015

Growth and Security

Keeping Your Business Safe

Transform Your Health

Maintaining a Positive Image For Your Business

5 Human Resource Secrets

Helping Your Company Grow

Office to Office January Happy New Year…exciting for many reasons. It’s the time when we all look forward to new things happening; new adventures and new possibilities for our lives. It is also a time for excitement when we think about our businesses: where we’ve been and where we’re going. A whole new world opens up before us like at no other time in the year. We’re uniquely ready to create goals, start new phases in our businesses and allow ourselves to be open minded and ready for things to change and morph and create success. For some reason, in this culture at least, the beginning of the new year gives us permission to think about what we’d like to have take place in our lives during the upcoming 365 days. There is a great dream afloat: whether it’s about getting healthier, losing weight, or any number of other hopes. We believe that we can accomplish anything and we set out to do so. Yet, shortly thereafter, our dreams begin to fade. We lose interest in what we had so recently felt was our calling for the year, and we fall back into our old habits. It doesn’t have to be like that however. If we plan for and acknowledge these goals, creating processes that become habit themselves, we will continue to grow and enhance those dreams. All it takes is the desire and motivation to make it happen. This month’s Small Biz Forward helps us to create that motivation and gives us ways to accomplish the goals. We have been working so hard on supporting and growing our businesses over the last year – now, it’s time to put that success into operation and move forward. Whether that means adding employees, creating processes and procedures (making our work easier, smoother, and more professional in many ways), adding methods for social media and other marketing methods, or any number of other technologies, you will find ideas to help you transition from startup to emerging business. I can’t wait to start on my own challenges and goals for 2015. What about you?

Nancy

Letters to the Editor “Small Biz Forward is a well written and informative magazine. The articles are relevant to what small business owners need to know. We all need help growing our businesses and there are numerous topics that we may not have known about or may have overlooked. Keep up the good work on a great magazine and program.” Al Howard - Photographer “Small Biz Forward has become a monthly magazine I look forward to reading each month. It keeps me up on local current business happenings and people who are making a difference.” Denise Longley, Event Specialist Hello Gorgeous of H.O.P.E. “What I enjoy most about Small Biz Forward is that it provides different angles of owning a business. Not only does the magazine focus on the key concepts to running and efficient business, it also offers insight from professionals who have succeeded in their business. This allows the reader to relate more as well as sort of connect with people outside their market.” Bianca Anderson - Freelance Writer “Small Business Forward Magazine is a GREAT tool for every entrepreneur to use in their business from marketing ideas to wonderful training they provide.” Cheryl Friar, CEO Premier Women’s Network “As a successful small business owner, I look forward to reading the articles in each addition of Small Biz Forward. I love that they are written by local business people just like myself and always contain fresh ideas and information, often on subjects that we are all aware of but may need to be gently reminded of the importance to smoothly running our businesses. This is a well done publication that is a short, easy read and I would recommend it to every small business owner who wants to stay relevant in today’s rapidly changing market.” Deb Sanderson, Owner of Treadstone LLC & Nerium Brand Partner

RESOURCES PresentationsAre you tired of the same ole’ PowerPoint presentations? Want something new and fresh? Check out Prezi at http://prezi.com. It’s a great new experience for you and those who you are presenting to.

TravelDo you travel a lot for your business? Want to save money on hotels along the way? Corporate Lodging is a great way to find all levels of hotels and save anywhere from $10 to $50+ every time you reserve through them. http://clclodging.com

Just for FunZedge.com is fun… If you have an Android smartphone, download Zedge and you can find games, ringtones, notifications, pictures and more. Especially when you work hard, you need time to play, too. Check it out.

YBNF TIP Help Others Connect On Facebook

Isn't it fun to be a part of helping businesses connect on Facebook? I love being able to share a post with someone specific. It's always nice to re-share others posts on our own page, but sometimes we want to be sure that a specific person sees a specific post. Once you hit "share" at the bottom of the posts, use the drop down box at the top (on my timeline) and once the drop down opens up choose "a private message". Type in the name of the person or the name of a business page you want to send the post to, then include a little note from you and re-share the post (with any links attached) on to that person. The person will receive this as a message from you so they will also know that you were the one who forwarded something on to them. So much great information out there on Facebook to share with others. This is a great way to pass things on and let others know that you are thinking about them too.

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s So Much to Know to Help Y our Business Grow by Nancy Becher, Business Success Unlimited

For most of us, we start our own businesses because we want freedom to do what we want, when we want, and to make money for ourselves instead of corporate America. There are over 21 million nonemployee based businesses in the United States, not to mention all those who have employees (there are 28 million in all, according to the SBA). That's a whopping big number of small businesses isn't it? But did you know that you can be making $5 million dollars and have up to 500 employees and still be considered small by government standards? I hope to one day be that small. LOL But there's also another statistic that is just as important, and that's the failure rate. Twenty-five percent close their doors within a year, and by year five the number can be as high as 50%. So, what keeps a business functioning and sustainable? When we start out often we're a solo enterprise and we do it all ourselves -- everything from creating the product/service, to the billing, the bookkeeping, the office cleaning, the secretarial duties, and on. And for a while that works great. But then we get to the point where we're busy and we need help. Here's where challenges start to come in at. Before we even begin thinking about hiring, we have to have certain plans and ideas in place. First, and foremost, what exactly is it that we sell? And. what is our culture? How do we want to appear to others, why do we sell what we do, etc.? We have to know that ourselves before we can train someone else to understand and emulate it. Do we have goals and budgets in place? Can we afford to hire someone (and don't forget, the costs incurred in an employee are far more than JUST a salary)? Do you have the finances together to cover all that? Speaking of budgets, do you have 3 to 6 monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worth of reserves tucked away so that if you have a lean month or two you'll still be able to pay your bills? And what about salary for yourself? Do you take one? You should you know. By the way, all of this really needs to be on paper so that you can see it and so that you can turn it over to an accountant at least at tax time, if not regularly.

I mentioned goals earlier, but I'm going back. It is so important to have an idea of where you want to be, where you're headed and how you're going to get there. For someone who doesn't create long-term goals, you're never going to get where you want, but you will get to where you're going -- going is wherever the wind carries you. That may NOT be where you were hoping for however. Start out by creating a series of SMART goals (http://www.hr.virginia.edu/uploa...). Use the template found in this monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magazine and actively work on them on a regular basis. When you see where you're going, and see that you're well on your way, then everything works better: you're more energized, and feel better about the journey. There's so much to do and so much to learn, but if you truly want to be a growth business, one of those that not only outlasts the 5 year margin, but grows from day to week and week to year, you really must work on these strategic initiatives and keep the faith that it will all work out in the end.

Since 1983 she has run business referral groups, training programs and small business associations. First in Washington, DC metro areas and now throughout Michigan, with programs in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Niles, and Sturgis, MI as well as South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Granger, and Fort Wayne, IN.

Sounds like a lot, huh? I'm just getting started, SORRY. The next set of thoughts and questions revolves around you're actually getting out there and selling your product of service. When you know what it is you're selling, then you have to figure out who you're selling to. And DO NOT tell me anyone can buy from you. Yes they can, but No they won't. You need to figure out WHO your target market is and why they will want what you have to offer. It's not about you having this wonderful thing to sell. It is, however, all about what makes it important TO them (not for them) to buy it. Figure out the WIIFM (What's In It For Me -- THEM in this case), and you'll be on your way to creating great relationships with potential customers.

