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Take Your Business to the Next Level!
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Dear Lisa,
Hello everyone! I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
 Here in the Hudson Valley of NY, November is often a dreary month -- it gets dark earlier and the cold seeps into your bones (I am not a winter person!). So far this year, however, it's been really mild and even sunny. Definitely something to be grateful for.
Speaking of gratitude, what are you grateful for in your business?
I am grateful for the transformative work that I get to do as a business coach/ consultant. A few weeks ago, I hosted a full-day private VIP Retreat for a business coaching client to kick off her 6 month coaching program with me. We had a blast and got a ton done for her business! And it reminded me how much I love the process of dissecting someone's business, co-creating new revenue streams, developing marketing tactics, creating a dele
gation plan, and drafting an overall business-building blueprint. What makes it even more rewarding for me as the coach is how my client took action and is already seeing results. That is implementation at it best!
If you want more information on working with me privately for a virtual or in-person half day or full-day VIP Retreat, email me at Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com and I will send you my VIP Retreat Form. If you feel you need long-term support in your business, email me at Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com for details and an application for my 3, 6 and 12 Month Private Coaching Packages. I only have room in my calendar for a certain amount of private coaching clients, so if you think 2012 is your year to finally focus
on your business and get help from a kick-butt business coach/consultant, don’t hesitate. These will go fast!
Since I can't personally coach everyone (as much as I'd love to!), today's article is about conducting your own Business Retreat. Why not set aside your own Business Retreat and treat yourself like the VIP that you are? :) If you do, feel free to share your results with me as you set yourself up for business success in 2012.
Warmly~
P.S. Welcome to the new subscribers. I am thrilled that you have decided to become a member of the Next Level Business Success online community!
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- September 2011 to April 2012 - Lisa is serving as facilitator for 8-month Peer Exchange Program, a mastermind group for women entrepreneurs as part of Women's Enterprise Development Center.
- November 30, 2011 - Lisa is presenting Public Speaking for Entrepreneurs for Women's Enterprise Development Center in Yonkers, NY.
- January 17, 2012 - Lisa will be presenting Time Management for Effective Leadership for Westchester Junior League in Tarrytown, NY.
- January 19, 2012 - Lisa is presenting Goal Setting at Work and in Life for Rehabilitation Suport Services in Goshen, NY.
- February 1, 2012 - Lisa will be co-presenting Open Mic Night: Perfect Your Elevator Speech for the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, hosted by the Young Professionals, from 5:30-8:00 at the Chamber Office. Call (845) 497-9700 to register.
- February 21 to March 21, 2012 - Lisa will be offering her 6-week DECIDE to be Organized Group Coaching Program. Details coming soon! If you would like to be put on our "Save the Date" list, to be notified, please email me at Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com.
- March 22-24, 2012 - Lisa will be serving as Moderator of the Golden Circle Ask the Organizer Panel at the 2012 NAPO Conference in Baltimore, MD. Lisa will also be presenting "Don't Be Afraid of the Big Bad Law: Using the Law as a Protective Shield for Your Organizing Business."
- April 18, 2012 - Lisa will be presenting Boost Your Productivity as a Busy Law Professional for the National Association of Law Placement annual conference in Austin, TX.
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"A nod, a bow, and a tip of the lid to the person who coulda and shoulda and did."
~ Robert Brault
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Act Like the Big Guns - Conduct Your Own Business Retreat
 Large companies in Corporate America usually conduct business retreats, known also as Corporate Retreats. Business retreats are often held towards the end of the year, and serve to assess performance for the past year, and set milestones for the coming year. The retreat creates a document that is used as a business blueprint, serving as a benchmark to measure against. Some companies will make this document public, such as in an Annual Report. Others will keep it as an internal document that acts as a powerful tool for business success. However, what if your business is small, or you are self-employed? Does this mean you miss out on this transformative business activity just because you are not a "big gun"? No way! Large companies in Corporate
America haven't cornered the market on business retreats. If you are self employed or a small business, you can conduct your own business retreat. Here are some tips to guide you in the process so your business retreat is a success.
