What is the One Percent Difference?

Einstein once said “No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.”

What that suggests is that we must take input from others and look at the problem with a fresh set of eyes, with Zen eyes. Stated differently, we must look at the problem with a beginners mind. In a beginners mind there are no preconceived notions about how a problem can be solved; there are just possibilities, without judgment, that can be used to solve a specific problem. 

That begs the question of how do you change your level of consciousness to experience the beginner’s mind?

I believe you can do that through The One Percent Difference.

If we define The One Percent Difference as one new thought that enters your consciousness that change how you think, and hence how you act, you have experienced the One Percent Difference and created the beginner’s mind. This One Percent can make the difference between success and failure.  Over time that small change in thinking can change your life in a very big way.

Massive changes are not needed. Just simply changes. We are looking to achieve a simple One Percent difference in how we view a specific problem so that we can look at it the problem as Einstein suggested, with a new level of consciousness.

 How do we achieve this One Percent Change in thinking? It is not as hard as you think. Two areas that work for most people are getting feedback from our trusted advisors and continuous education. I find my advisors to be essential in thinking differently about my problems and understanding that none of us are without problems.  

From our peers we can experience great change safely. This is because multiple minds and multiple experiences allow for a new way of looking at things. This results in better decisions and safer decisions. The other area is via ongoing education. The best tool I found is www.ilearningglobal.tv. I was so impressed with it I signed up to distribute it. My clients love it. To learn more go to www.ilearningglobal.biz./ronf.

Frankly it does not matter what tools you use, you must act on what you learn. Being part of a great group do no good if you do not act. Having access to the greatest minds is useless unless you apply what you learn.

Try to look at each situation with a beginners mind and make no assumption or judgments about a give situation. Learn from others who have been there either via your mastermind group or a more structure learning environment.  Most importantly take action! Taking action on your new ideas will change your life (and your business).

Ron Finklestein

Professional Business Coach

330-990-0788

ron@akris.net

In one critical moment you can change your life with no more effort than a shift in a single thought.

I call this the one degree difference! Are you a small business owner who is trying to grow sales and is stuck? Do need someone to help you but you do not have a lot of money and time to waste on long-term, nonproductive meetings? Are you tired of going it alone? If you answered yes to any of these questions then read on. You will be glad you did.

Who Should Attend

1.     Business owner with five or less employees

2.     Home based business owner

3.     Professional who must sell themselves

4.     Anyone who is responsible for growing sales and does not know how or needs some help

Why You Should Attend

1.     Learn the six questions every prospect wants answered about you and your company

2.     Understand the nine behaviors successful people implement daily (and why they are important)

3.     Internalize the one critical issue all business owners must address in marketing their business

4.     See if your business is in danger: The top 10 reasons a business fails

What You Will Learn

1.     How to increase sales

2.     How to change your behavior to get the desired results

3.     Why your peers are essential element in your success

4.     How to think differently about your business

5.     Why personal and professional growth are requirements of business success: The one degree of difference

Here are the details:

3560 West Market St.

Akron, Ohio  44333

Third Floor Conference Room

8 AM to 10 AM

Each Meeting is limited to 10 Business Owners

There is no fee to attend but registration is required. We are limiting attendance for each meeting to 10 business owners to ensure all questions get answered. To reserve your spot contact Ron Finklestein at 330-990-0788 / ron@akris.net or register at http://ssmab.eventbrite.com

March 11, 2010

Register at http://ssmab.eventbrite.com

Some Good New! Mackert Consulting Acquires License to RPF GROUP INC’s Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board

I wanted to share some good news with you. Mackert Consulting Group has acquired the rights to licenses The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board. They will be creating a new company called North Coast Advisors LLC.

This will give Mackert Consulting a unique edge in acquiring new clients.

According to Brian Mackert of Market Consulting, “Ron Finklestein of RPF GROUP INC and The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board a leading is product in the small business market. This is demonstrated by the 100% Return on Investment Guarantee. No other business coach offers a product with anything close that we felt made sense for our business.”

Finklestein says: “I am proud of this significant accomplishment. It is not every day that a business relationship is formed with a company as strong as the Mackert Consulting Group.” The small business market is changing. According to Finklestein “this markets want results and they want to know that their service provider has as much investment in their success and they do.”