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Happy 2015 Everyone! The start of a new year always bring fresh, new ideas for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Business Success Unlimited is no exception. Nancy thought she would change things up a bit in the monthly magazines. One of the things she is doing is adding a section on business tools – specifically how to choose which tool is best for you and how to use them efficiently. To kick things off I thought I would tell you about and actually show you one feature that Google Docs has that I use all the time – Forms.

types of forms from surveys to collecting data on a client to setting up contracts, etc. Pretty much anything you want a form for can be created with Google Forms. To access this feature you need to be logged into your Google Docs account. From your main screen click “New”, then select the “more” option, then “connect more aps” if you do not already have Google Forms activated. Simply do a search for “forms” and it will come up. Click on it to activate and you are off and running. So, if you don’t mind taking just 5-minutes out of

In order to make sure I am covering the tools, systems, vendors, etc. that you want to learn about, I have created a very simple and short survey that I would like you to take. I created it using Google Forms and thought it would be the perfect way to show you how something like this works. Seriously, it took me less than 10-minutes to put this together. You can create all different

your busy schedules to take our survey we would greatly appreciate it. You can do so by going to : http://bit.ly/1sg6Q06

Kristi Pavlik, Chief Visionary Officer at Adonai Business Solutions, helps entrepreneurs navigate their business journeys to success! For more than a decade, Kristi has been teaching entrepreneurs and small business owners how to transform big ideas into business models that support profit and growth!

THE ART OF PERSUASION by: Jan Murphy, Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business Bureau Ever wonder why some people have a greater ability to persuade than you?

wondering if they can trust the individualâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s opinions and prospective.

What do they do that makes them unique from you?

This is understandable and allowing oneself to be persuaded can be risky. Often times people over estimate their own creditability and this is where

Effective persuasion has four distinct and essential steps. First, effective

often the problem lies.

persuaders establish creditability. Second, they frame their goals in a way that identifies a common ground with those they intend to persuade. Third, they reinforce their positions using vivid language and compelling evidence. And fourth, they connect emotionally with their audience.

Creditability grows out of two sources: relationships and expertise. People are considered to high levels of expertise if they have a history of sound judgment or proven themselves as knowledgeable. On the relationship side, people with high creditability usually demonstrate over time that they

Establishing creditability is the hurdle persuaders must overcome. A

can be trusted and have the best interest of others. They have consistently

persuader cannot advocate his position without overcoming people

shown strong emotional character, integrity, honesty, are reliable as well as steady and stable individuals. Effective persuaders build strong relationships with their peers.

Even if your creditability is high, your position must still strongly appeal

make their positions come alive. Numbers do not make an emotional

to the people you are trying to persuade. Effective persuaders are adept at

impact but stories and vivid language does.

describing their positions or ideas in terms that will illuminate their advantages. It is critical that the persuader identify the tangible benefits

Lastly, a persuader must match his or her emotional fervor to the

for the people being targeted. Sometimes that may be easy but in other

audience’s ability to receive the message. Good persuaders are aware of the

situations, no shared advantages are readily apparent. In this case, effective

primacy of emotions and are responsive to them in two important ways:

persuaders adjust their positions. They know it is impossible to engage

First they show their own emotional commitment to the position that

people and gain their commitment to ideas or plans without highlighting

they are advocating. They show their commitment to their goal not only

the advantages to all of the parties involved.

in their mind but in their heart and soul. Without the demonstration of feeling, people may doubt the position that is being advocated. More

At the heart of framing common ground is the solid understanding of the

importantly, strong persuaders have a strong sense of their audience

audience. Even before starting to persuade, the best persuaders closely study

emotional state and adjust accordingly.

the issues that matter to their audience. They use conversations, meetings and other forms of dialogue to collect essential information. They are

It is important for people to understand that the art of effective

good at listening. They test their ideas with their confidants and they often

persuasion is not about convincing or selling but learning and negotiating.

ask questions from the people they will be later trying to persuade.

Understand your audience, provide evidence that you have creditability,

With creditability established and a common frame identified, persuasion

connect emotionally with your audience by understanding the benefits to

becomes a matter of presenting evidence. Effective persuader paints a

them, prepare before you meet them, listen carefully and put your heart

vivid word picture by using stories, metaphors, examples, and analogies to

and soul into your presentation.

In sales and sales management for over twenty years, Jan has trained people to successfully market their products and services through adaptive and consultative sales techniques. A recent transplant from Atlanta, Jan is the Founder of the Women’s Business Bureau, a women’s business organization in Kalamazoo. Jan’s expertise lies in building ground floor operations into fast growing, profitable businesses. Contact Jan: Phone: (334)-560-6955 (cell) Website: www.womensbusinessbureua.com

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SECURITY AND YOUR GROWTH By Ed Becher, PPS, Center For Protection, Security, and Personal Safety

As your business grows so must the security of

This can be done through crime mapping web

One thing that happens with growth is we can

your business. Going from working out of the

sites, local law enforcement and groups like

have employees or associates. These same folks

spare room at home to a store front or an office

Chambers of Commerce.

may need access to your store or office when

in town is a big move. How much security you

you are not there. This means you will have to

will need will depend on many factors ranging

There are many companies out there to look at

give them access codes or keys so that they can

from the location you choose to the type of

if you are looking at alarm systems: ADT, EPS,

come and go as needed. Before granting this

business you are involved in.

and others who can perform security reviews

access, set down some guidelines as to when they

of your business location and help you

can and cannot be there. Also add to these

Someone selling high class jewelry will need a

determine need. You can also look at installing

guidelines if they can have guests or clients

stronger security system then someone who

systems yourself if cost is a factor. Door

there after business hours and what items they

sells childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books. But one factor that

alarms, closed circuit television systems,

can bring into and out of the business. These

could change this could be location, if your

(CCTV) and more can be purchased at many of

guidelines need to be in writing and signed by

business is located in a high crime area you may

the big box stores and home improvement

the employee.

want to consider upgrading what security is in

centers. Many of these systems can be hooked

place. Many of us would say that we would

into secure Wi-Fi systems and be viewed on

Security is not something you need to tackle by

never locate our businesses in these areas, but do

your smart phones. Remember what I just said

yourself, there are many security consultants

you really know the area prior to signing that

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SECURE --Wi-Fi. No need to let the

out there who are willing to help answer your

lease? A lot of landlords will not tell you

criminal element know what the inside looks

many questions you will have. 2015 will be a

everything just to rent the space; this puts

like through your cameras.

great year, so stay safe and grow.

checking out the potential location on you.

Former Marine, Chief Instructor US Dept. of State, Uniformed Branch, Diplomatic Security Service; Ed Becher is the owner of Center for Protection, Security and Personal Safety (The Bodyguard Academy) which is a provider of training and resources to keep you, your staff and clients safe. He can be contacted at ed@thebodyguardacademy.com or by phone at (269)651-3355.

