Business Success Center

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22+ Reasons Your Small Business Is Keeping You Up at Night

May 30, 2022 By Jan Triplett

Owners are often insomniac. Photo by Olivia Townsend.

Owners are often insomniac. Photo by Olivia Townsend.

News 8 reporter Harlan Schmidt interviewed me about why Austin is a good place to start a business in 2010. I told him it was Austin’s “can do & it’s ok to fail” culture. And it is also about the fact that we have a highly educated population which means we can learn from our mistakes. I would still say that.

Then he asked me what needs to be done to improve our ability to sustain businesses. After all, it is not about starting — anyone can start one. It is about keeping it going — although not necessarily growing as large as, say Dell. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business Improvement, Business Management, Growth Readiness Tagged With: administration, Austin, bookkeeping, business bloopers, business challenges, Dunkin Donuts baker commercial, environmental issues, financial management, fiscal management, government, healthcare, marketing, News 8, operations, owner responsibilities, planning, records management, regulatory compliance, Sales, small business, small business mistakes, startup business, sustainable business, vision

Upgrading Your Providers for your benefit and theirs — BSC Wisdom Webinar recording

February 18, 2022 By Jan Triplett

The February BSC Wisdom Webinar and Work Session focused on Providers — how to choose, evaluate, and manage them better for both of you. Attendees added some great ideas from their own experiences. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/WisdomWebinar-UpgradeProviders-2-17-22.

Filed Under: Business Building, Business Growth, Business Ideas, Business Improvement, Business Management, Business Tools, Growth Readiness, Planning & Vision, Resources, Small Business/Entrepreneur History Tagged With: Benefits of Upgrading Providers, BSC Wisdom Webinar and Work Session, Challenges of Upgrading Providers, How to Manage Providers, Jan Triplett

4 Parts to a Platinum Customer Profile System™

May 8, 2018 By Jan Triplett 2 Comments

There are 7 potential customer types you could have — Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Lead, Concrete, and RAW (Radio Active Waste). But you should have only the best, the Platinum Customer. They give you money and a lot more.

If you aren’t satisfied with the value of your current customers, make better choices by setting up a Platinum Customer Profile™ identification system. This is more than just “target” or “niche” marketing. The four parts of a Platinum Customer Profile™ are demographics, psychographics, behaviors, and geography. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business Growth, Business Management, Growth Readiness, Planning & Vision, Sales, Sales Strategy Tagged With: ACT, Buy In Process™, Buying Behavior, Buying Cycle, Buying Georgraphy, Demographics, DIY Sales, Do Nothing Sales, Ghost Competitors, Metrics, Network, Niche Marketing, Platinum Profile™, Psychographics, Radioactive Waste, Sales System, Salesforce.com, Salespeople, Selling Cycle

7 Golden Sales Rules for Small Business

June 3, 2011 By Jan Triplett Leave a Comment

GoLocal, a great rewards program, based in Austin, Texas, to encourage people to buy locally.

GoLocal, a great rewards program, based in Austin, Texas, to encourage people to buy locally.

I have just finished a five-hour sales training session for Go Local an Austin, Texas company that is licensing its program nationwide to encourage people to support their locally owned businesses and buy locally. This is a great marketing tool for businesses and reward system for new and existing customers. Even though some of the licensees had sales experience, their questions and concerns prompted me to put together this list of sales concepts that I consider critical to success.

It starts with agreeing with the first “golden rule”. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business Improvement, Growth Readiness, Networking Tagged With: Austin, Champion-Advocate Customer™, Go Local™, Golden Rules of Sales, Maury Coats, Platinum Customer, Platinum Profile™, sales champion, sales conversion, Sales Management, sales process, Sharon Drew Morgen, Texas, UPA, Usability Professionals Association 2011 Conference

Best Pricing Practices: 3 Right & 3 Wrong Ways to Price

January 12, 2011 By Jan Triplett 4 Comments

Price right & reap your reward. Cartoon by Roger Stewart, Porthole Productions.

Price right & reap your reward. Cartoon by Roger Stewart, Porthole Productions.

I have proposed  a topic, “Best Practices in Pricing”, for ProductCamp Austin. If you’ve never been or ever heard of it, it’s a great day of free business information for product managers, business owners, and those thinking of starting a business. Attendees select the topics the day of the event so they get to hear what they are most interested in that day.

