As small business owners, we are always trying to find ways to increase our business without having to spend a lot of money. Every penny counts at the best of times and facing challenges like Covid-19 has made it even more important. We at The Small Business Centre understand these challenges because we have all been or still are business owners ourselves. And it doesn’t matter how smart or talented we might be, there is one thing that is for certain; we can’t do it alone. Our businesses will only succeed through partnerships with others.
The good news is, there are so many partnerships out there that can benefit us that don’t cost a penny. Every connection we make has the possibility of helping us. This is critical information for us as small business owners because our reputation is everything. Who we connect with and how we connect with them can tremendously influence our success.
We need to ensure that we are forging relationships with established successful business owners who we can learn from. We should have an “Inner circle” of other respected small business owners with whom we can share ideas, create joint ventures and work together with to increase our social media presence. We can work together with community organizations to learn and grow. The Small Business Centre is a great resource for free webinars, training, one on one consultations and keeping up with current information. Finally, we should be constantly networking because meeting new people allows us to broaden our potential customer base.
The difference between successful leaders and business owners and those who aren’t is that the successful ones understand the importance of creating relationships and working together. They know that when people like and respect you, they want to help you. One of my mentors once said to me “Brenda, always remember that people want to be around people who make them feel good.” This has always stuck with me. We may not like everyone we come across when doing business, but we can still treat them with respect and be kind.
Forming relationships is free. It’s empowering. It helps lift us up on days when things aren’t going well. Always try to work together with others but choose those closest to you carefully. Make sure they have your ideals and business ethics. If you do this, you will cultivate a positive reputation, a circle of trusted peers and a variety of invaluable mentors.
Remember, everyone we meet is an ambassador for our business. Let’s make sure they are a positive one!
*Brenda’s passion is seeing people achieve greatness. With a background of over 30 years working in sales and customer service and holding the position of Sales Coordinator for a national company, supporting sales reps from Newfoundland to British Columbia. Brenda has honed her skills as a communicator. As a Wordsmith and small business owner herself, she understands the challenges and triumphs that small businesses face. She is an expert at getting people motivated and believing in themselves. Brenda works both one-on-one with clients as well as in workshops to help them with social media and marketing. She is a public speaker and active member of the community, hosting a variety of events. Brenda’s philosophy is let’s work and rise together!
You can reach out to Brenda by emailing brenda@thesmallbusinesscentre.cawww.thesmallbusinesscentre.ca