Small businesses and entrepreneurs often get stuck. This deck gives concrete tips for moving business forward. Worksheets are available by contacting Terri S. Turner.

1. FastTrac© Forward
Kansas Women’s Business Center
April 17, 2012
To Dos and Not To Dos
That Move Business Forward

2. FastTrac© Forward
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Embracing Mistakes

3. To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Embracing Mistakes – To Dos
• Tweak and refine image and branding for at
FastTrac© Forward
least a year
• Test market place response by conducting lots
of reality research
• Trust your gut
• Remember everyone has an opinion, so filter
with your strategic sieve
• Use your mission and core values as a
benchmark for yes and no
• NO is a good thing
• Remember you are an expert with value

4. Embracing Mistakes – Not To Dos
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
FastTrac© Forward
• Go in with your eyes closed
• Forget WIFM
• Lose your passion
• Stop seeking solutions and resources
• Compare yourself to “Susie Seems So
Successful”
• Be afraid of change
• Dismiss the customer

5. FastTrac© Forward
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Do It. See It.

6. Do It. See It. Then You Will Believe It
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
FastTrac© Forward
• URL, website, social media and digital
footprint
• Practice: “I am founder, owner, genius
behind, creator of….”
• Network
• Cultivate Circles of Influence
• Complete TST Business Basics Worksheet
•

7. Do It. See It. - To Dos
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
FastTrac© Forward
• Define success
• Follow up
• Benchmark
• Accountability
• Track
• Flexibility to stay the course or detour
• Celebrate

8. Do It, See It. - Not To Dos
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
FastTrac© Forward
• Get derailed by shiny object syndrome
• Lose focus listening to everyone’s opinion
• Forget you and your sieve
• Fall subject to: FEAR - False Evidence
Appearing Real

9. FastTrac© Forward
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Entrepreneur Realities

10. FastTrac© Forward
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Entrepreneur Truths
1. Solopreneur doesn’t have to be solo
2. Home office doesn’t have to always be at
home
3. Money is always a concern
4. “No” is one more step toward “Yes”
5. Hours are 24/7
6. Understand how to strike when the iron is hot
7. A plan is worthless without the follow up plan
8. It takes three to five years to turn a profit

11. FastTrac© Forward
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Entrepreneur Realities – To Dos
• Set weekly, quarterly, yearly goals
• Find an infrastructure that works for you
• Invest in free – then upsell
• Take advantage of Kansas City’s rich resources
• Set limits and boundaries (ie: repeated prospect
coffee appointments)
• Include and balance client/customer, business
development, pipeline, present and future in
weekly activity
• Research

12. To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Entrepreneur Realities – Not To Dos
• Neglect the 90-day pipeline particularly when
FastTrac© Forward
success is at your door
• Forget “you” time
• Underestimate your value and the value of
your product/service
• Misunderstand the value of free, nor the cost
of free
• Forget or shy away from “the ask”
• Lose sight of your personal mission, your
passion, your commitment to your dream

13. FastTrac© Forward
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Resources

14. To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Kansas City Small Business Resources
Women’s Business Center
FastTrac© Forward
Aspire KC
KC Source Link Smart Connect KC
Non Profit Connect ACA (American Club
Association)
Chambers of Commerce
ECJC
Johnson County
Laura Wynn Linking
Community College
Professionals
-- KSBDC
Constant Contact (Paige Cahill)
-- Entrepreneurship Program
Thinking Bigger Events &
StartKC Calendar
eWomen Network Kauffman Foundation

15. FastTrac© Forward
To Dos & Not To Dos That Move Business Forward
Online Resources
LinkedIn Groups
Google Alerts
hubspot.com
chrisbrogan.com
hbr.org
Inc.com
grammar-monster.com

16. Thank You
FastTrac© Forward
Kansas Women’s Business Center
Terri S Turner
April 17, 2012
terri@terristurner.com
913.406.8636
Website:
terristurner.com
Facebook: facebook.com/tstbusinessstrategies
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/terristurner