Business Value
Fear and Your Team
many owners are reactive and fear losing team members to competitors. Turn that on its head. Make a strong team and have the competition fear you.
February 16, 2024
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many owners are reactive and fear losing team members to competitors. Turn that on its head. Make a strong team and have the competition fear you.
In a strange city would you rather have a trusted local guide you or Trip Advisor?
When it comes to your business gain access to fellow business owners who can become trusted advisors to help you navigate those tough challenges and problems.
That is what Hot Seats are all about.
And we are hosting our next one tomorrow evening at the Deck in the Palm (6-9 PM. Doors open at 4). 4 Course Dinner included.
How serious is the dilemma of training employees only to possibly lose them to competitors?
What is the balance between fostering employee growth and protecting your business?
Yesterday we talked about creating a loyal workforce, leveraging legal safeguards, and turning potential competitors into collaborators.
Today I draw from my own experiences in the competitive institutional FX broking world.
I share insights on non-compete agreements, gardening leave, and the unexpected benefits of empowering your team.
Ideas that challenge typical fears and open up new opportunities for business success and growth.
“What if I spend the money and time training up my staff only to have them leave?” It’s a common question and hurdle when you want to step back from the business but have a fear of your competitors taking advantage.
See today how the GPT I created handles this question and tomorrow I’ll add my own thoughts.
But best of all is tackling these questions with fellow business owners. This Friday is a Mastermind with Hot Seats.
How shoudl you think about your business.. is it a job or an investment.. on 27th February John Warrillow will speak on that topic and how you can look at your own business through a fresh pair of eyes. At Sophiall we license John’s Value Builder System that makes it possible for you to take a 15 minute assesment and see where you stand on how valuable your business really is.
Real world example of cutting off your nose to spite your face. How a business saved pennies but drove away valuable and regular customers.
why cold email and promise how good you are technically and then have a No Reply email? I’ll mention why some do that in this very brief post.
Yesterday’s workshop was a game-changer for those looking to master pricing strategies and accelerate business growth. Missed it? Let me share three key takeaways that are revolutionising the way we think about pricing:
𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁-𝗕𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴: It’s not about the cost of delivery or hours worked but charging for the transformative value your service provides. This approach significantly boosts sales and positions your business as a pivotal part of your customer’s success.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀: Presenting clients with options, especially using Susan’s “magic number”, not only empowers them but also increases the appeal and satisfaction of your service.
𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲: What your prices say about your business matters. Proper pricing strategies can dramatically influence client perception and make your offers irresistible.
Implementing these strategies, Susan’s clients see remarkable results, converting proposals at an 80-85% rate and enjoying peace of mind in their business operations.
Don’t miss out on our next workshop for more transformative insights!
Ever faced a client demanding you justify a price increase?
Sally did, and instead of listing her qualifications or how hard she worked, she highlighted the tangible impact of her services:
“In our last 3 years together, you’ve doubled your revenues, thanks to my solutions. If we are to continue, this is the fee you’ll invest.”
This shift in approach, inspired by Susan Triver’s Impact Based Pricing, emphasises value over credentials. It’s a game-changer, enabling business owners to convert 80-85% of proposals.
Learn this principle at our Online Pricing Mastery and Business Acceleration Mastermind. Don’t miss out, especially if you’re in knowledge-based services.
Ever faced the frustration of crafting detailed business proposals only to be met with silence or unreasonable discount requests?
Samantha’s experience, likening it to preparing a gourmet meal only to be asked to price it as a bag of Doritoes, resonates with many of us.
It’s a common challenge that often leads to questioning our pricing strategies.
This struggle inspired a quest for a solution, leading to the creation of an innovative mastermind session focused on Impact Based Pricing with Susan Trivers.
With clients converting up to 85% of proposals into engagements, it’s a game-changer for anyone looking to elevate their pricing strategy and ensure their services are rightly valued. Ready to transform your approach and minimize those frustrating encounters? Discover how.
Ever get sick and tired of being told “how expensive you are?”
Do you stress about the latest offer your competitors are doing..
I was too until I designed my business so blackmail and discount threats would have no more effect.
