August 2017 « Confidence Coach

Commitment Has To Come First

So, you’re in your business, and you’re feeling stuck. You’re not sure what it is, you’re not sure why, but something’s plateaued. You can’t seem to move forward with growth and strategy. What’s going on here? Well, without having to crawl into your mind, I’m pretty sure I know: You haven’t fully committed to moving forward. You haven’t burned the bridges — you’ve left the back door open — you keep thinking that maybe, maybe there’s a way out.

But if you recall all the success you’ve had in your business in the past, wasn’t the first step your 100% commitment to going forward? When you commit that way, your mind creates the courage and the capability to overcome fear and have that win. This is what we work with every day with our clients, coaching them through their business, and asking these types of questions so that they can get the results that they set out to achieve from the beginning. Schedule your free session with me today.

by Scott Ballard , August 27, 2017

Customers or Competitors?

As a business owner, who are we focusing on: Customers, or competitors? I had a really interesting conversation with a client on this topic, and what I discovered was that they’d been making all their decisions — investment, strategy, everything — based on their competitors. They were constantly trying to do what their competitors were doing. During their efforts, they’ve watched their business go completely flat, and it seems apparent why. They’ve been so focused on their competition that they forgot about the desires and needs of their customers.

My question for you today is this: Which one are you focused on? Competitors or customers? If you look around you at the many great successes in the business world, you’ll notice they all share one thing in common: their focus is strictly on the customer. They’re focused on the customer’s needs, and how they plan to meet those needs. In doing that, they ensure their own success — not only today, but tomorrow and for the long term.

Customers or competitors: You have to make a choice! Where you expend your focus will be the making or the breaking of your business. Schedule a free coaching session with me today, and we’ll get to the bottom of it together.

by Scott Ballard , August 20, 2017

Chasing What Doesn’t Change

In the world of business, everything seems to be changing all the time. Tech, innovation, marketing, production — everything’s getting faster and faster, and every business of every size is trying to beat the competition to the next change. Everyone wants to be ahead of everybody. And sure, that’s an important piece of the puzzle — but it seems to be the only piece most people are pursuing. It’s the only question people are asking! But if you want to develop real business leadership, well then, I have a bigger question, for you today:

What ISN’T going to change?

In the next five, ten, twenty-five years from now, what are your customers and clients still going to want or need? What problem will they want solved? We know from human history that there are some needs which have been the same for thousands of years; they’re not changing anytime soon. Is that built in to your business today? Can you identify that thing people will still need down the road? As much as things change in the world, there’s plenty that isn’t changing anytime soon. Are you building on that? Are you thinking on that as you move forward?

The Chinese proverb tells us that “A man who chases two rabbits catches neither.” What is not going to change in your world of business and what you’re doing?

Not sure? Let’s talk about it. Schedule a free coaching session with me today.

by Scott Ballard , August 13, 2017

When Executives Struggle With Marriage

A few weeks ago, we posted about the business of marriage – how running a business and maintaining a healthy marriage uses many of the same skills. But what I’m discouraged to see are business owners and CEO’s who have devoted, loyal customers — customers who’ve been around for twenty-plus years — who are struggling in their own personal marriage. The ingredients are the same on both sides, but something isn’t quite clicking in their personal life.

To have a great relationship, like having a great business, takes time and money. What did it take to become successful? Time, intention, commitment, focus, and sacrifice. Right? You had to think long-term.

These are all the same things that makes a successful marriage.

So why not start to use these same strategies with your spouse? Today, my challenge to you is to really think about your marriage the way you think about your business. Think about your marriage first. Invest in your partner. Commit yourself to them. Treat them like you do your best customers. Here’s a big one: Over-deliver. Do what you say you’re gonna do, and then do a little bit more. You do it for your clients — why not your spouse?

What do you think? Have you seen your marriage this way? Send us an email today if you have some insight — we’ve got a lot coming on this topic, and we want to hear from you!

by Scott Ballard , August 6, 2017