ActionCOACH Hot Tip of the Week
The foundation of business - what will change your business to be what you want it to be includes - mastery, niche, leverage, team, synergy and results.
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In the coming weeks, we are interviewing local business owners to see how they are doing. We are publishing brief articles about each business - maybe you can relate to some of these business owners? Please consider supporting these businesses. Contact us to be interviewed at spokane@actioncoach.com or call us at 509-455-5053.
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Interview #1
Owner: Shelton Hansen
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What the business does: I sit down with people and give them a customized plan for auto, home, renters, business, life insurance, and retirement planning. We go over their needs and make sure they are adequately covered at a good price.
Target audiences: It's very broad, if someone owns a car or a home we can help them. Helping people plan for retirement; people don’t do what they need to do. The average retirement account is $106,000 – we help people understand they need to be saving. You should have at least $500,000 invested for retirement – we ask them, "what’s your lifestyle?"
How has COVID-19 impacted your business? I haven’t really seen a change except we are not face-to-face with clients; I like to meet people in person. When it comes to networking, there aren't as many chamber and networking events.
What has he learned? Good communication and follow-through in a timely manner is most important.
He is inspired by: Really just the resolve of people, we are in this together, we will get through this; how people are stepping up to help others, show love and care about others. I want to do my part to help and give back to the community; to be community involved.
Special offer: I’ll give a $25 gift card to a local business of their choice if they do a review on insurance plans or financial planning.
Contact: Shelton Hansen, Countrywide Financial,
509-444-8822,
shelton.hansen@countryfinancial.com
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Interview #2
Owner: Alicia Levy
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What the business does: Has been an attorney for 10 years, and in business for five years, The Levy Law Firm offers the following services - business law, estate planning, real estate, easements, purchases and sales agreements, wills, probate, powers of attorney, and trusts.
Target audiences: New or established businesses, those buying or selling real estate, those conducting estate planning.
How has COVID-19 impacted your business?
Invested in marketing, advertising, and social media. She also sent out PPP information to clients.
What has she learned?
She is trying to get away from doing everything on her own; slow down during the hiring process, put more documents online.
She is inspired by:
The importance of estate planning and ensuring everything is in order. Also, seeing people coming together in support of community.
Contact:
Alicia Levy, Levy Law Firm, 509-432-6881, https://www.levy-lawfirm.com/
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Interview #3
Owner: Craig Bergmann
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What the business does: Loving Paws Pet Loss Center is a funeral home and crematory for animals.
Target audiences: Families and people with animals who want to preserve their memory; can provide services for larger animals up to 650 pounds; tend to hear from more women than men.
How has COVID-19 impacted your business? Zero impact, we have grown.
What has he learned? I try a lot of different things and if they don't work, I move on. I thought that veterinarians would be my primary customer, but I have found that I need to target pet and animal owners.
He is inspired by: Being able to create something from nothing, raise them up and make their lives better.
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Interview #4
Owner: Wil Buchanan
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What the business does: We are a consulting group; we work with companies to determine how to accelerate their growth and efficiency with technology. Often businesses implement technology for the sake of implementation, but it doesn't help them. If it doesn't help with business goals, it shouldn't be implemented. We've been in business for 18 years in the Spokane area.
Target audiences: Ideal client is a company with 10-50 employees that is tied to technology and sees the benefits of using it as a tool. For example, we have some manufacturing customers who are into lean manufacturing and we help them to accelerate goals.
How has COVID-19 impacted your business? For the most part, it has given us a chance to focus inward, and to ensure that employees are safe and comfortable. We are doing everything we can to support internal staff through communication and assurances; we try to remove fear as much as possible.
What has he learned? Like most small business owners, I started as a technician, my vision was limited and I knew nothing about business. But, I hired the right CPA (with the heart of a teacher) early-on and got a Masters degree in Business; I didn't want to keep making business mistakes. Eight out of ten businesses fail because of failed leadership and people who don't really know how to run a company.
He is inspired by: The solopreneur that leaves the safety of a job to pursue a vision - the courage and bootstrapping to get started is what our society is built upon.
Special offer: If a small business is struggling with their IT services, it is time to make the change. You don't want to go into an uncertain economy carrying excess weight. We look at the problem to be solved, engineer what needs to be achieved, and put tools in place from there.
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Interview #5
Owner: Margie Bensching
What the business does: Works with senior living communities to place them in an online platform, ultimately filling beds/booking properties. The business started 1 year ago.
Target audiences: Senior living facilities interested in marketing their facilities to reach new bookings. Also, time starved adult children seeking placement for parents and loved ones.
How has COVID-19 impacted your business: As a start up, we had some great momentum, which stalled; but allowed us to work on our virtual tour component. But, people are back to posting properties and researching properties.
What has she learned: Messaging and how you present your business is important; I wasn't presenting my business and who I serve in the best manner in the beginning.
She is inspired by: I've been inspired in talking with senior living communities on our platform; they are being safe while serving seniors and vulnerable adults.
Special offer: For senior living communities, if you would like to save money on advertising, we will provide you with an early adopter discount to list with us. Also, we won't charge you until we bring you three connections.
Contact: Margie Bensching, www.goldensherpa.com, 509-290-3023, info@goldensherpa.com
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Interview #6
Owner: Robert Henry
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What the business does: The husband/wife team of Robert and Cambria Henry own a real estate brokerage; started it in 2015. They realized the importance of coaching real estate agents, to benefit from their growth, and to see them grow in their lives. Statistically, 62% of agents will fail in their first year. Most agents aren't aware of how much marketing they will need to do; we advise them. They also need guidance, mentoring, and an understanding of how to invest in their business. We saw an opportunity and consider ourselves to be in the human resource development business.
Target audiences: Our clients are our agents; their clients are people who are buying and selling real estate. We teach our agents how to win with people and see recurring business and referrals.
How has COVID-19 impacted your business: COVID-19 challenged us in several ways; our agents are missing the connections with their customers as well as the group/team connectivity in the office. But we have trained our agents to not be fearful, and to double down on visibility - call and engage with your customers and ensure that they have everything they need. Business is up 25% this year.
What has he learned: Don't just grow for the sake of growth; ensure that you are bringing on the right people and investing in them. Also, don't hire a broke accountant or CPA, hire someone who knows how to handle their money well.
He is inspired by: Seeing my people grow; you can't put a price tag on that. The side effect to investing in your people far surpasses the financial reward.
Contact: Robert Henry, Haven Real Estate Group, Owner & Designated Broker, (509) 413-9634, Robert@SpokaneHaven.com
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ActionCLUB Totally Revamped and Offered this Fall
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What's new?
- Virtual only
- Meets 1x per week for 1 hour
- Only $99 per month for 3 months (super cost savings!)
- Each week features instruction on business principles
- Each week provides you the opportunity to work on your business with real, actionable tasks to move the business forward
- Engaging and fun
At the conclusion of ActionCLUB (mid-November), leave with the following things completed:
- Goals, plans and a solid direction for the future of the business
- Marketing Plan
- An understanding of systems development for more efficiency and to leverage your time
- Core values, mission and vision for the business
- Understanding of business financials and the numbers that matter
- Knowledge on selling, communication, and working with customers
- Organizational chart and information on better hiring
- 5 Ways to increase revenue and profits
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