CATCHJSBUFORD

Overcome You Fear of Sales with Good Form.

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

 

One of the most frequent challenges I encounter when working with new and established entrepreneurs alike involves overcoming insipid feelings of or a fear of sales. And it’s easy to be dismissive of this necessary but often misunderstood element of business ownership. Because at the end of the day, you’re dead in the water if you’re unwilling to communicate with temerity and unabashed belief about why you believe your services and products are worthy of people parting with their hard earned currency to patronize you. 

And you might as well pack your bags if you haven’t developed the alligator skin required to overcome rejection, fears, and anxieties regarding whether your value proposition is superior to the competition. Or any consternation you may be experiencing articulating how you can meet the needs of another party. 

The simple, curt response is get over it. And it's true, you must get over it quickly. However, also know that these feelings are natural, and there is a solution. 

On the other hand you may be enthusiastically shouting to the rooftops about how great your products and services are, but you’re simply unable to gain traction or people are sprinting the other direction when you introduce yourself. 

What I'd submit to you is if you're dealing with any of these obstacles, it may be simply a matter of improving your FORM. 

 

Why is Improving Your Form Necessary 

First, we all have to understand that people ultimately won’t conduct business with you unless they like, know, and trust you. Gone are the days when sales professionals took a shotgun approach whereas you overwhelm people with a laundry list of features and benefits, and expect them to succumb to glossy power points, esoteric overviews, or Machiavellian sales pitches. 

Because of the advent of the internet primarily, people can mid presentation pull out their phones, and immediately price, feature shop, and literally retrieve hundreds of alternatives to whatever you’re selling. Never mind, you may actually have the most unique, cost effective, and beneficial offering available. In today's world, people win frequently not because of their actual deliverables, but because of their veneer and marketing. And what they’re willing to promise may be more attractive than whatever you’ve cooked up. 

People don’t want to be sold, they want to buy. And despite the growing dominance of online marketing and purchasing options, people still desire to spend or invest their monies places where they have developed a relationship of trust. The operative word being, trust. 

 

What is Good Form

I submit that the best way to adapt to this current dynamic is to adopt good FORM. And what does good FORM look like?  FORM is an acronym for Family, Occupation, Recreation, & Motivation. Here's the thing. If you can extract information about a person's family, their occupational interests, recreational habits, and the things that motivate and keep them awake at night within the first 5 minutes of your interactions with them, they’re going to start developing warm fuzzy feelings for you.

Now, here’s the thing, people aren’t stupid. Intention matters. You need to be nosy, genuinely interested in them, and how you can help them to gain maximum results. In other words, rather than being focused on being interesting, turn your attention to being interested. If you want to know what good form sounds like, watch the video.

What are some of the benefits of this approach? FORM allows you to qualify individuals, ascertain whether they are your idea client or target market, or whether they have challenges you're best suited to solve. And because you are being genuinely inquisitive and helpful, the party on the receiving end is developing feelings of I like you; I trust you; I know you're here to help me. Taking this approach also allows you to learn about any emotional dissonance, potential objections, or negative exposure to your industry someone may have had experienced allowing you to them in advance. 

Remember when people are speaking with you, they are unconsciously processing in their minds: am I enjoying this encounter; am I comfortable with this person; and OK with this person being introduced to other people I know. The quickest route to a destination is a straight line, and it doesn't get anymore straighter and profitable than having a business model that produces large numbers of referrals.  To be purposely redundant, people refer others to people that they like, know, and trust. 

 

Know Your Reason Why

One last area where most entrepreneurs drop the ball time and time again, is not having a WHY pitch. Why? Look, money is a means to get things done. It is the life blood of your business, however, it cannot be the sole purpose of your business. The uber majority of people are uncomfortable with unabashed greed. No one’s waking up and saying to themselves, who can I find to extract money from me today. 

I lead with my WHY, end with my WHY, lightly sprinkling it in throughout my interaction and presentation with people. At the end of day, I want to attract, build relationships with, and conduct business with my tribe. Or another way of thinking about it is, I want to build a business network of 3000 fans. Ala Tim Ferris slash Kevin Kelly. I'm laser focused on resonating with and attracting people who are looking for what I’m doing, appreciate and value my services, and gladly compensate me for my deliverables. If you want to know what a good WHY pitch sounds like, watch the video.

For example: 

I believe ardently that entrepreneurship is empowerment. If you’re tired of being last hired or first fired; become the employer.

If you don’t want to be stuck in a position whereas your ability to level up is predicated upon the next time someone dies or self sabotages themselves, or retires; constantly looking up at someone else's arse for a breadth of oxygen, politicking to be liked constantly..... Entrepreneurship is an answer.

There are two ways to vote. At the ballot box which is very important. Or with your wallet. If you desire to put yourself in a situation whereas you can afford the politicians you feel like you and your community deserves, entrepreneurship is an answer.

Entrepreneurs see things first. We live on the fringes, and seek solutions to pressing problems. Introducing solutions (value) into the ecosystem. And while everyone is not ready for entrepreneurship, we don’t need everyone to be one, just more. And we call can benefit from a more entrepreneurial mindset. 

WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

If you want assistance with your FORM, curating a good WHY pitch, or if this small plate resonated with you, and you want more! Like, comment, give me a shout out. Join the email group to receive notifications about my best stuff! Or you want to go a step further, and desire an initial free initial consultation? Check for me in the following links below. 

 

JuJuan Buford is a Detroit native, entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of JSB Business Solutions Group, business development professional, and writer dedicated to helping families, entrepreneurs, and business owners establish thriving enterprises, achieve financial independence, and build lives of satisfaction.

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IF I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. 7 SIMPLE STEPS TO SCALE YOUR BUSINESS.

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

Video / Audio Episode

 

 

A quick summary of the lessons I would impart to myself 20 years ago. 

 

1. **Hard Work Without Immediate Pay:** In the beginning stages of a business, you may have to put in a lot of work without seeing immediate financial rewards. This is normal and part of the journey. In other words, become OK as soon as possible with doing work you're not being paid for, to enjoy being paid for work you no longer have to do sooner rather than later. 

 

2. **Be Open-Minded:** Far too often, new entrepreneurs start with this idealized list of things they refuse to do. It's the kiss of death. Your success (especially financially) could care less about how you feel or what you want. Instead, focus on doing whatever is necessary to achieve success. BE WILLING.

 

3. **Clarity of Mission:** It's crucial to be clear about your mission and what you want to accomplish in your business. Your mission should resonate with your values and guide your actions. It's your internal compass and will eventually serve as your company's North Star. 

 

4. **Build Resonance:** You should aim to build trust and resonance with your audience. Having people who like, know, and trust you is essential for long-term success. People don't care what your services are. They care why your services exist and what outcomes can you deliver to them. 

 

5. **Don't Over-Investigate:** Avoid spending excessive time investigating every aspect of your business or industry. If you're seeking perfection or the perfect time, you're not going to find it. Get into action and start building. Learn. Do. Evaluate. Reset.

 

6. **Creating a List:** Create a list (physical list) of potential contacts, including friends, family, and even strangers, to introduce your products or services. It decreases psychological and operational lag. 

 

7. **Focus on the Mission, Not Just Sales:** Instead of immediately pushing for sales, look to share your mission and vision with people as frequently as possible. If they believe in your mission, they are more likely to support your business.

 

Do you have additional questions? Call 888.549.9689 x.101 or I invite you to visit my online calendar and schedule a virtual meet-up. And if you found this article and any of our content to be awesome, and you’re feeling tipsy? Click this link 👉 Buy me a coffee!

Join our email list to enjoy a more comprehensive, insightful experience 👉 JSB Business Solutions Email List

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment

JSB Business Solutions Group
JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner
888.549.9689 / [email protected]
Website -  https://thebufordco.com/
Schedule An Appointment - https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

 

#entrepreneur #businessdevelopment #businesstips #salesmanagement #entrepreneurship #businesstips #businessgrowth #detroitentrepreneurs #teambuilding  #entrepreneurship #catchjsbuford #smallbizarchitect #nextoppsocial #mindset #businesstips #salesmanagement #businessdevelopment #businesssolutions #professionaldevelopment #growthmindset #businessstartup #sales #leadership #referrals #hustle

 

How Do You Know If You Have Good (Or Bad) Business Credit?

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

There are several relevant business credit bureaus that small business owners should be aware of. These bureaus collect and maintain information on the creditworthiness and payment history of businesses. Here are some of the key business credit bureaus:

 

1. Dun & Bradstreet (D&B): Dun & Bradstreet is one of the most well-known and widely used business credit bureaus. They provide credit scores and ratings, business credit reports, and other credit-related services. D&B assigns a unique identification number called a D-U-N-S Number to businesses, which is often used by lenders and vendors to assess creditworthiness.

 

2. Experian Business: Experian is a major credit reporting agency that also offers credit services for businesses. Experian Business provides credit reports, credit scores, and monitoring services specifically for businesses. They gather data from various sources, including trade vendors, public records, and financial institutions, to evaluate a business's creditworthiness.

 

3. Equifax Business: Equifax is another prominent credit reporting agency that offers business credit services. Equifax Business provides credit reports, credit scores, and risk assessment tools for businesses. They compile information from various sources, such as public records, financial institutions, and trade references, to create comprehensive business credit reports.

 

4. CreditSafe: CreditSafe is a global business credit reporting agency that provides credit information and risk management solutions for businesses. They offer credit reports, credit scores, and monitoring services to assess the creditworthiness and financial stability of companies. CreditSafe operates in multiple countries and can provide international credit information as well.

 

5. Experian Commercial Credit Score: Experian Commercial Credit Score is a scoring model specifically designed to assess the credit risk of small businesses. It uses a variety of factors, including payment history, industry risk, public records, and company size, to generate a credit score that reflects a business's creditworthiness.

 

6. FICO SBSS Score: FICO Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) Score is a credit scoring model developed by Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO) specifically for small businesses. It incorporates both personal and business credit data, along with other factors such as business financials and industry risk, to assess the creditworthiness of small businesses.

 

It's important to note that each credit bureau may have its own proprietary scoring models, data sources, and reporting formats. Small business owners should regularly monitor their business credit reports from these bureaus to ensure accuracy and identify any potential issues. Building and maintaining a positive credit history with these bureaus can help small businesses establish credibility, access financing, and negotiate favorable terms with vendors and suppliers.

#businesstips #businessstrategy #growyourbusiness #scaleyourbusiness #leadershipmatters #leadership #accountability #teamperformance #performance #skilledtrade

#businesscredit

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Do you have additional questions? Call 888.549.9689 x.101 or I invite you to visit my online calendar and schedule a virtual meet-up. And if you found this article and any of our content to be awesome, and you're feeling tipsy? Click this link 👉 Buy me a coffee! 