Come check out our pricing mastermind on 6 February and free yourself from the Discount Zombies and Price Pythons out there..
Is your growth strategy similar to a night after an Ouzo Fest? Find out by reading this post…
How do you look to grow your profits? If you are like most business owners, the first answer that comes to mind is find new customers.
But that is like deciding to scale a mountain by coming up the back side over sharp rocks and deadly drops instead of walking up a paved path.
The paved path? Pricing Optimisation.
Our 6 February workshop will delve into a powerful strategy: Impact Based Pricing. Susan Trivers, a renowned Pricing Strategist, has guided clients to win over $72 billion in 20 years. Learn how aligning pricing with the impact you deliver can transform your business.
Join us to discover how effective pricing can be your direct line to success.
Putting together an effective pricing strategy is a common struggle for many entrepreneurs. But the stakes are enormous as pricing determines how fast and far you can grow – or if you will at all.
That’s why I’m excited to share something that could transform how you approach your pricing.
Next Tuesday is our Pricing Mastery and Business Acceleration Workshop which talks about effective pricing and introduces Impact Based Pricing for Business Service Professionals. I’ve crafted an in-depth letter to discuss the workshop – including ‘3 Growth Killing Profit Destroying Pricing Sins’ and as well as strategies that have helped businesses secure over $72 billion in revenue in the last 20 years.
Read more to unlock the secrets of effective pricing.
Say goodbye to under-charging and hello to financial freedom.
As a Business owner, have you ever faced the baffling scenario where customers undervalue your premium services?
I share in this post how my wife, an expert in transforming young struggling readers into confident ones, faced a surprising challenge. Her vast experience was being compared to budget services – much like valuing a child’s future education on par with shopping for a handbag!
This story isn’t just about education; it’s a powerful lesson for all businesses. How do we ensure our clients recognize the true value of our services and don’t just see us as another commodity?
Read the post and reflect on your current pricing strategies.
Discover why it’s crucial to communicate the true worth of your offerings and escape the “commodity swamp.”
Highlights from the launch of the Profit and Dine Mastermind
Read and find out how our Mastermind is the board of advisors you were looking to find…
read on to find out the lesson as to why inviting competitors to a beach party was not such a bad idea….
One of my favourite experiences in my previous career in FX brokerage was during the financial and Dubai debt crisis when we were starting out and had to get ourselves noticed. We threw a massive beach bash, even inviting competitors. Our boss thought we were insane. Maybe – but what unfolded next was even more surprising. Read on to find out..
Discover the power and pitfalls of delegation through Jake’s cautionary journey from thrill-seeking skydiver to responsible business owner to tragic delegation. Jake learned the hard way that delegating tasks requires more than just handing over responsibilities. Read his story here:
In the Film Any Given Sunday there is a scene where the Offensive Linemen refuse to block for the Quarterback and he gets slammed and beaten pretty bad on the field. This lack of protection is often felt by business owners who have to go it alone. Well there is a solution to that problem which we discuss in the article.
Read inside Mark’s amazing journey from unappreciated corporate consultant to a trailblazer who learned to know his worth and make a difference. His story emphasises the importance of demanding fair compensation for one’s contributions.
Check out Mark’s transformation and find out how to improve your professional value in our latest article and workshop.
It’s a great read for anyone looking to get paid what they really deserve.
How can receiving a parking ticket be perfect timing? When you just gave a workshop on differentiation and it comes in as a concrete example of what not to do. Read on to find out more
Dating is in many ways like business. To attract who you want to attract you have to have the unique aspects they are attracted to. Trying to fake it to attract them will set you up for failure. Developing and communicating what makes you unique will attract those who value you and eventually you will find what you have been looking for…
Quick recap of an action packed week with lessons and experiences in robust networking. Read on to find the exciting opportunities to grow your business by learning and interacting with other like minded business owners through Sophiall.
Imagine you’re on holiday, cruising in a rented electric car. The thrill of the drive is slightly dampened by the need to stop every other day for an hour or more at a charging station.
This constant detour, necessary to ensure enough battery for your trips, becomes a significant time eater. This scenario mirrors a common issue in business: undercharging.
