SPEAK WITH EASE, PRESENT WITH IMPACT (FREE)
JULY 24TH. 5:30 - 7:30
Where: 5727 SW Macadam

5:30— Meet and greet with other small business owners
6:00– Seminar with Carolyn Campbell

For those you who want to boost your comfort, ease and success speaking in public, join Carolyn Campbell for this interactive evening to learn simple tools to present with impact–authentically and powerfully.

Inspire. Engage. Connect.

For more information about Carolyn’s work visit www.thecoresource.com.

By Carolyn Campbell, MA, CPPC

If mission statements are so important, why do people avoid writing them like the plague? To start with, many people get stumped by the ‘have it all’ factor- thinking if they are everything to all people, they will get more business. Others shy away from taking a stand to avoid alienating certain people or being ostracized by others. And sadly, many people have participated in mission seeking processes that beat the life out of their dream.

There is a better approach! A compelling, inspiring mission doesn’t need to explain everything, it simply ignites curiosity and creates a common purpose.

Here’s a curious thing; businesses and organizations who have a powerful, inspiring mission achieve their goals in most unbelievable ways. Even when they are a bit shaky on their vision and their business structure, their passion and conviction inspires people to help them fill in the gaps and provide the needed support.

It is quite beguiling. What makes these organizations different? Their mission offers a story that resonates with our most fundamental human desires and deep yearnings in our life. They touch the heart and offer hope. Using stories brings the core essence of your work to the surface very quickly. Even more importantly, they encapsulate the most potent reason for your work.

Many people ask “how can we use story to create our mission?”

First, whether you are an individual or an organization, bring people together who will share inspiring stories that demonstrate the impact of your work. These stories will help you shape a mission that ignites interest and compels action.

Recently I worked with the Albany Cancer Resource Center, a newly formed non-profit board serving women undergoing treatment for cancer. Each board member shared why they felt the center was critical to their community. They were all committed to providing a local resource center so women undergoing treatment wouldn’t have to leave the comfort and haven of their community.

We then asked each person to share a brief story about a life experience they had– as a chemo patient, a caregiver, or a health care provider. We took a few minutes to discuss ways the center could provide the comfort and support needed to stay within the community.

One woman shared the challenges she endured through multiple breast surgeries while trying to maintain her job. She shared how, during an important meeting, the socks she used to stuff her bra became dislodged and were poking outside her blouse throughout the meeting. She laughed as she shared how her boss would give her little ’signals’ to let her know to tuck them back in. She wished that she had the support of healers and hairstylists who could help her adapt her image as her hair fell and how to maintain her feminine identity- an aspect of her care that most doctors didn’t know how to do.

Next, a therapist shared the unspoken grief of a family who were so engulfed in grief and fear of losing their mother, that they didn’t know what to do. She talked about the potential impact of creating a local support group so families could be with others facing similar emotional challenges.

The last story was told by a nurse, who quietly shared the deep emotions shared by her entire team when a woman dies, or a woman comes back and thanks them. “It would be wonderful,” she said, “if there was a support group for caregivers.” With each story, you could feel the conviction deepen, the value and need enriched.

As people told their stories, we each wrote down words or phrases that inspired us, adjectives that described the person’s experience. We then read the words out loud, notating the number of times a word was used. We took time to appreciate this rich patina of language. Each person then wrote a sentence, or two, incorporating these words to describe the intention for the organization. Some were stronger in the beginning, others in the end. The language was ripe with need, purpose and personal connection. The executive director gathered all the statements, and crafted a final version to share with her board.

If you have your own business, consider bringing together clients, colleagues and others who believe in your work and your vision. They can often find the words that elude you, the statements that reflect you. And when you’re done, send them your statement, and you too can have a team of invaluable supporters!

Grow Your Business in a “down” economy.
By Carolyn Campbell

For those of you who are stressing about a dip in the economy consider this: Some of the most enduring businesses were started, and expanded in times of economic downturn.

Being a small business owner is a terrifically rewarding experience or a terrifying roller coaster of fear. By taking the time to create a strong foundation, connect with your clients and build lasting, intentional relationships you can create a lasting, successful business that endures the tests of time. Don’t let drama of news headlines send you into a reactive zone. Instead, pay full attention to what you do, connect with those who you serve, benefits of your service or product. MOST IMPORTANT, build relationships of common purpose and core values.

Here are a few tips to consider to ‘recession proof’ your business.

1. Name how your product or service is important to your clients, today.
Be specific. Take time to address the issues your clients are facing and demonstrate your understanding and ability to address their concerns and needs.

Here are a few examples:
** Why is a massage important when people are facing greater financial strain?
** How can financial planning help them get through this tough time?
** How can teen leadership be off greater value to corporate donors?

By addressing the factors that are impacting their life you demonstrate your appreciation knowledge of their challenges and provide practical tools to improve their quality of life.

2. Offer Outstanding Customer Service
Honestly, whether or not it is a ‘down’ economy, please, building strong customer relationships should be central to your business. As I travel throughout the country, I am shocked at the lack of true customer care. If you simply provide personable and honoring service, your business is already ahead of most.

I recently read “Little Giants. Companies Who Choose to be Great Rather than Big.” This is a fabulous book for those who want to be inspired to create a successful business/organization with intention. One company referred to their commitment as enlightened customer service. He shares how, although he can teach people the skills of customer care, the desire to truly be in service are a special quality. Please, value your customers. They are indeed precious!

During a down economy, people are less willing to take ‘risks’ with new people. Having your clients refer people to you is a tremendous mark of trust. Make sure you respond with a thank you!

3. Offer options for clients to maximize their resources.
In a weak economy, offering options, or levels of service is a great way to expand the potential of clients to work with you. Get innovative in your packaging of your services for greater affordability. Demonstrate that you understand their need for to creative with their finances. For example, you might offer a group program, a discount for a series of treatments, or a self-learning program. Just make sure you’re not doing it from a place of fear—thinking that if you don’t offer a bargain people won’t work with you.

4. Focus your outreach. Go public. Be seen. Gain valuable visibility.
One of most important things a business can do is to focus your attention on intentional and specific outreach and marketing. Start by identifying organizations who are respected and serve a common client community. Publish articles or other materials to demonstrate your expertise. Connect in a public forum to demonstrate your expertise in your arena.Step outside of your comfort zone and d are to lead than to follow. By gaining visibility, people have a chance to experience you and your work before committing their limited finances.

5. Stay Informed
If you are like most people, you are content with the status quo until something disturbs it. Now is the time to stay informed! Make sure that you are not reacting to the media or the ‘fears’ that run rampant. Talk to business leaders you respect. Read business management books. Experiment. Solicit feedback from your workers and customers. Stay focused on your mission, clear on your vision and connect with intention.