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CHALLENGING YET ATTAINABLE MAINTAINING POSITIVE MOMENTUM FOR 2015. by Adam Fleming, Leadership Coach Trainer

Challenging yet Attainable Goals are a key to maintaining positive momentum for 2015. There’s a saying that goes “If I shoot at the sun, I may hit the stars.” (Attributed to P.T. Barnum) I have my own saying that relates to this saying. “Bull ----.” If you shoot at the sun and hit a star, what have you gotten? A) Not what you wanted. B) Lost.

Instead of taking a page from Barnum (what kind of circus are you running, anyway?) take a page out of NASA’s playbook. Shoot for an attainable goal: Orbit. Then, the moon. Then, later, work on the next one farther out: Mars. One step at a time. I’m leery of setting gross sales goals, because the numbers that come out of the sales end of your funnel are ultimately out of your control. The argument against this is that if you present to enough people you can predict a certain percentage of sales and project with confidence what your gross sales will be. A more careful look at that argument shows that what is controlled is your number of presentations: how many people did you

call? How many seminars did you lead? And so on. Not how

December, I’ve beaten last year’s gross by 14%, and that’s modest, but

many people wrote a check. Projections may have a lot of

pretty energizing. It was a similar year to last year in terms of gross...

research behind them, but they don’t mean you have control of

but a much better year in terms of net: a 72% net increase!

someone else’ checkbook.

That’s a valuable lesson, too. When setting goals for next year, ask yourself what budget cuts you can reasonably make. What advertising

Still not sure? Consider, then, a pole vault competition.

streams aren’t paying? Cut them. What time and travel expenses do you have that aren’t necessary? Are you visiting a vendor who could

The key is to get over the bar. You get nothing for trying for the world record. No style points. Vaulters know that their first order of business is to show they can get over the bar at some modest height. If, for some

be visiting you? If you want a better net, part of what you do control is your own spending. “I can write it off ” is a dangerous thought for someone who wants a profitable business!

reason, nobody else gets over that modest height, you win. Nobody starts with their personal record. Their PR is something they set

Don’t presume to know what your gross or net profit is going to be. Set

previously, on some other day. What if today isn’t quite as good, and

goals based on what you know is right to do, control your spending, and

they don’t make it? They get nothing. Only once they prove themselves against a modest target does it make any sense to raise the bar. Every pole vaulter starts with a goal they know is attainable. Let’s get practical. Last year, under external pressure to articulate sales

the rest will take care of itself. Or maybe it won’t. Because sometimes you will succeed, and some years you won’t. But at least you won’t have been arrogant, and that will make either your success or failure easier to handle!

numbers, I set the bar 7% lower than last year’s gross. As of mid-

Adam G. Fleming is a husband and father of four, teaches active listening, powerful questions and SMART goals through non- profits and churches, CEO at Evergreen Leaders, Owner at Epic Life Studios, international traveler, multicultural thinker and author of the novel White Buffalo Gold.

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WORK NOW GROW NOW by Nancy Becher, Business Success Unlimited With the beginning of a new year, all shiny and fresh, it’s time to start thinking about all the days ahead and where you see yourself in a year. Are you going to be in the same place you are now, or are you going to be in a totally new, expanded, life – where you’ve had great experiences and wonderful advancements. It’s up to you … you hold your success in your hands.

Describe your business today. Who are your customers, what are your revenues, what do you sell and why do you sell it? Get the idea? Look at your customer base. What is the purpose that they buy from you? Is it a need, a “want”? Does it make them feel

great, or less in fear? Is your price higher than the competition, or lower? All of these answers help you understand how to focus your marketing efforts?

Where would you like to see your business in six months? A year? Financial figures

for fixed costs, average expenses, revenues – how much do you want to be making profit-wise? In order to figure out where you want to be, you need to know where

One of the most important things you can

you are so that you can adjust for the future.

part. And then, oh my, once you get the plans

made, then the hard part comes into play …

have to do to get to that point? Make more product? Find new customers? Increase marketing? How

you have to act on those plans. That means

are you going to get $80,000 in additional revenue coming in? And don’t forget, you’ll probably

you have to start yourself out with a push,

have to increase your expenditures as well. Don’t leave that part of the math out.

do for your business is to create a plan, but it is also one of the most difficult because it takes thought and consideration on your

and then once the momentum starts, you’re well on your way. Since you’re doing some heavy lifting on the plans for your business, you should probably do a full-scale plan which includes the whole year, and then work back from there. Here are a few questions for you to think about as you’re building

If you have big differences you want to see take place from now to then, what do you need to implement to get from point A to point B? For instance, say you want to go from $20,000 a year to $100,000 a year? First, is that even reasonable? Yes, then what do you

Finally, what barriers are you going to find when you start working these issues? The threats to your advances are just as important as the opportunities. Make sure you have those covered as well.

That’s a lot of work, I know. But, it’s very important work. If you’ve been in business for a while, but haven’t seen much advancement in that time, it could be because you haven’t take the time to think about your goals, your strategies, your plans. Since its January, why not get the year off to a GREAT start and do it now.

this guide for success.

NEW YEAR NEW FACE

The start of a new year often brings out the “Wannas” in us – both personally and professionally. I “wanna” lose weight this year. I “wanna” make $500,000 this year. I “wanna” have a new home, more time with family, go to Hawaii, and so forth. It’s the time we create our New Year’s Resolutions and plan what the next 365 days are going to look like. But how often, say a month down the road, have those plans vanished? This happens year after year, and as we all know, doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is just silly. So what do we need to do, especially as a business owner who really wants to grow their business and create the life they envisioned when they started their company? They need to start working on their business development through strategic planning. Habits, some of you may know, don’t become habit until they’ve been exhibited at least 30 days, according to the experts. So, if you plan on being to work on time every day, you have to do it for 30 days in a row before you actually have to stop thinking about it and just “do it”. The same type of concept is true in your planning. When you write things down, and purposefully think about what you want and how you’re going to get it, it becomes more real. If it’s just bouncing around in your head, there are a million other thoughts that can push that one thought around and suddenly, it’s gone. “What did I want to do? Geez, I can’t remember. Must not have been important.” Yet it actually might have been the most important thought you’d had in a long time. Enter business development and strategic planning. According to Scott Pollack, a contributing author to Forbes.com, business development is: “…the creation of longterm value for an organization from customers, markets, and relationships.”

“I highly recommend Nancy as someone to mentor you and as a consultant to help you with your startup business. She really has a passion and desire to help people with their business solutions. Nancy has also designed and published one of the best business periodicals on the marketplace. It is without hesitation that I recommend Nancy to you.”

Jan Murphy Founder at Women's Business Bureau “Nancy Becher has incredible insight to guide startup and small business owners to achievement in ways they could not in the same time line on their own. Through a series of educational forums and programs, Business Success Unlimited, her company, develops plans for business growth and leadership in its members. The focus remains on the big picture and goals while ensuring the details don't get overlooked. Business Success Unlimited also offers a home for startups and small businesses which is why it is called a "co-work center." As publisher of Small Biz Forward magazine, Nancy is leading subscribers to new ideas and connections”

Gail Turluck President at Connective Marketing “Nancy has built a strong reputation as someone with vision, diligence and – someone who gets things done! I have the pleasure of partnering with Nancy on her extremely professional and popular "Small Biz Forward" Magazine. She is focused and dedicated to producing her very best at all times to deliver top quality information in her magazine to benefit all readers throughout Michigan and Indiana.”

