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  May 2015 Small Business Owner Issue
Hello <<First Name>>,

Since this is the first Small Business edition of my newsletter, I’m going to start with a question: Did you know that women in the U.S. start businesses at more than twice the rate of men?  Unfortunately, women-run businesses earn WAY less money than those run by men.  My mission is to play a small role in changing these statistics.  My intention is to use my experience co-founding and running a multi-million dollar company, while I raised my children, providing ‘boots on the ground’ solutions to growing your business and nurturing a robust personal life.
 
In this week’s Small Business Solution article, I discuss why it’s important that you invest in hiring the right staff if you want to grow your business.

Life Solutions Business Owner Testimonial: 
I have clarity about which direction to take my practice!
When I met Susan, I was struggling with how to take my psychotherapy practice to the next level. I was scattered, overwhelmed, and stuck in not being able to make a decision. I saw no options.
My VIP Day: Working with Susan gave me a coach, motivator, psychologist and nurture
r who helped me laser-focus on what was holding me back, causing ambivalence and keeping me stuck.  In my VIP Day with Susan, I explored many options and now have clarity about which direction to take my practice. I have already implemented some of the ideas she recommended and I’m committed to the timeline of my action plan. I feel I have confidence in moving forward.
If you’re read
y to take the next step in growing your business, Susan will give you the tools and no-nonsense direction to get you there. She won’t let you off the hook so be prepared to work on yourself and grow to your highest potential.
Maria has a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University. She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT).
This Week’s Small Business Solution Article: Are you being penny wise and dollar foolish with your business?
According to a new survey released by NAWBO, the main reason that most women start businesses is that they want freedom to be their own boss (89%) as well as to have the ability to do something they are passionate about (92%).  And, more specifically, they want to have more time to spend with their families (65%). They also want the ability to earn more money (77%). 
 
However, many women business owners aren’t experiencing freedom or increased earnings.  It’s common for women to try to save money by not hiring staff, and thinking they can ‘work for free’ and handle it all themselves. As a result these women end up working long hours, sometimes 6 or 7 days a week. The worst part is that all of these hours aren’t translating into the income that they want and need for their business or for themselves.
 
A prime example of this problem can be illustrated by a business owner I’ll call “Mary.” Mary is a dog trainer and groomer who owns an upscale kennel that specializes in boarding dogs while their owners are on vacation—often for several weeks at a time. Mary has 3 full-time staffers who expertly train, care for and groom the dogs. Mary’s business however was losing money because of poor customer service both at the first and last impression of their experience. Mary’s competent and much loved receptionist quit after being refused a pay raise.  Mary saw this as the perfect opportunity to save money. She hired her teenage niece on a part-time basis.  Mary’s niece was nice but she wasn’t detail oriented.  It was common for reservations not to be entered into the computer accurately which caused massive confusion when clients dropped off or picked up their dogs. As the mishaps and frustrations increased, many of Mary’s clients started boarding their dogs with her near-by competitor.
 
Mary just didn’t see the receptionist as the key position in her business.  When her revenue began to take a nose dive, she was even more resistant to hiring a professional receptionist and spending more money. Instead, her solution to making more money was to stay open longer hours. Mary was regularly working 80 hour weeks and doing double duty as the receptionist when her niece wasn’t working.  Mary’s unwillingness to invest in a full-time professional receptionist was costing her lost revenue as well as her stellar reputation.
 
When I work with small business owners like Mary, I first help them to look at their operations and determine which staff position(s) can positively impact their bottom line---the quickest. I also give guidance about how to train new hires so that they’re immediately providing value to the business.  Although hiring a full-time receptionist may have cost Mary $30,000 a year she’d quickly recoup the investment and likely double or triple her monthly gross. By improving the customer service experience, Mary can win back old clients and gain new ones. Last and perhaps most important, Mary would be able to work less and spend more time with her family.  As a coach, I help women business owners see the difference between spending money that doesn’t net returns and investing money in their businesses so that they can grow and thrive.
 
So, are you ready to take a closer look at your spending and investing in your business and your Self so that you can increase your earnings as well as your own personal development?

What's YOUR Next Step?
By working with me, I can help you learn how to make better decisions as well as the right decisions that will help you increase your profitability and achieve your goals, quickly.  If you are ready, I invite you to schedule a 30 minute complimentary Business Owner Breakthrough Discovery Call with me.
 
In this Discovery Call, you will:
  • Gain clarity about the goals you want to achieve in your business.
  • Uncover self-limiting beliefs or habits that are sabotaging your ability to move forward.
  • Learn how you can create a step-by-step Action Plan and timeline to achieve your goal!
Please note: These calls are not free coaching calls. These are decision-making calls for business owners who are ready to take action now, not in 6 months or a year from now. To qualify, you must be serious about doing what is necessary to advance your business and personal goals. My programs are by invitation only. This Breakthrough Discovery Call is the perfect opportunity to see if we are a good fit to work together.
 
To schedule your complimentary Breakthrough Discovery Call, please email me at:


Susan Brooks, Coach
Life Solutions for Professional Women
susan@ProfessionalWomenSolutions.com
O  602.340.0206
C  602.228.5279


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Are you looking for a speaker for your women’s small business organizations? If so, please email me at susan@professionalwomensolutions.com so we can discuss your program needs and how I may be able to add value to your event.

As the founder of Life Solutions for Professional Women, Susan coaches professional women who own their own business or are senior level leaders. She helps them to navigate through rough spots and growth spurts such as prioritizing goals and creating healthy boundaries so that they can experience purposeful careers and a robust personal life. Susan is an award-winning entrepreneur, author of three books, and an international speaker. She resides in an historic neighborhood in downtown Phoenix with her husband of more than four decades and is the proud mother of two flourishing adult children.

JUNE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
6/10  National Association of Women in Construction - Tucson, Arizona
6/23  Business and Professional Women - Phoenix, Arizona
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