Your topic cannot be just about your brand or your business.  It must be about your OBSESSION!
What part of your business or brand do you absolutely, positively, 1000%, obsess over?  What part
of your brand are you so passionate about that you can’t stop talking about it? You think and talk
about this obsession so much that if you were a contestant on Jeopardy® and this were the topic,
you would smoke the competition.

Here is my ONE tip…

Write daily about the trivia, obscure facts, information and insights you have gained over the years
of obsessing over this topic. Blogs are read by those who ALSO obsess about this topic and they
will appreciate your in-depth knowledge. Be provocative. Be bold. Hold nothing back. Leave
nothing on the sidelines!

“Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CMTmentors.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world.
Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training helps
his clients achieve results worldwide.  His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business Success –
From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and business owners
a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is also the author and
creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process (www.7StageTurnaround.com). 7 Stage Consultants
help business owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower their expenses using a
proven method of business growth strategies. To learn more about our Consultants, go to

http://7stageturnaround.com/mtc/mentorlist.php?groupid=1

Here are a couple of strategies to use when an employee doesn’t fit your growth plan. It’s always
good to share best practices, isn’t it?

1. Discuss the future of the company with the employee: we sit down with the employee and
explain to them what our future plan is. We let them know that we want them to be a part
of the future and where we see a fit for them. We explain the job position to them and ask
them if they see themselves as a fit for that position. We would then offer them training in
order for them to be prepared and familiar with the job.

2. Let them know the end is drawing near: when we have had a situation when we did not feel
that the employee fid not fit the future of the company, we have taken a different approach.
In the past we have informed them that our business is evolving and we don’t see a fit for
them.  We then ask them is we are in fact mistaken and they see a fit for themselves. If
they see a fit, we let them talk us into it. We can then judge whether or not they would be
properly prepared to take on the new role. Truthfully, the employee usually realizes that they
are not a fit but thanks us for giving them the opportunity. Once we have established that
they are not a fit, we give them flexibility in their schedule to seek a new position. We are
happy to provide letter of reference and any other means that we can provide in order to
help them find a new position.

“Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CMTmentors.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world.
Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training helps
his clients achieve results worldwide.  His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business Success –
From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and business owners
a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is also the author and
creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process (www.7StageTurnaround.com). 7 Stage Consultants
help business owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower their expenses using a
proven method of business growth strategies.

To learn more about our Consultants, go to http://7stageturnaround.com/mtc/mentorlist.php?groupid=1

It is every business owners dream to launch a hyper –growth business. But how fast is too fast?

If you are not properly prepared, you can grow yourself right out of business. Here are some of the signs…

1. Quality Suffers: You don’t have enough time to double check or triple check your work. Minor defects that you would normally detect in the course of routine QA and QC processes are now slipping through the cracks.
2. Customers Complaining: When your customers are telling you that you are not responsive in a timely fashion that may be a sign that you are growing beyond your capacity to service your existing customers.
3. Low Operating Cash: When you are growing fast, your need to spend on materials and COGS will outpace your collections. Remember that business is a cash game. When you are out of cash you are out of the game.
4. Time is Spread Thin: The faster you grow, the more demands there is on everyone’s time. If you lack the bandwidth to do a thorough job, the above-mentioned symptoms will get worse.

Fast growing companies can be exciting. They can also be dangerous. Many a company has spiraled out of control (and crashed) because they did not manage their growth. Would you like a FREE Business Analysis to make sure that your company manages its growth properly? Call our offices toll free at 877 GO 7 STAGES.

 “Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC (www.CMTmentors.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world. Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training helps his clients achieve results worldwide.  His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and business owners a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is also the author and creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process (www.7StageTurnaround.com).  7 Stage Consultants help business owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower their expenses using a proven method of business growth strategies.  To learn more about our Consultants, go to http://7stageturnaround.com/mtc/mentorlist.php?groupid=1

I have successfully used storytelling throughout my business career. The three main businesses
that I have owned are…a landscape contracting company; a home building company; and a
business coaching company. I will give you an example of how I use storytelling in each of these
businesses.