Susie Olivarez Human Resources Consultant & Career Coach

What that means is that when you create a plan for your business success you effectively focus on increasing revenues through obtaining, and maintaining clients, building, extending and adding/ deleting products and services, and creating long-term relationships with customers, employees, vendors and other stakeholders. How is this done? Through strategic planning. This management tool determines where an organization is going over the next year or more and how it's going to get there. There are several avenues that should be implemented long-term in order to grow the company. Market research (to find out what the competition is doing, if there’s a need or want for what you offer, etc.) is generally the first step. In this process there are several areas that are defined such as mission, goals for the year, and objectives on how to accomplish the goals. You also need to assess where the company is at the present and identify where it should be at the end of the year. Once this is decided, management needs to evaluate how to bridge the gap between the two endpoints, formulating steps and strategies to get from Point A to Point B.

It is also very important to realize that this process is fluid and that the methods may need to be adjusted along the way. A lean business is one that can adjust and recreate when necessary without great expense in time or money. Goals should be set to “just out of reach” so that it takes work to get there but is doable. For example, if your business is generating $1000 in revenues a year, your goal should NOT be to generate $1,000,000 this next year. That is simply not doable in most cases. But $100,000 just might be. This is where Business Success Unlimited enters the picture. Exciting changes are happening that will affect your business when you partner with BSU. Nancy Becher, the Founder and CEO of this company has been in business for herself in one way or another since she was 12 years old. Nancy’s first business was a retail store run with her mom and sister out of their basement. She then ran daycare centers, an editorial and proofreading service, and had a 6 location (3 state) administrative support company. In the mid-1980s she worked with The Park Trade Center in Kalamazoo, MI in their small business incubator program, and then moved to further her education. Since 1996 her business has focused on helping entrepreneurs and small businesses with their strategic planning and business development implementation. Starting one of the first executive suites in the Washington, DC area, she then

turned her attention to providing referrals and connections with everyone she met. She tells us that people started asking her, “Who do you know who… and How do I do …” As a consequence, she started a networking/referral group in Arlington, VA that is still running strong today --- although she did give up ownership several years ago. Her clients have ranged from CACI and ASET International Services in Washington, DC to Michiana Christian Service Camp, Treadstone LLC, River Country Media and Page One Rankings in Michigan. As well, she has worked with scores of small micro enterprise businesses throughout DC, Michigan and Indiana. Throughout all of her work her passion for supporting and guiding these businesses has come through loud and clear – as this testimonial shows: “Very rarely does one cross paths with someone who has the rare ability of caring for others. Nancy is such a person. Her sincere desire to connect business owners with each other is so rarely seen or appreciated in today's society. I would recommend Nancy to any business owner who wants to take their business to the next level of success and profitability.” – Ken Varga, Build Your Business Fast.

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Since coming back to Michigan in 2008, Business Success Unlimited has worked with micro-enterprises and 1st stage emerging growth companies, helping them with their business development and strategic planning programs. Nancy believes strongly that good training in business gives you the tools and skills to analyze your challenges and then find strategic solutions. This training creates immediate added value to your organization. And moving forward, business development training should contribute in meaningful ways through new skills, expanded horizons and a strong professional network. The programs supported by BSU are one-on-one counseling, peer advisory boards, success roundtables and workshops that allow the business owner to explore and develop the opportunity to own, operate, expand, or purchase a small business. The company also works with organizations who have managers that need to guide their employees in areas such as customer service and employee empowerment. These programs are often conducted in a classroom atmosphere with discussions and open sharing. BSU has a 5,000 square foot office space in Sturgis, MI with class- rooms, a conference center, kitchen, offices and a lounge area that includes a library of business books for sharing. Ms. Becher is always looking for donations of good business books to add to the collection so that she might share even more knowledge with others. It is her belief that you should ALWAYS be learning new things and re- learning that which you might already know but haven’t considered in a while. Many of the programs offered by BSU will be held at the Center, but the trainers work within a 200 mile radius, traveling to where the need is found. In 2015 Ms. Becher and her consultants will be expanding operations even further, heading back to places such as Washington, DC and Chicago.

There are several ways one can participate in these programs – one way is through a yearly membership which includes attendance in various programs, copies of Small Biz Forward, and more (see the ad towards the end of the magazine for further details). People can also pick and choose individual programs they are interested in attending, and can get one on one consulting with Ms. Becher and with other consultants. The most recent addition to the offerings of BSU is the monthly magazine Small Biz Forward. Edited and published by Ms. Becher, she and the contributing authors work hard to provide quality articles that enlighten, educate and get the reader thinking about new and/or different ways to manage and grow their businesses. There are always worksheets in the magazine that stimulate thinking and help guide goal setting, budgets, marketing programs and more. A fun section can be found in the crossword puzzle of the month, a book review provides ideas for reading (some for fun, some for education), and there are always opportunities for advertising along with what is called an advertorial (a company runs an ad “hidden” in an article about the company). A great way for a business to market their own products or services is through this advertorial where they then can use it in their own marketing efforts. 2015 is going to be a very successful year for small businesses in the United States – but only if they take the time to plan and implement goals and other strategic initiatives. Business Success Unlimited, and Nancy Becher, are there to guide and support in these efforts. Check out their new logo and tagline “We take care of YOUR business.” It says it all.

701 Prairie Street 2nd Floor Sturgis, MI 49091 Phone:(269) 651-3555 Email: nancy@success4biz.biz LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ smallbizjunkie Facebook: www.facebook.com/bsuconnector Nancy Becher speaking at the 2014 retreat in Webster, IN. (bottom left of page 23) 2013 Business Retreat (bottom of page 24) Small Business Forward November Issue 2014 (bottom left of page 25) January 2015 Cover Photo for Small Business Forward (bottom of page 26)

Risk management, Strategy, Value Proposition, Quantitative Analysis, Sales, Marketing, Relationships, Actionable, Goals, Opportunities

Across 4. transfer of property for money or credit.

Down 1. The result or achievement toward which effort is directed; aim; end.

6. the total of activities involved in the transfer of goods from the producer or seller to the consumer or buyer, including advertising, shipping, storing, and selling.

2. the technique or profession of assessing, minimizing, and preventing accidental loss to a business, as through the use of insurance, safety measures, etc.

7. A good position, chance, or prospect, as for advancement or success. 9. Quantitative analysis is simply a way of evaluating things. Instance of quantitative analysis include

3. A business or marketing statement that summarizes why a consumer should buy a product or use a service. 5. a plan, method, or series of maneuvers or stratagems everything from simple financial ratios, like earning per share, to something as intricate as discounted cash flow, or option pricing for obtaining a specific goal or result 8. The ways in which your company communicates and deals with existing customers 10. Ready to go or be put into action; ready for use:

Let the Planning Begin! Michiana “Shop & Greet” Brings the Community Together for the Third Year “Our mission is to bring together all of Michiana that includes Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan to showcase businesses and non-profits and to encourage shopping locally and supporting the greater Michiana Area”.

