Keynote speaker number three at the Southampton Business Show was 'Selling for Dummies' author and business growth guru Ben Kench.
The thing I found the most interesting about his approach to getting more business, was that it focused much more on getting 'out there', nurturing relationships, interacting with people face to face, putting energy into actively marketing your business offline, as well as online.
He talked a lot about your energy representing you and that is it your energy and your passion that people will buy in to. He said "selling is about human connection". You don't always get that online !
He also said that if you want your business to grow more, you've got to make room for it ...
It is important to be laser focused and to say no to things that are not the best use of your time. Delegate jobs that you don't need to do, or are not your strengths or just drain you.
And invest time in your existing clients - that is where most of your referrals will come from.
Check out his business growth programme at www.thebusinessbooster.co.uk
So many great speakers at the Southampton Business Show last week. If you are starting up in business, or want to grow your business, I think it's really important to look to others who are already doing what you want to do. If you can get a mentor - fantastic - but at the very least grab every opportunity to get inspiration from those who have made the journey, made the mistakes, worked through the tough bits and are now willing to share their stories, tips, advice and experience.
Brad Burton walked out of his job £25,000 in debt. He started up a marketing business, but had to deliver pizzas at night to keep the business afloat. Nine years on he is the founder and Managing Director of 4Networking, an award winning author of three business books and a sought-after motivational speaker.
The keys bits of advice he shared with us were :
- Work at 100% - most of us are actually operating at around 50%
- Believe in yourself 100%
- Insufficient funds when starting a business is OK ... insufficient desire is NOT !!
- Your past does not define you, don't keep living that story
- Making mistakes is fine and, ultimately, they are what will enable you to be successful, so ....
- Wear the scars with pride, and
- Keep focused on your destination - both in life and in business
Make today a great day !
I attended the Southampton Business Show yesterday - and what an inspiring (and informative) day it was. I managed to get along to 8 of the 10 talks ... and had the pleasure of hearing inspirational entrepreneur Liz Jackson MBE share her extraordinary story from start-up to appearing on Channel 4's 'Secret Millionaire'. She lost her eyesight whilst setting up her first company, Great Guns Marketing, but did not lose her vision to become a success in business and to make a difference.
She said that "achieving big dreams means stepping outside the comfort zone, doing things you haven't done before, to get results you haven't got before !
She also said it is important to start every day with your glass half full. She starts every single morning by thanking God for all the wonderful things she has in her life.
And her three top tips for entrepreneurs were :
DON'T RELY ON LUCK - there is no such thing ! Concentrate on what you can do and what you have - not on what you can't do and don't have.
GRAB OPPORTUNITIES - and don't let go. Don't quit. Learn from your mistakes and grow. Sometimes it will be painful, it is not for the faint hearted.
DON'T BE A 'NEARLY' PERSON - and she told a story of a man at a networking meeting who said to her "me & the wife nearly bought a boat last year and sailed around the world". "But" she said "he didn't. He didn't buy a boat. He didn't sail around the world. And one year later he's still telling people about something he DIDN'T do" !
Make sure you start every day with a glass half full, and make today a great day ...
