022 The One with Tim Fulton
Our guest today is Tim Fulton, my Vistage coach. Tim is the Vistage Chair to some of the most successful CEOs in Atlanta. It\u2019s why in 2013 he launched the Small Business Matters Conference, which has become an all-star, exclusive gathering that attracts some of the best small business owners in the state. And it\u2019s why he\u2019s a tireless advocate for small businesses, every single day. Small Business Matters\xa0is owned and operated in Atlanta, Georgia by\xa0Tim Fulton. Tim is a nationally-recognized small business coach, consultant, and advocate. He has been involved in the field of entrepreneurship for over three decades\xa0as a successful business owner, small business counselor, and adjunct university professor. Vistage is an international membership organization for company CEO\u2019s and Presidents that provides a very unique growth experience for its members. In addition, Tim is a facilitator for the University of Georgia SBDC\u2019s\xa0GrowSmart\xa0training program, which is designed for growth-oriented small business owners, operators, and executives.
Each year, he celebrates small business with the Small Business Matters Conference, gathering his tribe and beyond to dedicate a day to the development and success of the businesses that drive the U.S. economy. Small business stimulates international trade, helps the young get started, and encourages innovation. In today\u2019s episode Tim is sharing on what Vistage is but the short of it is that in business we\u2019re really good at what we do but we don't know what we don't know about business and it was with that that I went looking for somebody like Tim. He\u2019s also talking to us about GrowSMART. Give it a listen!
\xa0
Timestamps:
Tim tells us what it means to be a small business coach [05:46]
Understand what GrowSMART and Vistage is and does [06:30]
Myths that surround small business and ownership [08:08]
Find out whether running a business ever gets easier [11:54.]
The importance of keeping score and what to be keeping score on [15:54.]
Identifying certain key performance indicators within the business [16:38]
Establishing the vision of the business through the owner and the employees. [18:38]
The importance of having a business plan [21:52]
Advice for multi-generational/ family businesses [25:30]
Discover what an exit plan is and why it\u2019s essential [29:20]
Thinking of your business as a game and sharing financials with your employees [33:05]
The signs of beginning to know what you don\u2019t know [37:35]
Hear what were the last three books Tim read [39:07]
Top three business book to read, according Tim [42:50]
Find out more about Tim\u2019s books, Small Business Matters and Small Business Matters and All That Jazz\xa0[44:43]
The benefits of doing stand-up comedy and improv in the sales community [50:30]
Why Tim would want to talk to Ben Franklin [51:20]
Why to always to listen and act on that voice in the back of your head [53:35]
\xa0
Quotes:
\u201cI am constantly learning from my clients and my members.\u201d - Tim Fulton
\u201cThe growth paradox is the assumption that as a company grows it\u2019s going to get easier.\u201d - Tim Fulton
\u201cThink of your business as a game and any good game, we\u2019re going to keep score.\u201d - Tim Fulton
\u201cIn business we\u2019re really good water treaters but we don't know what we don't know about business.\u201d - Trace Blackmore
\xa0
Connect with Tim Fulton:
Website: smallbusinessmattersonline.com
LinkedIn: in/timcfulton
Twitter: @tf_sbm
\xa0
Links Mentioned:
AWT Young Professionals & SEED Group
AWT Convention\xa0
IWC Conferences\xa0
\xa0
Books to Read:
Michael Gerber\u2019s book, The E-myth\xa0
Seth Stephens-Davidowitz\u2019s book, Everybody Lies
Charles Duhigg\u2019s book, The Power of Habit
Bo Burlingham\u2019s book, Finish Big
Jim Collins\u2019s book, Good To Great
Stephen Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Tim\u2019s book, Small Business Matters
Tim\u2019s book, Small Business Matters and All That Jazz
\xa0