Join our email list to enjoy a more comprehensive, insightful experience 👉 JSB Business Solutions Email List

#catchjsbuford #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextoppsocial #smallbizarchitecture #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurship #jsbbusinesssolutionsgroup #smallbizarchitect #jsbbusinesssolutionsgroup #businesssolutions

 

JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner

888.549.9689 / [email protected]

Website - https://thebufordco.com/

 

Easy Solutions For Entrepreneurs to Maximize Their Tax Deductions & Grow Their Brands

 

 

 

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Share Tweet Forward Share WE BELIEVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS EMPOWERMENT.  IT’S FREEDOM. THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE, SHAPE, AND EXPRESS ONE’S SELF UNABASHEDLY. IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH CHRYSSY ROBINSON, WE REMOVE  THE MYSTERY AND FEAR FROM LEARNING HOW TO EMPLOY SOCIAL MEDIA  AND CRAFTING A DIGITAL ONLINE PRESENCE THAT BUILDS YOUR BRAND.  Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD   Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If you have specific questions about any legal matter, you should consult with an attorney or other professional services provider.     https://thebufordco.com/quicklinks/   It’s one of the least understood ways to lower your tax obligations, and conversely one of the easiest. And it is one of the best strategies for entrepreneurs who are interested in building generational wealth. And that is employing your children in your business.  Children who work for their parents are subject to the same tax rules as any other employee. However, there are some important factors to consider: Tax benefits: Hiring children under 18 years of age can result in tax savings for business owners. The wages paid to children are tax-deductible expenses for the business, reducing the business's taxable income. Additionally, if the child is under 18 and is the business owner's dependent, they may be exempt from Social Security and Medicare taxes, resulting in additional tax savings. Transfer of income: By employing their children, business owners can shift income from themselves to their children, potentially reducing their own tax liability. This can be especially beneficial if the child is in a lower tax bracket than the business owner. Age: If the child is under the age of 18 and works for their parent's sole proprietorship or partnership, they are not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. However, if the child is working for a corporation, they are subject to all employment taxes regardless of their age. Type of work: The type of work the child is performing also impacts taxation. If the child is performing household chores or other minor tasks, they are generally not considered employees and do not need to pay taxes. However, if the child is performing substantial work, such as administrative or managerial tasks, they are considered employees and are subject to all employment taxes. Wages: The wages the child receives (TO CONTINUE READING VISIT https://www.catchjsbuford.com/2023/03/why-including-your-children-in-your-business-can-be-beneficial-.html )  ___________________________________________________________________   Do you have additional questions? Call 888.549.9689 x.101 or I invite you to visit my online calendar and schedule a virtual meet-up. And if you found this article and any of our content to be awesome, and you're feeling tipsy? Click this link  Buy me a coffee!  Join our email list to enjoy a more comprehensive, insightful experience  JSB Business Solutions Email List #catchjsbuford #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextoppsocial #smallbizarchitecture #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurship #jsbbusinesssolutionsgroup #smallbizarchitect #jsbbusinesssolutionsgroup #businesssolutions   JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / [email protected] Website - https://thebufordco.com/     NEED A BUSINESS PLANNING LAW FIRM Business Blog About All Things Business Related. Marketing & Sales Tips. Information About How to Become Investable, Build Business Credit & Acquire Financing. Networking Tips. Create Credibility and Acquire More Clients. Leadership Matters.  Featured Article. 5AM Small Plate - Quick Tips to Achieve Goals NEED A BUSINESS COACH QUICK TIPS REGARDING TACTICS, STRATEGIES, AND FRAMEWORKS TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS LEVEL UP IN THEIR ENDEAVORS.  DO YOU LOVE OUR CONTENT? & YOU'RE FEELING A BIT TIPSY? About Us   We are a business solutions organization with an international footprint serving professionals who wish to transition into entrepreneurship, and providing guidance and technical assistance to established entrepreneurs and investors seeking to launch, grow, and scale their endeavors from a team of me to a team of we.   JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / j[email protected] / https://linktr.ee/jujuanbuford   SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT   IS THERE MORE! WELL.... YES THERE IS. SUBSCRIBE TO LEARN MORE   https://bit.ly/yesthereismore   Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Want Better Results? Ask Better Questions... 50 Questions Successful Entrepreneurs Ask of Themselves

 

 

 

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Share Tweet Forward Share WE BELIEVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS EMPOWERMENT.  IT’S FREEDOM. THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE, SHAPE, AND EXPRESS ONE’S SELF UNABASHEDLY. HOW IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GOING TO CHANGE ENTREPRENEURSHIP?  Want Better Results? Ask Better Questions. 50 Questions Successful Entrepreneurs Ask of Themselves Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD   50 Topics    Top 5 mistakes business owners make.  What is the difference between an llc, s-corp, c-corp? How can you pay your children and enjoy the tax write-off? What is a holding company, and why is one necessary? How do you keep your assets out of the public eye? How do you make your company investment ready? How do you create an investment company?  How do you buy a business?  What kind of loans are available for business owners?  What are common business deductions all business owners need to know about? How do you secure government contracts? What’s the process?  How to consistently set and achieve goals?  How do you stay motivated?  How do sleep habits impact performance?   How do diet habits impact performance?   How do you find good employees and retain good employees?  What tools are most effective at finding good talent?   How do you create effective social media content?  Are blogs or podcasts more effective? How do you start an effective podcast? What social media tools or platforms are most effective?  How do you manage time more effectively? How do you manage stress and turmoil more effectively?  How do you define your target audience and why is it important?   How do you create more consistent revenues in your business? How do you build multiple businesses at the same time?  How do you buy cars, homes, and assets in your business name? Why should you do it?  How do you create a winning elevator pitch or sales pitch? How do you invite people you don’t know to learn about your business? How do you invite people you know to learn about your business? Is debt bad?  What is the difference between a copyright and a trademark?  How do you write a business plan for private investors?  How do you approach and secure support from private investors?  What is affiliate marketing, and does it work?  How do you establish and build business credit?  What are the best investments for entrepreneurs and business owners?  How do you know what kind of business would be right for you? What kind of business should you start?  How is AI (artificial intelligence) going to change the game?  Why is an independent contractor agreement necessary?  How do I protect my business from shady partners or employees?  What are the best ways to motivate my employees or staff?  What kind of insurance policies do I need to start and protect my business?  What are the best business banks to work with?  How do you determine whether you need a business coach?  When is it time to pivot and build a different business or quit (gasp!)?  How do you create a social media ads campaign?  How do you use Google for Business?  How do you use SEO to improve your business profile?  What are some of the best business books out there?   TWO MORE QUESTIONS #1. What questions would you like us to answer?  #2. What topics are of greatest interest to you?  _________________________________ Do you have additional questions? Call 888.549.9689 x.101 or I invite you to visit my online calendar and schedule a virtual meet-up. And if you found this article and any of our content to be awesome, and you're feeling tipsy? Click this link  Buy me a coffee!  Join our email list to enjoy a more comprehensive, insightful experience  JSB Business Solutions Email List #catchjsbuford #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextoppsocial #smallbizarchitecture #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurship    JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / [email protected] Website - https://thebufordco.com/ NEED A BUSINESS COACH Business Blog About All Things Business Related. Marketing & Sales Tips. Information About How to Become Investable, Build Business Credit & Acquire Financing. Networking Tips. Create Credibility and Acquire More Clients. Leadership Matters.  Featured Article. 5AM Small Plate - Quick Tips to Achieve Goals QUICK TIPS REGARDING TACTICS, STRATEGIES, AND FRAMEWORKS TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS LEVEL UP IN THEIR ENDEAVORS.  NEED A BUSINESS PLANNING LAW FIRM At NextOppSocial We Believe A Candle Loses Nothing by Lighting Another Candle. - James Keller. The NextOppSocial Show was inspired by the desire to equip entrepreneurs in our community with the tools, information, and inspiration to level up in their endeavors.   Our mission and purpose are to provide a space for Detroit's entrepreneurs to tell their stories; provide our audience with learning and "know-how", and provide a space for conversations, exchanges, and collaborations among entrepreneurs in the Detroit Metropolitan ecosystem.    DO YOU LOVE OUR CONTENT? & YOU'RE FEELING A BIT TIPSY? About Us   We are a business solutions organization with an international footprint serving professionals who wish to transition into entrepreneurship, and providing guidance and technical assistance to established entrepreneurs and investors seeking to launch, grow, and scale their endeavors from a team of me to a team of we.   JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / j[email protected] / https://linktr.ee/jujuanbuford   SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT   IS THERE MORE! WELL.... YES THERE IS. SUBSCRIBE TO LEARN MORE   https://bit.ly/yesthereismore   Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Creating Predictable Revenues is Found in Your Process

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

WRITE DOWN THE PROCESS  

In order to curate processes that work, you must identify the habits that work. This lays the groundwork for you, the self-employed entrepreneur, to grow from a team of ME to a team of WE. In other words, transiting from being a practitioner or creative that is owned by their business, to becoming a business owner, building an asset (an organism that breathes, produces, and re-produces) that generates revenues independently of you having to do everything. 

Your process is the track you run on. Every professional, entrepreneur, and business has a process. If you don't have a process, that is your process. Processes allow you to inventory your RGAs (revenue-generating activities) systemically, and the predictability of your revenues is found in your RGAs. It is where the fodder is found to begin to make projections about your profitability in the future.  

Not having a proven process is tantamount to waking up, jumping in your car, and attempting to drive to an overseas destination you've never visited before without a map or a compass. For the purposes of this exercise, I'm going to provide a simplified process that applies to most business models in general.  

How do I ensure that new people are learning about my business on a daily basis?  

• Social Media Campaigns 
• Inboxing or Direct Messaging Prospects Online 
• Cold Calling 

• Referrals 
• Email Campaigns  
• Door Knocking  
• Networking Events  
• Open Houses  
• Newspaper or Online Trade Publications 
• Etc.,.   

How many new people do I need to introduce to my business on a daily basis for it to be viable? Some in the social media world, refer to this as impressions.  

What kind of tools or marketing artifacts am I going to use to introduce my business offerings?  

Once a new prospect is aware of my services or products, how do I help them make an educated buying decision?  

• Landing Pages & Sales Funnels  
• Invitation to a Zoom Presentation or Webcast  
• Schedule a One on One Appointment  
• Social Media Tutorial or Presentation: YouTube, Instagram, SoundCloud, etc. 
• Website Invite to a Demonstration 
• Seminars  

How many guests (people who have seen a presentation of some kind) must learn about my presentation in order to onboard a new client?  

Here is a simplified formula I still employ to this day, when I’m attempting to assess the amount of work and resources I will need to employ to predict and meet expectations. This formula is not ideal for all entrepreneurs and businesses; however it is highly useful for micro-business owners and sales professionals.   

Simplified Formula for Sales Success 

• What is your income goal per month:  

• What is your average compensation / NOI (net operating income) per sale:  
• What is your closing percentage?  
• Weeks per month (52 weeks/12 months) = 4.33  
• What is the number of days per week you will work building your dream:  

Example:  

• Income Goal $8,333.33 / divided by,  
• Average Compensation $300 / divided by,  
• Closing Ration 30% / divided by  
• Weeks per month 4.33 / divided by  
• Chosen Number of Work Days 5  

• = 4.5 presentations daily   

When you acquire a new client, what steps am I going to take to make sure they are a happy client?  

• What is the System for Following Up to Confirm Their Satisfaction?  
• How Do I Confirm or Deliver the Guarantee? 
• How Do I Ensure Services/Products are Meeting Expectations? 
• How Do I Continually Engage My Client After Their Purchase?   

What process do I have in place to obtain referrals on a consistent basis?  

• Email Campaigns  
• Phone Calls  
• Text Messages  
• CRM - Automated Messages  
• Do I have a Script?  
• Social Media Group, Membership Club, Subscription  

Over the course of time, you want to be very intentional about documenting your scripts and inventorying what strategies and tools you are using. Why? When it’s time to grow from a team of ME to a team of WE, this process will reduce your hiring, training, and supervisory expenses. Plan with the end in mind.  

Give your process or approach a name. In one of my organizations, I refer to it as Our Uplifting Service Agreement. Once you’ve named (branded) your process, at some point you’ll want to create some type of marketing artifact, logo, symbol, or image that people can identify with your process (prospects, clients, and employees alike). 

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Do you have additional questions? Call 888.549.9689 x.101 or I invite you to visit my online calendar and schedule a virtual meet-up. And if you found this article and any of our content to be awesome, and you're feeling tipsy? Click this link 👉 Buy me a coffee! 

