Do You Know How Important You Are?

As a little fish in the pond of big businesses, we tend to move out of the way and allow our larger competitors to fill the marketplace, but have you stopped to consider that the large companies often can't fulfill every one's order. Sometimes when a company is too big, they can't slow down long enough or mold well enough to accommodate the individuality of smaller customers. Little fish like us are the solution; we have the experience, the flexibility and desire.

Analogy

Imagine a room, and let's call that your marketplace. Now imagine that room filled with larger boulders and in between those boulders is space or crevasses that the boulders can't fit into or mold around to completely fill all the empty and remaining space in the room...Those crevasses are the untapped markets that only you - the little pebbles or the Little Fish can get to! That's how big your market is and how important you are to that market.

Be proud to be a Little Fish. Next time someone says that you're too small, tell them that it's because you're small that you're able to provide them with the exceptional service and products they deserve.

Keep Swimming Little Fish!

What Are You Watering In Your Garden?

When you're a little fish in the pond of big businesses, it easy to get caught up in the hype of a potential customer, but have you taken the time to evaluate the quality of your new lead?

Like everything in business, and in life for that matter; the things that grow the most, are the things you give the most attention to. If you give much attention to a good customer, whom you respect and who respects you, then the possibility of growing that relationship into more business and possible referrals, is great. On the other hand, if you have a potential customer that doesn't share your business values and you give them much attention, they will inevitably grow into a potential "problem customer".

Analogy

If you water grass, your grass will grow green and lush. If you water weeds, the weeds will grow big and strong and take over your entire garden. If your garden is full of weeds, no one will want to visit.

It's simple. Concentrate on the type of customers you want to have.

Keep Swimming Little Fish!

What Was Your Mark On 2010?

Regardless of your belief, I'm confident that we can all agree that the end of a calendar year is a wonderful time to wish one another peace, joy and good will to all. It's also a perfect time to reflect back on this closing year and plan for the year to come.

As I look back on 2010, I have much to be thankful for. I have incredible and intelligent clients, talented staff and suppliers who provide exceptional service and a loving and supportive family.

Little Fish Cares

Helping small businesses or what I like to call “Little Fish”, is my passion. We are so privileged here in Canada to have access to financing and business development expertise, that we can’t imagine and economy without it. Well, there are places in the world that don’t have the funds to support the development of an entrepreneur’s dream and for those, micro financing is their answer.

Little Fish Big Pond is proud to financially support “Little Fish” in developing countries, through:

Opportunity International

Opportunity International provides small business loans, savings, insurance and training to over two million people working their way out of poverty in the developing world. Through nearly 40 years of experience, they've learned that small-scale entrepreneurs can be big change agents in overcoming global poverty. Clients in more than 20 countries use Opportunity's financial services to start or expand a business, provide for their families, create jobs for their neighbours and build a safety net for the future. Women, who comprise 84% of Opportunity's clients, gain status through their business experience. Loan amounts begin with as little as $60, and a 95% loan repayment rate allows Opportunity to keep more money circulating in new loans.

Solange's Story

With a $60 loan from Opportunity International, Solange Mukakarangwa opened a small store near Ruhengeri, Rwanda. With her earnings and additional loans, she built several houses and offices to rent to neighbours for their own small businesses. Despite living in one of the poorest countries in the world, Solange now provides for her five children and promotes economic growth in her community.

What will your mark be on 2011?

Keep Swimming Little Fish!

Who Do You Want To Resemble?

A few months ago I told you about my two goldfish, Goldie and Fin. Well, over the past while, an interesting thing has happened, they began to look and act more and more alike, until finally they became exactly the same! Goldie remained the solid, bright orange fish, but increased her aggressiveness, while the larger and friskier Fin began to submit and loose the black colour on his fins. I originally chose Fin, because he looked different than Goldie and because I wanted to be able to tell them apart. Now they are virtually twins in the appearance and personality.

As I watched this happen gradually, I couldn't help believe that the same phenomenon were possible in the human world and I don't mean beginning to look like the people you associate yourself with, I mean taking on their character and habits.

As a result of this astounding observation, I recommend that as a little fish in the pond of big businesses, it's important to:

• Associate with peers who are smart

• Do business with those who have integrity and a strong moral code

• Be mentored by those who are wiser and more experienced

• Align with those who are kinder and just outright happy

If you ultimately become like your environment, be sure to choose one that you like.

Keep Swimming Little Fish!

Are Your Scales Bright And Shiny?

As a little fish in the pond of big businesses, there are many small details that need to be taken care with the few fins you have. Although you can delegate some, if not most of the details to professionals in specific fields, you can't delegate "yourself" as a project, as you would bookkeeping.

Taking the responsibility of keeping yourself well groomed, well dressed, well rested and well fed will have you swimming circles around the competition. Not only will you be healthy and have lots energy as a result, your customers will perceive your company as also being healthy, professional and successful.

Analogy
When you go to a pet store or aquarium to look for the new addition to your fish tank, you'd never dream of choosing a fish that looked unhealthy to bring home. Instead you look for one with bright and shiny scales!

A strong fish will give you the longevity you'd expect from the investment you've just made and won't negatively affect the health of your existing fish and tank.

Keep Swimming Little Fish!

Are You Too Quiet For Your Own Good?

As a little fish in the pond of big businesses, you might find that you spend most of your time developing your product or service and not enough time telling others about what you do because you don't want to draw attention to yourself.

The secret to a successful business is not to attract attention to yourself, but instead to draw attention to the problem that your product or service solves for the prospective customer.

When you spend the time talking about the features and benefits of your business offerings and topics related to your industry, you educate your listeners, prime them as future prospects and as a result position yourself as the industry expert.

This approach is passionate, authentic, infectious and profitable.

Don't be shy. Look for opportunities this week to dialogue about the business you're passionate about!

Keep Swimming Little Fish!

Are You Waiting Until It's Too Late To Survey Your Customers?

Although you think your product or service offering may be unique and in high demand, have you taken the time to consider how your customer may feel about it?

Most conscientious business owners survey their customers, but unfortunately most of those same business owners do so after the fact, at a time when it's too late to do anything about the negative experience their customer may have had.

Conducting ongoing dialogue with your customer during the entire course of a project or business transaction will keep you informed every step of the way of how your customer feels about doing business with you and your company. This ongoing communication will provide you with the necessary information needed to change, correct or enhance your customer's experience before it's too late.

Analogy

Consider a marriage. If a couple doesn't openly communicate regularly in efforts to continuously improve their relationship, it's likely that they will end up in divorce without knowing how they got there in the first place.

This "continuous" style of surveying shows your customer that you greatly value their business and that you want to continue the relationship.

Keep Swimming Little Fish!