I met a fellow WV employee at a diner in Towson, Maryland, this week, and while I was waiting I perused the menu.

Something really jumped out at me.  They made a big bold statement that coffee prices only include one refill.  While I am sure that they do this to keep bums from coming in and sitting there all day and only buying one cup of coffee, it sent such the wrong message to me.  Greasy-spoon diners cater to a wide audience and need to understand that some people (who pay most of the diner’s bills) often use it as an easy meeting place.  This diner’s coffee warning told me this is not a place I want to use as a meeting place again.

This message also made me think about the messaging start-ups use.  We have to understand that lots of people will see our messaging, and we need to make sure the message is really what we want to say to every audience.  Looking cheap or small is going to scare off the customers you value the most.

About the Author: Elinor Stutz is CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, International Author, Sales Trainer & Coach, and Motivational Speaker.

Some decide in favor of their bottom line, and others make decisions based upon whether or not they are aligned with their beliefs. However you approach difficult situations, it’s important that your decisions are consistent with everything you say and do.

Recently I was approached to conduct business in the old corporate sales style with the promise of incredible contacts and making a fortune. However, I wasn’t interested in conducting business as was suggested. The contacts did not symbolize my desired clientele, and so I turned the offer of making a fortune down. It was out of integrity for me, and I chose to remain true to my beliefs over the potential of creating large sums of wealth.

I have appreciation for wealth, but I wish to achieve mine in alignment with how I view the world. In the long run I know I will be far happier. Contemplate which path will make you happiest and focus your mindset on proceeding down that particular road. In the process, build relationships with prospects and clients. This is the only way you will enjoy a truly Smooth Sale time after time.

About the Author: Elinor Stutz is CEO of Smooth Sale, LLC, International Author, Sales Trainer & Coach, and Motivational Speaker.

The above question was the title of a television show many years ago. It definitely applies to business when choosing partners and helpers. Are you asking the right questions, and are you able to sleep at night?

Over the past couple of weeks, as well as years, I have heard one horror story after another. The brilliant entrepreneur who:

1. …wanted to expand too quickly and left loopholes in her business development plan

2. …had to work 20 hours per day because not enough help was in place for what was promised

3. …gave away stake in the company to be known nationally and soon lost control of his own business

4. …and gave money to people for services badly needed but the trusted help left before the service was implemented.

You can tell all of this would be very unsettling if any of this happened to you. I am not a business plan advisor in the sense of spreadsheets nor a bookkeeper, so I know full well to hire these tasks out. I also know to look at my bottom line before taking on another project and all the implications of further services that may be required.

Another very important piece of advice I read in Loral Langmeier’s book: Separate all personal from business expense. This includes savings, checking, credit cards – whatever you use for business needs to have an account of its own. Too many people wiped out their personal savings on the dream of making it in business but did not have the right plan in place. Consequently, not only did they lose their dream, they lost their homes.

Due to so much of this occurring recently, I am writing this morning hopefully to forewarn you in time to develop your business s-l-o-w-l-y with all pieces in place before you add new revenue streams. Once you become familiar with the process, you then will be able to move steadily in a variety of complementary areas at a quicker pace.

When you develop a carefully thought out plan, your clientele at large will be attracted to your professionalism and leadership charisma, and soon prospects will become clients. It’s all part of enjoying the Smooth Sale!

P.S. Entrepreneurship is one of the most difficult tasks I ever undertook, learning how to sell was easy in comparison. I do have a new upcoming webinar series that will take you step by step through the process of building a solid foundation, progress to developing multiple streams of income and how to expand your message and brand to the world in easy, logical steps.