Accelerate Your Business Growth

Due to a scheduling conflict Alan will not be able to join us. So during this show we will be talking about business etiquette, including why it is people don't return phone calls. I welcome your input as we explore this topic and see if we can discover some solutions to this issue.

Melanie Benson Strick will be joining us to talk about ways we can attract and retain great clients. As CEO of Success Connections for almost 10 years, Melanie has discovered how to build a successful, thriving company with her secret weapon - LEVERAGE. Having learned first hand the difference between a struggling solo-practice and a thriving six+ figure business, Melanie works exclusively with entrepreneurs who want to skyrocket their profits so they can experience more time off. This show is sponsored by OnStage Leadership. Kimberly Davis is bringing her Leadership Program to Cleveland Ohio on December 10, 2010. This full-day program is designed to help businesspeople key into their unique leadership skills and qualities to maximize their success. Visit http://www.onstageleadership.com for details and to register.

Think you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Already a business owner but not sure whether you are an entrepreneur? What is the difference? Join me for a chat with Gary Shoeniger of the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative. We are going to delve into this topic and get Gary's take on a topic that is getting a lot of airplay these days. With so many people starting their own businesses it's important to know if there is a mindset and if so, can it be learned? We're going to go deep here - don't miss it!

Want to be a writer? Interested in writing articles, books, blog posts but don't know how? Join me for this show when John Ettorre of Working With Words will help us understand how we can get into the habit of writing on a daily basis. John helps his clients setup and run effective blogs as well as marketing messages.

During this show we'll be learning about the importance of knowing your employees from Kenyon Mau, the owner of Human Capital Advisors. The second segment brings us Shann Vander Leek to talk about her new book "Life On Your Terms." This book is full of inspiring stories from entrepreneurs in a wide variety of industries and locations. This show is sure to educate and inspire.

Advisory boards can be critical to the success of a small business. Susan Hammond of scHammond Advisors is a recognized expert on advisory boards. She will join us to discuss the whys and hows of implementing an advisory board for your business.

Cold calling is the sales tactic that continues to trouble small business owners and salespeople. Join us for a discussion with Wendy Weiss, the cold calling queen. Wendy will help us understand how we can cold call successfully.

Social networking and social marketing can be two different things. On today's show, Kathy Jiamboi, president of Creativedge Marketing will provide us with a better understanding of each and how we can use them in our businesses.

Jim 'Mr. Energy' Smith will be joining us today to discuss the value of exemplary customer service. Jim is an outstanding trainer, speaker, and bestselling author. He is the president of JIMPACT Enterprises and travels the world bringing his unique style to corporations in need of improvement and change.

We've made a change to today's show. We will still be speaking with Jackie Krupp and Dave Clements but the topics have changed. Jackie Krupp will be speaking about techniques for overcoming fear and Dave will be discussing maintaining forward motion. Both have personal experience with their topics. And I think we can all relate! Make sure to bookmark the host page so you don't miss out on this dynamic show.

This show is sponsored by the COSE Home Business Network. The HBN is a resource network for the 5200+ members of COSE who choose to run their businesses from their homes. Understanding the unique needs of a home based business, Pat Pell, network leader, is able to create programming that meets the needs of her members. You can learn more about the COSE Home Business Network at www.cosehome.org. We have the pleasure of speaking with Betsy Muller of the Indigo Connection about putting fun into your work. Betsy is a shining example of how having fun can really impact your businesses bottom line - in a positive way!

This show is sponsored by WIN - Women in Networking. WIN is an organization that empowers female professionals. Networking, growth, resources & community service are the foundations of WIN. WIN believes in building business by building relationships. Visit http://www.wincleveland.org for more information. Having a vision is the best way to start the process of planning for growth. Join us for a conversation with Ken Thoreson of Acumen Management Group. Ken Thoreson, Acumen president, is a sales management professional with more than 20 years of software/ technology experience, including 17 in niche market distribution with emerging and high-growth national companies. Prior to founding AMGL, he led developmentstage, entrepreneurial, and $250-million national vertical software sales organizations as vice president of sales. You don't want to miss this show!