So much happens behind the scenes to contribute to the success of an event and those attending the recent Planning Meeting for the upcoming Michiana “Shop & Greet “ took their task seriously and jumped in with energy and enthusiasm. “ I think it’s the mission of the event that gets everyone so excited” says Kerri Spencer, Kerri’s Avenue Salon who is back for the third year doing her part to make this event successful, sponsoring and hosting both the Speed Networking and the Fashion Show. In the Planning Meeting, everyone seems to already know that the third annual Michiana “Shop & Greet” that will be held on March 26, 2015 at the St. Mary’s Campus Gillespie Center, 53995 Indiana State Road 933, South Bend, IN will be bigger and better and showcase Michiana businesses and non-profits in a powerful way. Back for their second year and taking a lead role with the non-profits is Goodwill Industries of Michiana who will kick of the festivities with their Roadshow Boutique and Fashion Show Luncheon. The Fashion Show Luncheon will start at 12:00 and feature models representing various charities in Michiana including Hello Gorgeous and Dismas House. Katie Paceley, Public Relations Specialist for Goodwill Industries, attended the planning meeting and talked about the impact non-profits are having in the Michiana Community and welcomed the opportunity to coordinate the Fashion Show as a vehicle to help more people know about the work of non-profits. Fashions for the show will be provided by Goodwill Industries and include business attire for both men and women, evening wear and trendy but sophisticated casual attire. For more information on other Goodwill Fashion Shows visit their website at www.goodwill-ni-org. Realizing that if everyone in all of Michiana spent just $10 locally, we would generate more than $9,000,000 in one day in Michiana, Karen Bachert, Founder and Host of Michiana Shop & Greet, stages the event for shopping success. To get things started, everyone attending receives $10 in Michiana Bucks (included with their ticket purchase of $15 at the door or their Fashion Show Luncheon Ticket). In addition, vendors and sponsors also receive Michiana Bucks and redeem the Michiana Bucks spent at their booths for cash at the close of the event. Although the planning continues, the Schedule of Events for the day so far includes: 12:00-2:00 Fashion Show and Luncheon, 2:00 Road- show Boutique and Vendor Booths open with a sneak preview of the auction items that will be presented in the LIVE Charity Auction later in the day, 3:00-4:30 Stage Presentation with special guests and Early Bird Door Prize Give Away, 5:30 Speed Networking with Kerri, 7:00 LIVE Charity Auction and 7:50 IEntertain DJ Party Give Away Drawing. It’s a full day planned to showcase Michiana with the Fashion Show Luncheon 12:00-2:00 and the Expo running from 2:00-8:30. Sponsors include: Proforma Printhouse, IEntertain, WSMK Radio, Business Success Unlimited, Small Biz Forward Magazine, Premier Women of Michiana, and Kerri’s Avenue Salon. Sponsorship opportunities and booth space are available by contacting Karen Bachert at karen@YourBusinessNeedsFans.com or calling 574.344.8895.

GROWTH AND SECURITY by: Ed Becher, PPS, Center For Protection, Security, and Personal Safety As I get set to start on my new and continuous journey as a business owner, I look forward to new challenges as I grow. Being in the security industry has many unique things that I have to consider. While we all have the desire to develop new clients, my clients are a bit different than most and have moreâ&#x20AC;Śummmmmâ&#x20AC;Ś different needs. They are in a time of need or distress, feel threatened and want to feel safe and secure. They may have stalkers, fear of work place violence or are being threatened with violence, kidnapping or worse. There may be plans of travel, either domestically or internationally involved and the itinerary involves locations that are less than hospitable to foreigners. Now here is where I come in, the provider of security services. The last year has been a wild and interesting ride and it continues. While my growth has not been as fast a one like some have had, it has caught me off guard at times. Some things that I have had to consider have been state licensing requirements, insurance to cover not only our training programs, but our security services, recruiting potential employees and more. It has made me consider many things, how far do I want to push the envelope, where do I wish to put my specialty in security, where do I want to have my niche? That was most likely my hardest decision of all this, was it uniformed security? Executive Protection? Special Events? High Risk/High Profile? Or is it a combination of all these?

With this comes more and added complications, where many small business owners that sell products have a set price schedule, mine has been more complicated to put together. How much should I charge per man hour for a single executive protection agent? How much is a client willing to pay for this service? What is the national and regional billable rate for these services? Well let me tell you there is no simple solution to this as other providers do not like discussing their rates. Another major issue has been: do I get a surety bond or obtain insurance? While I elected insurance the hurdle I have been jumping through is finding an insurance company willing to provide me a policy. With this I got very lucky and found an insurance agent who was willing to take the risk with me and find me a policy that would cover both my needs and meet state requirements. The policy will grow with my business as we move forward into the future, both in employees and contracts we will take on. The hiring of employees will be another hurdle which I will face in my growth, as I cannot do it all and be everywhere my client base may take me. The world of private security has had many black eyes and bad press over the last few years. It will be very hard for me at times to make a potential client believe that what I have to offer is better then what they have had prior. This is where my personal ethics, morals and standards will come in to play. Having worked in the private security industry for over 20 years in one aspect or another I know what I desire in an employee. Will I be able to find the perfect employee? That is still to be seen. I do know I cannot clone myself so I will need to be selective in who I choose to represent me and my agency. This is where having a two part agency comes in, as I can train those who will work for me to my standards. As I said earlier, who is my target market I wish to gain as a client? After careful discussion and review of many things about the private security industry we decided to not go primarily the uniformed route but to look for executive protection assignments and high profile special events. These clients could be business executives, diplomats, celebrities, the events could be major business meetings or even movie premiers. With this it takes a certain type of employee, one who can dress well, know proper etiquette and how to deal with people and how to handle their security needs without interrupting their normal life. Yes I am looking for a rare breed of employee. But want to know something? I know he or she is out there and I will find them. My growth will be slow and steady as I move into the future as this is a big leap.

Former Marine. Chief Instructor, US Dept. of State, Uniformed Branch, Diplomatic Security Service; Ed Becher is the owner of Center for Protection, Security and Personal Safety (The Bodyguard Academy) which is a provider of training and resources to keep you, your staff and clients safe. He can be contacted at ed@thebodyguardacademy.com or by phone at (269)651-3355.

TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR BUSINESS by Cindy Cohen When you hear the word transform what does it mean to you? To help our discussion along let’s use the Vocabulary.com definition of transform: to convert, to change one thing to another resulting in a big change. For example, a piece of paper can be changed, converted or transformed to a cute little origami animal. Same paper but looks completely different or changed in a big way. The same is true for you right now. You are the same as you were in the beginning of 2014. Same hair, eyes, personality and such but you are also different. The difference is you may have a small change such as you weigh a little more, maybe a little more out of shape, or a lot more sleep deprived and stressed too. Or maybe you experienced a big change such as a health set back which transformed the way you see your future. Sound familiar?

What about your business? Your health transforms your business too. Your health and your employees’ health can transform a healthy viable company to bankruptcy in just a years’ time. How is that? We all know when you are sick with a cold for a few days or facing a chronic medical condition it cost’s your business money. It doesn’t take long to see the costs related to time away from work (sick time), increased medical bills and medications. These medical costs all factor into your company’s “medical experience” ultimately causing increased insurance premiums.

