Customer Service

How To Grow A Super Successful Small Business

Gene Cornelius and Dr. Willie Jolley
Dr. Willie Jolley and Gene Cornelius, Deputy Associate Administrator Office of International Trade, Small Business Administration

 

“Wealth comes when you make money, make up your mind on how to manage the money, and then decide how you will multiply the money.” – Shirley Luu

Eugene “Gene” Cornelius, Jr., hailing from the south side of Chicago, IL, leads the division within the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that manages the international small business division.

Small business is the key to America’s greatness. 97% of all U.S. business is small business! That means our economy thrives because of small businesses.

Two thirds of the net jobs, since The Great Recession, have been created by these small businesses.

The mission of the SBA is to help create jobs. With 68 district offices, Gene Cornelius and the SBA staff have systematized ways to teach small businesses how to grow.

There are several ways a small business can be defined:

  • If you have 100 employees or less, you are a small business.
  • If you average $6 million or less in sales over a 3-year period, you are a small business.
  • Or, depending on your industry code and size, you may be identified as a small business.

The big question is, how does the Small Business Administration help entrepreneurs?

  1. Through access to credit. The SBA guarantees (through banks) loans up to $90k and up to 75% of that loan, if the loan is international. The SBA provides access to the capital by taking away the risk that banks would have to shoulder.
  2. The SBA has the small business investment corporation that will match up to $10 million in seed money to help small businesses.
  3. The SBA provides access to credit, training and counseling through the women’s business centers.
  4. With over 1000 counseling and training programs at many colleges throughout the nation, you can get help with your business plan, loan application, forecasting, pricing your products, etc.
  5. If you live in a “historically underutilized” business zone, you may be in what is called a “Hub-Zone” and may qualify for other business support which may provide a positive economic impact to your local community.

As the largest procurement service in the world, the United States Government purchases 23% of its goods and services from the small business sector annually!

Apple, Amazon, Google, Nike, HP, Black Enterprise, Federal Express (FedEx), Nike, McDonald’s and Costco are all companies who have been helped to grow by the Small Business Administration!

The U.S. Small Business Administration is the best-kept secret around, and Gene Cornelius is working to make sure that secret is made public.

Go to SBA.gov and register for free resources. Locate your local SBA office; make an appointment to get your business building help!

 

Listen to an excerpt from my SiriusXM radio show interview with Eugene Cornelius, Jr. below.

 

Dr. Willie Jolley foam finger

Listen to the new season of The Willie Jolley Wealthy Ways Show on SiriusXM Channel 141. Interview Airdates: Saturday, October 21st at 4pm ET, Monday, October 23rd at 8am ET, Tuesday, October 24th at 6pm ET and Wednesday, October 25th at 11am ET. Listen and be inspired!

The Willie Jolley Wealthy Ways Show, is the #1 Motivational / Inspirational Show on SiriusXM.

 

How To Build A Global Brand

Brian Smith headshot

 

Brian Smith came to the United States to search for a hot new idea that he could take back to Australia and market to the “Aussies.”

When he arrived in the U.S., he took some time off to go surfing and wore sheepskin boots. Many asked about his “funny boots” and if they could try them on. Each person who tried them asked where they could get a pair! And Brian realized that the hot new idea was not an American idea to take to Australia, but an Aussie idea that America needed!

With $500 and a big dream, he started UGG, a footwear company. He struggled to build the business and refused to give up. After many years of slowly growing the business, selling only to surfers and skiers, he was able to get into the general market and hit critical mass.

He went from a $500 initial investment to building a billion dollar business! In his new book, The Birth of a Brand Brian shares the struggles and lessons he used to build a billion dollar business.

