The Wealthy Business - by EnergizeGrowth

Seven Wealth Builders That Most B2B Companies Ignore

Your business is a living organism – something that has potential to grow and thrive long after you’ve played your role in it. Yet many firms are still smarting from a very tough recession, and feel like they are on life support. The “new normal” has accelerated industry consolidation, longer sales cycles, fee pressures, and tight credit. If you are a seriously growth-oriented B2B company, what can you do to ensure that you swiftly return to wealth creation mode?

How to Promote "Joie De Vivre" With New Investors

Chip Conley and his investors were forced to make some tough decisions.

Several months ago, Conley, the CEO of Joie de Vivre Hotels in San Francisco, California, witnessed competing hotels facing potential foreclosure. According to the Wall Street Journal, "there is about $5.6 billion in securitized mortgages tied to hotels coming due this year and next...27.8% cover properties now estimated to be worth less than their mortgage balances." (source: Trepp LLC's Foresight Analytics). Billions of dollars of mortgages are coming due in the coming years. Analysts are forecasting that the hotel industry will not regain its full strength until 2013.

Photo courtesy of Chip Conley 

Stop Focusing on Your Core?

Forbes columnist Adam Hartung just posted a provoactive article entitled "Stop Focusing on Your Core Business."

Have I grabbed your attention yet?

He implies that markets are changing faster than ever, and focusing on our core business forces us to lose our ability to innovate. He also boldly asserts that we have been sold a bill of goods from Tom Peters, Jim Collins, and other experts who have encouraged business leaders to focus on their core competencies.

Now is your chance to weigh in on this. What is your opinion?

(P.S. read the comments section on Forbes.com for my viewpoint).

copyright 2010, Lisa Nirell.  All rights reserved.

Newest Interview with Dan Schawbel, a Marketing "Force of Nature"

I had the pleasure of connecting with Dan Schawbel last week. He is the genius behind the #1 job blog by CareerBuilder in 2008-2009. FastCompany dubbed him "a personal branding force of nature."

Dan wanted to know more about my book, how leaders manage rapid growth, and some of the best ways for B2B companies to stay connected to customers and partners.

If you are in the process of hiring more professionals, or are personally seeking a new position, check out his blog. It's chock full of inspiring stories, ideas and resources:
http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/personal-branding-interview-lisa-nirell/

Photo courtesy of http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/

copyright 2010, Lisa Nirell.  All rights reserved.

Leveraging good news from the IMF

News You Can Use: The IMF projects global growth will reach 4 1/2% this year. The recovery is underway, especially in the U.S., Canada, Brazil and China. What one thing can you do differently NOW to leverage this positive trend? (P.S. "status quo" is not a viable option)

Here is the research summary: http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/survey/so/2010/RES070710A.htm

copyright 2010, Lisa Nirell.  All rights reserved.

WOOF! Branding and Innovation Guidance from a Local Dog

Last September, BendBroadband CEO Amy Tykeson and her team made a bold move. In the midst of servicing one of the most economically challenged markets in the United States -- Central Oregon -- Tykeson and her team "em-barked" on a re-branding strategy.

Nearly a year has passed. Today, they boast the premier local IT service provider spot, and have preserved their profits in a price-conscious, pit bull industry.

 

Business Growth Lessons of Capitol Proportions

I just returned from a high-octane vacation and business networking trip to the Washington, D.C. area. What a breath of fresh air! After having spent the past few years as a resident of Central Oregon - an economically challenged (read: depressed) community, I was excited to discover a vibrant, affable business community that has weathered the economic storm:  Alexandria, Virginia.

During my interview with Alexandria Chamber of Commerce's CEO, Tina Leone, I learned:

• The traits of the nation's 5th fastest growing city
• The importance of balancing commercial and residential real estate development to enable economic stability
• Why you should consider marketing your B2B services and products in this region
• What partnerships have served the Chamber well

This 7-minute video will provide you with some expanded strategies to help you explore new markets and business allies. 

Click here to watch.

Copyright 2010, Lisa Nirell.  All rights reserved.

Ten Ways to Celebrate your Recession Independence

My husband and I are enjoying a week filled with networking, socializing and house hunting in the Washington, D.C. area. We are also excited about celebrating Independence Day in our nation's capitol.

What strikes me is the dogged dismissal towards the recession among the local business leaders.  I attended an event hosted by the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday. And the positive outlook was downright infectious. 

Some of you may think that the D.C. metro area economy resembles a bubble. I am about to prove you wrong.

Two Surefire Ways to Slay the Anti-Growth Dragons

 

(photo courtesy of http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/dragons3.shtml)

Let’s be honest. In today’s volatile economy, strategic growth planning and marketing innovations are easily pushed aside in favor of reactively averting poisonous arrows and perilous moats. 

Those hazards continuously threaten us—and often appear from a surprise enemy. How many of us keep putting our foot on the gas and have not slowed down to finesse these dangerous conditions?

We may not be able to control unforeseen events and demanding clients. What we can control is how we respond. It starts with arming ourselves with knowledge and confidence.

Knowledge begins by understanding the most common pressures our clients are facing:

Six Questions to Conquer the Growth Woes of Women-Owned Businesses

I read Monday's article in The Wall Street Journal new research which reveals that women-owned businesses are alot smaller than men-owned companies. The author, Sharon Hadary, claims that "the differences between women and men begin with their own reasons for starting a business."

What role are our current education systems playing in encouraging women to play small, and how do we break free from that limiting paradigm?

 
Sharon Hadary and Chris Vaugh (courtesy HerStartup)