Have you ever thought about how much sickness is taking from you and your company’s ability to generate income? When you and your employees are not at their personal best they are not as productive causing a “work slowdown”. During a work slowdown sales are reduced, customers are not serviced and products are not made or delivered. Let’s examine how this might impact a dentist’s office. When a dental hygienist is home sick, the immediate related employer costs are sick time pay. For the employee, doctor visits and medications which transforms the medical experience of the office causing increased premiums. The lost company revenue includes the appointments that were canceled, any potential dental treatments and follow up dental visits that did not get scheduled, transforming the business bottom-line on that day from the black to the red. Now is the time to ask yourself, “How many red days can my business afford?” Your business and your health is always transforming either moving towards or away from failure. The question is what are you transforming to right now? Since you are going to be transforming anyway how about this year you take control of your transformation and be changed in such a way to achieve business success, live and participate in the healthy life you desire and deserve? Transformation begins with one simple change that cascades over time. Here are some strategies to help you get started. Remember one change over the course of a year equals 365 little changes. With each change you will be laying the foundation for a lifetime of healthy living.

Make a strategic plan – Just like your business to insure good health you need a strategic plan in a word this would be menu. The more you can plan for success the more likely you are to achieve it. With your health it all rests with your menu (food plan). What foods will you be eating for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack and dinner tomorrow? What time will be eating it? What’s the plan?

Clear out the clutter– Clear out all the food storage areas in your office and home. Remove unhealthy foods, create healthy eating policies and bring a lunch you make to work. Add an easy way to access water. There are many diseases related to chronic dehydration including some types of cancer so drink the recommend 8 – 10 glasses of water per day.

Start the day off with breakfast – Clear thinking, alertness and focus comes from brain food. Decisions about food need to be more about your health than “feeling hungry.” Your brain needs healthy fats and plant proteins to be at its best. An easy place to start is with a plant based smoothie with flax seeds.

eat one more serving of veggies per day that would be 365 servings more of veggies than you ate last year. The USDA ChooseMyPlate.org recommendation for fruits and veggies is 7 – 13 servings so eat up!

Food shop carefully – Good health and weight loss begins at the grocery store. Disease promoters are in the freezer section. A good rule of thumb is the easier it is to prepare the less healthy it is for you. When food shopping if it has on the label high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, low fat, artificial sweeteners or diet anything, step away.

Be more active for your health – A little activity over a lifetime is better than extreme exercising for a short time. Studies show if you are active over a lifetime you will be less likely to experience chronic disease. Every minute and every activity counts. Just think if you exercised one minute per day in 365 days you will have exercised 365 minutes, over the course of 10 years you would have exercised 3,650 minutes more than if you had not.

Sleep is anti-aging – Sleep these days seems to be a bad word. There seems to be some cultural downside to sleeping. While you sleep your body transforms to a healthier self. According to HelpGuide.com “While you rest, your brain stays busy, overseeing a wide variety of biological maintenance that keeps your body running in top condition, preparing you for the day ahead. Without enough hours of restorative sleep, you won’t be able to work, learn, create, and communicate at a level even close to your true potential.” For adults the recommendation is 7.5 – 9 hours of sleep per day. If you’re getting less, chances are you’re sleep deprived. This year, every day start your day with a commitment to support making one simple change to transform you and your employees’ health moving it to a healthier place resulting in an improved bottom-line. Good health is good for you, smart for your business and vital to our community.

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Cindy Cohen is a registered nurse with 35 years of experience from the bedside to CEO of a hospital. As a health coach and wellness consultant, Cohen is the guiding force behind the C2 Your Health team in helping others find their way to improved personal and business wellness. C2 Your Health LLC also promotes the annual Expo for Women. You can find Cindy at www.Linkedin.com/in/CindyCohen.

Make every meal count – Every time you put food in your mouth ask yourself “Is this good for me?” Not that every food will be, but when you’re not making sure one gets in there. Good health is about balance. So every time you eat make sure a fruit or vegetable goes in at the same time an unhealthy food makes its way in. For example, pizza and salad. Every bite counts. If you were to

BEING CONNECTIVE GROWING YOUR ABILITIES by Gail M. Turluck Those who have been following my column and implementing direct communications through email newsletters and other printed marketing are to the point they are busier than a one-armed paper hanger, as the saying goes. Those newsletters have provided special offers your clients couldn't refuse. Your clients' friends heard about you and came in to learn about something valued by their friend and have become your client, too. You're fretting about how to keep everything going and are a slave to your computer and cell phone. Congratulations! This is great news! You need to have more time so you may work on implementing the marketing planning you worked on last month. You need to have more time so you may fill the orders from these new customers. You need to have more time so you may do both more efficiently. How, you ask?

It's time for you to hire someone. Yes, your sole proprietor, one-person-show, is going to grow up and spread its wings! There are a number of ways to do this. First, though, take some dedicated, uninterrupted time (no email, no phone calls, no texts), think about what tasks you are comfortable delegating to somebody else, and write each one of them down. Start from the beginning at least three times so you are sure you think of everything you do and consider if you can assign the tasks to someone else to do. Second, take this list and break it up as follows: tasks you hate to do, tasks you do because they have to be done, tasks that you don't mind doing, and tasks that are your favorite things to do. Take a piece of paper (or a few) and make a two-inch column on the left. Write each task down, in order by this new break up, so your favorites are last on the list. Next, write brief instructions on what is involved with the task. Explicit instructions will come later. Once you have the tasks and instructions list, take a coffee break. When you return, go through the list, starting from the top. While it's easy to delegate those tasks you hate, consider carefully if the someone new you are looking to bring into your business will end up hating it, too. If it's just a matter of needing to get up in front of a group to explain the benefits of what you offer and you hate presenting, you likely

can find a team member that loves to make presentations and this is a great thing to delegate. Make sure the opportunity you are creating has enough plusses to overcome the minuses. Consider carefully the items on your list that are the ones you love to do. Might it be more efficient for someone else to do one or more of them? Might one of those lovable tasks be something that endears this new person to your business that delegating it is almost a reward? Go through the list and then decide, item by item, if they truly are tasks you can delegate, or pick back the few you self-discover you must handle yourself. Then, for the remainder, come up with no more than ten steps per task as instructions for performing them. Now you have your job description. Set this in your spot where your daily to-do list resides; you're done with it today and will resume with it tomorrow. So, it's now the second day. You need to identify another person to whom you will delegate these tasks. The first place to turn is to those whom you know and love: spouse, offspring, siblings, parents, other relatives. They likely are going to have high interest in your success and will do whatever they are able to in order to help you achieve it. If the bloodline thing doesn't pan out for you, then look at close friends. Is there someone who has been asking you if you need some help? You likely don't have a steady 40 hours to offer at first; give that friend a try. If you're really uncomfortable

considering working with someone you know well, you still don't have time for the lengthy process of posting a position and performing multiple interviews. Consider strongly using a temporary firm so you discover the expectations that employees have and learn about the many considerations an employer is required to cover these days. The beauty of temporary employees is if for any reason you don't like them or their work you can simply ask that they send someone else. At the same time, if you discover you have a perfect fit, in most situations you may pay an additional fee and bring that person onto your staff permanently. Check with your local Small Business Development Center, often based out of a nearby university, to find out minimum legal requirements you need to have in place as an employer. You will need to decide if you are going to make this individual a true employee or if they will work for you on a contract basis. Do not let any of these concerns stop you; acquire the information you need and keep moving forward so your business may continue to expand and create more and more positions. You've done a fine job on your own connecting what you do to your client's needs. Now you can look forward to a growing staff making you even more connective to your growing client base, advancing you toward even higher long term goals.

