Discover the one thing that entrepreneurs like Brad Fallon, John Carlton, Ali Brown, Mark Victor Hansen, Rich Schefren are doing to leap forward that you can now benefit from.

No it’s not another fancy marketing strategy or sales tip…its how finding and creating a thriving, profitable partnership.

Join Melanie in this month’s ULTIMATE Wealth & Success Circle Wealth Mentor call as she reveals how some of the best success stories in the industry attain explosive growth…without having to do it all themselves and saving tons of cash in the process!

Melanie has personally produced over $500k in revenue in the last 18 months, skyrocketed her credibility and blown the doors off typical industry results by building the right partnerships.

In this month’s call you’ll discover:

• The type of partnership that is best one for you (it’s probably not the one you think it is.)
• How to leverage your strengths without paying thousands to outsource or delegate to an expert.
• What 5 things you must look for when partnering with someone else (if you don’t know this it could cost you thousands of dollars and massive grey hair!)
• A simple technique to split profits so both partners have a win-win (and everyone makes tons of cash.)
• The one trap that over 60% of entrepreneurs fall into when picking a partner that can sabotage your results.

This Exclusive Monthly Wealth Mentor Call is on Wednesday, July 15, 2009.

This call is FR*EE for all ULTIMATE Wealth & Success Circle members. Not a member? Join now to access this call with Melanie.

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So how do all those people with thriving business partnerships make it work?

They put some very specific elements into action early in the arrangement. Now, these elements will vary slightly depending on the type of business partnership you’ve entered into. But in general these building blocks will set any partnership up to thrive.

Building Block #1 – Complimentary Strengths

The first important piece is clarifying what both parties bring to the table. Are you aligning with someone who is your “compliment” or your “clone?” Typically for a partnership to thrive you need to have different strengths and assets that complement each other. For instance, one partnership that is set up to thrive is a company called NAME OF COMPANY. They have three partners, each with their own specialty: operations, marketing, visionary & creator.

Action: When evaluating someone as a partner, create a list of strengths and passions for each person. Make sure they compliment vs. being identical or having too much overlap.

Building Block #2 - Clarity of Roles

I’ve counseled many great entrepreneurs over the years on how to address the sticky issues between them and their partner and the common breakdown was always a lack of clarity around “who does what.” Many years ago I worked with a husband and wife team that constantly got into major wars over who was doing what that slowed progress down and left them both emotionally drained. Unfortunately both of them really enjoyed creating and no one wanted to do the operations. The remedy that finally worked was putting into place clearly defined roles as well as outsourcing a majority of the operations management to a 3rd person.

Action: Start the partnership off right by putting the partners names by each “function” of the business they will manage and creating role descriptions.

Building Block #3 - Agreements

I know it sounds kinda icky and very “formal” but having a written agreement of how you will operate together is essential for good will. Many years ago I was in discussions with a good friend on creating a partnership to deliver some high level programs. We got bogged down when it came to me wanting to create a written agreement. This person thought it was too “formal.” I decided to exit the discussions. A written agreement acts as a grounding tool for all parties to truly think through how you want certain operational and financial aspects to be handled. It’s really easy to keep it all in your head than if something goes awry and have a “he said/she said” situation.

Action: Document your agreements of how you will work together and handle areas of potential confusion or conflict in writing. If the value is over $25,000, consider getting legal advice.

Building Block #4 - Communication

Imagine having someone inside your business that affects your bottom line – who continually makes decisions in a vacuum. You find out about these decisions when the bill arrives or the deadline is past due. This happens all the time in fast-paced organizations where the partner(s) don’t slow down to have regular, consistent communication. One company I coached recently was so broken that the founder refused to follow any kind of communication protocols – it was just not “fun” for him. The impact to the other partner was a complete loss of morale, extra work and a continued contemplation of leaving the partnership.

Action: Determine a mutually-beneficial communication process such as a weekly or monthly meeting; email or documented “update” system. The small amount of time it takes to be proactive will have HUGE payoffs in the long run.

