What's your business? How's it going? Do you have customers? Lots of them? Want more customers? Of course you do. Who doesn't? The only enterprise that complains about more customers is the government and if that's who you work for, I have nothing for you. Unless you're looking for a way out of that life, in which case, we should talk.
I speak to business owners every day and I have never had one complain that they have too many customers. If one did, they look for ways to service and profit from those customers, not get rid of them.
Do you know what game you're playing? You're in the customer acquisition game. No matter the business you're in. You're playing to get more customers.
Do you know your customer acquisition cost? Do you know how much each customer is worth?Do you know how to make your customers happy? Do you know how to make sure they don't leave? Do your employees know how to keep your customers happy? Do they care?
To make sure you have enough customers to grow your business and stay in business, you need to know who your customers are. where they are looking, what they are looking for, and how to get them in and keep them loyal to you.
If you can't answer those (and other) questions, you have no chance of making it long-term. You're just biding your time.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, consultant, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron and other businesses.
Monday, September 10, 2018
Saturday, September 8, 2018
A Roaming Eye
Last night was date night. After 18 years and with two teenage daughters in the house, full-time jobs, businesses, and other commitments, Abby and I have to make a real effort to find time to just be a couple. We went to Downtown Hollywood for dinner and as always, our conversation drifted to business.
This is not to say it wasn't a romantic evening. I'm a smooth dude! Drove with the top down (for about five minutes because it rained, but still) and all that jazz.
Each business we visited, one for dinner and another for dessert, filled our heads with ideas which led to conversations and a visit to yet another dessert spot for more discussion.
It was a nice date. I'm not some kind of stiff who only thinks about work. Well, maybe I am, but I know a few jokes and I give a mean foot massage! See, I have redeeming qualities as a husband!
As we walked and looked in store windows, I saw opportunities. I saw what makes America great. The American entrepreneur. I saw people willing to risk everything for a shot at the American Dream. I saw families working hard and working together toward a common goal.
I also saw a lot of mistakes being made. I saw lost opportunities. I saw those beautiful dreams eroding into bankruptcy. I saw people with good intentions and bad business plans. I saw businesses in 2018 being run like it was 1918. I saw half-hearted attempts at marketing and a whisper of social media, which would do more harm than good.
I love entrepreneurs. I really do. I want them to succeed, though I know many will fail. I would be lying if I didn't see opportunity in picking up the pieces of someone else's dream - at a steep discount.
It is the responsibility of the player to know the rules of the game. If you don't know the game you're playing, you will lose every time. Learn the business, sure, but learn all the things you have to do to get customers in the door. Otherwise, you just have an expensive, depressing hobby. And someone else will be paying you to work on their dream while yours fades away.
So while I only have eyes for my wife. Those eyes occasionally roam and see opportunities to learn, to help, to coach, and to profit.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, consultant, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
This is not to say it wasn't a romantic evening. I'm a smooth dude! Drove with the top down (for about five minutes because it rained, but still) and all that jazz.
Each business we visited, one for dinner and another for dessert, filled our heads with ideas which led to conversations and a visit to yet another dessert spot for more discussion.
It was a nice date. I'm not some kind of stiff who only thinks about work. Well, maybe I am, but I know a few jokes and I give a mean foot massage! See, I have redeeming qualities as a husband!
As we walked and looked in store windows, I saw opportunities. I saw what makes America great. The American entrepreneur. I saw people willing to risk everything for a shot at the American Dream. I saw families working hard and working together toward a common goal.
I also saw a lot of mistakes being made. I saw lost opportunities. I saw those beautiful dreams eroding into bankruptcy. I saw people with good intentions and bad business plans. I saw businesses in 2018 being run like it was 1918. I saw half-hearted attempts at marketing and a whisper of social media, which would do more harm than good.
I love entrepreneurs. I really do. I want them to succeed, though I know many will fail. I would be lying if I didn't see opportunity in picking up the pieces of someone else's dream - at a steep discount.