As the economy has tightened, companies and business professionals have been forced to find alternative strategies for skill development. Brian indicates: “RPF GROUP offers an affordable and proven way to help small business owners increase effectiveness and get results on a limited budget and we are proud to offer this service.”

“I have totally changed how I think about my business and my life. These principles are truly empowering”. Maureen Gechter, Probate Attorney

According to Al Plastow,  MAT, PMP “For over three years I have actively participated in The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board. The value is incalculable and the opportunities for focused personal and professional growth are the most effective I’ve encountered in over ten years.”

About The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board
The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board allows company presidents, CEOs and business owners to discuss important issues and receive constructive feedback, practical advice, positive suggestions, and best practices that allow them to grow, flourish and get results. This allows business owners to make better, more effective decisions.

About RPF GROUP INC
RPF GROUP INC was founded by Ron Finklestein. RPF GROUP INC. makes The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board available to help others business owners grow, prosper and get results.  The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board is available as a license opportunity for accountant, business consultant and senior executive who want to go from being successful to being significant. The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board is targeted toward companies from start-ups to small businesses with less than $10M in revenues.

About Mackert Consulting
Brian Mackert is founder and president of Mackert Consulting Group, a Cleveland-based certified public accounting firm that excels in tax, accounting and management consulting services for successful small businesses. The firm’s specialized services encompass succession planning, capital acquisition and banking relationship building. Brian graduated from the Kent State University Honors College in 1984.

Your Professional Business Coach
Ron Finklestein
330-990-0788
ron@akris.net

I have been running advisory board for several years now and I have been asked why I offer a 100% return on your investment guarantee to the board members.

The answer is simple: we get results.

Let me share with you a case study.

I had a company owner join The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board because he wasn’t closing any sales. Here are the three steps we took to help him:

1.His advisors had him create a presentation of 30 minutes he would take all his prospects through. This accomplished three things for him:

a.It slowed him down. He knew his product so well that his prospects could not keep up with him. This caused several problems for him.

b.We reviewed the presentation and his delivery for clarity and focus and made recommendation for improvement. During the presentation we had him include specific questions to get the prospect involved.

c.We changed the focus of the sales presentation from “look how great we are” to “here is what is in it for you” when you work with us.

As a result of that approach three things happened:

1.He started to understand his prospects differently. Objections started coming up that he had not heard before. We started to address each objection in turn and craft specific remedies to help the prospect understand better.

2.We saved him a lot of money in marketing because there was no need to leave behind marketing collateral. His prospects understood the product and process and what was in it for them when they worked together.

3.He realized he was selling into the wrong markets

He kept changing his presentation as he learned about his customers and addressed the objections in his presentation.
He changed his market from manufacturers to professional services firms and he determined the major hurtle that prevented his clients from moving forward with him and addressed this right up front in his sales presentation (they were concerned about the amount of time it would take.) He assured them it would take just a few hours and not the weeks of they thought they would need. He backed it up with a guarantee: if it took more time than planned he would reduce his price 10%.
After a lot of hard work his backlog grew to 10 good opportunities. He closed his first big opportunity recently that he expects will put 100K in his pocket over the next 12 months.
It was really fun for his group of advisory to watch the stress leave his body, see the smile come back to his face and watch work be fun again.

Not bad for six months of work.

Do all my clients get these results? Of course not. Not all clients are as coachable. Not all clients will work as hard and not all client will change their behavior when something is not working. He did everything that was asked to do.
Over the course of the next few weeks I will be posting more studies. I do not what you to think this was an accident or a onetime event. It was not.

Call me if you want to see how The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board can help your business. If you are a business coach or a business consultant and you want to offer an advisory board service to your client please let me know.

