Time To Move On

Three weeks ago I posted here about selling one of my businesses.

I became the local Chicago “Certified Independent Business Advisor” for a small business marketing company, and promoted their company full out for years – until it was sold, and – amazingly enough — its new CEO launched an all-out attack to compete with me and put me out of business.

I’ve been known to be loyal to a fault, and the past two years is a prime example of that, as I continued to pay the company my monthly fees and even won awards for promoting some of their products, all the while hoping they would turn things around and return to the honorable and trusted position they once enjoyed in the marketplace.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people – both online and in person — questioned my decision and urged me to give up on them.

Many even shared their own horror stories with me of being mistreated by the company’s new ownership. I used to heartily defend the company through all of its questionable actions, suggesting to injured parties that they should be patient and give the new ownership time to figure out how to run a respectable business. But even I finally lost the energy and desire to do that.

I spoke to a few people who expressed interest in taking over my exclusive Chicago area to promote and support this company, but in the end they told me they just couldn’t bring themselves to spend any of their time, energy or money promoting this company (and I couldn’t blame them).

Many people also pointed out the prevailing belief that this company may not even be able to stay in business much longer.

Then, to top it off, a friend and fellow marketing consultant sent me a copy of his new book for my birthday. Rob Anspach’s “Share” is overflowing with golden gems of money-making ideas, and included this Facebook post from another colleague, a co-author and trusted advisor of mine, Lee Milteer:

That was a perfect description of what my relationship with this company had become, and it was the final push I needed to take the action so many people have been telling me to take for years.

Last Friday, I called, emailed and faxed the company my official resignation as their Certified Independent Business Advisor for Chicago.

*NOTE: Despite being personally responsible for bringing this company several hundred thousand dollars worth of revenue over the past few years, as of this post I have yet to receive even a phone call from them in response to my resignation.

Time to let go of the old and move on…

Over the last two posts I’ve shared six ways to multiply the resources that you’ve worked hard to maximize. Today I’ll cover three more.

VII. Go Big Online

There are businesses with only physical addresses, those that operate only online and there are those that do both. Those that do both – especially in an integrated fashion – are by far more successful than those that neglect one or the other. When you take the time to establish an online presence you open up your business to the entire world, through just a few clicks of a mouse.

To succeed online, you’ll need to…

1. Offer high-quality products or services that people want
2. Build an attractive, effective, user-friendly website
3. Generate high-quality traffic at a profitable cost

VIII. Let’s Make A Deal

If you’ve ever gone to a yard sale and paid the full sticker price for an item, then you need to up your bartering game!

Everything is negotiable, and you need to take the time to barter with your suppliers. Sharp businesspeople are always open to bartering, and when all is said and done you could find yourself saving significantly on the things your business needs to operate smoothly.

IX. Give Away The Farm

Of course I don’t mean that literally.

However, you have to be willing to stay in contact with prospective clients and continue to offer them products and services they might want. You won’t know exactly what they want until you offer them everything you’ve got, and then work with them to put together your “Irresistible Offer” that they won’t be able to resist.

When you invest your time, energy and money into keeping yourself at the forefront of your prospects’ and customers’ minds, they’re more likely to start or keep doing business with you.

You should do this by offering free newsletters, reports, videos, consulting sessions, samples or anything else where your prospects can get to know you and experience the value you have to offer them.

Next week, I’ll finish up this series with my last three ways for you to multiply your maximized resources. Put these to use for yourself, and you too will be able to walk away from any business relationships you may have that once were promising, but have now gone sour.

So…

What do YOU think about my decision to walk away from this business and move on?

I’d love to read your thoughts in a Comment below.