It is the responsibility of the player to know the rules of the game. If you don't know the game you're playing, you will lose every time. Learn the business, sure, but learn all the things you have to do to get customers in the door. Otherwise, you just have an expensive, depressing hobby. And someone else will be paying you to work on their dream while yours fades away.
So while I only have eyes for my wife. Those eyes occasionally roam and see opportunities to learn, to help, to coach, and to profit.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, consultant, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
Friday, September 7, 2018
The Importance of Having a Dog
I love my dog. His name is Baxter. He's a good boy, yes he is. Sorry. I get carried away. Baxter is a silky terrier. He's a happy hyper little guy and he's a great source of exercise. I walk him in the morning and in the evening. It's good for him and it's good for me.
My doctor told me a couple of years ago that I'm allergic to dogs but Baxter was already in my life and he wasn't going anywhere. You never leave a man behind. It's funny because I would never call myself an animal lover. But I do love this little dog of mine,
I didn't write this to encourage people to adopt dogs although it's a nice thing to do. The point is that it's good to get out and do something distracting now and then. I take about 60-90 minutes a day to walk with my buddy. It's time well spent. I walk, which is healthy, and I listen to audiobooks on my iPhone, which is increasing my skills, my knowledge, and my value.
All because of this little dog, who by the way is a crimefighter. He goes out at night and defends Gotham City from the forces of evil. Oops! I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Pretend you didn't hear me!
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
My doctor told me a couple of years ago that I'm allergic to dogs but Baxter was already in my life and he wasn't going anywhere. You never leave a man behind. It's funny because I would never call myself an animal lover. But I do love this little dog of mine,
I didn't write this to encourage people to adopt dogs although it's a nice thing to do. The point is that it's good to get out and do something distracting now and then. I take about 60-90 minutes a day to walk with my buddy. It's time well spent. I walk, which is healthy, and I listen to audiobooks on my iPhone, which is increasing my skills, my knowledge, and my value.
All because of this little dog, who by the way is a crimefighter. He goes out at night and defends Gotham City from the forces of evil. Oops! I wasn't supposed to tell you that. Pretend you didn't hear me!
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Kiss Me First
It happens every day. Either it happens to you or you're doing it to someone else, in which case, you should stop immediately.
You make a contact on LinkedIn or some other platform and the person immediately sends you a pre-written diatribe on how their business can help you. Help me? You don't even know me? Have you asked me what I need? Have you asked me if I even need help?
These individuals are the digital equivalent of the handsy guy who takes a smile from a pretty girl to mean, "yes, by all means, reach up my skirt!"
Let's be honest, if I wanted your help, I would have asked.
This is not to say you shouldn't prospect, you should, I believe it's a great use of your time... if you do it properly. It shouldn't be, "Hi. Nice to meet you. Buy my shit!" and then move on to the next.
Tell me how pretty I am, buy me a drink. Win a stuffed animal for me at the carnival. Find out what my needs and wants are. You'll have a much better chance of scoring.
At the very least, if I don't need what you're offering, I will know what you are offering. I may know someone who does.
NOTE: In the time it took me to write this post, someone on LinkedIn "connected" with me and told me what they wanted to sell me. I replied "No thanks" and he responded "Okay. Have a nice day."
He didn't want to work to earn my business. He wanted me to hand it to him. You can guess how many times that's happened.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
You make a contact on LinkedIn or some other platform and the person immediately sends you a pre-written diatribe on how their business can help you. Help me? You don't even know me? Have you asked me what I need? Have you asked me if I even need help?
These individuals are the digital equivalent of the handsy guy who takes a smile from a pretty girl to mean, "yes, by all means, reach up my skirt!"
Let's be honest, if I wanted your help, I would have asked.
This is not to say you shouldn't prospect, you should, I believe it's a great use of your time... if you do it properly. It shouldn't be, "Hi. Nice to meet you. Buy my shit!" and then move on to the next.