Your Professional Business Coach
Ron Finklestein
330-990-0788
ron@akris.net

The world of marketing will change forever on 12/1/09

As a consumer I understand why the FTC is implementing these rule changes. I am frustrated by the abuse of marketer from all over the globe misrepresenting their products and services. As a marketer I am dismayed because I am an ethical marketer. I have never intentionally misled my readers. With that said, know that a lot of the rules are not clear but here are some of the highlights I took away from the webinar conducted by Joel Comm and Attorney Kevin Houchin. As a matter of nondisclosure I am not a lawyer and I may have missed some very important points. I would suggest you have a lawyer who specializes in marketing creative review your sales letter:

1.    Specifying results in an endorsement is a no no. Even if the results are true it suggests others should get the same results and we know that is not true. Even with the disclaimer “that result may very” does not get you off the hook. Endorsement should reflect what the average person can expect to achieve. This should be interesting because I have no clue on how one would measure that.
2.    If someone is being paid to endorse or sell (or sell) your product it must be disclosed (affiliates who are reselling your product are included). The consumer should know that the person marketing to you is making money.
3.    If an affiliates makes claims that are not true it appear you could be held responsible. This means you should monitor your affiliates and cancel their agreement as soon as you spot trouble.
4.    100% truthful ad can get you trouble for deceptive advertising because they may not be representative to what the “entire population of buyer” could achieve. The example use talked about a endorsement, though true, mentioned a net gain of $80K dollars that can be attributed to attending a seminar. How many in the audience can expect to achieve that?
5.    To provide an endorsement, one must be engaged as a client, and remain a client as long as the endorsement is being used. I wonder how this will work for a book.  Reading it is usually a onetime event and any gain are typically onetime gains because you read the book.  If you are a client, this relationship must be disclosed. If you stop being a client you must take down the endorsement. If they are not longer a client you must go back to them to see if they still feel this way if you want to use their endorsement. A little fuzzy is it not?

I would suggest you review the sales letter and your web site for potential problems. The FTC can freeze your bank account and not allow mail (your product) to be received if you are suspected of being in violation.

Again, please understand that this is my take based on a webinar I attended and since I am not a lawyer, and the rules are not fully understood, I am sure things will change.

Your Business Coach
Ron Finklestein
330-990-0788
ron@akris.net

What is the one thing…

I was meeting with a client the other day and I ask him this question.
“what is the one thing you wish someone had told you…”
I was amazed by his answer. “I wish someone would have told me I would die one day so do the things you love and do it today.”
I have since asked that question to many others business owners and their answers are just as powerful.
I am now asking you that question.
What do you wish someone told you…
Please leave a comment and know your answer may be used in my next book.
If you want to answer but do not want the world to know, please email your answer to me.

Founder of The Entrepreneur’s Advisory Board, The Mastermind Group on Steroids
Ron Finklestein
330-990-0788
ron@akris.net

I found this great conference and I want to share some of what I am learning. I am including a link at the bootom of the page if you want to learn more.

We’re going to talk about the recession and some tips we’ve found work well for retooling the business in these tough times. These are some really great tips!

Outsourcing

Now is the time to get rid of employees and hire freelancers and other professionals online or around your city. Labor is a fixed cost but with the variety of outsourcing options you can change those fixed costs and save you money over the long term.

Excess expenses

Now is the time to look at office space, memberships, internet usage and a top down examination of every single expense looking ways to save money. While they may seem elementary sometimes we forget the simple things. If you have already done this step then you should re-evaluate some things you didn’t sacrifice the first time.  If you can’t sacrifice anything else then that’s the perfect transition to my next point.

Free Internet Marketing

There are plenty of free ways to market yourself online now and the nice thing is that they are accessible to everyone. Using facebook, social bookmarking, twitter, and other technologies is a great way to get new customers, network with other professionals and much more. The other great thing is that at the conference you will learn how to effectively use these tools in your business.

In short these tips should get you started on getting your business ship-shape for the recession. One the best things you can do for your business is attend the Thrive Super Conference. You will go home with notes methods and a variety of new technologies that will catapult your business forward.

If you want more free tips and to learn more about the conference read our blog:

http://thrivesuperconference.wordpress.com

http://www.thrivesuperconference.ning.com

Your Business Coach

Ron Finklestein

330-990-0788
ron@akris.net

When I meet with someone the meeting typically started with this question: What do you do? The answer was always: I am a financial planner, I am an accountant, I am a business coach, etc. I always found this to be an inadequate answer because it does not tell me anything.

I change the question to “what outcomes do your customers experience in working with you?” and found even less could answer that question.

