The Twelve Days of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
On the first day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters sent to me;
A Huge New Order from my best customer to start the new year (with a large deposit)
On the second day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
2 Great New Salespeople (one is never enough)
and A Huge New Order
One the third day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
3 Offers to Buy My Company (you always need competitive bids)
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the fourth day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
4 Quarters of Record Profits in 2016 (it’s all about growing the bottom line)
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the fifth day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
5 Copies of Small Business Matters, The Book (one for you and four for your best clients)
4 Quarters of Record Profits
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the sixth day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
6 Sigma Levels of Customer Service (that’s as good as it gets)
5 Copies of Small Business Matters
4 Quarters of Record Profits
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the seventh day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
7 Days of Exercise Each Week (at least 30 minutes a day)
6 Sigma Levels of Customer Service (that’s as good as it gets)
5 Copies of Small Business Matters
4 Quarters of Record Profits
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the eighth day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
8 Minutes a Day to Work on the Most Strategic Opportunity Facing My Business
7 Days of Exercise Each Week (at least 30 minutes a day)
6 Sigma Levels of Customer Service (that’s as good as it gets)
5 Copies of Small Business Matters
4 Quarters of Record Profits
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the ninth day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
9 Registrations to the Small Business Matters Conference on May 20th (your own table)
8 Minutes a Day to Work on the Most Strategic Opportunity Facing My Business
7 Days of Exercise Each Week (at least 30 minutes a day)
6 Sigma Levels of Customer Service (that’s as good as it gets)
5 Copies of Small Business Matters
4 Quarters of Record Profits
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the tenth day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
10 Minute Daily Huddles (the best meeting of the day)
9 Registrations to the Small Business Matters Conference on May 15th (your own table)
8 Minutes a Day to Work on the Most Strategic Opportunity Facing My Business
7 Days of Exercise Each Week (at least 30 minutes a day)
6 Sigma Levels of Customer Service (that’s as good as it gets)
5 Copies of Small Business Matters
4 Quarters of Record Profits}
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the eleventh day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
11 days of Vacation ( ten to spend with your family and one for yourself)
10 Minute Daily Huddles (the best meeting of the day)
9 Registrations to the Small Business Matters Conference on May 15th (your own table)
8 Minutes a Day to Work on the Most Strategic Opportunity Facing My Business
7 Days of Exercise Each Week (at least 30 minutes a day)
6 Sigma Levels of Customer Service (that’s as good as it gets)
5 Copies of Small Business Matters
4 Quarters of Record Profits
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
On the twelfth day of Entrepreneurial Bliss-mas
Small Business Matters gave to me;
12 monthly copies of INC Magazine (my favorite reading for small business owners)
11 days of Vacation ( ten to spend with your family and one for yourself)
10 Minute Daily Huddles (the best meeting of the day)
9 Registrations to the Small Business Matters Conference on May 15th (your own table)
8 Minutes a Day to Work on the Most Strategic Opportunity Facing My Business
7 Days of Exercise Each Week (at least 30 minutes a day)
6 Sigma Levels of Customer Service (that’s as good as it gets)
5 Copies of Small Business Matters
4 Quarters of Record Profits
3 Offers to Buy My Company
2 Great New Salespeople
and A Huge New Order
Happy Holidays!
VIDEO OF THE MONTH
Simple Solutions for Colossal Problems – Derreck Kayongo
Derreck Kayongo spoke to my Vistage group this month. He was terrific. I will never look at a bar of soap the same way again.
BOOK(S) OF THE MONTH
Holiday Gift Book List
Still looking for the perfect gift? Here are the books I have reviewed this past year. Anyone one of them would be a great holiday gift for someone special.
“The Happiness of Pursuit” by Chris Guillebeau
“Entrepreneurial StrengthsFinder” by Jim Clifton
“A More Beautiful Question” by Warren Berger
“When To Rob a Bank” by Steven Levitt & Stephen Dubner
“Rocket Fuel” by Gino Wickman
“Scaling Up” by Verne Harnish
“The Automatic Customer” by John Warrlow
And if you are still looking…”Small Business Matters” by Tim Fulton
A LITTLE HUMOR…
Just in Time for the Holidays
What do you call a kid who doesn’t believe in Santa?
A rebel without a Claus.
What do you call an elf who sings?
A wrapper!
Why is Christmas just like your job?
You do all the work and the fat guy with the suit gets all the credit.
What do you get if you eat Christmas decorations?
Tinselitis!
Who doesn’t eat on Christmas?
A turkey because it is always stuffed.
What do you call Santa’s helpers?
Subordinate clauses
Why was Santa’s little helper depressed?
Because he had low elf esteem.
DID YOU KNOW
Email Says to Transfer Funds
This comes from Vistage speaker Mike Foster:
Yes, you will receive an email that will come from your supervisor telling you to wire money. It will amaze you that they know your name, your boss’s name, the bank’s name, perhaps a customer’s name, what businesses you are in, your products and services, current projects, and other information. You may be amazed when you receive phone calls, confirming the instructions to make the transfer, from people claiming to be who they are not.
These are not the standard spam phishing attempts. This is approaching spear phishing – meaning the attackers are singling you out as a target. The attackers invest the time to learn more about you and your business.
This is called BEC for Business Email Compromise.
Why do attackers go to so much trouble? Because it pays. Current estimates are in the billions of lost dollars. And yes, if you are reading this and you experienced making such a transfer, don’t think less of yourself for being duped. You are not alone. I meet so many people who fell for it too.
What should you do?
Change the password on the boss’s email account, and everyone else’s email account too. One of the ways that attackers know so much about you might be because they have access to your email.
Alert everyone in your office to never, ever, make a wire transfer without being “in person.”
Tell your bank to never permit a wire transfer without confirming with you first.
There are other steps too, and start by considering taking the above actions first.