It’s all about you, as a business owner, where you are right now, where you want to go and what might hold you back.  It is helpful to look at how to strengthen and empower yourself from the inside out so you will be more able to successfully meet the challenges of owning your business.

Here is a short assessment that will help you evaluate where things are right now for you in your business, and help you know where to begin getting help if need be.

Starting Point Assessment
Write a number between one and four for each statement below.
1    -     Strongly disagree
2    -     Disagree
3    -     Agree
4    -     Strongly agree

___    I am happy with the stability and growth of my business.
___    I spend significant time on strategic planning and future goals.
___    I have new projects and products that I am actively developing.
___    I have enough cash flow to easily run my business.
___    I clearly understand the financial side of my business.
___    I have good employees doing most of the administrative work.
___    My organizational systems are effective and run smoothly.
___    I am happy with the amount of sales coming in.
___    My marketing is bringing in the kind of customers I want.
___    My customers are happy and referring other people to me.
___    I know whom my perfect customers are and how to reach them.
___    My business is supporting my healthy lifestyle balance.
___    I can go on a holiday or vacation and money will still come in.

Add up your scores.

13-26-  If you have a low score, you may be like many small business owners, running the whole show yourself without a good knowledge of how to develop all the areas of your business. Low scores can also mean that your business is not accomplishing the outcome you want. This is an opportunity to focus on the areas of your business that need more help.

Even a business that seems to be doing OK can end up with low scores. Your business may be making money and helping people, but it may not growing the way you want it to – or it may not be supporting your life in a positive way.

27-39- If you scored in the medium range it means you have some things working well while others are challenged. Are you willing to do whatever it takes?

40-52- You may be more on track. What would it take to move all of your threes to fours? The next section will help you answer that question.

If you want your business to be vibrant and successful you need to look at all areas and find out what places you have been avoiding or ignoring.

This was taken from Part I Clear Focus Grow Your Business.   Get the book right now to get more help and insight. Once you know where you are starting it is much easier to follow the steps to success. The Whole Business Circle in Chapter 2 will give you a thumbprint view of your business as it stands.

If you are the kind of person who requires predictability you are going to challenged as a business owner.

Running a business is all about change. Just when you think you have things figured out, your business requires you to shift. It can be very unsettling and confusing to start a new process or work with new people.

It can also be dynamic and creative to look at where you need to go next, what new systems are emerging or how you can bring in new team members. It can be exciting to look at developing new products and services to help your niche clients.

If you have a business plan with your long term vision and goals mapped out, the changes will make sense in that context, and the longer you are in business the less risky it feels.

What kind of changes are you needing to make? How will they help your business to be more successful?

That term, “Unique Selling Proposition,” popped up early on learning about marketing and I struggled to figure out how I was unique. It is a jargon-like phrase and I don’t like it.

Here is a simpler way to understand what it means.  In a way, your USP is your businesses footprint. It is what and how you offer whatever it is you offer, in a way that your niche market’s antennae  perk up and  they pick you, because you are offering exactly and precisely what they need.

Your footprint is unique to you. When you walk on the wet sand on the beach, no one else’s  footprint will look exactly the same as yours. Your niche market will be attracted to your footprint because it is emanating this uniqueness and it speaks directly to their need.

If you want to stand out and be recognized by your potential  clients make sure you make your footprint sharp and clear!  Your message needs to be about your niche clients and what they need. Your specialty  is in helping them and how you do that is your unique way.

The best way to figure this out is to ask some of your happy niche clients, how you were unique in helping them. Listen to their words and you will have an aha moment.

Follow this template below and fill in the blanks for your business then feel free to share it below in the comments. Here is mine as an example:

1. Who is your niche: Solo serviced based business owners.

2. What is their emotionally compelling problem:
Overwhelmed and struggling to turn their service into a prosperous business.

3. What is your USP ( footprint) :
Clear Your Focus Grow Your Business

These three things above make up your core marketing message.