I change the question a third time and I now ask “why would I choose you from the hundreds or thousands of people who do what you do?” Still blank stares. I never thought these we tough questions nor did I think they should be tough questions but questions every sales and marketing professional should know the answers to.

I can to the realization that people confuse what they do with how they do it.

Let’s talk about how one man addressed this issue. I have written about Walt Disney before so let’s use him again as an example of a master marketer.

Walt Disney came from what some would consider to be an abusive household. This upbringing influenced his business life in a powerful and dynamic way.

If you were to ask Walt Disney what he did he would say something like this “we create family memories.”

I still remember, so many years ago, the first time I watched the wizard’s dual between Merlin and Mad Madam Min. If you have not seen this video please click on the link below and enjoy the next five minutes. It will be some of the best fun you will have all day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xs-J268QxzE

He was the best at marketing. You realize this when you watch scenes from Bambi where you got to meet the rabbit named Thumper and the skunk named Flewer.

He taught the value of truthful communication in Pinocchio.

Or the value of persistence as Wort, as he was called, pulled the sword out of the stone.

I bet you have memories of your own from The Lion King or Finding Nemo or the hundreds of other movies the Disney Corporation created. You might remember a trip to Disneyworld or Epicot Center or maybe watching the Mickey Mouse Club as you grew up.

Disney made memories. He used his books and movies as tools of his trade but his company was build from the ground up to create memories. Some would suggest they were memories he wanted to have as he was growing up.

So the next time you meet with someone and they ask you what you do, think about the memory you make for your customers or clients and answer accordingly. If you do not know, then ask your customers. They can and will tell you. Use this knowledge to communicate with your prospects your marketing message.

Your Business Coach
Ron Finklestein
330-990—0788
ron@akris.net

I received this as an email from my friends at ilearningglobal.tv. They call it the Leading EDGE. I liked it so much that I am posting it here unedited. Thanks ilearningglobal.tv

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain  

The success of your life and businesses ultimately stems from what your give your time and your attention to.  This is why it is of the upmost importance to determine what matters most and then to commit to spend your days doing it.

This doesn’t mean you won’t have seasons of sacrifice where you will spend a huge amount of time on just work or building your business or career.  Far too many, however, end up spending their days, by default, on things that aren’t truly important to them.  Work can be important, it can be irrelevant or it can become a means to a greater more fulfilling path.  It is simply a matter of choice.

It is the path not taken, the opportunity left unexplored, the friend not visited, the idea not pursued that create the greatest disappointments in life and business.  Ask yourself this weekend, “What is holding me back or tying me down to a harbor of hesitation and even regret?”

Decide today to throw off the bowlines of worry, fear and discouragement.  Get out of the safe harbor with it’s comfort zones of mediocrity and the safety of skills already acquired.  You and your business were designed to set sail for a greater success yet unseen which is to be found on the seas and distant shores of extraordinary places.

You will never know how far you can go or what you can achieve until you commit to go – and go far.

Begin your journey today – it is the journey of a lifetime.  Set sail.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover. Do!

Your Servant,

Ron Finklestein

330-990-0788

ron@akris.net

p.s. contact me if you want to learn more about ilearingglobal. You will be glad you did.

What is Your Legacy?

I am often asked how to deal with the rapid rate of change, how to get more discipline and become more focused? If this is something you are interested in please read on but it is one of my more lengthy articles.

These questions seem to come from people being pulled in many different directions by sometime conflicting obligations: family, business, and customers, to name a few. I am experiencing these questions more and more and I want to share them because they seem to be a concern to so many people.

My answer is always the same.  I always ask the same questions. What do you do? Inevitability I always get the same respond. I am a stock broker, or an accountant, or a business coach or (fill in the blank). My response is always the same: that is not what you do, that is how you do it!

I then see a look of confusion set in. Sometimes the arms will fold indicating some defensiveness. Other times, they remain open but the confusion remains. What they are really saying is “What in the heck is this guy talking about?”

When they ask me that question I ask them another question, a specific, purposeful question. What legacy do you want to leave? How do you want your significant other, your children, your coworkers, and friends to think of you after your leave this world? What do you want your life to stand for? How do you want to be remembered? I ask these questions because this is what you do, your profession is how you answer these questions.