Join our email list to enjoy a more comprehensive, insightful experience 👉 JSB Business Solutions Email List

#catchjsbuford #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextoppsocial #smallbizarchitecture #businessdevelopment #entrepreneurship 

 

JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner

888.549.9689 / [email protected]

Website - https://thebufordco.com/

5 Simple Steps to Become More Attractive to Investors

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

Share Tweet Forward Share WE BELIEVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS EMPOWERMENT.  IT’S FREEDOM. THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE, SHAPE, AND EXPRESS ONE’S SELF UNABASHEDLY. Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD   So you’ve established your LLC on paper. What’s next?! Here are a couple of things to keep in mind to continue leveling up. In no specific order of importance.    Once your services and or products are beta tested… you’re regularly onboarding customers, at some point, you’re going to need to seek out talent (staff, virtual assistant, partners, investors) to build a healthy, thriving business. You will no longer be able to use your personal finances and credit.  Cheat Sheet Regarding How to Establish Business Credit    IT’S NOT WHAT YOU KNOW (FOR THE KNOW IT ALLS) THAT KILLS YOU IN BUSINESS. IT’S WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW.    What Questions Should You Ask When Starting a Business?   Important Business Documents    What's next for those who are looking to become capital ready? In other words, become more attractive to banks, microlenders, private investors, or hard-money lenders.    #1. If you are an LLC, begin curating your operating agreement. agreement. See “Important Business Documents”     #2. Make sure every employee of the business signs and independent contractor agreement. A non-compete (W-2) or non-circumvent (1099s). And NDAs. You don’t just have to protect your business from the public, but from the bad decisions, an employee may make.   Learn more about trademarks and your intellectual property rights in general. People don’t want to buy you (the majority of the time), they want to invest in systems and brands.    #3. It's not required (technically), but investors love if you keep corporate minutes. It means you’re a grown adult business owner. It BIGLY separates you from almost everybody.     #4. Gain a basic understanding of the contents of a P&L (Profit & Loss) statement. Ask an accountant about this. If you don't have an accountant that you can talk to on a regular basis, I have some referrals for you.    #5. If you haven't done, establish your business with Dun & Bradstreet. Learn about the importance of your Paydex score!    NEED A BUSINESS COACH Business Blog About All Things Business Related. Marketing & Sales Tips. Information About How to Become Investable, Build Business Credit & Acquire Financing. Networking Tips. Create Credibility and Acquire More Clients. Leadership Matters.  Featured Article. Morning Mindset Routine for Entrepreneurs - Getting Your Mind Right NEED A BUSINESS PLANNING LAW FIRM DO YOU LOVE OUR CONTENT? & YOU'RE FEELING A BIT TIPSY? About Us   We are a business solutions organization with an international footprint serving professionals who wish to transition into entrepreneurship, and providing guidance and technical assistance to established entrepreneurs and investors seeking to launch, grow, and scale their endeavors from a team of me to a team of we.   JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / j[email protected] / https://linktr.ee/jujuanbuford   SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT   IS THERE MORE! WELL.... YES THERE IS. SUBSCRIBE TO LEARN MORE   https://bit.ly/yesthereismore     #smallbizarchitect #businessarchitecture #entrepreneurship #catchjsbuford #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #mindset Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

The Recession is Coming (Here). You Don't Have to Participate In It.

 

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Share Tweet Forward Share WE BELIEVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS EMPOWERMENT.  IT’S FREEDOM. THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE, SHAPE, AND EXPRESS ONE’S SELF UNABASHEDLY. What's more important? Being profitable or purposeful? Can you do both..., especially at the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey? Do you have to sacrifice one for the other? In this episode of Streamin With a Purpose with Sylvia Montgomery we explore how to scale your business, finding your purpose, while impacting the world and living a life of passion and satisfaction. Grab a pen and pad, along with your favorite cup of coffee or tea, and tune into this inspiring and unabashedly honest episode by clicking the notes and links in the comments And of course like, comment, and share! Because sharing is caring, and a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle. #purpose #entrepreneurship #passion #profits #catchjsbuford BONUS CONTENT NEED A BUSINESS COACH THE RECESSION IS COMING (HERE) AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO PARTICIPATE IN IT.  CONTINUE READING..... IF WITH YOU ARE A B2B (BUSINESS TO BUSINESS) ENTREPRENEUR. IF YOU LIKE BEING THE PLUG FOR INFORMATION AND RESOURCES IN YOUR COMMUNITY FOR PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS.  IF YOU ARE TIRED OF THE SAME, SOME DAY ONE DAY NARRATIVE ROLLING AROUND IN YOUR MIND. OR COMPANIES THAT ARE HERE FOR 5 MINUTES AND GONE TOMORROW.  IF YOU ENJOY HELPING ENTREPRENEURS. LOVE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT. & YOU REALLY... REALLY WANT TO BUILD RESIDUAL REVENUES. IF THIS IS YOU, CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW  OTHERWISE... IGNORE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. AND CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE FREE CONTENT BROUGHT TO YOU BY ENTREPRENEURS FOR ENTREPRENEURS WHO EARN GROWN ADULT INCOME AS ENTREPRENEURS.    NEED A BUSINESS PLANNING LAW FIRM DO YOU LOVE OUR CONTENT? & YOU'RE FEELING A BIT TIPSY? About Us   We are a business solutions organization with an international footprint serving professionals who wish to transition into entrepreneurship, and providing guidance and technical assistance to established entrepreneurs and investors seeking to launch, grow, and scale their endeavors from a team of me to a team of we.   JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / j[email protected] / https://linktr.ee/jujuanbuford   SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT   IS THERE MORE! WELL.... YES THERE IS. SUBSCRIBE TO LEARN MORE   https://bit.ly/yesthereismore   Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

3 Business & Wealth Destroying Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

 

 

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Share Tweet Forward Share WE BELIEVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS EMPOWERMENT.  IT’S FREEDOM. THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE, SHAPE, AND EXPRESS ONE’S SELF UNABASHEDLY. #1. I'm going to be a bit curt or maybe even disrespectful here about this issue. But I'm not here to tell you what you want to hear but need to hear. If you are investing money in pool tables, a new car every 7 years, taking 5-figure vacations annually, spending 5 figures for your children to go to school...  And you have not completed or updated your estate plan over the last three years? Your life and children are simply vanity projects. You're not serious about building wealth and leaving a legacy. You just like to sound good for your peers.  Prince, Michael, Aretha, Chadwick, Joe, Sarah, Arnold, Danny, Takeoff, YOU. You say to yourself it's not important because I don't have a lot. Remember, I'm a former investment advisor (quietly been obtaining my licensing again, but don't tell anybody) and financial services professional for approximately two decades. That is dumbapple excuse. If you have less, then that means your family needs you to have your affairs together even more, because you cannot afford to squander anything.  I served the entire state of Michigan and consulted across the entire United States. The super-majority of my wealthy clients inherited their wealth. Period. The super-majority of my clients were not athletes or entertainers. They were regular Joes & Janes that inherited 20k here. 10k there. 100k sometimes. But were able to start businesses early on and jump-start their wealth-building journey because Granddad & Grandma had a joint survivorship life insurance policy and an estate plan (a will, durable power of attorney, medical directives, and pour over at minimum).  The African Diaspora is slated to have a collectively ZERO networth in approximately 20-30 years. Stop drinking the kool-aid and believing social media hype. YOU, your friends, and your family are lying. 90% don't have it done. Hire an estate planning attorney (not some online service). Or call me to set an appointment. Do it TODAY.  No one rehearses funerals.  #2. No one rehearses disabilities either.  What is the likelihood of becoming disabled? Men have a 43% chance of becoming seriously disabled during their working years. Women have a 54% chance. At age 42, it is four times more likely that you will become seriously disabled than that you will die during your working years. Acquire a life policy with a disability income rider.  Acquire an own occupation (ask me about this later) disability plan. And, or acquire a business expense disability plan to cover business expenses (rent, accounts payables, supplies, utilities, operations, etc., etc.) allowing you to recover quickly after you recover. Yes, these programs exist, and they are very inexpensive.  This issue is destroying more small business owners than the pandemic ever did.  #3. The I "don't do or like sales" attitude is going to result in one thing happening to you eventually. Someone who understands what sales is (simply the transference of belief and passion for what you do) is going to take your customers. Or you'll never take on enough customers to scale your impact and revenues, and the next downturn, pandemic, or challenge lurking around the corner is going to detonate your business.  Hire someone who is effective at sales. Or overcome this mental hurdle. Otherwise, your business is just a hobby. There are a handful of organs that need to be healthy for your business to live, grow, and thrive.  Sales Marketing Tax & Accounting Legal Human Resources If you neglect any of these organs. Your business is on borrowed time.  Here is an approach that I've used to help entrepreneurs and sales professionals overcome their fear of sales. Listen, like, comment, and share. We need to help more people.  NEED A BUSINESS COACH Business Blog About All Things Business Related. Marketing & Sales Tips. Information About How to Become Investable, Build Business Credit & Acquire Financing. Networking Tips. Create Credibility and Acquire More Clients. Leadership Matters.  Featured Article.   Why Establishing An LLC May Not Be Enough to Protect Your Business   NEED A BUSINESS PLANNING LAW FIRM DO YOU LOVE OUR CONTENT? & YOU'RE FEELING A BIT TIPSY? About Us   We are a business solutions organization with an international footprint serving professionals who wish to transition into entrepreneurship, and providing guidance and technical assistance to established entrepreneurs and investors seeking to launch, grow, and scale their endeavors from a team of me to a team of we.   JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / j[email protected] / https://linktr.ee/jujuanbuford   SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT   IS THERE MORE! WELL.... YES THERE IS. SUBSCRIBE TO LEARN MORE   https://bit.ly/yesthereismore   Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

THREE QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU BETTER MANAGE YOUR TIME.

By JuJuan Buford

 

Here's the thing. There is no such thing as time management, but I had to put it in the title to get you here. And for the contrarians. 

You can't negotiate with time. Manage time. Bribe, arm wrestle, flirt with, threaten, or coerce time. Time doesn't care. We all have the same amount of time and the difference between those of us who derive more value and results with the time we have as opposed to others boils down to two things. 

#1. There are those of us who buy other people's time wholesale and sell their time retail (an article for another time). 

#2. Our ability to better manage our priorities with the time that we have. In other words, make sure that we know how to identify the key performance indicators that ultimately determine and will improve our quality of life. 

The greatest challenge for most entrepreneurs is determining what to focus on. Some things are urgent that must be addressed, but doing so doesn't really change the trajectory of our lives. Like paying a utility bill, addressing a screaming, angry client, or responding to 100 emails in a day. 

On the other hand, spending an hour a day working on a project that won't be completed for another 3 months... but once completed will automate your business and build a stream of revenues that will passively pay for years to come. Not urgent, but imminently life-changing. Kinda like the digital project I'm working on. 

And like most worthwhile endeavors, priority management is a skilled trade. It's not something you master in 2 days, weeks, months, or even years. However, if you don't master it, you may look up 2 or 5 years from now involved in projects, working at a job, building a business, or living a life that others have circumscribed for you, as opposed to you being the curator. 

Here are a couple of questions to help you get the ball rolling. 


WHAT DO YOU VALUE MOST? 

Be honest with yourself, or this question will prove useless to you. What is truly driving you? What's your loco-motive?  

Is it being a good parent? Are you compelled to pursue a particular cause, like helping children orphaned by war? Do you fear financial or food security, and so you work tirelessly to increase your net worth? Do you value country and service? Being an author? Or is it being upwardly mobile, or commanding respect? Do you think, eat, and breathe being a real estate investor? Entrepreneurial and leadership development. Education. Competition. 

Define your values and use them as an internal compass to point you in the direction of the tasks and investments you should be spending time on. Ask yourself whether or not the roles you currently serve in - author, mother, CFO, retail sales-person, investment advisor, community liaison, etc., - are in alignment with your values. 


WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH PERSONALLY AND OR PROFESSIONALLY THAT WOULD MAKE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT 365 DAYS?

Goal setting can be a clarifying and gratifying exercise, but absent a goal-achieving plan it becomes a broken promise. Write down three and only three things in each area of your life that matter the most. Remember, priority management and goal achievement are skilled trades. And most of us haven't spent enough time answering the first question to project three, five, or ten years out from now. 

The year milestone helps us come to grips with our tendency to underestimate what we can get done over the course of a year, and overestimate what we can get done in a month.  

 

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH THAT WILL MAKE THIS WEEK AND OR THIS DAY A MASTERPIECE?

You eat an elephant one bite at a time. Yesterday is done. Tomorrow doesn't exist yet. There are a million different distractions, social media posts, emails, texts, people's expectations, and agendas vying for your time and attention.

Think about time like a rock or a piece of wood. Then think about our focus like a chisel. Our time is useless in and of itself and can be devoid of meaning. However, apply some attention and focus to it and beautiful ornaments, useful tools, and fulfilling impacts can be fashioned from it. 

What are the top three things you will do to consistently chip away at your one-year goal? 

 

Desire a deeper dive, additional insights, or recommendations into what sales strategies and tools may work best for you, subscribe via email, or for a more immediate response complete the following 👉 survey: http://bit.ly/growscaleprotect.

 

BONUS: WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE SKILLS OR LEARNINGS YOU WILL PURSUE TO HELP YOU ACHIEVE WHAT YOU DESIRE?

We don't get in life what we want. We get what we are. And what we are is comprised of our beliefs, thoughts, and doings, with an emphasis on our doings. The better we are at doing things that are in alignment with our values and what we desire, the better our results.

Keep in mind 10 pages a day is approximately 300 pages a month equating to about 12-15 books per year. 

 

Do you have additional questions? Call 888.549.9689 x.101 or I invite you to visit my online calendar at https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

And if you found this article and any of our content to be awesome, and you're feeling tipsy? Buy me a coffee! 

 

JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner

888.549.9689 / [email protected]

Website - https://thebufordco.com/

 

Schedule An Appointment - https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

When Do You Go Full Time In Your Business?

 

 

 

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Share Tweet Forward Share WE BELIEVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS EMPOWERMENT.  IT’S FREEDOM. THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE, SHAPE, AND EXPRESS ONE’S SELF UNABASHEDLY. By JuJuan Buford How a Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) Can Help You Build Your Customer Base    Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD You have a proven product or service, your fine tuning your elevator pitch, and  as a result of your prospecting strategies you’ve reached a point whereas the stress of balancing making dials, staying relevant via social media, and meeting the right prospects (I’ll elaborate) is starting to feel overwhelming. At the end of the day, there are so many hours available to spend between making 20, 50, or 100 dials, giving presentations and servicing your customers, and managing all the other stuff that is required to keep revenues coming in.  What you really want is to meet more idea prospects, make them happy clients, and acquire more leads. The aforementioned will allow you upgrade your capacity (hire better people) to offer more or upgraded services, increasing your value proposition, allowing you to increase your prices, ultimately allowing you to enjoy increased cash flow. In other words, create a more system approach to finding and engaging ideal clients.  How can a good customer relationship manager (CRM) help you achieve all of the aforementioned?   A CRM CAN HELP YOU BETTER MINE YOUR BUSINESS  One of the greatest benefits of a CRM is it helps you identify who and where your focus should go. At some point, we have to begin to identify who our ideal customer is, and thus curate our marketing and prospecting strategies to attract our ideal prospect. What do I mean by this?  (A) Prospects = Prospects that are already very much motivated to buy what you're offering; have enough disposable income to easily afford the 5 Star treatment; and appreciate your professional approach. (B) Prospects = Prospects that require some education regarding how conducting business with you can improve their lives; have disposable income; and arrive on time for the appointment. (C) Prospects = Prospects that need or require your assistance, but choose to wait until the the brake pads are whittled down to nothing, the engine light is blinking, the car is spewing steam into the atmosphere before they make a decision. Working with them might cost you more than you're going to earn (it's a non-profit endeavor, almost every time), and their arriving on time would be a good start. In an ideal world, you want to spend the majority of your efforts and resources contacting and engaging your (A) prospects or what many refer to as your buyer persona. If you’re still waking up in the morning and calling from a legal pad, prospecting worksheets, or an email list, after you get beyond 100 contacts it is imperative that you switch to a more systematic approach. Making this transition will also better help you track... (continue reading at Learn How A CRM Can Give You a ROI You Can Count On?) NEED A BUSINESS COACH Business Blog About All Things Business Related. Marketing & Sales Tips. Information About How to Become Investable, Build Business Credit & Acquire Financing. Networking Tips. Create Credibility and Acquire More Clients. Leadership Matters.    https://www.catchjsbuford.com/  Featured Articles!  Cheat Sheet Regarding How to Establish Business Credit    What Questions Should You Ask When Starting a Business?   Important Business Documents   Starting Up An LLC in the State of Michigan  WHEN DO GO FULL TIME IN YOUR BUSINESS?  NEED A BUSINESS PLANNING LAW FIRM About Us   We are a business solutions organization with an international footprint serving professionals who wish to transition into entrepreneurship, and providing guidance and technical assistance to established entrepreneurs and investors seeking to launch, grow, and scale their endeavors from a team of me to a team of we.   JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / j[email protected] / https://linktr.ee/jujuanbuford Schedule an Appointment  https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp IS THERE MORE! WELL.... YES THERE IS. SUBSCRIBE TO LEARN MORE   https://bit.ly/yesthereismore   Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

What Kind of Business Should You Start? You've Lost that Loving Feeling For Your Current Business (GASP!)

 

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Share Tweet Forward Share WE BELIEVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS EMPOWERMENT.  IT’S FREEDOM. THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE, SHAPE, AND EXPRESS ONE’S SELF UNABASHEDLY. By JuJuan Buford If you find yourself feeling disenchanted with your business, it’s not an abnormal feeling. We’ve all been there. However, when you feel overwhelmed or exceptionally bored with the overhead of being an entrepreneur…   o·ver·head : the boring, monotonous everyday chores like cold calling, checking emails, responding to low priority conflicts, dealing with people who are not ideal clients or prospects, repeated conversations regarding company expectations that you assume your business partners, vendors, and staff would get by now, etc., etc.,      For days at a time, and it reaches a point where you aren’t able to summon the enthusiasm to serve your clients, be what your business requires of you, and grow your enterprise we have a problem.     When I observe these behaviors in established, beta-tested entrepreneurs or I discover an inability or lack of willingness on the part of a new entrepreneur to invest the necessary energies to launch their venture (or the question of “I don’t know what to do.”), it usually boils down to incongruence between a person’s core focus and the work.      We all understand on a base level what it feels like or what it means to be doing meaningful work that fills us with satisfaction, versus the drudgery of toiling at something that doesn’t energize or motivate us. The challenge is most entrepreneurs (gasp!) haven’t taken the time to identify what really matters to them. Most of us are spending our mental energies attempting to be, move, attire, and adorn ourselves in the expectations of others… to a fault.    Too many of us are scared.    But it takes real courage to live a life of satisfaction. The degree to which we live truly happy, fulfilling lives shrinks or expands in relationship to our willingness to live in our values and truths. And very few of us have taken the time to truly define what we truly value. What truly gives us energy. Nice watches, cars, yachts, shoes, or fierce competition may be your thing. You may enjoy helping people and the altruistic desire to help others achieve their utmost potential may drive you. You want to end world hunger or water scarcity. The pursuit of knowledge, skill, and power may empower you. Or you simply desire that every day be an extended vacation in Maui, having fun, sipping wine, and listening to the waves. Do YOU.    The other challenge. It’s tiring. Your brain only comprises 2% of your human body weight but spends 25% of your energy. And very similar to a muscle, the harder you work it the more fatigued, agitated, or frustrated many of us become. Defining your values and your why is a skilled trade and it is a process. However, here are a couple of questions to help you with your journey.    #1. What Are Your Values or What Do You Value? Examples… Make a list and choose only three.  I’m committed to God and country I’m an excellent parent  I believe in education I exemplify excellence and professionalism I’m committed to financial independence and prosperity  I believe community service is how you pay for the blessing of living bountiful society I value freedom, choice, and agency I value enjoying life and having fun I value the earth’s environment I love dancing and being sunshine to others     #2. What is the one thing you could do that would have the greatest impact on the lives of others?    #3. What are the top three things you could do personally that would make the greatest impact in your life?    #4. What kind of person do you want to be? And by extension, what kind of business do I want to build?    #5. What activities have I most enjoyed doing in my professional life?    #6. What are the skills, knowledge, or talents that I possess? What do people say I’m highly effective at?    #7. What is my core focus or the focus of my business? Why does your business exist beyond being profitable? Make a list and choose only three.   To help people live lives of satisfaction through entrepreneurship To help women overcome financial, relationship, & emotional distress To help men adopt & sustain a healthy mindset To serve the best, most smacking waffles ever known To help people achieve optimal physical performance  To use my art to make people smile and forget their worries To help people learn how to forgive and progress through trauma.   The answers to these questions are where your power, your energy, and the best use of your focus and time lie. As you answer these questions you’ll begin to see the same themes, ideas, activities, and subjects emerge.    Remember, answering these questions is a process and people who’ve already performed this exercise numerous times already will need at least a couple of hours to complete it. You may need to seek feedback or converse with a business consultant to help you navigate this process. NEED A BUSINESS COACH Business Blog About All Things Business Related. Marketing & Sales Tips. Information About How to Become Investable, Build Business Credit & Acquire Financing. Networking Tips. Create Credibility and Acquire More Clients. Leadership Matters.    https://www.catchjsbuford.com/  Featured Articles!  Cheat Sheet Regarding How to Establish Business Credit    What Questions Should You Ask When Starting a Business?   Important Business Documents   Starting Up An LLC in the State of Michigan  NEED A BUSINESS PLANNING LAW FIRM About Us   We are a business solutions organization with an international footprint serving professionals who wish to transition into entrepreneurship, and providing guidance and technical assistance to established entrepreneurs and investors seeking to launch, grow, and scale their endeavors from a team of me to a team of we.   JuJuan Buford, Managing Partner 888.549.9689 / j[email protected] / https://linktr.ee/jujuanbuford OUR GOAL IS TO HELP 100,000 HOUSEHOLDS BECOME EMPLOYERS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS.  Schedule an Appointment  https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp IS THERE MORE! WELL.... YES THERE IS. SUBSCRIBE TO LEARN MORE   https://bit.ly/yesthereismore   Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

5 Ways to Make Your Business Investable - Small Plate

Posted by JuJuan Buford, Entrepreneur & Writer @JSBUFORD

 

#1. Attract & Empower Leadership 

If nothing moves unless you move in your business, that is a problem. When monied interests are taking inventory of your business, whether to invest in or purchase, they are looking for assets that can operate independently of you (or them.) 

This advice is not specific to private investors or hard money lenders either. Though this element is weighted differently when seeking capital from a bank or micro-lender, there is a reason why 99% of financial institutions make inquiries regarding your executive leadership. 

If you are the bottleneck concerning every important decision. If you are the sales and marketing team, and the operations system, down to opening the doors in the morning, you’re a self-employed professional with business risks and responsibilities… not a business owner. 

 

#2. What is a Profit & Loss Statement & Why Is It Important 

Just because your business is generating revenues, it doesn’t mean it’s profitable or valuable. 

Imagine being a 100k income earner that spends 120k per year, with 50k in credit card debt, you own absolutely nothing, plus you’re 50 years old (age discrimination is a real thing) with a skill set that is decreasingly in demand like being a greeter at McDonald's. 

