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Stephen is the CEO of Predictive ROI and host of the Onward Nation podcast. He is the author of two bestselling books, speaker, trainer, and his digital marketing insights have been featured in SUCCESS, Entrepreneur, The Washington Post, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and other media.
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Good Morning Onward Nation\\u2026Stephen Woessner here.
\\nWe all know that building and scaling a business is hard work\\u2026but when you have the right strategy \\u2014 the right recipe for success to follow \\u2014 the action steps become more like \\u201cingredients\\u201d and can be added systematically into your business \\u2014 one ingredient at a time.
\\nAfter 20+ years of owning five companies, and having an opportunity to work with and interview some of today\\u2019s top business owners here on Onward Nation, I\\u2019ve noticed 12 reoccurring themes \\u2013 or master success strategies \\u2014 that come up over and over again because they have contributed to the success of our amazing and incredible guests at Onward Nation.
\\nDuring today\\u2019s solocast, I am going to share the 5 of the 12 strategies with you. Unfortunately, I cannot cover all 12 due to time constraints \\u2014 but \\u2014 we created a free eBook to go along with today\\u2019s episode that covers all 12 strategies and how to apply them right away. You can download the 12 Success Strategies eBook here.
\\nSome of the strategies are simple and will only take a minute or two to cover, which also makes them pretty easy to put into practice inside your business.
\\nAnd there are several strategies that will require a long explanation. But I will guide you through the step-by-step to putting each strategy into practice.
\\nI decided to dedicate today\\u2019s solocast to these Success Strategies because during each episode of Onward Nation \\u2014 our guests share lessons with you on how to make your business more systematic, repeatable, measurable \\u2013 and successful!
\\nBut, as Onward Nation has grown and enjoyed some success \\u2014 and thank you for listening and being part of the ever-growing nation \\u2014 the amount of data and recommendations is starting to grow rapidly. The eBook represents a distillation of some of the best strategies shared by our incredible guests \\u2014 from episode 1 to episode 92.
\\nSo let me know what you think of this solocast \\u2014 please download the 12 Success Strategies eBook \\u2014 and drop me a line.
\\nI recognize that getting better is a process. As Vince Lombardi said,
\\n\\n\\n\\u201cThe man on top of the mountain didn\\u2019t fall there.\\u201d
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So I would greatly appreciate your feedback \\u2014 thumbs up or thumbs down. Your feedback helps us get better every day so please keep it coming.
\\nOkay, Onward Nation\\u2026here we go\\u2026the 5 Success Strategies of Today\\u2019s Top Business Owners.
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\\nWay back in episode #1, Scott McKain shocked me when he said,
\\n\\n\\n\\u201cStephen, a business owner will find success if they are willing to fire the \\u2018destructive customer\\u2019.\\u201d
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Which if you have studied Scott\\u2019s books and curriculum \\u2014 you know this is a rather counterintuitive thing for him to say. Scott is all about exceeding a customer\\u2019s expectations \\u2014 creating that distinctive experience so customers are compelled to come back instead of visiting your competition.
\\nSo firing a customer \\u2014 where did that come from?
\\nScott when on to explain to me that destructive customers want to buy products or services outside of your company\\u2019s core offering. And they push you to deliver.
\\nDestructive customers are demanding and time-consuming.
\\nOftentimes, this becomes detrimental to your company\\u2019s ability to serve other customers because you are spending so much time trying to satisfy one set of needs.
\\nAnd when he said that\\u2026I thought\\u2026 \\u201cOohhhh. Darn it. Been there. Scott is so right.\\u201d
\\nBut Scott took it deeper by also sharing how each of us can protect or business from The Destructive Customer.
\\nAccording to Scott\\u2026most business owners aren\\u2019t willing to say \\u201cno\\u201d to a destructive customer.
\\nWhy?
\\nBecause the fear of losing those sales is a near and present danger to cash flow. And by the way, Onward Nation\\u2026the fear of losing sales is the Fear of Poverty creeping back in. If you are listening for the first time, the Fear of Poverty is one of the 6 fears we all struggle with from time to time \\u2014 sometimes consistently \\u2014 throughout our business and life.