Some will say I want my family to remember me for always doing the right thing. Other will say I want to know I impacted many lives in a positive way. After further discussion I ask some clarifying questions such as “what does impact mean?” or “can you define positive?”

Maybe an example will help.

I recently met with someone who is a financial planner who was doing well and struggling to work less and work with higher net worth investors?

“What do you do?”

“I am a financial planner.”

“What outcomes do people experience in working with you?”

After a pause he said “we many products and services to handle most of your financial needs.”

“If I were to hire you, what would you tell me that differentiate you from the thousands of planner who want my business?

Short Pause

“I have these tools, and we do this, and etc”

I said “those are tools, tricks of the trade you use, what is the outcome I can expect in working with you?”

Longer pause

He finally said somewhat tentatively “we do not want to be greedy. We want you to make money. We put a plan in place that works for you, a plan you do not have to worry about. This allows you to sleep better at night knowing that that your finances are safe in these turbulent times?”

My comment back was “you help me get a good night sleep because we do not have to worry about risky investments, timing the market or any of that other stuff?

“Yes”

“Why do you do that?”

“Because it is the right thing to do!”

I said “so the legacy you want to leave is one of honesty, integrity and doing the right thing in dealing with others and they way you do that is through financial planning?”

“Yes”

“We can work with that!”

The financial planner was not just managing his clients’ money. He is saying that his legacy is teaching his children to do the right things. He is saying to his client’s I will take care of you because it is the right thing to do.

My next question to him was simply.

“If you want to manage money of people making millions and tens of millions of dollars, what behaviors do people who manage those kinds of portfolios do that you need to implement that allows you to be consistent with the legacy you want to leave?”

Let’s go back to the beginning of the article. How does this apply to be more disciplined in my business?

Simple. 

When you are faced with a decision you must test this decision against what you want to achieve in your legacy (or purpose). If what you are asked to do does not match up with your legacy/purpose then do not do it. It is that simple. The problem is getting clear on your purpose. The problem is thinking about your legacy. The problem is making a decision.

Many people are afraid of a making a decision because they do not know what they want or they are unclear how to achieve it.

Think about this for a moment: what kind of person must you become to achieve your purpose, to leave your desired legacy?

The purpose of this discussion is to help you become the type of person you want to be become and attract to you the type of person others want to work with and be with.

The purpose of this discussion is to help you make decisions based on something more important to you than what is convenient.

The purpose of this discussion is to simplify the decision making process so you focus on what is important.

In my case it is very simple. I want relationships that meet these criteria: I want to work with people who are honest, I want to work with people who have integrity, I want to work with people who believe in common sense.

Honest means they will tell what they believe to be right and fair and not lie to me.

Integrity means they will do what they say.

Common sense is defined as creating a win/win approach for both parties.

My life is simple. Every decision is based on those three criteria.

I have the same approach to my business. If I am approached with an opportunity, possible client, etc, I evaluate them the same way I do my other activities and I ask myself how doing a specific action will take me closer to my purpose. If it doesn’t I don’t, it is that simple for me.

As Stephen Covey says in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Start with the end in mind! The end in this case is your legacy.

Your business Coach

Ron Finklestein

330-990-0788

ron@akris.net   

Goal or Promise? Which is more Powerful?

I was watching a video on iLearningGlobal.tv. Bill Bartmann, one of the lecturers on iLearningGlobal.tv. He was discussing the difference between a goal and a promise. He mentioned a study at Yale Medical School where 70% of the people who set goals do not meet them but 98% of the people who set promises to themselves met the promise.

So what is the difference between a goal and a promise?

A promised is defined as a declaration that something will or will not be done. A goal is defined as the result or achievement toward which effort is directed.

Is a promise a specific outcome whereas a goal is result? It seems the person making the promise has more at stake than the person setting a goal. Is the word goal so over used that the mind (both conscious and subconscious) dismisses it as a trite overused phase that has no negative consequences if it is not achieved. Is the mind saying that you almost never meet your goals so why would this be any different? Or is a promise a more serious commitment to yourself and others? Is there more at stake personally and emotionally if you renege on a promise?