You may wear nice attire. Drive a nice vehicle. Spend an hour a day posting your foodie pictures from your favorite restaurant, but you’re on borrowed time. 

If this is your situation, you would be far better off with a job working at Burger King earning 30k per year, paying rent somewhere for $800, plus car insurance, with an extra $500 to spare, finishing up an apprenticeship to be a master electrician. 

Your P&L statement lets a prospective investor know if you’re all smoke and mirrors, or whether there is a real value (future earnings) there. 

It also, lets you know the overall health of your business, and how much margin you have to work with to invest in your business. Breaking even isn’t good enough. The next financial, real estate, emotional, psychological, or physical pandemic is always just around the corner. 

 

#3. Secure Business Financing / Business Credit 

As your sales acquisition and client services operations grow away from you, your business will require you to bring on a virtual assistant, contract worker, or a couple W-2 employees to help you manage the growth of your business. This is when most entrepreneurs realize using personal income and credit to cover expenses is no longer an option. 

If you haven’t established a business profile that allows you to access business loans and credit, your business is not likely to survive an untimely disability, death, departure of a partner or key employee, or a sudden shift in the marketplace forcing you to pivot suddenly. 

Entrepreneurship is like the stock market. It’s going to go up. It’s going to go down. Those who win prepare for both realities. 

 

#4. Understand the Value of your Intellectual Property

In today’s economy, entrepreneurs are marketing and branding companies first. We are service and product providers second. 

Protecting your brand and reputation is more important than ever before because it turns the company's intangible assets into exclusive rights. In other words, your ability to monetize your logo, likeness, and or your digital presence exclusively in the marketplace via merchandising or for the purpose of establishing multiple product lines cannot be underestimated. 

Creating multiple streams of revenue doesn’t necessarily require you to split focus from a successful enterprise. Understanding and protecting your intellectual property rights allow you to increase your revenues where you stand. 

 

#5 Your Network is Your Networth 

This one is a big one. You do not own your social media page/s. If 100% of your client acquisition, servicing, and follow-up is conducted via social media you're going to get fried one day. 

Create a landing page. Or a signup page. And place it in your emails. Make it omnipresent in your social media postings. Collect names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, business anniversaries, wedding anniversaries, industry or occupation, etc, etc., etc., 

If you lose access to your social media account, and you’ve built a database of your prospects, clients, and followers, the situation becomes a mild inconvenience. 

Also, when investors are looking at your business, they are also taking inventory of how much demonstrable market share you’ve achieved. How many repeat customers (very valuable) are you serving. Do you really have an established group of people whom you’ve forged an emotional connection with? Think Elon Musk and Twitter. 

 

#successleavesclues #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextopposocial #smallbizarchitect #DecideBeDoHave

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JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co-Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, transitioned into business ownership, and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghostwriting, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

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When Motivation Isn't Enough

Posted by JuJuan Buford, Entrepreneur & Writer @JSBUFORD

 

#successleavesclues #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextopposocial #smallbizarchitect #DecideBeDoHave

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co-Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, transitioned into business ownership, and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghostwriting, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBWorryLessBuildMoreProject10000

Media Kit 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

 

HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND THRIVE DURING A #RECESSION

Posted by JuJuan Buford, Entrepreneur & Writer @JSBUFORD

 

 

#successleavesclues #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextopposocial #smallbizarchitect #DecideBeDoHave

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co-Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, transitioned into business ownership, and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghostwriting, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBWorryLessBuildMoreProject10000

Media Kit 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

4 Simple Steps to Stay Motivated & Focused

Posted by JuJuan Buford, Entrepreneur & Writer @JSBUFORD

Audio - Visual Version of Article

 

Staying motivated is a challenge new and established entrepreneurs grapple with on a regular basis. When you’re just getting started and the exhilaration of launching into a new venture begins to wane, one of the biggest challenges is how to stay focused and energized absent a boss or company imperatives. 

On the flip side, once you’ve achieved success, the monotony of it can begin to grind on your psyche. Yes, monotony. Success over the long term in business often boils down to who is willing to execute some really simple steps repeatedly longer, more enthusiastically, and with greater vigor than the next person. In other words, the successful do what many would regard as really boring stuff over and over again with the same high level of focus and energy.

The wonderful business endeavor that was once a cuddly, shining object, and a symbol of your triumphs is now a grumpy person making constant demands of your time, energies, and attention.  

In either situation, if you’re going to continue to thrive and survive staying inspired and finding methods to stay motivated is of the utmost importance. And those who are able to achieve on a high level understand that staying motivated requires investment and it is a skilled trade. 

Here are a couple of tools to help you find the energy and build when you may have lost that loving feeling. 

 

Get Your Head Right

Entrepreneurs must be able to answer the following three questions, otherwise, you can quickly find yourself middling, falling victim to the tiny object syndrome, and expending your energies on things that don’t edify you. 

1. What are your values and the impact you truly desire to make in the world? 
2. How do you want to serve? 
3. Who do you want to serve and why? 

One of the biggest mistakes people make in general is answering these questions as if they are taking a public litmus test regarding their virtues, rather than simply telling their truth. 

In other words, if watches, clothes, yachts, or other shiny objects give you energy, it is what it is. Perhaps, you desire power, influence, and recognition. It’s all good. Maybe you were deeply impacted by observing the death of a loved one due to cancer or gun violence, and you want to rid the world of these scourges. Great. Whatever the case may be, be honest. 

Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey at times, and worrying about the opinions of others who won’t be in your life ten years from now, or are unwilling to support your dreams and ambitions is absurd. The rent to occupy space in your head should be extremely expensive. The rent is positivity, love, support, contribution, encouragement, affirmation, and feedback that sharpens and improves. And it needs to be collected every day. 

I read somewhere recently that According to the National Science Foundation, an average person has about 12,000 to 60,000 thoughts per day. Of those, 80% are negative and 95% are repetitive thoughts. This is the enemy that must be overcome.

Also, it’s extremely difficult to expend your life’s energies on a compromise. To be successful as an entrepreneur requires a very high level of energy and focus. Your goals and affirmations should be written down daily, be omnipresent, and affirm the person your business and dreams require you to be. Here’s an exercise to help with the process. 

 

Your Attention is Your Greatest Asset

Attention is like the sun. Whatever you focus it on grows, and what you neglect withers. What are you focussing your attention on daily? How frequently and how long?

Is your attention and thus your energies being focused on people or things that don’t serve your best interests or lack an ROI (return on investment)? What someone said to you. Your fears and anxieties. The people you are angry with or envious of. The job or boss you can’t stand. 

Or are you focused on consuming things that will improve your mindset, character, stamina, stir your creativity, and therefore increase your value. Notice these are all things that cannot be taken from you, and allow you to win indefinitely. 

How much of your screen time is spent on entertainment versus intentionally sharpening the saw? How often do you turn your vehicle into a drive time university? When your mind begins to wander, or when you find yourself drifting to the world of sports, music, gossip, plaintively pocket watching or noting other people’s lifestyles, what are you doing to offset all the empty calories being poured into your psyche… your attention. You have choices. 

 

• Business Podcasts
• Momentum Calls (Find a collective of people who are moving in the direction you desire to move, and doing what you are doing). 
• Training. People don’t rise to their level of desire, but rather their level of preparation. 
• Books of the Month
• Inspirational Movies
• YouTube content from DOrus not gurus. 
• Leadership Show 
• Seminars, Conventions, Workshops

Every moment that you are involved in something that is not growing you, you’re being left behind. You’re either living or dying. There is no in-between. Become obsessed. Yes, obsessed! And extremely intentional about what where your attention is focused or being focused. 

 

Guard the Gates

The people you’re listening to are either pouring life into you, or sapping you of your strength. So is your itinerary, and we all have them. For some of us brushing our teeth and washing our face is part of our morning itinerary. We do it routinely, reflexively, without even thinking about it. We put on our shoes and clothes and even go to the bathroom around the same time every day. And we become agitated and uncomfortable when our routines are disrupted.

The key to keeping negativity out, and allowing space for positive outcomes is found in our routines.

In other words, if you fill your refrigerator to the brim with nothing but fruits, vegetables, nuts, spinach, beet and pomegranate juice, avocados, and 1-gallon jugs of water there will be little to no room for soda pop, pizza boxes, beer cans, and greasy, cheese-laden leftovers. 

Dedicating time to reviewing your goals, running or biking, writing for 30 minutes regardless of whether it results in good content or not, executing your top three tasks of the day, reading 10-20 pages a day, and consuming content and information that sharpens you, having substantive conversations with people who improve you, attending training or networking events with your tribe… you get the point. It’s time-consuming, and that’s the point. 

When your invaluable attention, time, and energies are so occupied with things that serve you, that it makes it extremely difficult for people and things that don’t serve you to occupy your space. That’s how you guard the gates. 

 

Stop Lying to Yourself 

I’ll go to the gym when I feel like it. I’ll start saving and investing when I have extra money. I’ll read the books, attend the training, go to the convention, give up bowling, basketball, PlayStation, or a night out with friends when I’m earning significantly more. 

You’re lying to yourself. You’re living inside your personal bs.dot.com bubble. 

You won’t feel like it until you go to the gym. You won’t have extra money until you set aside at least 10% of everything you earn. You won’t earn enough or significantly more than you do today until you do the things people do who have the success you desire. 

Your routines. How you spend your attention, money, and time has led you to where you are. If you want different you’re going to have to change your routines and invest your attention, money, and time into different things. And it will hurt because it’s supposed to. 

People dramatically underestimate the magnitude of work, of inputs required to enjoy magnificent results. You want extraordinary results then you have to give extra-ordinary effort. There is no hack for this. The good thing is most people have such an allergic reaction to change, duress, and things that are different, therefore the cost of the extra pales in comparison to the cost of not embracing the ugly duckling stage of your journey. 

 

#successleavesclues #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextopposocial #smallbizarchitect

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co-Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, transitioned into business ownership, and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghostwriting, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBWorryLessBuildMoreProject10000

Media Kit 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Why Establishing An LLC May Not Be Enough to Protect Your Business

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

Disclaimer: This content has been made available for informational and educational purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If you have specific questions about any legal matter, you should consult with an attorney or other professional services provider.  

 

If you’re in the process of turning your business idea into a legal business entity, forming an LLC is an attractive option. Most business professionals cite that the primary reason to establish a limited liability company (LLC) business entity is for protection from personal liability should anything happen to your business. Or protect assets owned by an LLC (real estate for example) from liens, personal creditors, or some other type of legal harm.

It's a great idea. Remember, the rich don't own things in their personal name. Their businesses own assets, and they enjoy the benefits of those assets while mitigating liability. 

However, there are some misconceptions about the extent to which establishing an LLC can protect you. 

#1. I have an LLC and liability insurance coverage, so I don't need to keep an attorney on retainer. 

Ok. What happens to your insurance coverage and or premiums when you use that policy?

The insurance carrier may drop you at the anniversary date, meaning you're unable to conduct business depending on the industry you're in, or after 6 months raise the rates. 

Ask business owners who have endured a lawsuit and had to file an insurance claim, and they will inform you through gritted teeth how the premium increase was tantamount to the expense of retaining legal services on a monthly basis. 

 

#2. Establishing an LLC is not a tax plan. Most tax and accounting professionals will encourage entrepreneurs to set up their LLCs as disregarded entities. However, that literally means the business entity is disregarded, meaning your business is an extension of you. For the purposes of tax planning purposes, all tax liabilities pass on to you. 

There are two tax filing seasons. There is a tax filing season, and there is a tax planning season. Consulting with financial professionals and legal professionals that actually understand business financing and tax planning is critical. Professionals specialize. I’m assuming you wouldn’t hire a podiatrist (a foot doctor) to operate on your brain. 

