5 Simple Strategies to Choose Brand Building Associations-Darnyelle A. Jervey

When you first enter the marketplace as an entrepreneur or you seek to reinvent your business, it can be overwhelming to realize everything that goes into effective brand development and management. When you consider the fact that everything you do consciously or unconsciously affects your brand, it becomes increasingly important to make sure that each experience is one that will enhance your brand and bring you closer to achieving brand equity.

Brand equity is the power a brand earns over time based on the experience, reputation and name recognition it gains, which translates into more clients, more income and more freedom. You earn brand equity by building your brand consciously and actively. By delivering what you said you would plus more to create an emotional response with your clients or customers. You increase your brand positioning when your clients refer their friends and family to you because they know you, like you and more than anything, they trust you.

Beware; however, one false association can stop your brand building in its tracks. With social media bringing the world closer than ever before, it is so easy to get caught up with people who appear to be exactly what your brand needs to bloom. I caution you, however, to not get sidetracked; but to instead validate the association before you find yourself tangled in a web that is not going to add any equity to your brand.

Entrepreneurs attract entrepreneurs and something that appears too good to be true might just be. So to mitigate the risk to your brand, do your due diligence and research anyone who is asking to partner with you because they believe that together you can change the world. Don’t get me wrong, you might actually be able to change the world together, but you just want to be sure that the change is going to be positive, brand affirming and a win-win for all parties involved, especially your clients.

To help you create relationships that will build your brand, consider these simple strategies:

1. If you’re considering joining forces with someone, try them out first. Make sure that their message completely resonates with your message. Join their mailing list. Follow them on Twitter to see what they are tweeting about. Attend one of their events; get on one of their tele-seminars, etc. Validate that if you hang out with them, you will feel natural, like you are hanging out with yourself.

2. Be sure that you can answer why your brand and theirs is a good fit.

3. Research them. Check Google to see what the world has to say about them. Do you like what you read? While some argue if one bad apple really spoils the whole bunch, others argue that one bad apple makes you think the rest of the apples are bad too.

4. Make sure that they are already gathering your ideal clients together but their product or service doesn’t compete with yours. You want to ensure that any strategic partnerships or relationships enhance and complement one another.

5. Interview them. Ask them hypothetical scenarios to get a firm understanding of where they are on the topics that matter most to you and your clients.

When you choose to utilize these simple strategies to create effective, brand building relationships, your brand will become an Incredible One.

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of IncredibleOneEnterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio CD "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com.

Stop Embezzling From Your Business: 5 Keys to Create a Thriving Business with Cash Flow--Darnyelle A. Jervey

One of the challenges I see frequently when meeting with solo-entrepreneurs who have been in business 0-5 years and are trying to build a solid business, is an inability to ensure that they get to keep a significant amount of the money that they earn. Most people who start a business fail to understand the significance of creating and managing a budget, largely because they don’t have a budget in their personal lives. I’ve heard it said recently that “how you do money is how you do everything.”

Typically new entrepreneurs earn and spend, sometimes without ever letting the money they earn get appropriated to their business account. Did you catch that? Yes, I am talking about embezzling from your business. Sadly, most entrepreneurs do not have a business background and often start their business out of necessity, lacking the skills, strategies and solutions to ensure that they are building a thriving enterprise. Most people live in a “feast or famine” environment or worst yet, they live from paycheck to paycheck or what I call “poor-check to poor-check” completely captive to their business and clients instead of being able to allow abundance to flow in all they do.

When this is the way you run your business, you are likely to never gain the freedom to enjoy what you love. In my opinion, that completely defeats the purpose of becoming an entrepreneur. If you’re going to be a slave to your work, you might as well keep working a job. If this makes your stomach curl, then you’ve got to get a handle on your money so that you can ensure you never have to sit behind someone else’s desk ever again.

If you want to stop embezzling from your business, you have to change your mindset. Keep in mind that with business comes boundaries. If your business is considered a business on your deepest levels, you will respond accordingly. It will also take discipline. That means, you will have to stop taking cash out of your business before it enters your bank account. While I am happy to suggest that you pay yourself, I do recommend that you pay yourself in an authentic fashion, via your business checking account, so that you have a record of the salary you are paying yourself.