I do not make promises lightly. I would suggest that is one of the reasons they work. A promise is far more personal than a goal. A goal is usually given to us by an external source: manager, customer, market, etc. Where as a promise is personal, only we can make it and only we can break it. Because I do not make promises easily, I will think long and hard before I make a promise. I set goals all the time. I do not always reach my goals. When I make a promise I will move heaven and earth to make the promise happen.

One promise I made to myself is that I would not be late for a meetings, dates, parties, or any commitment I make. I see being on time as a sign of respect and caring for the people I am meeting. If for any reason I cannot make a commitment (or I am going to be late), I will call so they are not waiting. I can think of two times I was late in the last 20 years. I can think of only one meeting I missed because I missed read by calendar.

After listening to be Bartmann, maybe I should set fewer goals and make more promises?

What do you think? Is making a promise more serious than setting a goal? If so, why?

Small Business Coach

Ron Finklestein

330-990-0788

ron@akris.net  

Why Are Certain People So Stupid?

When you write several books, produce several videos for Youtube, and write blog posts like I do, you get some less than positive feedback in emails, voice mails and comments on my videos. That should be expected. Some would say that is the price you pay for being a public figure.

I actually had one person laugh at me when giving a speech. She later came up and said she was not laughing at the concept I presented but was not comfortable with the material and that is how she deals with being uncomfortable. That is cool!

At this same speech I had several people applaud this same concept.

Different strokes for different folks.

The people I am talking about hide behind technology. These email, phone calls and comments come from people who use fake email addresses, call using unlisted numbers and create user ids with false info.

I have been called ni—er, Mother F——, and other names that cannot be printed, nor should they be.

I must say I am not offended by these comments. I am saddened that people will not pick up the phone (my number is at the bottom of each blog post) and tell me about why they feel the way they do. I am open to feedback. Who knows it may cause me to revisit a certain position. I am a continuous learner and I welcome feedback. One of my favorite tools is www.ilearningglobal.tv. It is a powerful tool. There are video on this site that I do not agree with. I may call the author and ask for clarification or I may chose not to watch any more videos from this person, but I will never call them names because I disagree with their thoughts.     

So why am I getting these rather expressive and inventive communiqué from people who feel the need to tell me how I am not eligible for the human race and then proceed to hide behind technology?

In my latest book Nine principles for Inspired Action: A New & Targeted Perspective, I discuss concepts that I understand can be challenging to some people. In this book I ask people to get selfish with their time, energy and money so they can achieve their Intelligent Self-interest.

Because we are limited in time, energy and money, it is hard to achieve anything unless we get clear on what is important (our purpose or Intelligent self-Interest) and make decisions accordingly. When we do that a most amazing thing happens: we become selfless. From all my research, this selfishness leads to selflessness.

When this happens you get clear on what is important to you. You take action that leads to an specific outcome. When this happens, it is possible to positively impact hundreds, thousands or potentially millions of lives.

Let’s take an extreme example. Walt Disney has a specific Intelligent Self-interest. In his selfishness he wanted to totally control the experience of people from the moment they entered the movie theater to the time they left. He knew people needed an escape from the pressures of the real world. He was very selfish in making this dream happen. Every decision he made was designed to implement his Intelligent Self-Interest. Was it easy for him? No. He filed bankruptcy on two different occasions.

Through his selfishness he became very selfless. All his efforts led to the creation of an entertainment empire that employs thousands of people, a company that creates movies that millions have watched and theme parks that give people a time away from the realities of the real world. All because Walt Disney was selfish. He was focused on his Intelligent Self-interest.

On a personal note the wizard’s dual between Merlin and Mad Madam Mim is my favorite. I could not wait for my children to see The Sword and the Stone and watch this scene.

Why are people bothered by this concept of selfishness? I am sure there are thousands of reasons: my religion will not allow me to think this way, my family taught me to…, I means I have to make a decision about what is important, etc… It is ok to disagree but do not be stupid about it.  

If you do not like what I write you have two choices: Do not read my material or call me and tell me why I am wrong. We can have a discussion that could lead to meaning change. When I first developed this concept call Intelligent Self-Interest, I asked some friends and associates for feedback. Some could not agree and told me the only reason they read it was because they knew me. Others thought this was foolish and could not accept it because it was against their personal and religious beliefs and still others (a majority) felt free to make changes to pursue their dreams. Other made it their own and they teach it to others.  