Professionals specialize. There is nothing smart or profitable about disregarding this important point. It’s not what you know that kills you in business, but rather what you don’t know. The average business planning tax and accounting professional reports that entrepreneurs miss out on tens of thousands of dollars in tax deductions and relief on a yearly basis because of this error in judgment.

Additionally, if you own multiple LLCs, you’re submitting multiple K-1 filings. Creating a bureaucratic nightmare for new entrepreneurs, greater expenses, and a host of other unintended consequences. Consider setting up a management company to manage your LLCs. 

Another article is forthcoming about the advantages of management companies, however consulting a business planning professionals who specialize in this area of the law.  

 

#3. Establishing an LLC doesn’t automatically mean you or your assets are automatically protected. Gasp! 

To reiterate an earlier point, most LLCs are set up as single-owner, disregarded entities. Meaning legal liabilities also pass straight through to you. The first clue is in the word “limited” liability company. When the LLC is structured this way, it is more or less operating as an extension of you, offering limited protection. 

There are rules that must be followed and suggested guidelines to ensure that the corporate veil isn’t pierced.

• Avoid commingling personal monies and business revenues. Business revenues should be deposited into a business deposit account, and you should pay yourself (deposit monies) into a personal account. If you want to buy groceries do so from your personal account. 
• Many states require annual filing fees, and other bureaucratic steps to ensure compliance.
• It is strongly recommended that you acquire an operating agreement. The operating agreement for an LLC delineates each member's ownership percentage, rights, and responsibilities. While an operating agreement is not legally required, having one can be helpful in settling disputes. In other words, it’s kinda like you don’t have to tie your shoestrings in the morning, but you should else at some point you might trip and slam your face. 
• Learn about and develop the habit of recording corporate/company minutes on a monthly basis. Why corporate minutes are not legally required, doing so once again can be helpful in settling disputes (particularly tax issues). Kinda like shoestrings.
• Your operations are set up in such a way that it can be argued that the LLC was set up simply to hold assets (very relevant to real estate investors) and for no other business purposes. 
• Establish a management company to overcome the aforementioned argument. Consult with both a finance and legal professional that specializes in these issues.    

Think about it like this. Lawsuits are business decisions. The math for the opponent boils down to how much can I expect to extract from you, subtract the costs of an attorney, and other expenses to prevail in court. Think of your LLC as a financial deterrent. If the opponent has a war chest, and the amount they can extract from you is large enough you may be headed for a doomsday scenario. 

 

#4. Setting up an LLC in different states isn’t an airtight approach either, especially if it’s for real estate purposes. If you're holding real estate, you must abide by the laws in that state, regardless of where the LLC is set up. 

#5. Another disadvantage is that LLCs don’t have shares like corporations do. This might make transferring ownership more difficult. For example, if an LLC has multiple members, every member must agree on any ownership changes. 

If you need help with deciding whether an LLC or an alternative business entity is the right structure for your business schedule an appointment at 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp. 

 

#successleavesclues #entrepreneurshipisempowerment #nextopposocial #smallbizarchitect

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co-Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, transitioned into business ownership, and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghostwriting, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBWorryLessBuildMoreProject10000

Media Kit 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

If 70% Fail At Entrepreneurship, What Are The Other 30% Doing?

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM A BOOK I'M CURRENTLY WORKING ON TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS MAKE THE SHIFT FROM A TEAM OF ME TO A TEAM OF WE. 

 

“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don't wish it were easier; wish you were better.” — Jim Rohn.

• 70% of entrepreneurs fail. 
• Roughly 5% of the American population makes 6 figures
• 6% of all entrepreneurs achieve 6 figure business success, only 2% ever achieve 7 figure success, and more than 50% of all business owners never exceed $25,000 each year.

In other words, achieving the financial outcomes that many entrepreneurs take aim at is an extraordinary achievement... emphasis on the "extra". Because the truth of the matter is it will require more than the super-majority of people are giving at their jobs. It will require more of you behaviorally, psychologically, mentally, and personally, especially at the beginning. And require that you become more, different than you are at present. It's going to require extra.

This article wasn’t curated to dissuade future entrepreneurs or defecate in the cornflakes of dreamers. Rather, it was written to prepare you for the journey ahead, and part of being prepared is understanding that entrepreneurship is difficult. Your primary enemies - boredom, impatience, frustration, failure, and a culture that thirsts for immediate gratification - are relentless and ever-present. 

And that is why being able to answer the following questions are is so important. 

• Why does your business exist, beyond simply making a profit? 
• What do you want your impact or legacy to be in the world? 
• Who do you want to serve? Describe them from head to toe. 
• What is your WHY? 

Being able to answer these questions is important because it's hard to expend your life's energies on a compromise, and success is an inside job. There is not enough motivation in the world (books, podcasts, videos, seminars, etc.) to feed you and push you to achieve your best life. At some point, you have to identify the values, beliefs, and ideas that give you energy. You need to have a well to pull from that will propel you forward before the recognition comes; create accountability when people are not looking; and push you to be excellent before the rewards become apparent. 

Answering these questions will also help you frame your value proposition to the rest of the world. They will help you determine how you show up at an initial meet-up, at networking events, when you give an elevator pitch, and how you communicate your value to the world via social media and elsewhere. They are essential to helping you attract your tribe: the business partners you will eventually work with; your staff or employees; your ideal clients; and those who are willing to support and advocate for you when you're not in the room. 

And just as important, answering these questions will help you stay focused on your focus. I've read that a light bulb and a laser use and produce the same amount of energy. However, while the light bulb’s energy illuminates and dissipates into a space, a laser's energy is focused allowing it to cut through, chisel, and curate the environment around it. 

When you're flying from project to project, and you lack focus you'll find that while the calendar moves, you haven't progressed any further toward your goals. Additionally, you are unable to resonate with your tribe, because people don’t know who or what you are from day to day, and therefore you fail repeatedly to gain the traction (trust) and momentum (social evidence) required to push your business endeavors forward. 

There's a hidden inertia that exists in business, akin to pushing a 5000 lb vehicle. In the beginning, it's tough, but once the wheels get rolling you and those observing you may marvel about how easily you're able to achieve progress. You begin building skill stacks, belief, the confidence of those around you, and wisdom.  The inertia allows you to accomplish more, attract more, and invest more in your endeavors as opposed to being bogged down with the psychological strain of surviving day to day. 

 

SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK IN THE COMMENTS.   

 

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Share Your Story.

A disturbing news report was released recently regarding the (double-digit) decline in the wealth of African American communities over the last decade, juxtaposed against the increase in wealth of U.S. households. 

What does it mean for cities like Detroit? How can the entrepreneurial community offset this decline? Special guests Jeffrey Edwards and Godwin Inhentuge join JuJuan Buford at NextOppSocial to discuss! Learn more about NextOppSocial at www.nextoppsocial.com Join the Aftershow Discussion at www.facebook.com/groups/nextoppsocial.

Join us every week at NextOppSocial A place where you can listen, learn, and consume actionable content to launch, build, grow, and scale your businesses. We explore new topics each week and interview entrepreneurs throughout the Detroit Metropolitan Area, sharing insights regarding various subjects, important business strategies, success mindsets, and tools you can use to level up in your business endeavors.

Check out our most recent interviews  👉 👉 NextOppSocial - YouTube



At the NextOppSocial - The Aftershow we strive to provide a respectful and stimulating environment for entrepreneurs to engage in lively discussions, explore business topics, share and beta-test ideas, create substantive relationships, and sharpen the saw. We invite you to discuss, comment, ask questions, seek advice, or offer suggestions to the NextOppSocial community. Participate & Enjoy!!!

 

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co-Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, transitioned into business ownership, and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghostwriting, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBWorryLessBuildMoreProject10000

Media Kit 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

How to Identify Your Competitive Advantage

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

WHAT ARE THE 3 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT SET YOU APART? 

In other words, what is your signature worth? What are your guarantees? 

Jimmy John’s became notorious for their “freaky fast” promotion, claiming the establishment could put a sandwich in your hand in less than four minutes. Dominoes guarantees if you are not completely satisfied with your Domino's Pizza experience, your monies will be refunded. 

In my over two decades of being a very frequent flyer at Starbucks, I've grown to anticipate after frequenting a specific location a handful of times, that the baristas will either know my name and, or be able to anticipate my order. 

The capital acquisition space in the Detroit Metropolitan area is inundated with businesses, organizations, professionals, and various other entities promising to provide funding for small business owners. If you do a deep dive into their resumes, the extent of their wisdom and know-how can be attributed to having read one book and a handful of hours of YouTube. Or have simply hopped from one organization to another padding their resumes with titles, but haven't been able to successfully build solvent business enterprises themselves. 

QT Business Solutions is led by Tina Williams, who is highly experienced and a proven commodity after over a decade of finding and securing monies for aspiring and established business owners alike. In other words, she has receipts. However, the success of her enterprise and her effectiveness weren't enough to distinguish her from the pack.

With the introduction of a guarantee, Tina’s continual maturation as a business leader, and some consistent promotion her business has become a prominent fixture in the business planning and capital acquisition space, and her brand is quickly becoming a household name in the entrepreneurial ecosystem. QT Business Solutions guarantees that as long a business owner meets a simple criteria uniformly applied by most financial institutions, a client of hers is guaranteed to obtain funding, else their monies are refunded. 

Your guarantees can be robust and boisterous. I remember when guaranteed delivery times were didn't exist, and for an establishment to do so was a big deal. Or your guarantees can be something simple, and nuanced in accordance with the tastes and sensibilities of your clients. It’s the consistency of the experience that matters. It’s your patrons feeling like they’re receiving more than what they’re paying and the predictability of it that creates stickiness.  This is what builds your brand.  

Choose 1-3 phrases to describe your guarantees. For example:

• We are an organization of entrepreneurs, serving entrepreneurs 
• We guarantee funding or a 100% refund 
• We provide uplifting service and exceed our clients' expectations 
• We invest in our business partners  
• We get what you do, and guarantee a 50% increase in your online traffic 
• Your priorities are our priorities, and we guarantee 100% satisfaction or we’ll refund your money.  
• We guarantee delivery in 2 days or a 50% refund

Is there more! But of course! Subscribe to learn additional resources, tools, workshops, and opportunities to promote your business. Learn more 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/JSBWorryLessBuildMoreProject10000

 

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment #smallbizarchitect #smallbizarchitecture #nextoppsocial

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghostwriting, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBWorryLessBuildMoreProject10000

Media Kit 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

 

 

Don't Be the Bottleneck in Your Business

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

A common challenge shared by most entrepreneurs who are attempting to scale from a team of me to a team of we is an unwillingness to disconnect themselves from every process in their businesses. If this is you, it means you're feeling tired, frustrated, stressed, and feeling like there is never enough time. It's like a feeling of dread coloring everything you do, all the time, in the face of success and failures alike.  You are literally working yourself to the brink of what will be an inevitable breakdown. 

When an athlete injures a leg, ankle, knee, an eye socket, or tears their achilles tendon there is typically swelling followed by the immediate inability to execute. Because the injury is apparent, the natural reaction is to seek immediate medical attention, followed by days, weeks, and months of rehab. Afterward, great care is taken to make sure the athlete doesn't aggravate or resume activities that may cause even the smallest tear or setback during their recovery. 

Well, how do you know when you've aggravated a mental injury? How do you know if you're suffering from an injury to the mind due to overexertion, or some type of trauma? The mind is the one body part that everyone has an opinion about but lack the ability to literally eyeball a brain injury (which would require you to crack open the skull) or damage done to the mind at the onset of an issue. A person can be operating normally without symptoms associated with an injury being apparent. 

Implementing an operating system. Learning how to attract and retain the right talent around you. Relying on processes as opposed to you being the system is how you build a thriving, healthy business. Taking these steps is also necessary to maintain a thriving, healthy you. 

