Everyone loves a good story!

We are dealing with people every day as business owners. So human to human connections are important and vital for your business. When people hear your business story, then they hear your purpose.

Developing and telling your company story allows you to connect and interact with your customers, potential investors, and employees. There are several ways to engage with your audiences, but you can engage on a deeper level with your compelling business story that encourages relationships. Your business story is more effective than other marketing strategies because they are memorable and lasting. Your story will build trust and will reassure the customer that you and your business are worth investing in.

When developing your business story, be authentic and consistent with your story. Customers will connect with the truth versus a fabricated story. Transparency gives insight to you being human and you have faced challenges that were not always easy to overcome. You will earn the trust of your customers when you can emotionally connect with them. Your consistency should be shared in all channels of marketing and reflected in your brand. Your business story is the underscore of your online presence.

Here are some tips to develop your compelling business story.

1. Alleviating pain. What encouraged you to start the business? This should be focused on the need of the customer. What makes you wake up each morning? This is not your mission statement. This part of your story should NOT relate to making money, but about prioritizing your customers.

2. Solving problems. What direction are you headed because of the lessons you have learned? Give insight to your outcome.  Provide a hopeful, thought-provoking message with actionable points that compel your audience to connect with your brand.

3. Customer experiences. Allowing customers to be a part of your story will allow you to provide a positive customer experience and build relationships. If you develop ways for them to get involved in your story, then you will keep them engaged. It’s about positive engagement at this point. Ask questions. Ask for their opinions on products and services you offer. Create customer curiosity on your social channels. Your business story is a vital part of your marketing plan and should not be overlooked. Storytelling is a big voice for start-up and small business owners. There is no better strategy to capture the attention of your audience than your business story that makes your brand stand out. Stop selling and start sharing your values, strengths, and weaknesses. Customers will connect with a REAL HUMAN before a business promotion.

Written by Susan Miller – The Serial Entrepreneur TM.
www.theserialentrepreneur.biz

Challenge yourself to do better and be better!

If it doesn't challenge you, then it won't change you. The change will make you a stronger entrepreneur.

The success of your business will come from how sharp and current you are within your business. Business trends and technology constantly change. So it is important to stay consistent with the changes within your industry by staying active in your business, mentally fit, and current.

When you do these things, it will help to challenge you and keep you competitive. If you become comfortable within your business, then you will lose your competitive edge. If you lose your competitive edge, then your competitors will pass right by you and your customers may follow!

Here are some techniques I use to challenge myself:

1. Hang out with the old and the young. I love learning things from seasoned entrepreneurs because they have made mistakes already! And if they share their experiences with you, then you are receiving a gift that will streamline your efforts! If you hang out with the young, then you will get insight on the newest trends and the newest technology that can help your business. This insight will keep you fresh and new!

2. READ and RESEARCH! Always keep in mind that trends and technology will forever change within your industry. So make time to read from experts within your industry and research the internet for new information in other areas and cities. Being aware of the changes will validate your expertise within your industry, and it will reassure your customers that your business is worth investing in.

3. Ask your customers. Your business was based on the needs of your customers. Have their needs changed? Have you taken the time to ask them? If they appreciate your business, then they will tell you what their consumer needs are.

4. Hire people smarter than you. This will open your eyes to products and services that you may not be offering. We like to think we know it all, but in reality, we do not. Don't be afraid to admit to that, and open yourself to new information and ideas!


Challenging yourself will sharpen your entrepreneurial skills, and strengthen your business. You are the driving force behind your business, and success will come if you continue to challenge yourself.

The "Eye of the Entrepreneur"

There are small business owners and there are entrepreneurs.

Small business owners can successfully run a business and make it profitable.

But an entrepreneur will jump in, develop the business, take a small business to the next level, or restructure the business during adverse times.

I believe that if you don't have the "Eye of an Entrepreneur", then you may not have what it takes to be an entrepreneur. Having the "Eye of an Entrepreneur" means being able to see opportunities, even when they may not be right in front of you.

I have always said to my colleagues, "I see opportunities EVERYWHERE!" 

I was an entrepreneur at the young age of 8. My need to "EAT" pushed me to find a solution. I was hungry, and I needed to find a way to make money to buy food. So my first business venture was selling fruit at the entrance of our neighborhood community, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

A small business owner would buy fruit wholesale, mark up the price of the fruit, and then sell it. Quality fruit, good customer service, and competitive pricing would make this a successful business.

I had no money to buy fruit to resell. So how do I sell fruit with no start up money?

It was not uncommon for residents to have fruit trees growing in their yards in South Florida. I started to take notice to the types of fruit trees growing in my neighbor's yards. I noticed they had: mango, papaya, oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and avocados. I also paid attention to how often the fruit would drop from the tree(s). It was not uncommon for a neighbor to have more than one fruit tree in their yard. Anyone that had fruit tree(s) growing, then had the task of picking up the fruit that had fallen from the tree(s). This became a bigger task if a resident had more than one tree. Rotting fruit in the hot Florida sun is something most people do not want in their yard. I then talked to these neighbors, and offered them the service of "picking up the fallen fruit". I offered this service and tipping was ALWAYS appreciated. The tips I received usually grossed more than minimum wage. This service that I now offered, then provided me with the fruit I needed to sell. My service was offered daily, so I always had fresh, ripe fruit to sell.



So here is an overview of my strategy.

- I offer a daily service of picking up the fallen fruit.
- Receiving tips paid me for this service, and I was fulfilling the need of my neighbors.
- Selling fresh fruit at the entrance of my neighborhood community, then fulfilled the need of my customers, by providing them with convenience and affordable pricing.

Tips + Fruit sales (- cost to operate which was $0) = pure profit

My "eye of an entrepreneur" saw an opportunity to make money, and meet the needs of others.
And that my friends, is the difference between an entrepreneur and a small business owner!


Be sure to join my Facebook page. I will post business tips and answer your small business questions.
www.facebook.com/ramblingsofanentrepreneur/