Start your Entrepreneurial Journey with Clarity

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Kathy Perciful

Entrepreneurs are action-oriented people, eager to skip the preliminaries and get down to work. It is typical for an entrepreneur to think that developing a blueprint for their business is not as important as diving in, getting it started.    Maybe you are concerned that a market opportunity will disappear if you don’t get things rolling.  Maybe you have lost your job and you want to replace that lost income as quickly as possible.  Or perhaps you’re a serial entrepreneur who is uncomfortable when not creating a new and exciting venture.

“You read a book from beginning to end, but you build a business from the end to the beginning.”  -Rich Schefren, Strategic Profits

This above thought  is critical whether you are reinventing your business toward sustainability, adding a new product or service or in the startup phase.  Be clear on your destination before you start down the road.

It’s been awhile since my post on “Beginning With The End in View”.  That is because I have been going through the process I am asking you, NO, begging you to do before you embark on the next stage of your business.

First some thinking on your part is required.   Get a journal and brainstorm the following questions.  The point is not to come up with the perfect answers, just write down your initial responses.  The answers can always be modified at a later date.

Why do you want to have a business?  Is it to build wealth, the independence of being your own boss, to create a legacy, provide for your family, the status of business ownership?

What do you want your business to look like at the end, when you are selling, transferring to others or owning passively?   Do you want enough income to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle?  What is that number?  Do you want to achieve millionaire status or support a lifestyle you desire?  Along the way, how much money do you want to make after the business is on its feet?  How much money will it take to live your dream life?

What do you want your ideal life to be?  What things do you not want in your life?  What things do you definitely want in your life?  What does an ideal day look like?

What kinds of customers will you enjoy working with? What are their needs, wants?

This questioning is meant to provide you clarity on exactly what you want from your personal and business life.  From this clarity will come the motivation to reinvent, recreate, or start your business.   Let me know how you’re doing with this exercise at askkp@kathyperciful.com.

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Cash Flow is Critical to Your Business Survival and Growth

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Kathy Perciful

Continue reading →

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Begin With the End in View

Posted on August 4, 2011 by Kathy Perciful

The first time I was introduced to the idea of creating a business that could stand on its own without my constant attention was in the book E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. The concept of working “on your business” rather than in it was appealing to me.  However, the message did not really hit home for me until I was contemplating Brisk Business Group, my current venture.

I recalled the tremendous effort, working hours, and stress that left me burned out at the end of the day.  Doing the routine management activities and other activities I didn’t enjoy left me physically and mentally exhausted and unable to plan effectively.  In the end, I would exit the business to find some relief from the pain of business ownership I was experiencing.  Then after I had “healed”, I would start looking for the new opportunity to see if I couldn’t create a better business the next time.
Brisk Business Groups is being developed with a blueprint to continually grow without my day-to-day input.  Allowing me the freedom to enjoy my ideal life, creating courses and information that will assist the business owner down this same path.

I am looking forward to sharing my travels down this road of Starting With The End in View.  I have already determined what I don’t want in my life, what I do want in my life and how my ideal day will evolve.  Follow along with me on this journey.  I will enjoy reading your comments.

 

 

 

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The Visionary and The Manager

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Kathy Perciful

My interest in business has been fueled by my grandfather, the Visionary and my father, the Manager. I have considered myself a visionary, starting and expanding existing businesses. Then when I become bored and usually overwhelmed with managerial duties, I move on to the next bright shiny adventure. In other works, I’m a serial entrepreneur.
As a visionary, I often discounted my father’s managerial contributions to the family businesses that my grandfather had created. So I was surprised when, with his recent passing in March of this year, I found myself suddenly appreciating what my father had accomplished. He had sustained the businesses my grandfather created through astute money management and control of the business assets. The auto dealership that Grandpa Bill founded in 1928 continued operations for 83 years. In fact, my dad, Art was the last one out the door in September, 2010. The fuel distributorship my grandfather bought in 1956, still exists with the 3rd generation of the family operating it.

I wish to honor both Bill and Art with my messages to you, the courageous entrepreneur, on creating your wealth through business ownership. My hope is that you will find my information inspiring, my resources helpful and my view of the world refreshing.

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BRISK Mastermind Groups created.

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Kathy Perciful

Announcing — drum roll please — the founding of BRISK Mastermind Groups, an organization which provides strategies, support, and accountability for the small business owner, whether in the startup, growth, or exit phase of their business through the use of the mastermind process.

BRISK stands for Brainstorm-Resources – Inspiration – Support – Knowledge. Additionally, empowerment of the members and synergy of the mastermind process are other hallmarks of belonging to a BRISK mastermind group.

The mastermind concept is discussed in Napoleon Hill’s “Think and Grow Rich” where he chronicles the story of Andrew Carnegie’s use of a mastermind group to build his massive steel empire.  Think of  a mastermind group as your board of directors, your advisory team.

As a guide and mentor to the small business owner, I have been looking for a vehicle where  I can have a positive impact.   I have found the mastermind format to be successful in both my personal and professional lives. After encouragement from colleagues and students, BRISK has been launched.

The groups consist of owners of established businesses looking to build their organizations to sustainability with the vision of passive ownership and/or eventual business exit.

Topics discussed are growth strategies through cash management,marketing, sales increase, and business systems.

A quote from Napoleon Hill -All achievement, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea! Watch for updates on how my ideas for helping busienss owners learn, implement and prosper evolve.

 

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Hello world!

Posted on March 17, 2011 by Kathy Perciful

Welcome to my site.  I look forward to sharing my knowledge with business owners to find the hidden wealth in their companies.  There are  literally hundreds of ways of  increasing your revenue and profitability.  I will be sharing these with you on a weekly basis through my   Learn, Implement and Prosper series of posts.

As a business owner with over 30 years experience in business startups and turnarounds, I am passionate about helping others build sustainable businesses. Business ownership that provides you the freedom of being “captain of your own ship”.  The ability to earn a significant living, making your financial dreams come true. Building a legacy that can be passed on to others or sold at a premium price.

I have been actively involved in a variety of industries:  security access control and revenue control systems; petroleum distributorship; commercial real estate; business intermediary; business exit planner and business startup consultant.

Please feel free to contact me with your current business challenges.  I am always happy to help.

KP

 

 

 

 

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