What does daily medication or rehab look like? I don't know. I haven't earned a doctoral degree in medicine, and therefore if you feel like your mentally broken or exhausted beyond recovery I encourage you to seek professional, medical attention. However, I believe curating a life that includes the following activities may help:

1. Quiet moments to review your personal affirmations,
2. Take walks around the park,
3. Plant things,
4. Celebrate your wins and take inventory of your victories,
5. Reflect on your values, focus, and goals, and find alignment,
6. Set aside thirty minutes with an inspiring book or vlog daily, 
7. Dedicated a morning or evening with family or yourself to simply laugh, live, and enjoy life.
8. Performing breathing exercises can make all the difference in the world. 

If you're like most entrepreneurs you'll need to be intentional about scheduling time for these activities. What time of the day, how much time, and how often will you set aside time for your personal recuperation regimen? Choose three or create three of your own. Just do it. 

 

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment #smallbizarchitect #smallbizarchitecture #nextoppsocial

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghostwriting, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

How Do You Get Better Clients? - Level Up Your Audience

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

How do you get better clients and effectively reach out to individuals who have better connections, are more successful, or occupy a higher socio-economic stratum?

 

In other words, do business with people who are more successful than you, and they know it.

 

 

 

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment #smallbizarchitect #smallbizarchitecture #nextoppsocial

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghost writing, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

THE ALCHEMY IS IN THE SELF CONCEPT & BUILDING TALLER PEOPLE

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

Audio Version For Your Listening Pleasure

 

 

As a B2B entrepreneur, I understand that the super-majority of people who seek my assistance are looking for answers to how to achieve a specific goal or set of objectives. Or they’re seeking technical advice or assistance with the drafting of a document, implementing a specific sales strategy, or incorporating an onboarding process to improve their client services or employee retention. 

The expectations are akin to walking into an investment advisor's office with the expectation that he or she will curate an investment strategy or recommend a product or series of stock picks that will result in prosperity and exemplary financial returns. And in both cases, the end game isn’t unrealistic or whimsical, it’s just the intended outcomes are often less a reflection of a business consultant’s or advisor’s business or financial acumen, but rather their ability to help people become the person that can achieve their goals. 

The alchemy is predicated upon a base understanding that when you meet people, they are achieving to the extent of their ability and knowledge base already because their thinking and habits are key performance indicators of their current circumstances. Readers read and thus become more knowledgeable. Speakers speak and thus become more ready. Thinkers think resulting in better decisions. Doers do and become more able. 

The key is to change the person's self-concept (the story one tells themselves, about themselves) of who and what they are, impacting how they think and what they think about, leading to the habits that result in favorable rewards. If a person is committed to being someone who crushes candy bars multiple times of day, it doesn’t matter how spectacular, creative, or thoughtful the diet plan you suggest to them is. It won’t be effective. 

Likewise, if a person cannot see and envision themselves gratefully and enthusiastically executing the business plan, or implementing the savings and winning investment habits it doesn’t matter how sterling the reputation or brilliant the plan of action recommended. People’s self-concept and habits behave much like water, in that they will always find their natural level. 

We are human beings, not human doings. We be who we believe ourselves to be. That is the input. When we achieve, that is the output of the being. 

 

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment #smallbizarchitect #smallbizarchitecture #nextoppsocial

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghost writing, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

 

Growing From a Team of Me to a Team of We - Part 2

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

Let's pretend that a very good friend of yours asked you to drop off a very important package somewhere, and you agreed to do so. Soon after you receive a phone call indicating the package needs to be dropped off in Oklahoma City on a specified date, absent any additional information. Two questions that should immediate come to mind is: 

#1. How big and heavy is the package? What is it? 

#2. Where specifically in Oklahoma City? 

You need this information, so you can decide how much you may need to invest in transporting the package. Additionally, you need the exact location so you can plan the most time efficient, cost effective route. You will need to account for construction, weather, rush hour traffic, fees, the expense of a vehicle, the expense of staff or a driver if you need to delegate the commitment, etc., etc., etc., If you just jump into your vehicle without accounting for these potential challenges, the journey could turn out to be a nightmare. 

The same applies to your entrepreneurial journey. It's not what you know in business that can kill you, it's what you don't know. Here are a couple questions and exercises I often pose and share with entrepreneurs to get them to think more critically about their businesses. Remember, the goal is to expend as little capital and time as possible, and earn as much as possible.  

 

#1. WHO IS YOUR BUYER AVATAR? YOUR IDEAL CLIENT, OR BUYER PERSONA? 

Identifying who your ideal client is doesn’t mean you dismiss potential clients, but you need to know who is already seeking or predisposed to patronize you, don’t need to be convinced regarding your value proposition, and can easily afford your services. Your branding, marketing and prospecting techniques, and how you execute your client services should all be geared to attract and retain your ideal client. 

Besides, not being willing to do the work. Not taking the time to think critically about this question inarguably kills a small business faster than anything else. Because it kills your desire. You're expending energy and feels like things aren't getting easier because you're getting traction with your most profitable clients and you're not serving people who you really, really want to serve. 

 

#2. WHAT'S WORKING? 

There is a famous axiom out there about money not being everything. Well, it is, if you don't have it. Capital is the lifeblood of your business. The only way you're going to create predictable income is to create predictable outcomes. In order to curate processes that work, you must identify the habits that work.

This lays the groundwork for you, the self-employed entrepreneur, to grow from a team of ME to a team of WE. In other words, transition from being a practitioner or creative that is owned by their business, to becoming a business owner, building an asset (organism that breathes, produces, and re-produces) that generates revenues independently of you having to do everything. 

Be meticulous about writing down your habits and your process. These notations will eventually serve as the track that your organization runs on. 

 

#3. WHAT ARE MY 3 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS THAT SET ME OR US APART? 

What is your signature worth? What are your guarantees? 

Jimmy John’s became notorious for their “freaky fast” promotion, claiming the establishment could put a sandwich in your hand in less than four minutes. Dominoes guarantees if you are not completely satisfied with your Domino's Pizza experience, your monies will be refunded.  

Your guarantees can, but don't have to be robust and boisterous. I remember when guaranteed delivery times were not existent, and for an establishment to do so was a big deal. Or your guarantees can be something simple, and nuanced in accordance with the tastes and sensibilities of your clients. It’s the consistency of the experience that matters. It’s your patrons feeling like they’re receiving more than what they’re paying for that creates the stickiness. This is what builds your brand.  

 

#4. CREATE A LIST 

The list is your starting block. Identify those individuals or business entities that will be most receptive to your value proposition. And identify individuals and relationships that could lead you to your ideal clients. At some point you are going to need to establish a database/CRM of all your prospects and clients, so you can track your progress and quickly identify where your process may be failing you, or serving your interests. 

Creating a list provides a track for you and your sales team to run on. How big should the list be? Big list. Big checks. Small list. Small checks. No list. No checks. I encourage you to start a Project 100: build a list of prospects until you reach 100 names on your list. 

 

 

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment #smallbizarchitect #smallbizarchitecture #nextoppsocial

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghost writing, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

How Do You Know If You're Winning or Losing? - Creating Predictable Income as An Entrepreneur

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

Attention is like the sun. What you focus it on tends to grow and develop, becoming part of the ecosystem. And depending on the extent to which it's cultivated, it may even come to dominate the ecosystem. 

I think the great part about what I do is that there's a scoreboard. At the end of every week, you know how you did. You know how well you prepared. You know whether you executed your game plan. There's a tangible score. - Tom Brady 

Ok. Great. But how do you take inventory of your activities to determine what's working or not? How do you determine the score? And why is it so absolutely important that you do so? 

If you can't measure it, you can't evaluate it. If you can't evaluate it, you can't identify whether you're on pace to achieve a desired outcome or not. Nor can you train to it, preventing you from being able to duplicate it. Which means you will be perpetually re-creating a job, rather than an organism that grows, regenerates, becoming stronger and more able with each passing day.

In other words, you'll never really scale beyond yourself. Imagine being the hamster in the wheel every day for the rest of your life. And that's no fun. 

Scoreboards create focus and accountability as well. Accountability engenders responsibility, leading to a sense of ownership, followed by investment. Do you want an organization of individuals who clock into work solely for a check? Or do you want to build an organization of teammates that are invested in its continual development and growth? Begin and build with the end in mind.

 

WHAT RGAs (Revenue Generating Activities) SHOULD YOUR SCOREBOARD TRACK? 

At the end of the day the scoreboard is determined by specific metrics that determine the integrity and predictability of your outcomes. Your outcomes are lagging indicators of these metrics or your revenue generating activities. 

Ever end the day feeling accomplished after expending a lot of energy and accomplishing a grocery list of things, only to experience feelings of resignation and dissatisfaction later. There is a a feeling of emptiness and frustration that comes with knowing that despite your best efforts, you’re not any closer to your goals then when you opened your eyes in the morning. 

This is why RGAs are important. These are the activities that determine the profitability of your business. Absent profits you’re unable to pay the bills or the talent. Meaning you cannot sustain much less scale your impact. 

An example of what I'm getting at here is the record of team stats you can find following NBA games. Typically, there is a stat line where you can account for rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, turnovers, shooting percentage, etc., etc., These stats tell the story of the game, and any real student of the game can look at these metrics alone and determine with great accuracy what the outcome was without looking at the scoreboard. 

What are the most important stats or RGAs that determine the health of your business? Every organization is different, however here are a couple of examples: 

• Weekly sales calls 
• Weekly social media impressions 
• Weekly appointments or sales presentations given 
• Weekly referrals acquired 
• Weekly clients onboarded 
• Weekly happy clients reported  
• Weekly customer complaints 
• Weekly client issues resolved 
• Weekly interviews 
• Monthly retention rates 
• Weekly balance sheet (P&L statement) 
• Weekly revenues 
• Weekly accounts receivable 
• Weekly accounts payable 

The last four items on the list of suggestions are a function of all the previous RGAs. Profits are a result of the aforementioned RGAs. Remember, profits are a lagging indicators of whether your business is growing or receding. No RGAs, no profits. 

Remember, to choose 3 -5 items that will make the biggest difference in the development of your enterprise. If everything is important, nothing is. 

 

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment #smallbizarchitect #smallbizarchitecture #nextoppsocial

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghost writing, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Need a Business Coach 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureSurvey

Schedule an Appointment 👉 https://bit.ly/SmallBizArchitectureMeetUp

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

Important Steps Entrepreneurs Can Take to Super Charge Their Onboarding Process

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

There is a race taking place everyday to find, onboard, and retain talented people with a work ethic. Just like in sports, the business owners with the most talented people who've bought in win.

 

 

 

 

How a Project 100 and supercharge your process  

 

 

 

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment #smallbizarchitect #smallbizarchitecture #nextoppsocial

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghost writing, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

YouTube 👉 https://bit.ly/NextOppSocOnYoutube

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

Why is a Big Vision & Big Goals Essential to Building a High Performance Team

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

JSB Business Solutions Group · Why is a Big Vision & Big Goals Essential to Building a High Performance Team

 

How to Grow from 0 Prospects to Over 3000 Referrals: Part 2 - CATCHJSBUFORD 052

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

 

 

#entrepreneurshipisempowerment #smallbizarchitect #smallbizarchitecture #nextoppsocial

_____________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghost writing, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

YouTube 👉 https://bit.ly/NextOppSocOnYoutube

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

 

 

 

JSB Business Solutions Group Newsletter | December 10, 2021

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

 

First the disclaimer 👇

The Content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Take a moment to listen to this informative interview given by Ms. Tina Williams, Founder & CEO of QT Business Solutions about how to establish business credit. 
 
https://www.catchjsbuford.com/2021/03/debunking-myths-around-acquiring-business-credit-with-qt-business-solutions-join-us-on-nextoppsocial-w-tina-williams-capi.html

 
Here is a cheat sheet or abbreviated checklist I provide frequently to entrepreneurs to make the process easier to follow. As always, eat the fruit and spit out the seed. 
 