Building Block #5 - Respect

This may sound obvious…but I’ve learned it’s not. If you don’t respect someone it’s hard to like them. If you don’t like someone then you will most likely not want to be around them very much. I can’t imagine a more tedious and stressful situation than to have a partner that you don’t want to be around. Having a respect for the person(s) you partner with is critical to thriving and being profitable.

Action: Tell yourself the truth – do you respect and like the person you work with. If not, get out (or don’t start anything). It’s just that simple. Really.

Building Block #6 - Exit Strategy

You’ve probably heard over and over again how important it is to start with the end in mind. As a matter of fact, industry statistics show that 70 – 80% of business partnerships fail within the first five years. That’s almost as staggering as the California divorce statistics! Let’s take a hint from our marital legal community – get a pre-nup. If you’ve got assets to lose, start your “marriage” with clarity on how it will end. I know, I know not a very positive mindset but the truth is that many partnerships fail. So get agreement up front while everyone is still happy and agreeable on how you would handle someone wanting to leave or if you choose to dissolve the partnership.

Action: Create a written exit plan as part of your agreement. Determine how you will handle money, intellectual property and assets. Look at all possible scenarios and address them. Again, get legal support if necessary.

Now it’s your turn. If you have a partnership or are entering into one, what’s the building block you need help with? Share it in the comments below. Or, join us at the ULTIMATE Wealth & Success Circle “Wealth Mentor” call this month were I’ll be tackling all your questions about finding and enjoying a long-term, thriving, profitable partnership.

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It’s time to turn your business that’s more like a J.O.B. into the profitable, exciting venture you wanted in the first place.

Announcing the New & Improved
ULTIMATE Wealth & Success Circle

Let me ask you a simple question… Do you have a business that consistently delivers in the high six and seven figures that can run without you?

If not, then it’s time to turn this situation around *immediately.* The economy is getting ready to turn and it’s perfectly positioned for you – the creative entrepreneur. But if you don’t have the time and money to invest in the right strategies to thrive today…then you don’t really have a business. You have a job.

Can you relate to one of these statements?

• You can’t get you cash flow under control – one month you’re flying high and the next you can’t pay your bills.
• You find yourself working 60, 70, 80 hours a week. Worse, even when you aren’t working, you find yourself thinking (or stressing) about your business.
• You need a vacation (or even a long weekend off) but you don’t feel like you can get away.
• You have a to-do list a mile long, but somehow you never manage to cross more than one or two things off that list.
• You have tons of ideas and projects half-started but nothing completed (and worse, not making any money).

If You Answered YES to any of these questions, then you want to join the New & Improved ULTIMATE Wealth & Success Circle.

For the next 7 days, you can take advantage of this unprecedented offer:

Get 50% off your membership price.
You can save up to $150 and start enjoying more freedom immediately!

Join Now at http://tinyurl.com/uwscfreedomspecial

Be one of the first 25 and you will also receive a special bonus gift from me:
A copy of my never released “The ULTIMATE Guide to Highly Leveraged Speaking.”

The only resource on the planet that reveals how to select the highest payoff speaking opportunities and the toolkit to manage your gigs with seamless effort.

**This is the ONLY Coaching Program in the Industry That Actually Provides you Implementation Support AND Proven Business Growth Resources**

What could you accomplish this year with a trained coach by your side supporting you in making the best decisions for your time and money while focusing you on playing your biggest game ever? Not to mention the million dollar ideas you’ll tap into through our Wealth Mentor calls, the time you’ll save with our step-by-step business growth tool kit plus and a difference coaching like this could make to your business.

Find out how others have thrived with the ULTIMATE Wealth & Success Circle membership at http://tinyurl.com/uwscfreedomspecial

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The Recession Proof Marketing Strategy: Marketing to Millionaires™
“7 PROVEN Strategies to Attract, Sell, Service and Retain Affluent
Clients”

In a hurry? Register now at
http://marketingtomillionairesretreat.com/melanie

In case you don’t know Kelly, she’s the million dollar marketing to
the affluent coach who helps service businesses earn more and work
less. (Yes, really).