\\nAll 6 Fears are documented and explained in depth by Napoleon Hill in his groundbreaking book, Think & Grow Rich, published in 1937 and still just a relevant today. I also do a deep dive into the Fear of Poverty in episode 65 of Onward Nation.
\\nSo how do we protect ourselves?
\\nYou as the business owner have to be bold and courageous enough to go an \\u201cInch wide and a mile deep\\u201d with your company\\u2019s expertise instead of trying to be everything to everyone.
\\nDeveloping deep expertise will give you the ability to command a premium price for what you do at your company \\u2013 and in the process \\u2013 you will attract the right customers.
\\nAnd then you will be better equipped to say no to the destructive customer because you will no longer be in a position of need to take on whatever business you can get.
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\\nBusiness owners will find success if they become master storytellers through mentorship\\u2026and that is another powerful lesson I learned from one of my mentors, Don Yaeger.
\\nYou hear me talk about Don and his influence on nearly every episode of Onward Nation. AndDon is the one who said during episode #2,
\\n\\n\\n\\u201cStephen, the reality is\\u2026whoever tells the best story wins.\\u201d
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Onward Nation, learning the principles of storytelling will help you clearly articulate your journey to yourself, to your employees, to customers, and to all of the stakeholders in your business.
\\nMentorship is an invaluable asset that directly correlates and strengthens your ability to storytell because of the experience sharing and growth you will go through when you find the right mentor.
\\nROADBLOCK\\u2026don\\u2019t get stuck in the mental trap of thinking you need to find mentors exclusively from within your industry.
\\nOne of my closest and most trusted advisors at Predictive ROI is John Lyche \\u2014 and he does not come from the digital marketing space. He has built a career in excellent in manufacturing, distribution, and product innovation.
\\nAnd he is an expert in scaling a small company into a large company.
\\nOh, awesome \\u2014 I want to learn those things\\u2026and he has been an incredible mentor and teacher. Because the lessons of how to scale effectively transcend industry \\u2014 so don\\u2019t make the mistake \\u2014 don\\u2019t fall into the trap of thinking that your business \\u2014 your industry is so unique and different and no one outside of it could offer valuable insights.
\\nAnd that is why Don shared that oftentimes the most enlightening lessons are learned from those who can offer you a completely different perspective.
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\\nRemember Onward Nation\\u2026a good mentee takes action on what is learned!
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\\nSo many of our Onward Nation guests have this strategy in common.
\\nThe reality is Onward Nation, we will find success by eating rejection for lunch and ignoring the naysayers. Ignore the doubters. Ignore the people who say you\\u2019re not good enough \\u2014 that you can\\u2019t do it \\u2014 that you don\\u2019t have the pedigree, the education, the background to get it done.
\\nMy grandfather immigrated to this country from Istanbul, Turkey in 1920\\u2026couldn\\u2019t speak the language and he had $10 in his pocket. He cut lettuce and washed dishes on the night shift at a Canton, Ohio restaurant\\u2026gritted it out\\u2026then moved to the day shift as a cook so he could make more money. And in 6 years\\u2026he had saved enough money to open his own restaurant\\u2026that he ran for over 40 years\\u2026including running the business through the Great Depression.
\\nOnward Nation\\u2026you have to refuse to take \\u201cNO\\u201d for an answer \\u2014 you have to break through the fears, doubts, worries, struggles \\u2013 those pits in your stomach.
\\nAnd as Stacey Alcorn shared with us in episode #3\\u2026.she said\\u2026
\\n\\n\\n\\u201cStephen, when you feel that fear and doubt are creeping in \\u2013 let them be your signs \\u2013 that you are headed in the right direction \\u2013 and it is time to slam the gas down on the floor!\\u201d
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One of my favorite quotes of all time is \\u201cFear and procrastination are the enemies of success\\u201d.
\\nMy cousin, Dean Bacopoulos shared that with me when he and I were partners in a dot com together back in the late nineties. And I never forgot it. I have it now framed in my office as a constant reminder to the great wisdom in those words.
\\nSo how do we break through the fear of rejection?