I am happy to report that as soon as you shift your mindset and you also create a few key financial systems in your business, you can go from surviving to thriving in your business. When you’re no longer focusing on the lack present in your business, you can actually attract more paying clients because your energy will be flowing in abundance and circulation instead of in lack and stagnation.

I believe that since you started a business to make money, you should create effective systems so that what you make doesn’t get embezzled by poor financial management habits. While I am not a financial advisor, I am a business coach and I am able to show my clients how to create foundational financial management for their business, a consistent strategy as they endeavor to grow their business. I also recommend that you consult a financial advisor that specializes in working with entrepreneurs so that you can be sure to get a customized strategy that will increase cash flow and reduce stress as you endeavor to grow your business.

Here are 5 keys to create a thriving business with cash flow:

1. Know your numbers. You have to know what you are bringing in, what’s going out and what’s left over. You have to know the value of a new client to your bottom line and how many you plan to add in any given month.

2. Make a monthly financial plan for your business. Set a budget for the expenses that you know are mandatory to the operations of your business for the current month. In your plan, highlight the amount of revenue you have coming in before you do anything to attract new clients. Also track the amount of expenses you have going out so that you know what your cash flow is.

3. Create a strategy to attract enough new clients to handle all of the expenses you already have in your business. As an example, if you need $5,000 to run your business each month and you currently have $7,500 in your business checking account, which would mean you have $2,500 cash flow in your business. If you create a strategy to attract 3 new clients which are valued at $7,500, you will have $5,000 cash flow in your business when your month is done. With the extra cash flow, you can begin to save money by opening a business savings account and having money set aside for personal development such as hiring a business coach, other investments, expanding your team, etc.

4. Purchase financial management software such as QuickBooks to keep track of your expenses, income, invoicing and clients. The system is designed to make managing your businesses financial systems easier so that you can spend more time doing what you love, working with your clients.

5. Run your monthly reports by the 3rd business day of the new month so that you can see where you are and brainstorm how you can increase your results by a minimum of 10% in the new month.

Embezzlement is a serious offense. When you embezzle from your business, you minimize your ability to invest in yourself through your business when the need arises and you aren’t allowed to show up fully for your clients. By simply creating a budget and financial plan, you can reduce those inappropriate expenses and begin to allow your business to truly change lives.

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of IncredibleOneEnterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio CD "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com.

5 Keys for Backing Away From the Incredible SNATCHERS--Darnyelle A. Jervey

Okay, I know that as you read the title of this article, you were like, “what in the world is an Incredible SNATCHER?!”

An Incredible SNATCHER is anyone who has been Sent to Negate All Talent and Confidence that Has been Earmarked and Reserved for your success.

That’s right, this article is all about eliminating the haters, naysayers and dream stealers who make it their mission to derail your destiny, pummel your purpose and prevent you from living your passion.

Now, many of you are allowing what the Incredible SNATCHERS have to say to keep you from playing big…they don’t like that you’re succeeding, you quit your job and are making entrepreneurship look effortless, etc. Well, I am admonishing you this week to once and for all stop allowing yourself to be stifled because of what they think of you. Honestly, when you realize that their purpose is to stop you from serving the world in a big way, I think it will make it easier for you to back away.

For one minute, close your eyes and imagine that you are a star in the sky on a dark summer night. In fact, in this visualization, you are the only star. If, because of your Incredible SNATCHERS you dim or completely turn off your light, the world would be in darkness. You, not shining to full capacity would prevent others from being able to see their greatness. Now open your eyes, and ask yourself if you really want that to happen?

I’m going to take a wild guess and state that the answer is no. So, if you’re with me, here are 5 keys that are sure to help you successfully back away from your Incredible SNATCHERS:

1. Recall your vision and mission. A lot of times we get distracted from our purpose and in that distraction we forget what we are supposed to be doing. As an entrepreneur, you are supposed to be solving problems for your ideal clients. Take some time to get to a quiet place and remind yourself of why you are doing what you do. Get refreshed so you can get back to work.

2. Complete a circle of influence review. Are you spending too much time with your SNATCHERS? Because the majority of your SNATCHERS have the same maiden name as you, it’s probably safe to say that you see them on a regular basis. What I recommend is that you complete an assessment and grade each person you find yourself spending significant portions of time with. If they add value, give them a plus. If they cause drama, give them a minus. If they don’t move you one way or another, give them a slash sign. Plus signs get to stay; minus signs need to get less and less of your time and slash signs need to move one way or the other because you can’t straddle the fence of who you share your incredible with.