Gail M. Turluck is the President of Connective Marketing of Richland, Michigan. Connective Marketing offers communications services including writing, e-newsletters, newsletters, web site content creation and updating service, editing, proofreading; Send Out Cards; the Body by Vi Project 10; and more. She may be contacted at: gail@connectivemarketingllc.com or by visiting www.connectivemarketingllc.com.

Inspiring Change

You can tell who the strong women are. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the ones you see building each other up instead of tearing each other down. Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business Bureau Open a chapter near you! 269-389-0556 www.womensbusinessbureau.com

RISK MANAGEMENT STEP1: RISK IDENTIFICATION LIST OF POSSIBLE RISKS

STEP 2: RISK ASSESSMENT LIKELIHOOD H/M/L

IMPACT H/M/L

STEP 3: RISK MANAGEMENT WHAT ARE WE ALREADY DOING ABOUT IT? (MITIGATING FACTORS)

WHAT MORE CAN WE DO ABOUT IT?

TIMESCALE

PERSON RESPONSIBLE

REVIEWED LEVEL OF RISK

NO BRAIN NO GAIN by Jerry Sarno, President at Michiana Business Support Jerry Sarno is experienced in Fortune 500 companies and small enterprises. He specializes in Project Management, eCommerce, and Account Management. He managed high performance teams in applications development, CRM and ERP software deployments, and has worked in international project teams.

Effective brainstorming is an art. As with every creative activity, there are ways to hone your skills in order to produce a better product. Getting a group of people together is a great way to share and build on ideas, but what are the best methods to encourage participation? Whether you are leading or taking part in a brainstorming session, here are some tips about what to do and what to avoid to ensure success in your next session.

To Avoid: Filtering Brainstorming is about quantity, not quality. It sounds counterintuitive, but it’s the truth. Starting a meeting by saying, “We’re going to come up with some great ideas today!” may not be the best choice. This can place undue pressure on the rest of the group and keep ideas from flowing. A successful brainstorming session needs to embrace a playful energy. Avoid judgment and editing of ideas, be it of yourself or others. Don’t wait for one pristine idea to be fully formed before you open your mouth. This is a space where your mind should be wide open. Just blurt things out.

Blocking Off Potential Ideas This seems obvious. Blocking off ideas goes against the purpose of brainstorming. However, there are many traps to easily fall into when leading a brainstorming session which can hinder the creativity of the group. Don’t start with an example. This may seem like it will give the group an idea of what you are looking for, but it is more likely to hinder creative thinking. They will tend to stick with ideas closely related to your example, rather than coming up with new and unique solutions. Dismissing an idea as nonsense or something that has been done before, and limiting the time and location in which brainstorming is allowed should also be avoided. Ideas are fragile and meeting negative criticism can quickly hinder a person’s want to participate. Brainstorming should also be constantly present in the workplace and discussed when ideas are fresh and the passion is high, rather than in a designated location at a later time. Therefore, participants should be encouraged to share their craziest ideas within the session and to keep their creative mindset alive in their everyday work environment.

To Do: Get Physical The higher the energy, the better the production. Keeping people moving during a brainstorming session is key to preventing energy loss. Standing up and walking around generates lively thinking. It is easy to sink into a comfy chair and turn off your brain, so encouraging everyone to get on their feet from time to time will recharge batteries and invigorate idea sharing. Writing lists, drawing diagrams and making models are other ways to keep participants engaged and producing ideas. Being the first to share an idea can be scary, so instead start the session by handing out note paper to the entire group to start writing down ideas. If a concept is more visual, draw a picture or make a model, however crude, in order to get the idea across.

Build on Small Ideas Creativity is a series of small steps, not one eureka moment. Ideas can grow from any number of jumping off points. It is a good idea throughout the session to write these things down on an accessible surface. A seemingly trivial or irrelevant thought could cause a snowball effect, resulting in the creation of an innovative idea in a group setting. Don’t dismiss an idea as not being relevant and let it die as a thought without speaking it out loud. You never know when your sliver of an idea might spark someone else’s imagination and create something great. All of this boils down to the need to create an environment that eliminates fear and fosters creativity. A brainstorming session can be a great opportunity to develop unique solutions for any business. With the right tools, the ideas can be endless and free-flowing. As Scott Berkun writes in The Myths of Innovation, “Every amazing creative thing you’ve ever seen, or idea you’ve ever heard can be broken down into smaller ideas that existed before.”

Every Monday Georgetown Plus Networking, Northeast Innovation Center, Forth Worth, IN • Meets every Monday at 11:30am • Join us for FREE LUNCH and A new way of networking • $3 & 2 Business Cards gets you in! • Bring promotional materials and be ready to share about your business! • RSVP for a display table for $15 during the group Call Randi: (260)-312-7862 • Come Early & Stay late & NETWORK

Every Wednesday Exit 25 Networking, Agaves (Exit 25), Fort Worth, IN • Meets every Wednesday at 11:30am • Join us for RELATIONAL Networking & Promote each other to Success! • $3 & 2 Business Cards gets you in! • Bring promotional materials and be ready to share about your business!

Premier Women’s Network Michiana Premier Fort Wayne, 1st Tuesday Premier Niles, 1st Thursday Premier Angola/Auburn, 3rd Tuesday Premier Warsaw, 3rd Tuesday Premier Mishawaka, last Tuesday

Women’s Business Bureau • The Beacon Club Kalamazoo, MI 49006 • Contact Jan Murphy: (334)-560-6955

Executive Protection Basic Class • January 11th Through the 17th • 1 Week Class

January 2014

Events Business Success Unlimited Just A Reminder… The BSU Mastermind Program has started back up online the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of January

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Executive Protection Basic Class

Happy New Years!

5 Georgetown Plus Networking Northeast Innovation Center, Forth Worth, IN

11 Executive Protection Basic Class

6 Women’s Business Bureau The Beacon Club Kalamazoo, MI Premier Fort Wayne

12 Georgetown Plus Networking

Executive Protection Basic Class

19 Northeast Innovation Center, Forth Worth, IN

26 Georgetown Plus Networking Northeast Innovation Center, Forth Worth, IN

Premier Niles

Angola Connects Referral Group

Agaves (Exit 25), Fort Worth, IN

Angola, MI

14 Exit 25 Networking Ziannos (Exit 25), Fort Worth, IN

BSU Peer Advisory Board (Online) Executive Protection Basic Class

Executive Protection Basic Class

Georgetown Plus Networking

Exit 25 Networking

Northeast Innovation Center, Forth Worth, IN

20 Premier Angola/Auburn Premier Warsaw

21 Exit 25 Networking

Angola Connects Referral Group

Agaves (Exit 25), Fort Worth, IN

27 Premier Mishawaka

Angola, MI

Exit 25 Networking Agaves (Exit 25), Fort Worth, IN

BSU Peer Advisory Board (Online)

5 HUMAN RESOURCES SECRETS TO KNOW AS YOUR COMPANY GROWS by: Susie Olivarez, Iron Sharpens Iron - Discovering Your X Factor

Secret #1: Hire Only “A” Players

Secret #2: Understand Health Care Reform & Benefits

Over the years companies have learned that if you’re careful to hire people who will put the company’s interests first, who understand

Health Care Reform, also known as “Obama Care” has confused

and support the desire for a high-performance workplace, your

companies throughout the country. In all growing companies this is a

employees would give you better results, and at lower cost. Results have

ne- cessity. But how do you know what to offer and if you are liable to

shown in these companies 97% of employees will do the right thing.

offer it? Currently the penalties only affect businesses with 100 or

Do your best to hire these people, and don’t be afraid to let the other

more employees. In 2016 this will change to 50 employees. There are

3% go if it was a hiring mistake.

large penalties for not following the rules – so you must be knowledgeable. Be sure to speak with your health insurance carrier.