Tell me how pretty I am, buy me a drink. Win a stuffed animal for me at the carnival. Find out what my needs and wants are. You'll have a much better chance of scoring.
At the very least, if I don't need what you're offering, I will know what you are offering. I may know someone who does.
NOTE: In the time it took me to write this post, someone on LinkedIn "connected" with me and told me what they wanted to sell me. I replied "No thanks" and he responded "Okay. Have a nice day."
He didn't want to work to earn my business. He wanted me to hand it to him. You can guess how many times that's happened.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
Wednesday, September 5, 2018
The Small Hours
Sleep is important. I will not deny that. I've never been a good sleeper. Even as a baby. My mother still complains that she barely slept at all the first five years of my life. She doesn't say the same thing about my sister. I'm a terrible person to vacation with because I don't sleep in. I'm the guy sounding the bugle at dawn (maybe earlier.) I want to get on with life.
If you need sleep, then sleep. I'm not advocating against it. But if you're like me, and you are blessed with the ability to function on less sleep than most people, you should not waste that gift. Yes, I believe getting by on less sleep is a blessing. I also believe it is a gift, because more time to live your life is a wonderful thing,
I spend that time as best I can, although sometimes I'm a little too foggy to be productive. It's a good time to meditate, walk your dog, get a little extra reading done, or just get a jump on work.
My point is that this extra time is a gift and it should be used. Don't waste it on news or other negativity that'll set a negative tone for the rest of your day. Get the ball rolling in the right direction by using those small hours wisely.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
Tuesday, September 4, 2018
Trusting Your Gut
You ever get that feeling? You know the one. Down in the pit of your stomach. Sometimes it's positive. Sometimes, it's a bad feeling. It's a real thing and you ought to listen to it. Let it guide you. Think of yourself as a Jedi and that feeling is The Force.
I don't know how to explain that feeling. Maybe it's God. Maybe it's the lizard brain. Maybe it's luck. Maybe it's something we all imagine. All I know is, it's usually right.
I believe it's the accumulation of experience. I think all the mistakes we've made, conversations we've had, books we've read, and advice we've received, go to some place in our being and create that feeling. I think that's why it becomes louder and more reliable as we get older, and I think that's why we ought to listen to it.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
I don't know how to explain that feeling. Maybe it's God. Maybe it's the lizard brain. Maybe it's luck. Maybe it's something we all imagine. All I know is, it's usually right.
I believe it's the accumulation of experience. I think all the mistakes we've made, conversations we've had, books we've read, and advice we've received, go to some place in our being and create that feeling. I think that's why it becomes louder and more reliable as we get older, and I think that's why we ought to listen to it.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of Le Velo Macaron
Monday, September 3, 2018
The Truth About The Universe
The Universe is not conspiring to make good things happen to you.
The Universe is not out to get you.
The Universe doesn't even know you exist.
Rather than looking to the sky when things go wrong, or when you hope things will go right, decide to be the master of your own universe. Know that things will happen to you and around you. Some will be good and some will be bad. You can't control that. What you can control is how you react, or better yet, how you capitalize on the thing that happens.
The Universe owes you nothing. No matter what you think you are willing into existence. Wishing does not make it so. The sooner you believe and accept that fact, the sooner you can get to the business of succeeding.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of www.levelomacaron.com
The Universe is not out to get you.
The Universe doesn't even know you exist.
Rather than looking to the sky when things go wrong, or when you hope things will go right, decide to be the master of your own universe. Know that things will happen to you and around you. Some will be good and some will be bad. You can't control that. What you can control is how you react, or better yet, how you capitalize on the thing that happens.
The Universe owes you nothing. No matter what you think you are willing into existence. Wishing does not make it so. The sooner you believe and accept that fact, the sooner you can get to the business of succeeding.
Adolfo Jimenez is an executive coach, entrepreneur, book club nerd, and family man living in Hollywood, FL. He is the owner of www.levelomacaron.com
You can find him at https://www.instagram.com/adolfo.jimenez/
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