1. Landscape contracting company – Building the Perfect Backyard: I met Bob when he
first moved from the Midwest to New Jersey. We installed a new brick driveway at his
home when he first moved in. his home was a bachelor pad. He had just moved to New
Jersey and didn’t know many people. I asked him how he intended to meet anybody
given how remote the location of his house was. It took a while, but Bob did make some
new friends and soon began dating a woman he met through work. I got the call from
Bob one day that he and his lady were engaged and moving to a new home (closer to
civilization this time!). Way to go Bob! They wanted to have the wedding reception in
their new backyard and needed some guidance. We cleaned, cut, manicured, trimmed,
planted and mulched our way to a beautiful backyard setting. The wedding was a success
and Bob and his family still live in that home today, some 15 years later. Of course, he
credits all of his family success to his landscaper. J

2. Home building company – (Re)Building Your Dream Home: Ann and Rich were the
caretakers of a family owned plot of lakefront land. For years they have traveled to this
lakeside retreat, which was now in disrepair. They dreamed of spending weekends at the
lake house, but they needed enough room for the rest of the family to join them. We built
a stunning log home that was the envy of the entire lake community. Four bedrooms, two
baths, open floor plan and huge wood-burning fireplace created an idyllic setting for this
and generations to come. Ann and Rich’s wish was to get away to a log home, and they
got their dream!

3. Business coaching company – From Startup to 7 Figures in three Years or Less:
Andy wanted to let me know how my business coaching has benefited his family. Just 3
years ago, Andy loaned his son a substantial sum of money to open his own restaurant
(Beachwood BBQ- Seal Beach, Ca – BeachwoodBBQ.com). This was not only his first
restaurant, but his first business. Andy gave him the money with two conditions:

1) He reads business books.

2) He allows me to mentor and coach him.

Well, after 18 months in business, he is profitable, has just been ranked # 3 in

California and #1 in Orange County!

HE IS FEATURED IN THE APRIL(08) ISSUE OF ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE!

(See Article: What’s Cooking? Hungering to launch your own restaurant?

Use these 7 tips to get your business started now. )

From the start, I was able to employ all of lessons learned from you, from “What are

your goals’ and “how are you going to get there” to drilling down to establish the brand,
holding him accountable to his plan and “being good for him” has all lead to Gabe’s (son)
transformation from a great technician to a great entrepreneur. I was able to focus and
make him aware of his “weakness” and by using some of the role playing you taught was
able to work through these challenges, adjusting his thought patterns, allowing him to
become more confident in his decisions and management style.

I just wanted to personally thank you for all of your business coaching. I look forward to the
continued training and education. A.G., Phoenix, AZ

 “Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CMTmentors.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world.
Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training
helps his clients achieve results worldwide. His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business
Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and
business owners a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is
also the author and creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process (www.7StageTurnaround.com).
7 Stage Consultants help business owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower
their expenses using a proven method of business growth strategies. To learn more about our
Consultants, go to http://7stageturnaround.com/mtc/mentorlist.php?groupid=1

Three things I wish all entrepreneurs would abide by…

1. Be Responsive. Technology has allowed us to instantaneously send and receive
communication in multiple formats. We can text, email, IM, post to social media, Tweet,
Blog (and, oh, by the way, make a phone call) right from our phone. Yet, with all this
fire power in our handset, we seem to be no quicker to respond to requests. As a matter
of fact, we seem to be getting slower. Follow this protocol…Response within 24 hours?
You are responsive. Response within 24-48 hours? You need a good reason why it took
so long. Response takes longer than 48 hours? No excuse is a good one…but do your
best. If you will be away on an extended vacation or holiday, use your auto responder
feature on your email server and people will have the expectation to await your return.

2. Deliver ALL News, Not Just Good News. Can’t deliver by the deadline? Don’t have
the funds to pay the bills? Not going to meet expectations as promised? Be upfront
and communicate with the other party. We are all human (yes, even you) and o one is
expecting you to be all things all the time. People are understanding and the certainty you
will give them by communicating your situation is a more professional approach. Many
entrepreneurs use the ‘better to ask forgiveness’ principle a bit too much.