\\nHere are three simple steps.
\\nStep #1: Refuse to accept \\u201cNO\\u201d as an answer.
\\nStep #2: See step 1. Rinse and repeat.
\\nBreaking through the initial stage of dismay will allow you to pursue your biggest dreams.
\\nSuccess, Onward Nation, will come to those who refuse to accept \\u201cNO\\u201d as an answer.
\\nYou will overcome your apprehension and gain the freedom to decide that NOW is your time \\u2014 it\\u2019s time to take action toward your dreams.
\\nIt\\u2019s not rocket science. The only way to truly ensure success is to \\u201cwork your face off\\u201d. As Gary Vaynerchuk likes to say.
\\nThere are no shortcuts. This is not an easy way to conquer and achieve your biggest goals. It takes persistence and tenacity.
\\nSuccess takes GRIT, Onward Nation.
\\nSurround yourself with mentors, books, training resources, and trusted networks will be invaluable to getting the feedback you need to grow your business.
\\nOwning a business is not always pretty \\u2014 but everyone has to start somewhere \\u2013 so don\\u2019t compare yourself to others who have been doing it longer than you.
\\nIn the interest of time\\u2026I\\u2019m going to fast forward to Strategy #9: Good Execution Ensures Success.
\\n[Remember\\u2026we will email you the entire eBook that has all 12 Success Strategies. You can request it here.]
\\nSteve Olson, our guest on episode 15 said to me, \\u201cGood execution ensures success. Plain and simple.\\u201d
\\nA simple but very powerful lesson.
\\nOnward Nation\\u2026you can read all the books, craft an incredibly detailed business plan, and put all of the pieces into place for that product launch\\u2026but unless you execute and do the good work\\u2026you will not be successful.
\\nJerry Rice, the hall of fame NFL wide receiver famously said\\u2026
\\n\\n\\n\\u201cToday I will do what others won\\u2019t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can\\u2019t.\\u201d
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And yes to say, it\\u2019s all about commitment to sound cliche \\u2014 but it is the truth.
\\nSo should we approach this \\u2014 what are the tactical steps to ensure success? Here are four to put into practice right away?
\\nRemember, your success depends upon your ability to convert the recommendations from your advisors, and the strategies you develop, into actionable items.
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\\nTwo really amazing guests, Stacey Alcorn\\u2026episode #3 and Nancy Marshall\\u2026episode 19 are the queens of building impressive networks!
\\nBoth Stacey and Nancy shared how business owners can and will find success by building their network of personal relationships \\u2014 and \\u2014 by being strategic about who you meet and who you spend your time with.
\\nDuring my interview with Nancy\\u2026she shared a very powerful story about how when her agency, Nancy Marshall Communications had lost a key account, it was her network that pulled her through those dark times. And now that once lost client \\u2014 is back at her agency \\u2014 and business is better than ever. But without a strong network in place \\u2014 the temporary loss could have been devastating.
\\nSo how should we go about building a network?
\\nPay close attention to the little details, show gratitude, and make sure to nurture your relationships over time.
\\nFocus on clients, vendors, and most importantly family.
\\nKeep a gratitude journal to remain consistent with your relationship building.
\\nPlan strategically, identify your goals, and then measure your success along the way and then follow the interview and publish the recipe that Stacey Alcorn mapped out for you in episode 3. Put that into practice and you will see your network, your platform, and your influence grow\\u2026nearly exponentially.
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\\nPlease drop me a line and let me know what you thought. You can share your comments at the bottom of the show notes for this episode \\u2013 or \\u2013 you can email me anytime at Stephen @ onwardnation.com and yes \\u2013 that is my actual email address \\u2013 comes directly to me \\u2013 no fancy filter, routing, or sorting\\u2026comes right to my Inbox.
\\nFeel free to use it anytime.
\\nLet me know\\u2026thumbs up or thumbs down?
\\nI will be back tomorrow with my interview with Mitch Matthews \\u2014 and oh my word \\u2014 it is a conversation you don\\u2019t want to miss.
\\nUntil then\\u2026onward with gusto!
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\\nYou can also find us here: ------ OnwardNation.com ------
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