• Establish Your LLC, S-Corp, Etc. (no DBAs)
• Make sure you have a business line (phone#) aside from your cell phone. G-Suite offers free business lines for example. 
• Have a website. Or it can be simple as a landing page. It doesn't need to be a big deal. Acquire a domain name and professional email address. 
• Have a professional or business address. Avoid using your home address if you can. Not a PO BOX. 
• Open a free Dun & Bradstreet Account 
• Open a Business DDA checking account. 
• Start a trade line (Staples, a Gas Card, Walmart, Office Depot, etc.,). Refer to the business credit interview for more details. 
• Acquire a business secured credit card.
• Establish 9 months of good business credit. The goal is a Paydex score of 80
• Approach your banker (after establishing 9 months of good business credit history), and ask about different credit lines and loan options.
• A couple things that add credibility and communicates that you have a solid foundation when dealing with banks, micro-lenders, and private investors.

1. Have an Operating Agreement
2. Keep Corporate Minutes
3. Study & Your P&L (Profit & Loss) Statement like the back of your hand. 

 
And of course, establish, operate, and build a business with positive cash flow. For a deeper dive regarding additional information entrepreneurs should be aware of (especially when launching a new business) visit 👇 👇

https://www.catchjsbuford.com/2021/03/commonly-asked-questions-by-entrepreneurs-seeking-funding-and-or-business-growth.html

 

FOR ADDITIONAL TIPS, SUGGESTIONS, IDEAS, AND STRATEGIES TO BUILD, GROW, & SCALE YOUR BUSINESS 👉 https://bit.ly/JSB_BusinessSolutionsGroupNewsletterDec102021

___________________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghost writing, and publishing. 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

YouTube 👉 https://bit.ly/NextOppSocOnYoutube

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

Growing From a Team of Me to a Team of We

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

-- ►Prefer video? You can find a nuanced version of this article and more. And if you this content serves you subscribe, like, share, and leaves comments. 👉  How to Avoid Hiring & Partnering with the Wrong People 

 

The complaint is tried and true.The job market. The candidates. Nobody wants to work, and everybody sucks. And some of the aforementioned may be true, however, none of the complaints are going to solve your problems. So, what will? 

Clarity of purpose, accountability systems, and priority management.

I spoke with a handful of business owners in quick succession this past week - home health care, massage business owner, and a network marketing entrepreneur - who all shared with me that they ultimately don’t have enough time, and there are not enough good people out there, and this is preventing them from scaling their businesses And after listening, I asked each one of them the following questions…..

#1. Why does your business exist beyond generating a profit, and who do you want to serve? 

All of them had great origination stories, which was fantastic because most people are so busy trying to get the bag, they never stop to ask the question, why should anyone have any type of long term emotional or financial attachment to my business? In other words, how are you changing or enhancing your patrons’ lives? 

Why is this question important? People who are passionate about or believe in the benefits of life insurance, make the best insurance agents. People who love and appreciate the Mercedes Benz brand make the best Mercedes sales professionals. People who have had their lives enhanced by professional development or have had their lives changed by seeking psychological therapy tend to be the strongest marketers and advocates of these services. 

If your staff isn’t aware or never had the opportunity to buy into your compelling vision for your business, why are they showing up beyond a direct deposit? Mercenaries are not going to show up early, or stay late to fulfill the imperatives of your business. On the other hand, history of chock full of examples of soldiers, athletes, and professionals who perform extraordinary feats for a cause or a mission that inspires passion. 

When I ask most business owners who do you want to serve, most respond with some general response amounting to any and everyone who likes my stuff, and can afford to pay for it. But that doesn’t really answer the question. Almost every successful business owner I know was trying to solve a problem or serve a need - theirs or someone else’s - when they launched. There was a specific person, persons, or character that they were focused on serving. There was a problem that needed solving. 

For example, I just interviewed an aspiring cannabis micro-business owner who was inspired to begin her entrepreneurial journey, because of her mother and people like her mother who had been suffering from stomach nausea and acute joint pain. She introduced edibles to her mother in desperation because the narcotics weren’t working. And a month later, the nausea was practically gone, and the joint pain became much more bearable. Before then her mother and many of the other elders she knew were pretty much sequestered to their living and bed rooms because of the severity of their ailments. The story of her mother’s recovery spread like wildfire, and now people are lining up at her door seeking relief. 

Solving the chronic pains of the elderly and liberating them from the limitations imposed upon them because of illnesses is the reason why her business exists. And her target market or ideal client is crystal clear. As she prepares to launch and scale her business, how beneficial (cost effective and efficient) will it be for her staff -specifically the marketing and sales professionals - to be able to identify and focus the lion's share of their marketing, advertising, and engagement upon an audience that is looking for her solutions; don’t need need to be convinced or sold; can afford her products; and are willing to patronize her without delay? 

Can you imagine how much more efficient, empathetic, inviting, and aware her staff will be? This is huge. Your partners, staff, and vendors need to know what your expectations are, and be able to immediately zoom in on your target market in order for you to maximize your investment in them. Everyone needs to understand the correlations between the health of your business, how happy your clients are, and their paychecks. 

 

#2. What are your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)? 

I’d estimate that 90% of new entrepreneurs and the super-majority of business owners who are struggling with scaling are not aware of their KPIs. If you’re not aware of them you can’t teach them, duplicate them, nor hold people accountable to them. 

Knowing your KPIs is where the predictability is found in your business. It is where your time freedom is found. It allows you to focus on being a CEO (creating environments of opportunity), allowing you the space to lead, grow, and work on your business as opposed to in it 24/7. You can’t build a high performing sports team without accountability. You can’t raise a child without accountability. You can’t accomplish anything worthwhile involving people absent accountability. 

When you’re starting out initially you’re developing habits, insights, and an understanding of what specific tasks, procedures, and metrics are required in order for you to secure, serve, and attract new clients. It becomes your modus operandi or part of your DNA, and you begin to operate on autopilot. Everything becomes common sense. But it’s not. 

At some point - ideally from the start - you must document every step that is involved in the attraction, onboarding, serving, and duplication of your ideal buyer persona. You have to give your new employees a track to run on, and your cataloging of these steps must be meticulous. Afterwards, identify the steps or metrics that are the most predictive of successful outcomes. Once you’ve identified the key performance indicators things become very simple. If you’re not getting the results you desire, your team isn’t doing something right, or they’re not doing something enough. 

The more attention you pay to this element of your business, the more efficiently you’ll be able to identify whether people get what your expectations are. Do they understand the purpose? Have they bought in? And who is willing to execute and be accountable? Remember speed kills. It can be a tool, creating synergy, coupled with swift, profitable decision making. Or it can torpedo your business, resulting in finger pointing, people checking out, giving half a#$%! efforts, and repelling any high performing employees you have left. 

Your biggest expense is onboarding a new employee, and conversely firing one. If you aren’t intentional about this process, you will always be complaining about not having enough time. Audit your time and tasks. What are you really, really good at? What requires only your creativity, deductive reasoning, and experience. Document and delegate to people who have the ability to do the rest reasonably well until you can recruit the people who can do these things exceptionally well. 

#3. Which leads to my last question? How much time are you spending interviewing and recruiting new talent? 

Starbucks is always interviewing. I cannot recall not observing a manager interviewing a prospective employee at any one location I’ve visited with some frequency. One location may need a staff of five to eight individuals, but they are constantly interviewing. Why is this necessary? People quit. People get fired. People get married, divorced, or suddenly need to relocate. 

Also, know your business partners may or will fall out of love with you, and or the business.

Always be interviewing. We are all in a constant competition for the most hardworking, ethical, talented people available. In sports the most successful teams tend to field the most talented players who’ve bought into a system. Business is not much different. 

Consistently interviewing new talent sends a message to current staff members that someone who will gladly accept their hours or salary is always walking through the door. If you slack off. You don’t want to learn or develop new skills. There’s a pool of individuals that are one phone call away, or literally sitting in the office.  

In closing, remember that you need to clearly define the why, and what your staff is expected to buy into to capture the best in them. If you haven’t done this first, you have no right to complain about why you’re having a difficult time attracting and retaining the talent you need to effectively grow and scale your business. 
  

Systems of accountability are required to effectively coach and groom the talent you already have, and you need to be constantly recruiting for the skills and talents that you don’t have. Your biggest ROI is replacing yourself. Your biggest expense and conversely your greatest investment is creating fertile ground, and attracting, recruiting, and systemically putting the right people in place. 

You may be tempted to respond with the tried and true, reasonable excuse of not having time or bandwidth to implement the aforementioned suggestions. It’s OK. If nothing changes, nothing changes.

-- ►Prefer video? You can find a nuanced version of this article and more. And if you this content serves you subscribe, like, share, and leaves comments. 👉  How to Avoid Hiring & Partnering with the Wrong People 

___________________________________________________________________________

JuJuan Buford is a CEO, Co Founder serial entrepreneur, writer, and public speaker. JuJuan started his career in the banking and investment advisory industry, and transitioned into business ownership and is enjoying entrepreneurial success in multiple industries: business coaching, real estate wholesaling, direct selling, business technical assistance provider, ghost writing, and publishing. 

 

Phone 👉 888.549.9689 

Website 👉 https://thebufordco.com 

YouTube 👉 https://bit.ly/NextOppSocOnYoutube

Let’s Connect 👉 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Learn More 👉 https://bit.ly/JSBBSG_MediaKit

Subscribe 👉 Continue to Learn & Grow

JSB Business Solutions Group - Media Kit

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

 

FOR THE BEST VIEWING EXPERIENCE,

CLICK THE LINK ON THE BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER.

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JSB_BSG_MEDIAKIT2021 by catchjsbuford

 

 

 

JuJuan Buford, CEO, Co Founder, Business Development Officer

888.549.9689 / [email protected]

https://thebufordco.com | http://bit.ly/linkedinpublicprofilejujuanbuford

 

Do you have a story to tell? Learn more about how we help entrepreneurs promote their businesses @ https://www.nextoppsocial.com/

 

Let's Connect 👉🏾 https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

 

How Do Pitch Your Business to Strangers Successfully? What Happens After You've Approached Your Warm Market?

Posted by JuJuan Buford @JSBUFORD

There is a race taking place everyday to find, onboard, and retain talented people with a work ethic. Just like in sports, the business owners with the most talented people who've bought in win.

How do you handle problem employees, especially when you're just starting out? How do you avoid bad employees or partners.

-- ►To Watch More, Subscribe Here: CATCHJSBUFORD On YouTube And Remember Sharing is Caring.

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Join us every week at NextOppSocial A place where you can listen, learn, and consume actionable content to launch, build, grow, and scale your businesses. We explore new topics each week and interview entrepreneurs throughout the Detroit Metropolitan Area, sharing insights regarding various subjects, important business strategies, success mindsets, and tools you can use to level up in your business endeavors.

Watch the most recent episode here @ What Business Owners Need to Understand About the Tax System | NOS Interview with Charleta McInnis

CONTINUE TO LEARN & GROW BY CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK @ LAUNCH, GROW, & SCALE YOUR BUSINESS

 

 

JuJuan Buford, Business Development Officer

888.549.9689 / [email protected]

https://thebufordco.com | http://bit.ly/linkedinpublicprofilejujuanbuford

Let's Connect > https://bit.ly/JuJuanBufordOfficial

Information, Strategies, Tactics, & Resources to Support Businesses & Entrepreneurs @ https://www.catchjsbuford.com/

Do you have a story to tell? Learn more about how we help entrepreneurs promote their businesses @ https://www.nextoppsocial.com/

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