- Choose topics to focus on. Most business retreats are comprehensive, covering marketing, financials, employees and contractors, clients, business growth, etc. Choose what topics your retreat will focus on, and how in depth your retreat will go into each topic. Having an overall plan or checklist of what the retreat will cover will help you plan and implement it with success
- Gather all of the necessary data. Usually, a business retreat will involve a certain level of assessment, and "looking back". Therefore, it is important to have all of the business data needed at your fingertips. This includes return on investment statistics for marketing and advertising, financials, client lists, etc. Knowing the numbers and stats of your business will prove vital as you assess and measure performance and create new milestones and benchmarks going forward.
- Get all of the players involved. If your business has any key players, make sure they are available in person, by phone, or bv email for your business retreat. This includes marketing reps, assistants, bookkeepers, accountants, etc. Making sure that all players are on speed dial or stand by will avoid a frustrating business retreat where you need information and can't get it at that time.
 Record and blueprint. Make sure to record performance measurements, trends, and any other stats that are necessary for business assessment and future planning. You can do this on a simple word processing document or spreadsheet, or even audio record the retreat to listen later or get it transcribed.- Choose realistic and success-driven goals. As you create the blueprint to use in your business for the future, make sure that your goals are realistic and success-driven. This means creating milestones and benchmarks that can be achieved and are not too pie-in-the-sky, while also stretching your business to reach higher and further. Think where you want the business to be at next year's business retreat and what it will take to get it there. That will help you create the best plan of action.
- Accountability is key. Create a system for accountability so that all of the work put in for the business retreat does not go to waste. Make sure to consider implementation. Who will implement the blueprint from the business retreat? How will it be implemented? Make sure to designate implementation time into the business calendar. Consider getting assistance from a business coach, joining a mastermind group, or partnering with a colleague to ensure that accountability is built into the business retreat blueprint.
With a little planning, an open mind, and a willingness to put in some hard work at assessing your business, a business retreat can be a huge success. So go ahead and act like the big guns – get that business retreat on the calendar and make it happen!
Enjoy,
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Copyright 2011 Lisa Montanaro. Lisa Montanaro is a productivity consultant, success coach and business strategist who helps people live successful and passionate lives, and operate productive and profitable businesses. Lisa publishes the monthly ezine, "Next Level Business Success" for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Subscribe today at www.LMOrganizingSolutions.com. To explore how Lisa can help take your business to the next level, contact Lisa at (845) 988-0183 or by e-mail at Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com. |
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3 Steps to Next Level Business Success: Ready, Set, Go!
 Want a comprehensive business building program delivered to your computer in audio format? Check out Next Level Business Success, a 3 hour live audio presentation that will help you create a plan designed to implement business growth by focusing on three phases: Ready (assess), Set (strategize and plan), Go (take action).
Regardless of the level your business is ready to move to, this audio program will help you get there. It is the next best thing to working with me one-on-one! (Well, until my group coaching and mastermind programs for entrepreneurs launch in 2012!).
See the details here.
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 I’m proud to say that Lisa is someone I consider to be a role model and mentor in this industry....
...she has been instrumental in my business decision making and growth. Her background in law and running her own solo-preneur business is incredibly valuable. She is extremely intelligent, very experienced in all areas that Professional Organizers need to attend to, and she is an incredibly conscientious and generous listener."
"When I was new to the industry, I felt a conflict and hesitation in paying for someone to answer my questions – but I have grown to shift my paradigm. The guidance of a mentor and professional saves an incredible amount of time and energy in the long run... After hiring several coaches for myself – I can only say that I wish I had invested sooner into a coach/mentor relationship. Lisa's guidance is treasured and I have no reservations recommending her and paying her for her expertise... It will be some of the best investment dollars you can spend on yourself and your business. Good luck with your decision."
~ Cena Block
The Mom-preneur Clarity Catalyst
Owner of Sane Spaces
www.sanespaces.com
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Contact Information
Lisa Montanaro
Productivity Consultant, Success Coach & Business Strategist
LM Organizing Solutions, LLC ™
PO Box 113
Warwick, NY 10090
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