If you’re like most small business owners we hear from, you’re
working harder than ever - only to match the results you had a year
ago…if you are lucky. Compared to how it’s going now, finding
clients before was a piece of cake. But now, it’s starting to feel
a lot like trying to squeeze water out of a rock.

In this Teleseminar you will discover:

• How to identify one of the 4 key market segments of the affluent population (and they aren’t necessarily who you think they are).

• The # 1 and #2 BIGGEST pet peeves of the affluent that will send them running for the hills and how to avoid it.

• The top 3 secret desires of the affluent, that most would never share with you themselves.

• How to position and strategically price your product and service offerings at a premium price that the affluent will say yes to without blinking.

• The best 3 strategies to market to the affluent that will end up saving you a tremendous amount of time, money and energy.

• The critical sales strategy that will close your affluent prospect 98% of the time.

• The top 3 strategies to deliver VIP service to your VIPs to turn then into raving fans that build your business for you.

To sign up now (or send me the call recording if I can’t make the
LIVE call with you), go to

http://www.marketingtomillionairesretreat.com/melanie

Hope to see you on the call!

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Customer service is often the first place businesses ignore because of the pressure to keep up in so many other areas. But it’s never been more important than now. If your business has lost a mom customer, here are some strategies to getting her back in the fold:

1. Offer a discount to give your business another try;

2. Write a long letter of apology and let her know you want her business back;

3. Make her feel cared about and special - the key to regaining trust.

Obviously these same techniques make sense when it comes to getting male customers back under your wing as well. That’s what is so wonderful about embracing these strategies that reach moms. We ALL benefit from a new and effective approach!

If you’re looking to reach the Mompreneur market, now there is a unique opportunity for some insider tips from other Mompreneurs who have been there and done that.

On February 5, Mompreneur superstars MaryPat Kavanagh and Lisa Sasevich are hosting a free preview call for a remarkable telesummit called *7 Secrets to Being a Savvy 6 to 7 Figure Mompreneur!*

Or just check out the whole enchilada at http://tinyurl.com/d9t7mk. From February 16 through the 25 there will be a marathon session of great advice and strategies from some of the most successful Mompreneurs in the business. Hope to hear you on the calls!

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Have you ever heard the saying the only thing in the way of your growth is yourself? As entrepreneurs, we often become the core lifeblood of our business. It’s our passion, our vision, our strengths and our motivation that gets us…and keeps us…successful.

So, then what the heck do you do when you get really big? I mean when your business finally takes off, you start making consistent six and seven figures…and you realize…there is no way you can continue to be the only lifeblood of the business?

Even if you hire a great team, put in a ton of systems and outsource everything that is not your core strength, you can’t get away from the fact that THIS IS YOUR BABY! It’s up to you to make it happen. I mean who will ever be more committed to your business being successful than you, right?

But unfortunately it’s that thinking that is keeping you smaller than you should be. If you are the only one that can make your business bigger and better then….

You have become the bottleneck to your massive growth!

It’s really important that you get this. The perfectly good strategies you used to get you to your current level of success will not work to get you to the next level of success. Here are three examples of entrepreneurs just like you who found this to be true for their business:

High Quality in High Demand

You provide a much-needed service to your clients. They like you, trust you and rely on you. Now you want to grow and outsource many of the key tasks and roles to your team of subcontractors (or employees) but your clients push back. Nope, they want you! They continue to work directly with you or require you as the lead on the project and you are stuck. You are the bottleneck.

The Superstar

You have a passion and/or strength for the service you offer. You mistakenly believe that getting down in the trenches every day is essential to train your team and build the trust of your clients. You personally take every customer service call that comes in– who else can better serve your clients, right? Every sales opportunity you handle personally – who else can sell your services better than you? You do such an excellent job that you generate tons of leads. But you are so “in the trenches” you can’t pull up long enough to handle them. Now you are at a growth impasse – you can’t manage it all if you want to grow.