Today's show brings us Rob Felber and his expertise on getting the media to pay attention. Rob Felber, President of Felber & Felber Marketing is responsible for the development and implementation of measurable advertising and public relations campaigns. The firm’s client experience includes Crain’s Communications, Hitachi Medical, SSP Fittings, The Sika Corporation, Soprema USA, Saint-Gobain Flight Structures, Six Flags and Thogus Products Company. Rob has held numerous leadership positions within marketing associations. As an “ambassador” for The Promotional Products Association International, Rob has appeared as a guest speaker on college campuses and before a variety of business organizations. Additionally, Rob has served two terms as President of The Twinsburg Chamber of Commerce. In September of 2006 Rob was elected to the board of the Ohio Venture Association where he serves as Vice President – Public Relations. In February of 2007 Rob was elected to the Board of Governors at The Club at Key Center. Rob is also a member of the John Carroll University Entrepreneurs Association and heads their communications committee. Whether it is a precisely planned press conference, a multi-dimensional direct marketing campaign or a broadcast approach, good creative promotions move people and brands forward. Getting the media to pay attention to your newsworthy story and marketing campaign is more than sending a press release or email. You need to effectively and creatively communicate to your prospects, clients and the media. Unfortunately, what you may consider newsworthy may not be viewed as such by the media. How can you assure your story is told correctly and prompts people to action? The answer is a coordinated public relations and marketing approach. Forging and maintaining relations with the media will pay dividends for years to come.

We are fortunate to be joined by Marilyn Landis. Marilyn D. Landis is the President & CEO of Basic Business Concepts, Inc., a multifaceted service firm providing the support to keep businesses financially balanced, on track and growing. Landis has over thirty years of experience in financial services. Prior to focusing on her own business, which provides CFO level services to small business and business brokerage services, she worked for and with commercial lenders, banks and small businesses throughout Western Pennsylvania. In her career, she has served as a financial consultant; headed training, consumer loans and mortgage departments; collected delinquent loans; and coordinated operations for a multi-bank merger. Marilyn has worked for three of the largest SBA lenders in the country – marketing, originating and underwriting SBA loans. March of 2009, Landis was awarded The SBA National Financial Services Champion of the Year. Landis also has extensive Board level experience with nonprofits, ranging from economic development to social services. Marilyn will be talking with us about two very important business issues. The first is cashflow. How many times have you heard of someone with a great idea and business plan but they fail to thrive because they have no cashflow. Well, Marilyn is going to help us understand the importance of this and how to make sure we are operating in the best possible way. For the second segment she'll be talking about funding sources. So many people are starting businesses these days and wondering where and how to get funding. Marilyn will share some ideas and offer some guidance in this regard.

Today's show is sponsored by WIN - Women in Networking. WIN is an organization that empowers female professionals. Networking, growth, resources & community service are the foundations of WIN. WIN believes in building business by building relationships. Visit http://www.wincleveland.org for more information. Today we are joined by Pat Pell and Les Proctor. Pat Pell is the COSE Home Business Network Leader. As such she oversees 5000 business owners who choose to run their small business from their homes. She has developed a strong relationship with her Network and works to find resources, and opportunities for these home-based businesses to connect with other businesses. Pat is not a stranger to small business; she is a former home based business owner herself. For many years, Pat served clients as a networking consultant. Most recently she was the President and CEO of a tri-city Chamber of Commerce with over 600 members. Pat brings all three of these backgrounds together to serve the small business community. We will be speaking with Pat about making local assocations and organizations work for you. Pat truly understands the value that can be found in membership and will be sharing some of her thoughts with us on the subject. For the second segment we will be joined by Les Proctor. Les is the owner of Les Proctor Direct marketing 2.0. Les Proctor works with small business owners, who have big dreams and limited budgets, and helps them accomplish their goals and make more money with marketing that produces results. With more than 20 years experience in sales and marketing, Les applies practical, cost-effective, and time-honored techniques to new and old media alike to help business owners fuel business growth. Les will be sharing some thoughts on the challenges of working from home and offering strategies for overcoming those challenges.