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I wasn’t an early adopter of AI, even when I heard other coaches and business owners raving about its value.  I think it was because I saw people so obviously using it to write their newsletters, blogs, and even performance goals.

You can always tell when AI has written something.  And sometimes, the person is passing it off as their own creation!  I’ve written my own newsletters twice a month for over 20 years, so yeah, I was a little judgmental.

When you work as a business coach as long as I have, you tend to see the common behaviors that entrepreneurs struggle with.  Time and priority management is a big one.

The ability to plan my work and work my plan is something I’ve been blessed with.  I never would have survived as the Festival Coordinator in charge of the largest, free outdoor festival in the Southeast if I hadn’t!

So, I want to share three project management skills that are essential to our success as business owners.  The third one might come as a bit of a surprise to you.

Today, I want to talk to you about the things business owners do that impact their results and sabotage their success.  As you can imagine, after 20+ years as a business coach, I’ve seen it all.  All the things that work … and the things that don’t.

Let me illustrate the latter with a story.

I can’t help myself.  As a business coach, I’m always observing other businesses … their operations, marketing, and especially their customer service … even if they’re in industries other than those I typically serve.

As many of you know, we’ve recently moved, and our former home has been on the market.  We’re currently in the due diligence period with a buyer where they get an appraisal and inspections done.

And during that process, they discover that the radon readings exceed safe levels.  Ugh!

Let me tell you about a mistake I made recently that I’d like you to avoid.

I had a lovely and productive complimentary consultation with a prospective client who felt just right in terms of fit.  Turns out she felt the same way.  She wanted to discuss coaching with her business partner and told me she’d get back to me by email.

Background:  The options I offer prospective clients are three calls a month at a certain price or two calls a month at a lower price. I also request a six month commitment.  I say “request”, but I will rarely work with anyone who can’t commit to six months, because you have to have at least that much time to get measurable results.

I always suggest scheduling a follow-up call instead of waiting for the other person to call or email you back.  But it was clear she wanted to follow-up by email.

She got right back to me in the timeframe she promised and said, “I’d love to work with you and would love to start with a set of three meetings.” 

With 20+ years as a business coach and a lot of personal experience, I can tell you that if you do the following three things that don’t even really relate to each other, you’ll save yourself a lot of heartache and a bunch of money.

I want to illustrate an important message for your business with a quick story.

We have a lot of good restaurants in our little home away from home in Mexico.  My absolute favorite is O Sole Mio, owned by my “paisan” Fabrizio.  This winter we ate there several times.

It’s our last night in Mexico and we decide to go to Café Sophia, the other Italian restaurant we like down at the marina.  We’re chatting with our waiter, as we usually do, telling him it’s our last night in Mexico.

At the end of our meal, they surprise us with a beautiful dessert with the words, “Have a safe trip!” written in chocolate … along with two shots of Limoncello.

Oh my!  So sweet.  I was touched.  And that small gesture increased my loyalty BIG time!  I feel differently about this restaurant now … and Fabrizio has some stiff competition.

So, what does that have to do with you and your business?

It’s a simple one … yet profound in its import.

Why am I talking?

In business, as in life, the strength of your connections with other people plays a huge part in the success of your relationships.  The strength of your relationships naturally translates to the success … or lack thereof … of any business you’re running.

For many folks in business, 2024 was a tough year.  People seemed hesitant to spend money and commit to goods and services they needed and wanted.

But the calendar changes and the seasons move on.  And the start of the New Year is often filled with promise.

Everything has its season … and so does your business.

This year, I’m feeling an optimism in the world I haven’t felt in a while.  I hear it in my client’s voices.  And I’m seeing it in my number of new clients.

Since the beginning of December, I have closed 8 new clients … three new leaders from a corporate client, three new business owners from a training program I led in December, one referral, and one person who heard me speak back in July and is now ready to commit.

Sometimes you have to re-learn a lesson, so it sticks.  It’s unfortunate, but as human beings that often seems to be the case.  Even a 20-year business coach can get stuck in that loop!

Let me explain with a story.