Investing is easy, right?  You just buy low and sell high.  It’s a simple concept, easy to understand, but hard to execute. 

The reason it is so hard to execute is that you typically have virtually no control over the growth and value of your investment after you purchase it.

There is an exception to the “no control” problem.  It is your own business.  But most business owners don’t look at their business as their investment.  They look at it as their job.

Sure, it’s a job, but it’s also an investment.  It is an investment of time, effort, money, hard work, and family sacrifice.

I’ve worked with and advised business owners for many years, and the number one reason they give me for wanting to be in business for themselves is that they can control their own destiny.

Guess what!

The number one complaint I get from business owners is that they feel trapped, not having enough time to do all that needs to be done. 

They have to work all the time, and their personal life and their family life suffers.

What’s wrong with this picture?

This is what’s wrong: Business owners are so busy at their job, that they fail to manage their investment.

I look at thousands of businesses every year, and more than 80% of those businesses cannot be sold for any price. 

In essence, they’re worthless as an investment. 

Would you hold an investment for 10, 20, 30 years or more of your life if you knew when you wanted to sell it or were forced to sell that it would be worthless?

Chances are 4 to 1 that you’re doing just that, unless you now, or will in the future, manage your business as an investment.

Contact me now for a free consultation!

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Picture your satisfied customer sitting on a three-legged stool.  If all three legs are the same length, your customer sits upright and comfortable.  If either leg is shorter or longer than the other, your customer will not sit comfortably, and is likely to slide off your stool and right out your front door.

The three legs on a satisfied customer’s stool are:

• Price
• Quality
• Service

Your price should be justified by the quality of your product and the adequacy of your service.

A customer cannot reasonably expect your company to have the lowest price, the highest quality, and the best service.  That is an unrealistic expectation.

You cannot reasonably expect to fetch the highest price without the finest quality and the best service.  That also is an unrealistic expectation.

In all cases, these three essentials of a customer transaction should balance.

If you charge a higher price because your product or service is a quality one, then you must provide service to match.

Don’t be afraid to charge a higher price if your product or service deserves it, but be sure your marketing communicates your quality and service to your customers.

Avoid reducing your price just because your competition does.  That is a formula for disaster.

Focus instead on quality and service, and price your product or service accordingly.