The Fast Paced Visionary

You see exactly where you need to go with your business. You see what needs to happen every step of the way.  When you meet with your team you rattle off ideas, opportunities and tasks faster than a speeding bullet. The problem is…your team can’t keep up. Somehow your ideas get lost in translation. What is so obvious to you isn’t obvious to them. Your great ideas never quite get implemented fast enough so you feel that you are missing the boat (or they are just so slow they couldn’t possibly be right for your team.) You spend countless hours frustrated with the pace at which they are getting things done and at some point you just give up and start doing things yourself.

Any of this sound familiar?

These are all seemingly harmless ways in which we have the illusion we are doing the right thing to grow but what is really happening is we are stifling good strategies because we don’t know how to execute them properly.  The “how to be a mega-empire builder handbook” got lost in the mail and you are just winging it as you try to figure out better ways to grow your business quickly.

Yeah, sure, you’ve been following some gurus, buying some self-study materials, reading all the “right books.” Maybe you even went to a seminar or two or participated in a high level mastermind program. But you know it. Something still isn’t working right. I mean look at your results. You still aren’t there and you are working way harder than you want!

So now that I’ve gotten your attention, its time to solve this problem so you can get back on track with building your empire. The solution is just a step away…in this free manifesto I put together at www.theceofactormanifesto.com

I hope you will download it now, share it with everyone you can possibly think of, and then start to implement these strategies immediately so you can have the best year ever.

About the Coach:

Melanie Benson Strick, The Million Dollar Lifestyle Business Coach, teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, more freedom and more prestige.

Get the Entrepreneur’s Secret Weapon to revolutionize your results and get on the fast-track to a freedom based business at www.thepowerofthevirtualteam.com

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I’d love to know - share your thoughts here!

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Entrepreneurs are a funny breed. We thrive on creative energy. One of my clients told me not too long ago that her number one value was creativity. Which was true – it was the thing she does the most. But does it really serve her to continue to create?  

Just like the saying, “A strength overused becomes our greatest weakness,” too much creativity becomes our greatest weakness.  

Creativity is just a small part of what makes an entrepreneur successful. We get caught up in the web of “make more, do more” and we never know when to stop.  

So, how do we know if we’ve created enough?

During the last year I’ve seen a trend emerge within a small private group of entrepreneurs that I’ve been coaching. I’ve seen them tame the creative beast and transform it into something quite stellar. As they all approach (or pass) their 7 figure goals, they have realized that creativity alone does not make them a success.

What does work however is implementing what I call The CEO Factor™.  (In case you missed it, CEO stands for Chief Entrepreneurial Officer.) The CEO Factor™ is where entrepreneurs discover the missing link between a hobby business and a thriving, multi-million dollar empire.  Once you realize that creativity alone is not the answer then you have start asking some different questions.

• What will position you to have the impact you want to have on the world?
• Who do you have to BE to pull off making millions – without giving up your life?
• What do you have to do differently to finally achieve your big vision? 
   

Over the years I’ve found there are the four factors that distinguish the big players from the seekers. As you read them, notice which ones you think you already have and which ones you don’t think you’ve achieve yet.

Factor #1: Leverage. We all know we should delegate, have systems and automate to streamline our efforts. But, the kind of leverage I’m talking about here is more advanced. It’s what I call ruthless leverage. This step is where you remove all of the bottlenecks and allow projects, opportunities and leads to flow effortlessly. This stage of leverage requires you to have the CEO Mindset – a willingness to run your company today based on the business you desire (not the one you have now.)

Factor #2: Leadership. Unfortunately, many entrepreneurs are still “doing” too much and “leading” too little. How will you know when you have arrived at your destination if you are rowing the boat? Leaders hold the vision and set the direction. Leaders attract the right players to help achieve the vision. Leaders bring progress and they hold the space for others to step up and do what they do best. Once I realized this and learned that part of leading was about allowing the others on my team to take charge and use their gifts to the best of their ability, I was able to step out of the way from the tasks that drained me and wasted my time and work on fulfilling the bigger vision. 