3. Set clear intentions. When you set clear intentions for your life and business, you will be better able to ensure that you are holding fast to them and you will also allow the universe to conspire on your behalf to make your intentions true for you.

4. Join a mastermind group to spend time with people who are your peers in business. Sharing space with positive entrepreneurs who like you are growing a business, will give you more drive and determination to reach your goals. Remember, your income is the average of the 5 people with whom you spend the majority of your time.

5. Learn to say no. Just because a SNATCHER asks you for something doesn’t mean you have to make yourself available to offer it to them. Begin to say no to them so that you can say yes to your purpose and destiny.

Being an entrepreneur is challenging enough without having SNATCHERS add fuel to the fire. By determining which simple, yet effective strategies will work for you, you will be able to not only back away, but also bring more positive into your business so you can send more positive out to the world you serve.

To get step by step assistance in how to attract your ideal clients, register for my Ideal Client Bootcamp. For details visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com/ifbc

©2011 by Darnyelle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of IncredibleOneEnterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio CD "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com.

5 Questions to Clarify Your Business’ Value Proposition--Darnyelle A. Jervey

Part of the reason why so many service-based entrepreneurs are struggling is because they haven’t taken the time to write down who they want to work with. Having worked with thousands of entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs, I know you find it hard to believe, but trust me; most people do not start a business with any form of a plan.

They don’t plan out what they are going to offer nor do they plan out who they are going to offer it to. The result….a hot mess. You attract:

• Clients who drain your energy and pay you low wages
• Clients who make excuses instead of taking action
• Clients who have no real desire to change their situation but just want to complain and blame it on the “man,” or better yet the economy
• Clients who want a “hook up”
• Products and services that don’t appeal to anyone

Please, stop! Don’t take another client on until you can clearly and succinctly answer the five questions below.

This week’s assignment is very important to the future success of your business. Even if you have a business plan. If your business model has deviated in any way in response to what has happened in the industry you are in or the economy, ask yourself these five questions. These questions will help you begin the process to gaining some semblance of clarity in your business. When you take the time to answer 5 simple, yet effective and often overlooked questions, you will gain tremendous impact to your company’s bottom line:

1. Why is your business necessary? Brainstorm on this one. Right down every answer that pops into your head. Ask clients who have provided a success story why they had to work with you. Again, record every answer. These reasons will be key to your marketing language going forward.

2. What is the transformation your business provides to your ideal clients? Here, think before and after. Before they come to work with you, who are they? After they work with you, who have they become? Why is this important and why will others be inspired to work with you too?

3. What is the problem you solve and what is the system that you utilize to solve the problem? These results should be clear about the steps you take each client through, which leads to the result you would like them to receive in working with you. Being able to articulate this is HUGE for your business growth potential.

4. Who are your products and services for? Please be as specific as possible. Remember, clarity leads to cash. Don’t think you can help everyone. Narrow your focus and in doing so, find the people who can’t live without your solution.

5. What happens if they don’t buy your products and services? What will they continue to experience if they don’t work with you? What is the pain they will continue to feel until they choose you as their pain killer?

These five questions will lead you to a significant breakthrough about how you must begin to conduct business. When you consider these five questions before you contact a prospect, writing a marketing piece, present your company at a networking event or any other business related task, you will begin to get clear results that help you to grow your company.

Take time this week and respond to each of these questions in detail. Upon completion, you will have some key marketing language that can be converted into market pieces, website copy and other items to show you as a magnet to your ideal clients.

Be Incredible,

To get step by step assistance in how to attract your ideal clients, register for my Ideal Client Bootcamp. For details visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com/ifbc

©2011 by Darny

elle A. Jervey. All Rights Reserved. Darnyelle A. Jervey, The Incredible Factor Business Mentor and Coach, is the founder of IncredibleOneEnterprises.com and the Leverage Your Incredible

Factor System® a proven step by step program for turning your passion into profit. For more information and a FREE audio CD "How to Use Your Incredible Factor to Attract MORE Ideal Clients" visit http://www.incredibleoneenterprises.com.