TOP TEN LIST
OF ITEMS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO DO IN 2006
TO MAKE YOUR BUSINESS GROW

1.Make sure that your client contact and follow -up systems are set up and reviewed every month at a minimum. Your clients should be prioritized so you can be working with the A and B clients regularly and the C & D are being kept in touch automatically by e-mail, mail or phone.

2. You must have a clear vision of where you what to be within two (2) years and the purpose and principles of that vision are outlined and understood. If everyone in your organization does not support your vision, it is either the wrong vision or you have the wrong people. Be honest with yourself and make good decisions with this, as successful business need everyone focused on the same vision.

3. Make sure that all of your financial systems are in check and that you are closely reviewing them on a weekly basis. Accountant, Tax and Legal Specialists are on board and you are in communication with them on a regular basis to make sure that YOU are on track.

4. Your “Book of Business” must be reviewed once every three weeks. Check to see that you are getting referrals from a great number of your “book of business” entries and not just a few. If, you are not getting referrals from a large number of folks in your book of business find out why, and fix it.

5. Make sure you have established the objectives and activities you need to reach your goals. Put them in writing and review them each month to make sure you are on track. Communicate your goals only to those who really support your vision.

6. Make sure you fully understand whom your competition is and what they are doing. With out this you cannot have a complete understanding of your market. You must become the recognized expert in your field and market place. Learn how to promote yourself in the market place and keep you name and face out in the public eye. Business is a contact sport and you have to let people know you are in the business and you are the expert.

7. Make sure that the product or service you are providing has a viable marketplace and, that you have in place a strategy to react quickly to changes in that marketplace up or down. You should know everything about those who will be buying your product or service. Why they are buying it: price, quality, convenience, trust? Who else have they bought from? What do they do with it? What part of the marketplace do they come from? Know everything about your customers and their business.

8. Do not underestimate how much capital and reserves you need to reach your objectives. Make sure that this is reviewed along with the monthly financials and contingency funding is available if needed.

9. Make sure that a Quality Control system is in place to make sure that the service or product you are delivering is resulting in Completely Satisfied Customers. In addition demand that all customer concerns are handled quickly and follow up to ensure their satisfaction is done.

10. Do not spend lots of time on technical issues at the neglect of strategic planning and review. Understand that having a strategy is critical to cope with change. Have a support group who can handle those items you are not fully competent at, so you do not waste your time on things can be done better by someone else.

These Top Ten Items for 2006 are to make sure you do not make the Top Ten Mistakes small businesses make by not doing them. Your business must be built on a solid foundation and these ten items will insure that it is.

Dale and Ben Midgley
Co-Founders
The Golden Circle of Business©