Factor #3: Lifestyle. I’ve always said you can’t stuff a life into a busy business. But you can create a business to support your ideal life. Starting with the end in mind is part of how you know you’ve created enough. If you don’t have an end goal in mind then you’ll continue to drive yourself towards some unknown goal and there will never be an end. This is a common cycle for entrepreneurs but when you get your hands on The CEO Factor Manifesto, you’ll see YOU”RE the one with the power to break it and get back on the right track.

Factor #4: Legacy. As a creative entrepreneur you are going to leave behind a footprint. So think about this for a minute. Is what you are leaving behind something you are proud of? Does it align with your most precious values and priorities? Will you know you completed your life’s work if you stay on the path you are on today? Is it making a difference in the world—to the right people? If it isn’t what steps can you take to change direction and follow what’s in your heart and the big dream you have for yourself?

You see at a certain point our business is just that – a business. Unless we align it with these four factors. The CEO Factor™ is what positions you for greatness. Not just financially, but in terms of your ability to accomplish your big dreams and leave behind a legacy. 

So do you have The CEO Factor™? I invite you to join me in a revolutionary next step to take your business beyond your wildest dreams. I have taken what I have learned over the past 2 decades, first as leader in the corporate cog and then as a leader in my own business and have created a concept and a program that has the potential to change the way entrepreneurs work. This is not going to be about teaching you the nitty gritty of running a business – you already know that. This is about helping entrepreneurs just like you who have achieved a significant level of success already get out of their own way, stop being the bottleneck, stop working so darn hard and start realizing the freedom and the vision they had in mind when they started it all to begin with. 

If you know there is something BIGGER out there for you and you’re ready to tap into it now, go to www.TheCEOFactor.com and reserve your copy of The CEO Factor Manifesto. If you apply the principles I talk about and you take a whatever it takes attitude to realizing the Lifestyle Business of your dreams, I promise the business you have right now will look nothing like the business you’ll have next year at this time.

About the Coach:

Melanie Benson Strick, The Million Dollar Lifestyle Business Coach, teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, more freedom and more prestige.

Get the Entrepreneur’s Secret Weapon to revolutionize your results and get on the fast-track to a freedom based business at www.thepowerofthevirtualteam.com

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After the last two weeks of discussions with clients, other experts and reviewing hundreds of posts and email blasts about the economy, tapping into some quick cash flow ideas may likely benefit everyone I know. From client contracts getting cancelled to the banks pulling credit lines, very few business owners seem to be immune during this time.

True the economy is uncertain and most people are evaluating their buying opportunities even closer. But after attending the last Glazer-Kennedy Info Summit and watching 900+ attendees drop hundreds of thousands of dollars, I know that something is working for some business owners.

So if you are experiencing a cash flow crunch, what can you learn from the affluent bunch? We could go right to the mindset and say that they have wealth consciousness. But that’s just one part of it. The bigger part of it is the actions they take. It’s the choices they make. It’s the strategy of wealth building that they use. You can’t have the proper actions without the right mindset. So it’s like having two halves to make the whole picture.

I’m going to share with you three real quick fixes and three more lasting remedies that will keep you above the problem forever.

Let’s start with quick fixes.

1.  Look for the low-hanging fruit.
Low-hanging fruit are products, seminars, teleclasses, services that you can quickly and easily get in front of your target audience. Now this works best if you already have a list or have the ability to tap into someone else’s list or community quickly. The idea is to leverage your time, money and energy best by focusing on what’s already done or could be done quickly. For instance, if you have a consulting package, assessment or private coaching package, you could promote a few openings to your list and attract clients that are not only willing to pay you what you’re worth but who are the perfect fit for you and your business and who will receive tremendous value from the service and expertise you provide.

2.  Up your promotions of current offerings.
One of the biggest problems people face is not marketing to their community enough. I know you think you are offending or barraging people but the truth is…reminding people what you offer and how they can purchase it is how you make money. I used to get really worried about over-promoting to my list and would only send ONE EMAIL A MONTH! Can you believe that? When I began to communicate and invite people to take action more regularly my income went up about 7 times. And by the way, if your readers are complaining then they probably aren’t your target audience anyway.

