Diane is a Queen Leader: Training small businesses on the things it actually takes to grow.

Tune in to hear Queen Diane talk about the most common pitfalls brand new business owners can avoid & how they can truly set themseves up for success in the freedom they were seeking when they started out. 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Legacy and Career Impact Diane shared their journey into business advising and training, inspired by their father's successful sales career and their own experiences in small business management and leadership. They revealed that a pivotal moment was the death of their father, which led them to consider a career with more impact. Diane also highlighted the influence of the Dale Carnegie course on their sales skills. The conversation emphasized the significance of personal experiences and family legacy in career choices and the impact of loss on career transitions. 🧭 Diane's Career as a Business Advisor Diane and Amy discussed Diane's potential career as a life coach or business advisor. Diane shared their realization that they were already providing advice, input, and ideas to businesses, which they couldn't implement on their own. Diane identified the most common problems businesses face as disliking sales or having a lack of time due to not having systems in place. Amy noted that these issues were similar to those in counseling. The conversation concluded with Diane identifying the need for systems and structures in businesses. 📊 Processes and Systems in Businesses Diane and Amy discussed the importance of developing processes and systems for businesses. Diane defined a process as a series of steps to accomplish a task, which should be recorded for continuity. Amy suggested using a phone's voice recorder to document steps. They also touched on the concept of systems, which involves stepping back to analyze a business's efficiency, avoid waste, and potentially automate tasks. The importance of starting these processes early in a business's lifecycle was emphasized, with the understanding that they can evolve and change over time. 🚀 Leadership, Trust, and Teamwork Amy and Diane discussed the importance of leadership in process improvement and the value of listening to team members. They highlighted the struggles that small business owners often encounter when trying to let go of control and trust their team members. They emphasized the importance of trust, recognition, communication skills, and integrity in effective leadership. They also addressed the challenges of maintaining a healthy ego and acknowledging mistakes. Lastly, they underscored the role of leaders as stewards of their team members, with a responsibility to lead by example. 🤝 Redefining Sales: From Persuasion to Curiosity Diane and Amy discussed the concept of sales and the fear associated with it among business owners and salespeople. Diane shared their experience of explaining to their son the importance of civility and politeness towards strangers. They delved into the idea of redefining sales, moving away from the traditional concept of always closing and being persuasive, and instead emphasizing curiosity and focusing on the other person. They agreed that the traditional concept of sales is flawed and needs to be redefined, especially in the context of the internet era where consumers are well-informed. 🧠 Sales-to-Empathy Mindset Shift Discussed Diane and Amy discussed the importance of shifting from a sales-focused mindset to one that is more curious and empathetic. They emphasized the value of understanding potential clients beyond just their ability to pay, including their values and whether they are a good fit. They also highlighted the potential benefits of this approach, such as building trust and respect, even if they don't end up working with the client. 📈 Selling, Small Businesses, Leadership Training Diane and Amy discussed the importance of not appearing desperate when selling, emphasizing that customers want to make purchases when they need it, not due to persuasion. Diane shared their preference for working with small businesses, particularly in leadership positions, and expressed a passion for training lower and mid-level leaders who lack necessary skills. They also touched upon the challenges Diane faced in balancing their business with raising young children. 🔄 Business Pivot and Focus for 2024 Diane shared their experiences with a problematic partnership and the challenges their business faced due to the Covid-19 pandemic, such as the shift from in-person to online training. They mentioned that their business almost became extinct due to the pandemic but they managed to pivot and create online training. Diane also shared their word for 2024, 'focus', and their plan to develop relationships with companies for more control over their training engagements. Amy agreed with Diane's focus and emphasized the importance of avoiding distractions. ⚖️ Small Business Work-Life Balance Struggles Diane and Amy discussed a client who owned a small business and struggled with work-life balance, often failing to return phone calls and emails, and have difficulties in scheduling clients. Diane started working with the client a few years ago, gradually introducing new systems and delegating responsibilities to trusted contractors. The client was initially hesitant but eventually became more open to change. They even managed to take a vacation and maternity leave without disrupting the business. The client is now more receptive to suggestions and looking to further improve the business. Diane also mentioned their podcast where they interviews experts to share knowledge and strategies for accelerating business growth. 📚 Networking Ebook and Business Plans Amy and Diane discussed a new ebook about networking that Diane had prepared. They agreed it would be a useful resource, especially for in-person networking. Diane shared their plans for the year, aiming to secure more clients independently and increase their business activity. They expressed their desire to do more public speaking and the usefulness of podcasts for reaching a wider audience. Diane acknowledged some lead work that needs to be done and plans to join Shirb. Amy offered their company's help with marketing, SEO, and generating leads through Facebook ads or social media marketing. They agreed to keep in touch and share information. Next steps: • Business owners should start developing processes and systems from the beginning of their business. They can record their steps using a voice recorder and transcribe it later. • Leaders should trust their team members and consider their ideas for process improvement. • Business owners should understand that they are stewards of their team and have a responsibility to lead by example. • When selling, business owners should be curious and think about the other person, rather than being in "sales mode". • Diane will work on generating leads for her business, including joining Shirb and doing more public speaking. 🌐 Links: Website: helbigenterprises.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dhelbig/ Facebook: facebook.com/SeizeThisGrowth/ Instagram: instagram.com/seizethisgrowth/ YouTube: youtube.com/@Seizethisgrowth/featured Ebook: Networking Ebook 🌟 Rate & Review: Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. 📢 Connect with Amy: To learn more about Amy, hire her to speak at your event, or work with her team on your marketing, visit www.amysingleton.net.