One person walked away from a safe government job to pursue a job in sales. Another left the partner track in her accounting firm to raise a family, still others have started businesses, change careers and made other life affirming changes after reading this material. This material is not right for everyone.

Here is one of the videos that is causing gas, indigestion and that burning sensation for some people. It is about 10 minutes. Give it a watch and post your comments.

Either leave a youtube message or respond in the comment section of this blog post. I would love to hear your thought and feeling about this video.

So to my stacker out there, you are out of luck. I will pray for you and wish you the best but you will not change my mind, tactics or approach.

In Your Service,

Ron Finklestein

ron@akris.net

234 738 1550

I ran onto something online today while looking around that I wanted to share.
I do a lot of internet marketing and wondered when technology would advance to the
point that there would be a simply way for local small
business owners to take advantage of so many people
searching online now, instead of using the Yellow Pages
or news paper ads. Weekly’s Val-Pak promotion cards etc.
None of that seems to be producing results anymore (I used all of them).

So I’m thinking why should a business owner have to fork
out several thousand just to end up with a web presence
that really could generate more local business traffic.

One of my friends, put it all together in
one comprehensive course that shows a small business owner
how to leverage the power of the Internet to target and
generate new leads, prospects and customers locally. It is truely a step by step process.

I demo’d part of their training and it is really point
and click simple.

Since their entire system is built around what they call
“Zero Cost Online Local Marketing”, I can see where this
could literally save thousands in conventional off line
advertising and very possibly increase profits just as
much and you can do it all yourself using their simple
point and click methods.

I spent thousands to learn this and you should not have to.

Take a look. Sooner is better than later because they’re
offering some additional savings during their pre-release.

Just click here to learn more.

Let me know what you think. Leave a comment below.

If you are interested but so not do it yourself, just let me know

Back to work.

Take care,

Ron Finklestein
330-990-0788
ron@akris.net

If you are a business owner looking for a business coach looking to make changes in your business and you live in any of the following communities, I will visit your office and provide a one hour, no cost, and no obligation, to see if it makes sense for us to work together.

Nothing is off the agenda. We can discuss lead generation, and lead generation techniques, peer groups, advisory boards, leadership, building effective teams, growing sales, increasing revenues,  people effectiveness, teambuilding, small business marketing, business coaching, performance management, to name a few.
Just email me at ron@akris.net (or call at 330-990-0788) to schedule your date and time.

The following locations are within easy driving distance and I would be happy to visit. If you are outside this area, please contact me. Though I may not be able to visit I can provide the same service over the phone, via email or over the Internet.

Summit County
Cuyahoga Falls
Stow
Hudson
Barberton
Norton
Green
Springfield
Tallmadge
Mogadore
Richfield
Peninsula
Fairlawn
Bath
Copley
Coventry
Silver Lake
Sagamore Hills
Boston Heights
Macedonia
Montrose

Canton and all Stark County Ohio including:
Uniontown
Alliance
Jackson Township
North Canton
Canal Fulton
Massillon
Hartville
Waynesburg
Sugar Creek
Louisville
Minerva
E. Sparta
Brewster
Medina and all Medina County Ohio including:
Brunswick
Hinckley
Brecksville
Granger
Sharon
Wadsworth
Westfield
Litchfield
Guilford
Lafayette
Kent and all Portage County Ohio including:
Ravenna
Brimfiled
Suffield
Randolph
Rootstown
Streetsboro
Atwater
Deerfield
Aurora
Freedom
Hiram
Edinburg
Palmyra
Shalersville
Wayne County Ohio including:
Wooster
Doylestown
West Salem
Canaan
Marshallville
Orrville
Dalton
Sugar Creek
Lebanon
Shreeve
Maysville
Congress
Creston
Sterling
Rittman
Smithville
Fredericksburg
Apple Creek
Kidron
Carrol County
Tuscarawas County
Lake County
Geauga County
Cuyahoga County
Bay Village
Beachwood
Bedford
Bedford Heights
Bentleyville
Berea
Bratenahl
Brecksville
Broadview Heights
Brook Park
Brooklyn
Brooklyn Heights
Chagrin Falls
Chagrin Falls Township Township
Cleveland (County Seat)
Cleveland Heights
Cuyahoga Heights
East Cleveland
Euclid
Fairview Park
Garfield Heights
Gates Mills
Glenwillow
Highland Heights
Highland Hills
Hunting Valley (part)
Independence
Lakewood
Linndale
Lyndhurst
Maple Heights
Mayfield
Mayfield Heights
Middleburg Heights
Moreland Hills
Newburgh Heights
North Olmsted
North Randall
North Royalton
Oakwood
Olmsted Falls
Olmsted Township Township
Orange
Parma
Parma Heights
Pepper Pike
Richmond Heights
Rocky River
Seven Hills
Shaker Heights
Solon
South Euclid
Strongsville
University Heights
Valley View
Walton Hills
Warrensville Heights
Westlake
Woodmere