Much like the frequent stops to recharge the car, businesses that don’t price their services correctly often find themselves having to ‘recharge’ through seeking additional funding or implementing cost-cutting measures, leading to wasted time and resources.
Read on to see how proper pricing is as crucial to your business as a full battery is to an electric car journey.
Being an entrepreneur can feel like you’re exploring unknown territory.
Imagine having a group of fellow business owners, sort of a board of advisors who can help you navigate the journey, avoid pitfalls and accelerate your growth with lessons from their experience.
These are called Masterminds and Sophiall is launching its own. Read to find out more.
Networking isn’t just a skill; it’s the lifeline of business growth. Our latest article dives into why building and nurturing connections is crucial for success. 🚀
Visibility: Stay at the forefront of your industry through regular networking. Being seen and remembered opens doors to new opportunities.
Knowledge Exchange: Tap into a wealth of insights and innovative ideas from your network.
Collaboration: Forge partnerships that expand your reach and enhance your offerings.
Community: Build a supportive ecosystem that shares in your journey.
A last minute business meeting highlights the lesson of needing to know how much your business is worth today and the clarity to make your decisions on how you want to proceed in 2024 much more powerful and effective.
My client in this case went from obsessing about scraps from a table to building her own banquet and driving any decision for her business on her timing and her terms.
Now she can truly unlock her potential for 2024.
It’s funny to hear Midwesterners complain about a winter that is too mild and yet it shows some people can never be satisfied. Just like some customers are never satisfied and so it’s better to repel them and attract the ones that are not only satisfied, but excited to do business with you. Sounds simple and yet many of us fall into the trap of dancing to some whiner’s tune. For 2024 let your competitors dance with them and keep yourself busy with growing and making your business more valuable.
What’s the most dangerous number in business?
It’s not your revenue. Not your profit margin. Not your customer count.
But almost every business owner relies on it—without realizing the massive risk it creates.
It’s the number that can sink your company overnight, turn a thriving business into a desperate one, and leave you scrambling for survival.
Most people don’t see the danger… until it’s too late.
What can death teach us about a superior customer experience.. alot.. if handled with the professionalism I witnessed when I buried my own father..
What will your family remember about you?
The sacrifices? The long hours? The endless emails on vacation?
Or simply the fact that you were never really there?
Too many business owners spend their lives building a future, only to become a ghost in their own story—reduced to a 2D label of “always working” while their real life passes by.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
What if someone handed you $50 million to step away from your business… only for you to buy it back for $5 million just 18 months later?
Sounds crazy, right?
Yet, that’s exactly what happened to one business owner—thanks to a team of Blue Chip consultants who thought profit was more important than common sense.
What went wrong? And how do you avoid the same fate?
What’s the biggest fear that silently kills businesses?
It’s not losing customers. It’s not bad marketing. It’s something far more subtle—yet it leads to the biggest mistakes and leaves the most money on the table.
Most business owners don’t even realize they’re trapped by it. I saw it firsthand when people thought I was insane for one simple decision I made.
Turns out, they were wrong.
Nothing more annoying than being tailgated by a speed camera. If you speed up because of the guy riding your tail you face the possibility of a speeding fine. Stay where you are and you might be rear-ended.
What if you are the annoying driver when it comes to your business.. do you think you might be? Read on to find out if that is the case.
Some businesses scale effortlessly. Others struggle, stall, or collapse under their own weight.
The difference? It’s not intelligence, luck, or even resources. It comes down to one simple rule—a rule that championship sports teams, billion-dollar companies, and elite entrepreneurs all understand.
Most people ignore it. And it costs them millions.
I break it down in my latest article.
Would you let $235 a month cost you millions?
Sounds ridiculous, right? But I’ve seen business owners sabotage multi-million dollar deals just to save a few bucks on proper bookkeeping and financial reporting.
One refused to upgrade her accountant—her deal fell apart in due diligence. Another wasted hours in Excel hell instead of growing his business.
The #1 deal killer? Poorly done financial records.
Don’t be the Black Knight hacking away with no arms