My business pet peeve-It’s Net-WORK, not Net-EAT! Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind when
people at networking events eat finger foods as they are provided. Do I have to shake your hand
full of ranch dressing and barbeque sauce? And, by the way, it is OK to wipe all of the food off
of your cheek, thank you. This is a major blunder I see a number of business owners make. They
leave a lasting impression of poor eating habits in additional to their poor networking habits.

I hope this rant sheds some insight to how you might be perceived.

 “Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CMTmentors.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world.
Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training
helps his clients achieve results worldwide. His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business
Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and
business owners a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is
also the author and creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process (www.7StageTurnaround.com).
7 Stage Consultants help business owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower
their expenses using a proven method of business growth strategies. To learn more about our
Consultants, go to http://7stageturnaround.com/mtc/mentorlist.php?groupid=1

This is an expert from an interview I recently did on… The Customer is Always Right – Version
2011.

What will be their top priorities?

CLG – consumers are looking for certainty. That certainty will take 2 major forms…1) That
they are saving money and that they are spending the least possible for this purchase. During
economic times like this, it is seen as irresponsible to be spending money. So, as long as you
are getting the best deal possible it is OK to spend. 2) That their investment (investment, not
purchase, but investment) in a product will yield the promised result. In other words, consumers
will be willing to pay a little more for a product or service if they feel it meets its promise the
first time. Consumers only have one chance with their discretionary income so they cannot
afford a mistake. In summary, consumers will be demanding either the lowest-priced product or
the highest-quality product.

What are some consumer demands that, if not met, will be deal breakers?

CLG – The consumer demands that they receive an ‘experience’, or they will go elsewhere. It’s
not enough to just sell coffee. You either have to provide a drive-thru window, or a lounge area
to sit, or be surrounded by books, have wifi, or consumers will buy their coffee somewhere else.
If you are selling low-cost products, the consumer demands a generous return policy, flexible
hours and convenient locations. Toys R Us® has their express stores that are open just during the
Christmas shopping season. The Halloween store is open just 30-45 days per year. They provide
exactly what the customer is looking for in a buying experience and have, as a result, been very
successful.

I’m trying to get a fix on the things that businesses, particularly small businesses and start ups,
will have to do to win and keep customers in the coming year.

CLG – Small businesses and start ups will need to be able to demonstrate that they have
specialized expertise in their area. It’s not enough for them to put products on the shelf and hope
people will buy. Emerging companies will need to be able to speak very intelligently to their
niche so they can successfully get off the ground.

 “Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CMTmentors.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world.
Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training
helps his clients achieve results worldwide. His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business
Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and
business owners a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is
also the author and creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process (www.7StageTurnaround.com).
7 Stage Consultants help business owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower
their expenses using a proven method of business growth strategies. To learn more about our
Consultants, go to http://7stageturnaround.com/mtc/mentorlist.php?groupid=1

Here are a few ways people can spend their money (making an investment in their lives, if you
will) in order to achieve a more prosperous business and personal life.

These tips may not add to your bottom line, but they will make you a richer, more successful
person…

1. Invest in Alignment – you are your businesses greatest asset and without you the business
will not run. Your body needs to be in alignment so your business can too. On a monthly
basis.

a. Get a chiropractic adjustment: your spine is the conduit to your health and
wellbeing.

b. Hire a personal trainer: we all know the benefits of a personal trainer, so I don’t
need to explain it here. Just go out and hire one.

2. Indulge Yourself.

a. Make sure and go out and eat at your favorite restaurant, visit your favorite
museum or catch the most recent film or concert event each month.

3. Hire an Assistant for…

a. Bookkeeping/ Accounting or,

b. Administrative Support or,

c. Scheduling, Errands and other Personal Duties

For the Business…

1. Hire a Branding expert. – Your image is everything. Make sure your brand is
projecting the image you desire.

2. Spend Extra on Graphic Design. – A pro will make you look better.

Obviously, there is much more. These are just a few areas that you can spend a little extra in and
it will be money well spent.

