28 Keys - #1 Attitude

28 Keys to Building a Business That BOOMS!!

#1 Attitude

The first key is attitude. If you are going to build a business that booms, then you must bring the right attitude. You can have the right business model, the right strategies & tactics, as well as the right business plan, but if the 8 inches between your ears isn’t right then you will struggle to build a booming business.

Your attitude towards success, failure, personal development, short & long term goals, customers, competition, seeking help from others, and the current economic climate will result in a business that BOOMS or one that just makes enough to pay the bills.

I experienced a great example of how attitude can be a limiting factor the other day when I went to a pack & ship business near my house to make a few photocopies. When I asked for instructions on how to use the self-serve copier, I noticed the person helping me was the owner (via his nametag). I asked him “How’s the packing & shipping business?” He replied, “It’s a real struggle to survive, just like every other small business.” STOP RIGHT THERE!!!!

There is a huge limiting belief that is a road block on his journey to success. He has bought into the excuse that all small businesses are struggling right now and that it is OK for him to do the same. The problem with having a justification for your lack of success, someone to blame, or just a darn good excuse, is that you become a victim convinced that there is nothing that you can do to change your circumstances. With the attitude of a victim, it is nearly impossible to have business that booms.

Unfortunately what he doesn’t realize is that his belief is absolutely false. All small business are not struggling. Although his might be, there are tons of small businesses that are succeeding in this environment. I had one of my clients share with me recently that they have grown from $5000 per month in revenue to $40,000 in revenue over the last 4 years. I had another client with a retail store increase her revenue 38% from 2009 to 2010. I have dozens of stories of business that are doing well right now.

What is the difference between them and the victimized business owner? ATTITUDE! They are not focused on why it’s OK to struggle. They are focused on finding a way to succeed. Now, attitude alone isn’t the only reason for their success. But, attitude fuels the fire and is the reason that they read books, go to seminars, attend industry conferences, put quarterly plans into place, make weekly goals, accomplish weekly goals, pick themselves up after they fall down, and find a way to improve their business week after week. With their attitude they make things happen instead of letting things happen or wondering: “What just happened?”

There is also the possibility that a great business owner could be operating the wrong business. The Pack & Ship business was an attractive business model a few years ago, but now that you can ship online via several different carriers from the comfort of your own home, which has lowered the dependency on a higher-priced retail shipping option. If that is the case, let me assure you that there are some other attractive businesses opportunities that exist out there. If you would like a great resource on how to buy the right business I would recommend reading Billionaire in Training by Bradley J. Sugars. Of his “7 Rules for Buying a Business” my favorite is to find a business that is successful in spite of itself. He looks for a business that is surviving despite the fact that the business has bad marketing, a bad sales process, bad service, and bad follow-up. That is a business that can quickly be improved by doing some very simple changes and is a great business to buy, build and sell.

So, to the business owners out there who feel like they are fighting to stay alive, remember this: You have one of two issues; you’re in the wrong business or you have the wrong attitude. Whichever the case, CHANGE IT!!!

If you would like to learn the other 27 Keys to Building a Business That BOOMS, contact Coach Reggie for the upcoming seminar schedule or schedule a complementary one on one business diagnostic.