Although the session has sold out, there is a waiting list. I encourage you to get on it. For more information on Austin Product Camp, go to http://productcampaustin.org. For information on my session on Pricing and the 39 other great sessions, go to http://bit.ly/e6chc0. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business Improvement, Business Management, Financials, Growth Readiness, Marketing Strategy, Planning & Vision, Pricing, Sales Tagged With: Austin, Best Practices, Competition Pricing, Contignecy, Cost-based Pricing, Flinch Point, Hassle-factor, Platinum Profile Customers, Pricing, Pricing Skills, Pricing Strategy, ProductCamp Austin, Profitability, Right Ways to Price, Texas, True Total Costs, Value-based Pricing, Wrong Ways to Price

Why Lefties Make Better Salespeople

January 10, 2011 By Jan Triplett 4 Comments

Left-handers rule!

Left-handers rule!

My brother gave me a copy of A Left-Handed History of the World by Ed Wright for Christmas.  As my husband, Daniel, said, that’s much better than a previous gift of 101 Uses for a Dead Cat by Simon Bond. Others found it amusing, as a cat lover, I did not.

I am left-handed. It was interesting to read about other prominent lefties. Some of my favorites include: Queen Victoria, Charlie Chaplin, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Madame Curie, Henry Ford, Ramses the Great, and Joan of Arc. Several US presidents (Reagan, Ford, George W. Bush, and Clinton) were on the left – when it comes to hands at least. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business Growth, Business Improvement, Business Management, Growth Readiness, Marketing Strategy, Planning & Vision, Sales, Small Business/Entrepreneur History Tagged With: 101 Uses of a Dead Cat, A Left-Handed History of the World, Ambition, Connections, Customer-oriented, Ed Wright, Empathy, Fantasist, Good Salespeople, Hiring Sales Staff, Iconoclastic, Intuition, Lateral Thinking, Left-Handed, Percentage of Left-Handers, Prominent Left-handed People, Right-handed, Risk Takers, Sales, Simon Bond, Solitary, Spatial Ability, Successful Sales

Prospects Should Be Courteous

September 25, 2010 By Jan Triplett 2 Comments

I invited a business owner to come and talk to me about where he wanted to go with his business. I thought from what he told me about his concept that I might be able to help with his business vision and provide strategy that would get him the sales he wanted.

He accepted and he and his partners came — or most of them did.

Within a few minutes of starting our meeting, one of his partners began to get cell phone calls all of which he took. I consider that rude.

I deal only with small business owners. I know that calls can be critical and that owners feel they have to wear all the hats at first and do everything. I don’t mind if they need to take a short call or deal with an emergency.

However, if they are expecting an important call, then it would be courteous to let me know when we begin. I also think if the call is important enough to interrupt our meeting for some time, they should be courteous of my time and just reschedule. Things happen. I respect that. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business Growth, Growth Readiness, Sales Tagged With: Courtesy, Good Manners, Guts, Partners, Prospects, Rudeness, Small Business Owners

Think Before You Buy

January 21, 2010 By Jan Triplett 3 Comments

A message to my neighbors in Central Austin and to any community that has had to live with the fallout from having a big box store push its way in.

Northcross IBIZ District

Northcross IBIZ District

The first spade of dirt has been turned. The bulldozers are busy. The piles of broken asphalt and dry earth are mounting up.

When I try to make my normal walk from my office at the Chase Tower around the Northcross triangle, I can’t. There is a metal fence with a plain green cloth stretched from the middle of the parking lot all the way to Anderson. I can’t see what is happening except through holes where the cloth doesn’t fit quite tightly enough to exclude me. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Business Improvement, Growth Readiness, Networking, Sales, Small Business Advocacy Tagged With: a salon, AIBA, Alamo Drafthouse, Austin Independent Business Alliance, big box store, Body Business, Central Austsin, chain store, Chapparal Ice, Discount Electronics, Encore Records & Video, Garbo, Genuine Joe's, Go Dance Studio, good business neighbor, Hangtown Grill, Kids-N-Cats, Lamps & Accessories, Northcross IBIZ, profitable business, Responsible Growth for Northcross, Sandy's Shoes, Scandinavia Contemporary Design, Sea of Beads, Terra Toys, Thunderbird, Thundercloud Subs, Urban Living, WalMart, Yoga Yoga, Zinger Hardware

Making Decisions in Tough Times

October 30, 2009 By Jan Triplett 1 Comment

Everyone is struggling in this recession. I’ve given this presentation a couple of times now and received really good feedback. I help you figure out not only how you make decisions but also how your partner, boss, and customer make decisions. My premise is that if you know the motivations behind decision-making, you can achieve your goals much more efficiently.
Making Decisions in Tough Times
View more presentations from jantriplett.

