Small Business Coaching on the One Thing You Must Become In Your Business

By Allison Babb

Small business owners are almost never told this secret when starting a business.  What’s the one thing you absolutely must become as a small business owner?  Read below for more. 

The joy:  When you take the leap to become an small business owner, you are most likely thinking about the thing you most enjoy doing.  You look forward to how much you will enjoy doing what you’ve always dreamed about doing. 

You said adios to that corporate job and you plan to spend lots of time on your passion. You very much look forward to delivering your services or products to people.  You know you will do well because you are darn good at what you do.  You’re skilled at it and everyone tells you that you are.  And you’re ready to make some money doing it.

The surprise:  Skill, passion, excitement, rive, and loving what you do are good and are needed for a successful business.  However, most small business owners are blindsided by the reality that there is one thing they must become in order to have a thriving business.  What's that one thing? You must become a skilled marketer. 

Did that surprise you?  I know I was surprised by that when I first realized it.  Most entrepreneurs do not even remotely see themselves as good marketers.  They see themselves as good at what they do:  good web designers, good fitness instructor, good baker, good coach, good financial adviser, good accountant, etc. 

Most see marketing as a mysterious thing that they can hopefully pay someone else to do so that they don’t have to.  But you cannot side-step this reality.  You must get good at marketing.  You know your business better than anyone and you must learn how to market your products and services.

The Dread:  Many new entrepreneurs dread the thought of “marketing” themselves because they see it as bragging or sales.  They do not want to be associated with the “used car salesman” persona.  And they’re simply not comfortable with marketing.  They don’t really know what to do, how to do it, what works, and what doesn’t.

The good news:  The good news is that marketing is not at all mysterious.  And you can learn it pretty easily if you are...

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