 “Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CMTmentors.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world.
Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training
helps his clients achieve results worldwide. His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business
Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and
business owners a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is
also the author and creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process (www.7StageTurnaround.com).
7 Stage Consultants help business owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower
their expenses using a proven method of business growth strategies. To learn more about our
Consultants, go to http://7stageturnaround.com/mtc/mentorlist.php?groupid=1

“I love organizing my desk! Filing is fun! Admin is awesome! Carl L Gould.

It has been written that the devil is in the detail. Carl suggests that the heaven is in the detail.
While dealing with details and the ‘small things’ may not be sexy, the result of dealing with the
details often is. If you are struggling at times to stay motivated in dealing with organization,
it may be a question of focus. If you are focusing on how much you hate organizing, then the
entire endeavor will be a chore. If you focus on what organization will give you, you may find
organizing and time management more appealing. More and more, I realize that the world
belongs to the organized.

Further, the financial wealth of our planet resides with the people that know how to dot
their “I’s” and cross their “T’s.” Think about it, banks and financial institutions house virtually
all the money in the world. Why do we entrust them with our cash? Because they are great with
detail. They have proven to not be very good at investing our money. Yet, their proficiency with
the detail gives us the certainty that our money will be there when we come back to withdraw it.
Here are 2 tips for this month…

1. Handle Paper Effectively— if you open it, you own it. When it comes to mail (all types),
tasks, notes, letters, etc. Once you pick it up, see it through to completion. A huge time
waster is reviewing something and then not taking immediate action on it (how many of you
have opened your email, only to save them, promising yourself you’ll answer them later?)
‘Handle it once’ should become your new mantra.

2. D, D, D—Decide, Do it, Delegate it.

- Decide: Do I need to pick up this item and handle it now? Is this the best use of my time
right now? If so….

-Do It: Take the necessary action to complete the task to completion in the here and now.
If you can’t complete the entire task right now (because it is a longer term project), schedule an
appointment with yourself to complete the task or continue with the project.

- Delegate It: If it’s still on your desk or in your Inbox, then clearly someone else should
be doing this for you. Who do you know that has the skill and the desire to complete your
unfinished tasks and projects? The call to that person should be next on your list.

 “Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CarlGould.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world.
Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training
helps his clients achieve results worldwide. His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business
Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and
business owners a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is also
the author and creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process. The 7 Stage Consultants help business
owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower their expenses using a proven method
of business growth strategies.

Friends,
The holidays are upon us! Regardless of your background, faith or culture, this is the time of year where we take a break (however short) to visit with family and friends and give thanks for the past year.

However prosperous or difficult your year has been, the New Year is almost upon us. Are you wishing that this year would hang around forever, or are you anxiously awaiting the New Year and a fresh start?

This issue of eSmarts will mark a milestone as well as we will be making changes to the format and content of the newsletter. We will be adding a new group that has joined the CMT Team.

Just as every present has a wrapping and you need to wait until you are given the gift before youcan look inside, I will hold off on anymore details until next month.

Have a wonderful Holiday Season andSee you next month!
Carl

 “Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CarlGould.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world. Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training helps his clients achieve results worldwide. His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and business owners a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”. Gould is also the author and creator of The 7 Stage Turnaround Process. The 7 Stage Consultants help business owners grow their sales, increase their cash flow and lower their expenses using a proven method of business growth strategies.

Title: “How a Business Coach Can Help You GROW!”

Chuck Schultz is a 7 Stage Consultant, based in Isle, IL, just outside Chicago. 7 Stage
Consultants assist small-to-medium-sized businesses to protect their cash, reduce their expenses,
and create a profitable exit strategy. To learn more about Chuck Schultz and the 7 Stage
Turnaround Process, go to www.7StageTurnaround.com.

“Carl L Gould is the President and Chief DISCoverY Officer CMT International, LLC
(www.CarlGould.com), the farthest-reaching business mentoring organization in the world.
Carl’s unique approach to executive coaching, business mentoring and performance training

helps his clients achieve results worldwide.  His latest book, The 7 Stages of Small Business
Success – From Startup to 7 Figures in Three Years or Less, will provide entrepreneurs and
business owners a step-by-step formula to taking their businesses to the next level”