Smash The Bottom Line

When your car’s suspension is out of alignment it can make driving difficult… even dangerous. The same goes for your business, says branding expert and business coach Helene Scott. She advocates creating guiding principles for your company that will inform every decision you make, from how you speak with customers to your marketing campaigns to the partnerships you take on to your website.

Neal Parker’s dad didn’t buy him a car at age 16… and that set him on a lifelong journey of entrepreneurship. Along the way, he’s learned many lessons in business and life that he shares today that can impact your financial success… while making sure you don’t lose yourself in the process. He admits that there is a luck factor in success. But in order to take advantage of that lucky opportunity, says Neal, you need to have skills and knowledge to take advantage of it fully.

Leadership is something that most people think is an innate skill… something you’re born with. But leadership can be learned. And, says Rocio Perez, founder of Inventiva Consulting, even natural leaders should be examining what makes them effective… and figuring out how to take it to the next level.

Deb Brown, founder of Touch Your Client’s Heart, loves to surprise and delight her coaching clients. How does she do it? It’s something you already do… but probably only with friends and family. It’s just one strategy Deb uses and promotes to strengthen the most important element for success in any business: relationships.

Are you charging enough for your services? There’s a good chance you’re not, says marketing consultant M. Shannon Hernandez. She’s seen too many coaches and consultants setting fees that make it impossible to make a healthy profit. They have a hobby – not a business… and don’t even realize it.

Leadership coach Dawn DelVecchio presents a harsh reality: 80% of entrepreneurs out there right now are going to crash and burn. In our interview, Dawn explains what sets the other 20% apart. It’s not their startup capital, number of clients, marketing plan, or anything like that. She calls it the “inner compass.” We get into the nitty-gritty of what that means and face some harsh – but also enlightening – truths.

Everybody has limiting or negative thoughts at some point… even the most “positive” person. It’s how you deal with those thoughts that matters, says business coach Emi Kirschner of Tribe of Leaders. One of the most harmful impacts of limiting thoughts you can experience as an entrepreneur and service provider is not valuing yourself, your product, or your service enough… and not making the money you deserve as a result.

You can have a six- or even seven-figure business… and still be on shaky financial ground, says serial entrepreneur Melinda Wittstock. We take a deep dive into how and why that’s possible, as well what you can do right now to make sure it doesn’t happen to you. A big part of the problem could be your attitude about money… something you may not even be conscious of, says Melinda. Many entrepreneurs are also very busy… without anything to show for it.

You’re an expert in your field. You do good work… when people actually hire you. Trouble is, says communication expert Dr. Michelle Mazur, you’re getting lost in the crowd. You need a brand… and a core message that ensures you stand out from the competition and compels prospects to say “Yes!” Michelle has spent a lot of time refining this approach and how it applies to everything you do in your business, from marketing to speaking engagements to client interactions and beyond.

Everybody wants to be successful in business and life. But, says best-selling author and success mentor David Neagle, many people always struggle. What makes the difference? David explains the three things you must change in yourself to be one of those who enjoys personal satisfaction and financial freedom. These are things you can start doing right now.

The only regret Monica Kenton has about starting her business as a coach and shaman is… that she didn’t do it sooner. As a result, she has a knack for helping others overcome the fears and blocks preventing them from getting a venture off the ground or taking it to the next level. At the core, says Monica, you have to be in a business that speaks to you… doing work you love.

Business leadership advisor Belinda Pruyne calls starting a business the world’s most complex personal development program. And the road to success can be rocky. Belinda says that too many entrepreneurs ignore their instincts and simply follow what others are doing. But Belinda has refined strategies to make sure you avoid the biggest business pitfalls (and there are many), while always staying true to yourself.

Many entrepreneurs think they shouldn’t be on LinkedIn, feeling like it’s more for corporate decision-makers and executives. Sarah Santacroce says if that’s your attitude, you’re leaving money on the table. Sarah, who helps business owners around the world refine their LinkedIn approach, shares tips for “finding your tribe” (i.e. potential clients, customers, and partners) on this business-oriented social network.

It might seem romantic to be a “starving artist.” But, says coach Melissa McFarlane, too many creatives take that attitude… and it leads them down a self-destructive path. They come to value their work over their business. Many don’t actually have a sustainable business at all. Can you say “glorified freelancer”? And even if they are successful financially, they’re paying an emotional toll. It doesn’t have to be that way.

In her work as a coach, Candace D’Agnolo sees business owners make a lot of mistakes. The two biggest: they focus too much on their competition and spend too much time (and money) getting new leads. Candace, founder of consulting company Pet Boss Nation, says entrepreneurs actually have a huge untapped resource right under their noses they’re ignoring right now.

Business coach Carrie Greene knows better than most the benefits of being an entrepreneur. Her previous career on Wall Street left her overworked, stressed out, and with little time for her kids. So she struck out on her own and along the way discovered her ideal business that allowed *her* to set the priorities in her life… and make a great living at the same time.

As an entrepreneur, you may feel like you’re alone… or you’re supposed to do it all yourself. No way, says business coach Jesse Johnson. She says there’s no shame in asking for help. Far from it. Coaching and mentorship allow you to avoid “reinventing the wheel” when it comes to subjects you don’t know much about… but are vital to your growth. And coaches bring another huge advantage to the table, says Jesse.

As with many things in life, success in business has a lot to do with attitude… probably more so than your skills and expertise in your industry. In her work as a business and life coach, Helen MacMillan helps entrepreneurs and others adopt the right mindset for excelling in their business. As Helen says, the first step is often getting out of your own way. You also have to look inward to find the #1 principle for success.

Every business needs customers. But, says Michelle Evans, while many entrepreneurs and professional service providers are good at what they do… they’re not so good at marketing themselves. Michelle, a marketing funnels expert, specializes in helping business owners set up systems that automatically bring in a steady stream of prospective customers, leaving them free to do what they do best – and most enjoy. She walks us through the strategies she recommends for her clients and also goes over…