3.  Pick up the phone.
This is something that doesn’t occur to most of us. My friend Martin Howey makes between $20k and $80k by picking up the phone and conversing live with his prospects. Sometimes what the prospect needs is the ability to feel connected to you, create rapport and trust, and have a conversation that allows them to overcome their obstacles. It’s a win-win-win. They need you, you need the cash, everyone wins.

So now that we have some quick fixes let’s look at a few more foundational tips to help make this problem go away - you know - so you don’t have to do the quick fixes.

4.  Reposition current offerings to different niches.
If your client base is significantly affected by the economy or you are susceptible to the ebbs and flows of your current target industry then you may want to reconsider your niche. Perhaps you are focusing in on a niche that is too volatile or too financially challenged. Maybe you need to take your current programs and position them to other niches so you are diversified. For instance, if you have a program that you currently offer to mortgage lenders or real estate agents you may consider repositioning your expertise to focus on the foreclosure industry.

5.  Think long term vs. short term
Often we make decisions today for cash that are not in alignment with our long term desired outcomes. And even worse, you probably don’t even have a long-term strategic marketing plan so every few weeks you think to yourself, “what could I do to make some money now?” Part of why some people are unaffected by the market is because they have a bigger plan. They plan long term and course-correct in the day-to day decisions.

6.  Strengthen your marketing systems
Another tip to help you keep consistent cash flow is to continually feed your marketing system. When I worked for Motorola, we always knew how many clients we had at each level of the decision “pipeline.” We continually fed the pipeline with our most reliable marketing strategies so new prospects were always entering in. If you don’t have consistent marketing activities that take place without you having to lift a finger, then this is a major part of your current cash flow problem.

I’d highly recommend you start with the quick fixes just to get yourself back up and running. Then within the next 30 days, start implementing the lasting cash flow fixes. Put a time in your calendar now - and don’t give me any of that crap about not having time. If you don’t fix this cash flow problem in a more lasting way you’ll never have time - you’ll be back in a job again!

I’d love to hear what strategy (or strategies) you put into place. Be sure to go to http://www.successconnections.com/articles/ and share what works for you!

About the Coach:

Melanie Benson Strick, The Million Dollar Lifestyle Business Coach, teaches entrepreneurs how to stop feeling overwhelmed so they can create more money, more freedom and more prestige.

Get the Entrepreneur’s Secret Weapon to revolutionize your results and get on the fast-track to a freedom based business at www.thepowerofthevirtualteam.com

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Join me next Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 1pm as I lead a teleclass for AWE (http://aweconnect.com/blog/membership-benefits)

Have you ever felt stuck at a certain level of success because you couldn’t possibly squeeze anything more into your already crazy-busy schedule?

Do you long to hand off those energy-draining tasks you hate doing and procrastinate completing – but don’t know how?

Are you still doing everything yourself because you can’t imagine anyone being reliable or good enough to get the job done properly?

If you answered yes to even one of these questions, you are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost opportunities, money in the bank and time off to pursue your bigger passions in life!

It’s time to learn the secret to creating a seven figure freedom-based business – leverage!  Join me, Melanie Benson Strick, The Million Dollar Lifestyle Business Coach, to discover these simple steps to revolutionizing the way work gets done in your business.

You’ll find out:

How delegating just three simple jobs can free you up to double your income and time-off
 
An easy-to-follow formula that will help you determine what to delegate and what to keep so you stay focused on your highest payoff activities

The three deadly mistakes entrepreneurs make with their teams and how to avoid making them

A simple two-step plan to make money instantly by outsourcing and delegating

The million dollar question you MUST ask yourself before you hire a team (hint: it helps you hire the right people, for the right reasons so you get the right results)!

If you are ready to banish overwhelm and discover how simple it is to accomplish massive results by leveraging other people’s strengths, you need to listen in to this program!

You must be a member of AWE to participate in the call. If you are not an AWE member yet, find out more about AWE Membership Benefits by clicking here: http://aweconnect.com/blog/membership-benefits

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