Filed Under: Business Improvement, Business Management, Growth Readiness

What’s in a name?

August 15, 2009 By Jan Triplett Leave a Comment

Les Barker, poet & singer

When people start a business, one of the first things they try to come up with is a name. Why are names so important? Is a table still a table if you call it a chair? Comic poet and songwriter Les Barker has a piece called An Infinite Number of Occasional Tables —  because sometimes it’s a chair.

Seriously. More than ten years ago now one of our favorite clients decided the time had come to reconsider their name. They had almost 50 years of history and awards behind it. But, the name did not reflect what they did now. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Growth Readiness Tagged With: 40K feet, Business Management, business name, Hastings Communication Services, Les Barker, Owner's View, profitable business, transferable business

Meet BSC Satisfied Clients

  • Ana's Unlimited Foods

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  • Brytan & Associates, Inc.

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  • Dr. Angelique Millette, Child Sleep Expert

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/angelique-millette-new-phd-childrens-sleep-expert.png

  • Better Baseball Texas — Rope Bat™

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  • TeamFX Racing

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/teamfx-gary02.jpg

  • No Time for Social

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4389-1.jpg

  • Happy Vegan

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  • Howie Richey, Author

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/h-with-4-books.jpg

  • Trout Green Technologies, Inc.

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/trout-green-432x250-1.jpg

  • Tweed Scott, Author

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/tweed-scott-author.jpg

  • Patricia's Lunchbox

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/screen-shot-2015-09-28-at-95543-am.png

  • Andrew Eisenberg, Michael Best, IP Attorneys

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4526-1.jpg

  • Paula Pierce, PPierce Law

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/Paula-Pierce.jpg

  • Sri & Usha Boddapu, Esolvit

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/Esolvit-Economic-Engine-award-2017-from-GAACC-received-by-Sri-Rao-Boddapu-and-Usha-Boddapu.jpeg

  • Dawn Weathersby, Marketing Consultant

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_4426-e1469830257759.jpg

  • 360 Signs

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/downtown-client-pics-003-432x250.jpg

  • Austin Pro Photo

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/DSC5535-Edit.jpg

  • Cosmo City Media

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  • Stage Alliance

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/stage-alliance.jpg

  • Deborah Main Designs

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  • Saffire Events

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  • Team NFP Software & Solutions

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  • Journyx

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/journyx432x250.jpg

  • Mane Street Bakery

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/mane-street-bakery.jpg

  • Innox Digital

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/matiascarrasco432x250.jpg

  • Hayes SW Systems

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/hayesswsystemstrimmed.jpg

  • Business Tutor, LLC

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/karen3.jpg

  • INTUVI

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  • Gilfus Racing Enterprises

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/gilfus-racing-enterprises.jpg

  • Art + Artisans

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/artartisans.jpg

  • GEO+

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/man02432x250.jpg

  • The Herb Bar

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  • Exploring New Media

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  • Busivid

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  • Gold Scaffold

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/gold-scaffold.jpg

  • Sumpter and Gonzalez, Attorneys

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/sumpter-and-gonzalez-attorneys-432x250.jpg

  • SOAP

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/soap-jp432x250.jpg

  • TTM Enterprises, Inc

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/BSC2005-Toni-Martin.jpg

  • Sledge Engineering

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/sledge-engineering432x250.jpg

  • Brite Ideas

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/brite-ideas-staff432x250.jpg

  • Gryphon Graphics

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/gryphon-graphics.jpg

  • PRE Management

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/pre-management.jpg

  • DrakeLight Photography

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/drakelight-photography.jpg

  • FalconDay Consulting

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/laurafaulkner432x2502.jpg

  • INSolve, Inc.

