FSB Author Article
How To Become A Fearless Small
Business Owner In Uncertain Times
By Robin Fisher-Roffer,
Author of The Fearless Fish Out of Water: How To Succeed When
You're The Only One Like You
In a crowded marketplace burdened by a sluggish economy, ONLY THE
FEARLESS SURVIVE!
STEP 1: Go Fishing for the Real You.
It’s time to focus on what you do better than anyone else and put
that out there to your customers and prospects. You have to peel away
all the layers that have made you a jack of all trades and hone your
skills to become an expert at something that's valuable right now.
Perhaps you own a boutique ad agency and you can design anything, but
what you do best work is build b-to-b websites. That's your vein of
gold, and where you can drive revenue to your customer's bottom line.
STEP 2: Use Your Differences as a Lure.
In extraordinary economic times like these, the natural tendency is to
just hunker down, do the work, cut back on expenses and try not to lose
the business you have. News flash: That's exactly the strategy that
will probably hang you. Because if you're not standing up, standing
out, and standing for something important, your days may be numbered.
Use the strengths of what makes you different to make a difference with
your customers.
STEP 3: Find a Few Fish like You.
Step 3 on the path to fearlessness is to build relationships so that
you can anchor yourself in these rough seas. Now is the time to
reward your customers for their loyalty, get on an airplane and see
them, take them out to lunch (nothing fancy or you'll look out of
touch), and stay connected through social networking sites. This is the
moment to deepen customer relationships to ensure your security and
your company's future.
STEP 4: Swim in Their Ocean Your Way.
Every time you pitch a prospect you are a fish out of water. When you
finally get inside, it's important to learn how to be part of the
culture without getting lost in it. As a small business owner, it can
be deadly to get so entrenched with someone else's culture or demands
that you can't find the real you. Instead look for what resonates with
you and don't buy into what doesn't feel right. Stay true to your core
values. If you don't, at the end of this recession, you may not
recognize yourself or your own company.
STEP 5: Put Yourself Out on the Line.
Businesses who shine a light on what's different about them are
perfectly positioned to make a difference. It's not the wallflower
who's going to help their customers go green, or the conformist who
will invent the new business model. Getting behind a cause is good for
business and makes you look like a hero. Volunteer, join a board, make
a major donation. You may be paralyzed by fear and feel like
every minute you need to push that rock up the hill. Shake it
off. Give to others instead and watch what you receive in return.
STEP 6: Evolve by Casting a Wide Net.
Conformity is not distinguishing. The way to live deeply is to keep
reinventing yourself, changing with the times and with the your
customers. Holding onto the essential you while updating your style,
your website, your advertising and your thinking is the fastest way to
the top. Step 6 of being a Fearless Fish asks that you use your place
outside the circle to always be relevant to your customers and
industry. It's about staying true to the essence of who you are, and
then recasting your image to feel brand new.
STEP 7: Reel in Your Unique Power.
Uncertainty makes everyone question their personal value and the value
of their business. The fearless among us overcome these doubts by
practicing their ABCs -- action, belief, and courage. It's time to stop
wringing your hands and start raising your hand to make a difference.
Believes in ourselves can either propel us, or hinder us. The story
that you tell about your company is what others will believe. Use your
unique power to make them believe that you are indispensable and that
is exactly what you will be!
Order The Fearless Fish Out of Water: How to Succeed When You're
the Only One Like You! Here's how: http://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Fish-Out-Water-Succeed/dp/0470316683/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233019422&sr=8-1
Copyright © 2008 Robin Fisher-Roffer author of The
Fearless Fish Out of Water: How To Succeed When You're The Only One
Like You
Robin Fisher Roffer, author of The Fearless Fish Out of
Water: How To Succeed When You're The Only One Like You,
is CEO of Big Fish Marketing, one of the entertainment industry's
preeminent brand marketing and digital advertising agen-cies, with
clients such as A&E, Bravo, CNN, Comedy Central, FX, MTV, NBC
Universal, and Sony Pictures. For more information, please visit fearlessfishoutofwater.com
and www.robinfisherroffer.com.