Lorain County
Amherst
Avon
Avon Lake
Beaver Park
Belden
Brentwood Lake
Brighton
Columbia Center
Columbia Hills Corners
Columbia Station
Elyria
Lorain
North Eaton
North Ridgeville
Oberlin
Penfield
Penfield Junction
Pittsfield 
Rochester

Just a quick review. Nothing is off the agenda. We can discuss lead generation, and lead generation techniques, peer groups, advisory boards, leadership, building effective teams, growing sales, increasing revenues,  people effectiveness, teambuilding, small business marketing, business coaching, performance management, to name a few.

Just email me at ron@akris.net (or call at 330-990-0788) to schedule your date and time.

The following locations are within easy driving distance and I would be happy to visit. If you are outside this area, please contact me. Though I may not be able to visit I can provide the same service over the phone, via email or over the Internet.

Denying Problems Exist 

Every business has problems. How you respond to those problems determine the success or failure of your business. 

Another reason business fail is because they deny problems existing in the business. 

I cannot tell you how many times I spoke to a business owner and heard “it will take care of itself” or “I do not want to hurt their feelings” or “but they have a family” or “I know, it has been that way a while” or “who cares” or “no one told me.” Want more? I heard them all. 

I had a client where the employees did not do as he asked. This went on for years. The problem: they were no consequences if they did not perform and they knew it. It cost this man his business. In this case we got the business ready for sale and he sold the business. 

I can’t tell you how often I heard “I knew this was going on but I did not know it could be different.” They did not know it was a problem and more importantly, they did not know they were supposed to do something about it. 

RULE #1: If it does get the results you want, it is a problem.

RULE #2: Do something about it! 

As the business owner you are responsible for the actions of your employees. If they are not performing, train them. If they are trained and still not performing, make sure they roles and responsibilities are clearly defined. If they still do not perform, fire them. Your business is your livelihood and you are not required to keep dead weight. 

Provide a way for your customers to tell you what is on their mind and listen to them. One client heard over and over again that he was losing sales to a competitor. This was a problem because his customers we defecting. Finally he asked one customer why they were leaving and they told him. It was his pricing. He assumed his customer would always pay his price for his product. By the way, this new competitor was able to sell his product to the customer for less than my client could make it. Talk about a wakeup call. 

He is things you can do to identify problems:

1.     Make sure roles and responsibilities are defined. If everyone knows what they are supposed to do nothing will far between the cracks. If it does then it is a process problem and not a people problem.

2.     If it is a personal problem address it immediately. The morale of a company can be destroyed by a few bad apples.

3.     Make sure the process is clearly defined. For example if a customer complaint is handled the same way each time, it is easier to train others, build in redundancy and implement management by exception policies.

4.     Implement an “ownership” policy. Everyone takes ownership for a problem. Do not assume someone else will take care of it. As a business owner this means you must allow your employees to do their jobs.

5.     Listen, Listen, Listen. Listen to your customers. Make sure you have lunch with your key customers quarterly. Listen to your employees.  They are doing the job and they know what kinds of problems they are having. Listen to your peers. They will help you see and understand trends that you cannot see by yourself. 

When in doubt, ask for help.

Call me if you have questions or need help.

Ron Finklestein

303-990-0788

ron@akris.net