They offer you all the information you will need, and best of all there isn’t an additional cost to this information, even if you don’t have a current insurance carrier.

Secret #5: Outsource Your Human Resources Department The standard ratio for hiring a Human Resources Representative is 1

Secret #3: Get A Stress-Free Payroll System

HR representative for every 100 employees. An extremely affordable way to create your company’s HR department is to outsource this

As your business continues to grow, so does the payroll system. If this is

service. Outsourcing gives you the benefit of not having to search and

not your “forte” then outsource it! There are many great companies

hire an entire department, but allows you to create a strong partnership

out there that offer affordable and most importantly stress-free payroll

where they are available to you during your needs arise. Our company is

systems. Outsourcing this service is less expensive in most cases then

extremely affordable and delivers Proven Top Notch Results.

hiring a payroll specialist for your company. Plus you are guaranteed to have checks to all of your employees on time and my favorite, HANDS FREE!

Secret #4: Train & Develop Your Employees Your company is growing and so are your employees. Be sure that you don’t lose any of the “A” players you just found or have had in the process. Be sure to invest in the training and development of your employees. Have in house training, send them to conferences and on team building events. Be sure to engage them as their employer, show them you appreciate their service and loyalty to your brand – your company. If you are loyal to them, they will be loyal back.

Susie Olivarez is the Owner & Senior HR Consultant at Iron Sharpens Iron– Discovering Your X Factor. She can be contacted at: www.your-x-factor.com

VOICE OF YOUR BUSINESS SPEAKERS GROUP Just Give ‘Em a Pickle and Watch Your Business Grow

Run, Hide, Fight

Discover the Most Effective Ways to Gain New Customers and Get Repeat Customers Coming back for More. Nothing like a loyal customer who is so happy with your company that they just can’t help but tell their friends. Nancy’s story of the “pickle” is one every business owner needs to hear. With an extensive background working with both small and large businesses, Nancy Becher knows her stuff, presents with clarity and guides her audience to personal discoveries that they can quickly and easily apply to their own business success, towards a new approach to business success.

Empowering Women to Stay Safe in an Unsafe World. An expert in personal safety, Ed will make learning fun and help everyone from teenagers to seniors know what to do when faced with unex- pected danger. Ed Becher, Licensed Security Professional Center for Protection, Security and Personal Safety www.centerforprotection.com

Time to Work ON Your Business, Not Just IN Your Business Learn How to Change Your Focus to the 5 Areas that Produce Powerful Results. Nancy understands that it is never easy to be totally successful but with the right tools, business goals are attainable. Let Nancy’s insight unique skill set as an experienced business owner and educator, and her wisdom gained through both academic accomplishments and through years of entrepreneurship, guide you towards a new approach to business success. Nancy Becher, Founder and CEO, Business Success Unlimited Publisher, Small Biz Forward www.success4biz.biz

Gorilla Marketing, It Will Work for Your Business Big company or small company, nothing can stand in your way! Andy Garza, “The Gorilla Marketing Guru”, has over 20 years marketing experience and has successfully launched 3 different businesses using Gorilla Marketing techniques. Now he is ready to share these techniques with you! Andy Garza, Business Owner and Marketing Guru Big Gorilla Marketing Group

The Power of Entrepreneurship It’s a mindset, a skill set and an eagerness to succeed. Already a successful entrepreneur? Or ready o turn “the dream” into a reality? Join Jerry, as he shares his incredible approach to profitability that has already helped thousands of business owners. His own story of entrepreneurship and the action plans he has created to help others be successful too are the credentials Jerry eagerly shares with others. Jerry Sarno, Strategic Partner Schooley Mitchell www.schooleymitchell.com/sarno

Fundraising Made Easy! Everything you need to know to raise more money. Shannon, enthusiastic and energetic mother of six, who set her sights high on the ladder of success and earned a Top Sales Executive spot in her industry in less than one year; now specializes in Team Building, Fundraising and Creating Programs that help her clients raise money for charity and for themselves. Shannon Stuart, Independent Consultant Pink Zebra http://www.pinkzebrahome.com/sstuart

The Power of the Trust/Respect Triangle: A Highly Effective and Genuine Way to Build Your Business An accomplished business owner herself, with years of experience and a wealth of knowledge about what works and what doesn’t work in networking, Mary Jo will guide you towards building new relationships that will enrich your life and add value to your business. Mary Jo Smith, Owner A.V.A.S., LLC www.avasllc.net

Service with Pizazz Deb Sanderson, Co-Owner of a multi-million dollar manufacturing company and a successful skincare consultant, knows what it takes to set herself apart from others. It's all about the customer and how they perceive our services - that's what really makes us stand out in our industry and with our competitors too. Join Deb and learn how to let your passion for your business show and create customer relationships that work for you and for your customers. Improve your service and grow your businesses - it's that simple! Deb Sanderson, Business Owner and Skincare Consultant

Branding 7 Steps to Branding Your Business in Today’s Market. It’s not easy to get your business noticed. With a wealth of experience in business marketing, an eye for helping her clients look good, and a passion for helping others, Paula will share her tips for branding success. Paula Sours, Account Executive Visions by Gudi / Proforma Print House www.proforma.com/printhouse,

Simplify Your Life

Independent Nerium Brand Partner http://debmark.theneriumlook.com

Becoming the “Voice of Your Business” How to Become Better Known and More Highly Respected. What happens when a business leader builds a reputation as a recognized, credible force in their industry and their community? Learn how to eran credentials, gain visibility and create a following each and every time you speak. Karen Bachert, Leader of “Voice of Your Business” Speakers Group Your Business Needs Fans www.YourBusinessNeedsFans.com

5 Easy Steps to Put Clutter in its Place. Tired of searching and searching for things you just can’t find? Time to learn how to get rid of the mess and keep everything you need at your fingertips. Learn from the best. Wendy is a certified professional organizer, member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and former host of Transformational Radio. Wendy Taddeucci, Certified Professional Organizer Simply Organized, http://www.putclutterinitsplace.com

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re your key to your advertising problems. Here at Small Biz Forward we connect with a large network of small businesses that could be looking for the products or services you are offering!

For advertising rates and other information call (269)-651-3555 You can also check online at http://smallbizforward.com

Member Values and Benefits

Empowerment Circle

Listing on Web and in Small Biz Forward

Most Events Free

Member-to-Member Discounts One FREE Business Card Listing in Small Biz Forward Yearly Listing on BSU Facebook Page

Private Facebook Chat Group

Subscription to Small Biz Forward FREE

Quarterly 1/4 Page Ad in Small Biz Forward FREE

Cost

$49 Per Month 46

BUSINESS SUCCESS UNLIMITED WE TAKE CARE OF BUSI NESS