In this dynamic interview on my SiriusXM radio show, Brian shares:

  • To succeed in business (and ultimately in life), it takes grit and determination.
  • Every business and new venture will have an infancy stage. Therefore, as you would not expect an infant to go to college shortly after birth, neither should you expect a new business to have everything working perfectly at the beginning.
  • Are you willing to struggle in order to succeed? Brian had to make one Chinese meal last for 5 meals over a week. Yet, it was those times that set the foundation for his later success!
  • You might think that making sales isn’t sexy, or are only the work of used cars salesmen, but you would be wrong. All great success is built on selling.“Nothing happens until a sale is made.” – Thomas Watson, Sr.
  • When you are in your moments of challenge, you must have faith that the universe is conspiring to help you. So, be willing to take a first step in that direction.
  • PERCEPTION: Extremely important because people judge you on their first impression.
  • Think and Project Big! Make your web presence look big. Perception is reality. Brian shares, “It’s not how big you are. It’s how big you are perceived to be that counts. You can be working out of your garage, but if your website looks like a million dollar company, people will do business with you!”
  • Invest in yourself, like Ray Kroc, of McDonald’s fame. When he was a failing milkshake machine salesman, he listened to positive audios to set his mindset – in spite of his challenges.
  • Resistance comes to all entrepreneurs. The key is to remember to service the mice while you are waiting to get the attention of the elephants. If you take care of the little mouse customers, they will tell their friends and attract the elephant customers.
  • Don’t be disheartened. Your biggest disappointment will nearly always become your greatest blessing.

 Listen to an excerpt from my SiriusXM radio show interview with Brian Smith below.

 

Dr. Willie Jolley foam finger

Listen to the new season of The Willie Jolley Wealthy Ways Show on SiriusXM Channel 141. Interview Airdates: Saturday, October 14th at 4pm ET, Monday, October 16th at 8am ET, Tuesday, October 17th at 6pm ET and Wednesday, October 18th at 11am ET. Listen and be inspired!

The Willie Jolley Wealthy Ways Show, is the #1 Motivational / Inspirational Show on SiriusXM.

 

How To Be Amazing

Shep Hyken photo

Shep Hyken is one of America’s top experts in creating success by creating a superior customer experience. He helps organizations worldwide, rapidly grow their success by growing their customer service culture.

Shep is the founder and C.A.O (the Chief Amazement Officer) of Shepard Presentations, one of America’s top customer service training organizations. Additionally, he is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and has been inducted into the National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement in the speaking profession. Shep is also a former president of the National Speakers Association.

Shep is a well-known writer and his articles have been read in hundreds of publications globally. His clients are some of the biggest Fortune 100 companies in the world, but he has also helped small companies grow their profits to become large companies.

In this dynamic interview for my SiriusXM radio show, Shep shares:

  • Make a commitment every day to be “AMAZING!”
  • If you want to be successful in life and in business…fight through your fears!
  • Invest in yourself and grow your success mindset by reading books and listening to success topic-related audios & videos.
  • Set HUGE goals; then create plans to hit those goals.
  • Customer service can make the difference between great success and great failure. If people like your service, they will tell 10 others; but if they hate your service, they will tell 10 times more!
  • Amazing your customers should not be a once in a while occurrence, but a habit that you do each and every time.
  • Be excellent, for mediocrity is the enemy of amazing!
  • Listen to your customers and learn from them. Feedback is the breakfast of champions.
  • Always go the extra mile in business. It makes people remember you and speak positively about you!
  • A positive attitude can turn negative moments into magical moments.
  • Pursue wealth, because while it isn’t everything, it definitely gives you options when making your decisions for today and in the future!

 

Dr. Willie Jolley foam finger

Listen to the new season of The Willie Jolley Wealthy Ways Show on SiriusXM Channel 141. Airdates: Saturdays at 4pm ET, Mondays at 8am ET, Tuesdays at 6pm ET and Wednesdays at 11am ET. Listen and be inspired!

Interview Airdate: 10/7/17

The Willie Jolley Wealthy Ways Show, is the #1 Motivational / Inspirational Show on SiriusXM.