Keys to Business Success: Top Ten Feats of Business Superheroes

By Alan Melton | Small Business Coach & Associates

Ok, admit it. You have always aspired to be a Superhero. That's how you ended up in your own
business. That's why when you were a little kid you read comics and watched cartoons. Recently
you have watched many of the Superhero flicks. Inside of every business owner is a Superhero.
Superheroes are effective leaders.
You started your business to save the world. Only you can save customers as well as you; right?
Then why are you suffering burnout? Why do you like Spiderman struggle to pay your bills?
Why do you like Iron Man have a problem with getting help from others? Why do you like
Batman have drama with your employees? You may be Wonder Woman, but you have issues too.
The point is that no Superhero is perfect; we all need some help. It all comes down to effective
leadership. Here are some pointers for you to make sure your business can support your, ahem,
hobby:
1. Do what you love. Otherwise learn to love what you do. The biggest reason for business
failure is a lack of persistence. The biggest reason for not persevering is that
entrepreneurs don't love what they do. Spiderman is always struggling to make a buck
taking photos, but he needs to remember that it's all about the big purpose. He needs to
learn how to negotiate; he could make a killing on those photographs. He needs to
become his very best at earning a living. Love what you do or get some help.
2. Be "the man with the plan." That of course includes you Wonder Woman. Every
Superhero has a plan. Develop clear long term and short term plans. The important
elements of a plan include your vision, your values and your mission, along with specific
goals and daily actions.
3. "Lead, follow or get out of the way" is not an option. Thomas Paine's famous words
will not help you save the world. Superheroes lead and take action! Once you have
developed your plan, you must translate the plan into daily actions and activities. Keep
taking a bite out of the "elephant" daily. You will eat the whole thing over time.
4. Tell your story again and again to prospects. Learn to say who you are, "I am Iron
Man." Your story for your prospects is the part of your Vision, Values and Mission that
eliminates your prospect's pain and solves his problems. Develop and memorize at least
three versions of your story: a 30 second version, a 5 minute version and a 20 minute
version. Tell your story to anyone that will listen.

5. Tell your story again and again to everybody else. Tell your story through meetings,
memos, advertising, employee manuals, etc.
6. Listen first and then twice as much as you talk. Notice that all good Superheroes listen
before they take action. Diagnose the problems first. Otherwise you may save the wrong
person.
7. Keep the main thing the main thing. Focus on what's important. Decide at the
beginning of every year what will be your primary focus. Keep yourself and your
sidekicks focused on that thing during meetings, and throughout each day.
8. Know the score. Batman and Iron Man have their technology and instruments and they
use them to keep score. Is your cash flow important? You better have a report. Do you use
monthly financials to make decisions? You better start.
9. Never stop getting better. Iron Man built a better suit. Batman built a better mansion. All
business superheroes are constantly learning and growing. Don't forget your team
(sidekicks); they need to learn too!
10. Develop deep relationships with sidekicks and victims. Know your villains
(competition) well too! Customers are victims as long as the villain has captured their
service. Start developing deep relationships with those you want to save. Make sure your
sidekicks are happy and stay on your team.
My editor tells me that this adventure has to end. Do the above as a leader and soon you will be
known by the world as the business Superhero that you really are. The next time you need to
make a decision, ask yourself what your favorite Superhero would do in your situation. Soon you
will be able to say along with Superman about your business, "Up, Up and Away!"
In the next article I will focus on Strategic Planning.
About the author:

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