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/homeville.jpg

  • Mane Street Bakery

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/mane-street-bakery432x250.jpg

  • Natalie Howe Designs

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/natalie-howe-designs.jpg

  • 6th Street Smiles

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/austin-6th-st-smiles432x250-432x250.jpg

  • PC Doctors

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  • StageSpot

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  • Morningside Research

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  • Paradise Bay

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  • Allscapes Lawncare

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  • Mark Word Design

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  • OMS Global

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  • Leverage Communications

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  • J B Goodwin

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  • Independent Brewing Company

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  • GlobalTrain

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  • Forklift.com

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  • FireFly LED Lighting

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  • PC+

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  • Lara Executive Image

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  • Trish's Delish

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  • Stone Technologies

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  • Stellar Systems

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  • Savor the Success

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  • RSK International

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/rsk-international.jpg

  • Dr Suzi Du Toit

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  • StockRoller, Inc

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  • Innovative Healthcare Solutions

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  • Webber - Studio

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  • Wildly Natural

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  • CSI-Texas, Inc

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  • CowBob Productions

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/cowbob-productions.jpg

  • CIS Inventory Solutions

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/cis-inventory-solutions.jpg

  • SamePageResults

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/charles-knickerbocker-and-associates.jpg

  • Caudillo Studios / Get the Picture

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/caudillo-studiosget-the-picture.jpg

  • Barebac

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/barebac.jpg

  • Austin Yoga Arts

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/austin-yoga-arts.jpg

  • Austin EnviroSolutions

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/austin-envirosolutions.jpg

  • Art of Jamie Rood

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/art-of-jamie-rood.jpg

  • TexFX

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/texfx.jpg

  • PRE Management

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  • Ace on Hold

    http://ownersview.com/wp-content/uploads/slideshow-gallery/ace-on-hold.jpg

  • Go Local Austin

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  • CIS Asset Solutions

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Upcoming Events

EVENTS

BSC's Global Success Forum™ RSVP & Info
Direct Link or dial in: United States: +1 (312) 757-3121
Access Code: 685-053-101

(Forums are held on the 1st Thursday of the month, 11am Central with a focus session led by a mentor expert in that issue and lots of time for other attendees to talk about their business, comment, and share their expertise.)

• Nov. 3 BSC Success Forum, 11am Central. Mentor Bill Combes, owner of No Time for Social, shares his most favorite and least favorite business tech solutions BY NAME. We've been waiting for this!
• Dec. 1 BSC's Annual Blow Your Own Horn event, 11am Central. Great Attendee PR opportunity. Tell us about your business, your expertise, your successes!
• Jan. 5, 2023: BSC Quarterly Lean™ Success Forum, 11am Central:
You suggest and choose the business topics. Dave Nave, Dave Nave & Associates, and Jan Triplett, CEO, BSC lead the open discussion with ideas, feedback, and examples from all attendees and make connections.
Bring your topics or send them to Dave in advance to dave@davenave.com.
............
BSC Wisdom Webinar & Work Sessions Coming up

3rd Thursday monthly except November and December, 11-Noon Central.

This is always a mentoring and work session with input from attendees. RSVP to get the recording and transcript even if you don't attend.

Webinar and Work session leader: Jan Triplett, Ph.D., CBTAC, and CEO of BSC, author, entrepreneur, advocate, speaker, and inventor.

The purpose of each BSC Wisdom webinar and practical work session is to focus on shared experiences and expertise. Walk away with ideas and connections.

• Nov. 10, What to do after the close 11am Central. The close is not the end of the deal; it's the beginning. What can you do to ensure that everyone starts out and stays excited about your product or service? How can you get your next client before you start with this one? Just a few of the ideas we'll toss around.
RSVP

No December Wisdom Webinar. In January we begin our special great business operations series, Success Management Guide.

Be sure to check out our five blogs with posts to help you grow!
• Business Improvement
• Business Tools
• Growth Readiness
• Networking
• Small Business Advocacy

And our free resources and business owner success assessments.

 

ALERT!

SAM (Small and Mighty), OUR BSC LEGISLATIVE WATCHDOG, SUGGESTS:

VOTE! Early or on Nov. 8!

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