You know when your gut is telling you not to do something. It’s that undesirable pit in your stomach that is pushing against the choice you are making. It’s that little voice in your head that keeps second-guessing. It’s that internal warning that you may not be able to explain. It may be going against what your brain is saying to do or what you feel and think is the right decision. It may even be going against all the research you have done and the facts you have found. It may also be going against what your colleagues, team or family is telling you to do. TRUST IT! Anytime I have gone against this unexplainable gut feeling, it has come back to say, “I told you so.” I’m sure you know what I mean. Your gut is smarter than you—trust it. Have any great stories about gut-level intuition? We’d love to hear it. Please write in about this phenomenon as it relates to your experiences in business. matt@shoupconsulting.com

As I have a chance to reflect back on the 2009 business year, I realized that it was definitely a turbulent one. I saw many companies succeed, but more go under. As I tried to put my finger on the reason for some companies’ great success and growth, and in the same economic conditions, other companies’ demise, I came to one conclusion.

The companies that succeeded knew they would from the beginning. They woke up every day in 2009, and said, “no matter what kind of economy, we are going to succeed, grow, thrive, be more profitable.” The companies that stayed stagnant or shrunk said, “we are preparing for this bad year, so we are cutting back, laying off, and trying to weather the storm.” Do you see the difference here?

I am in the residential painting business. M & E Painting, along with all the other painting companies go out to meet with the same potential customers who are in the same economic conditions. Why was our company one of the few throughout Colorado to grow this year? We think it every day! We all have such a positive mental energy, attitude, and will to succeed, that by us telling ourselves that we would succeed every day, week, month, and quarter, we achieved our set goals.

When you tell yourself, “ this year is going to be bad”, or, “we can’t do anything about this economy”, you will prove yourself correct . You are sealing the fate of your business right then and there, and you might as well go home and call it a day. I witnessed many companies do this in 2009, and their prediction came true. They even came back to me to remind me, “See, I told you this year would be awfu!l”

We do not have a crystal ball, but in terms of setting ourselves up to succeed, win, grow, and mature in business, we must get up every day and know we will win. If you have a winning mentality, and a strong, constant positive mental attitude, you will consistently be able to grow your company in a good or bad economy. If you don’t have this, you probably thought this was a bunch of garbage anyway and stopped reading it. READ THIS OUT LOUD AND BELIVE IT: “No matter what happens in 2010, this will be my best year in business ever. I will surround myself with success, and create success in everything I do!”

For more information about how I can help you grow your business, please contact me at matt@shoupconsulting.com

Vision

Vision is one of the most important things for a company to have because it defines much of who you (the company) are and what you do, and it affects all decisions relating to your company on a daily basis. Vision is not about the cold hard numbers that your business is looking to achieve, but is more of a broad topic of what kind of feeling, atmosphere, culture, and overall direction your company is headed in.
What is your vision for you company? Have you clearly defined your company’s vision? If you have, what does it look and feel like? What direction is your company going in over the next 2 years, 5 years, 10 years, etc.?
Moving forward with the daily operations of your business without a clearly defined vision is dangerous. How do you make decisions for your company without a vision? What is the ultimate purpose of your company? When I really examined this issue within my company, I was able to paint a clear picture of what my company will look like over the next three years. When I did this, everything became crystal clear. I had previously been operating under a hazy clod of uncertainty up until that point. After creating a clear vision, making decisions became immediately easier, and seemed to fit into the bigger picture..
Sales, marketing, hiring, firing, goal setting, daily operations, vendor relations, media, and more all fit into your company’s vision. The type of customer you look for and sell to must fit your company’s vision. The team you hire, and the people you may need to fire, must be a part (or not a part) of your company’s vision. The goals you set for your company must fit into its vision. Having vision will give you clear direction in where to take your company, and will help you see if one of the pieces of your business puzzle does not fit.
If you have not clearly defined your company’s vision, do it NOW. Stop what you are doing, and take some time to be away from the daily distractions that being an entrepreneur brings, and start writing out your vision. Ask yourself: What will the company look like? Feel like? What kind of culture will we have? How will we be known in our community? How will we look to potential new employees? To our customers? Once you have this clearly defined, you can now set the benchmarks and goals to get your company to live out its vision..
For more information on Vision, or how Shoup Consulting can help you with your vision, please contact us (970) 372-1920, or info@shoupconsulting.com, or visit our website at www.shoupconsulting.com. Our next Top Ten Training is November 14th, 2009. Hope to see you there!

In 2004, I founded M & E Painting, LLC, with only $100 in the bank and a vision and determination to succeed. Since then, M & E Painting has grown to become a multi-million dollar profitable company, and Northern Colorado’s largest and most recognized painting contractor. M & E Painting is consistently covered by the press and media, and has fostered a loyal and dedicated team and customer base. Our brand is known for our pursuit of excellence, growth, superior leadership, commitment to quality, and giving back to the community. M & E Painting is now focusing on statewide expansion to new markets, and continued growth, and success.

My entrepreneurial journey has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, bumps and bruises, and many mistakes made along the way. I have learned from these mistakes, and would not change those experiences for anything. Meaning, I know I can provide value to other entrepreneurs as they navigate their entrepreneurial journey. Working with me will allow you to learn from my shortcomings and successes, as I show you how to implement effective and proven strategies and systems to grow your company.

As M & E Painting has grown in the Northern Colorado Community, entrepreneurs have sought my advice, direction, and knowledge of growing a company. Sharing my experiences with other entrepreneurs has become a passion of mind, thus stemming the creation of Shoup Consulting.