Your Path to Business Success: The Blueprint

 At my core, I believe running a successful business is one of the most satisfying professional actions a person can take. Hobbies are great. They are fun pastimes, can help you meet other people, and craft solutions for problems at a small scale. The only problem with hobbies is that they tend not to pay the bills, which is why we all need a job.  Having a job is work. You can earn an income, be part of an organization, and acquire new skills. However, the problem with employment is that jobs frequently require you to do work that does not align with your strengths. You do not have much power or control over how they operate, who they serve, or the organization's values, norms, or practices. This misalignment can grow into frustration, annoyance, and burnout. The solution for some is self-employment.

Building a business from scratch is the one time when you have total power within an organization. You get to decide who you will serve, how you will serve them, and who you will work with. Yes, others get a vote. You will not be successful if you develop a solution no one needs, provide poor service, or treat those you work with poorly, but all those decisions are within your control. The remainder of this article provides a blueprint for small business owners to design a business that meets financial, lifestyle, and personal fulfillment goals.

The Blueprint for Reducing Small Business Risk

Nine out of 10 small business owners fail the first time they launch a business. The top three reasons businesses fail are lack of capital, knowledge, and poor business model design. The incredible thing about this statistic is that when they launch a second business, 90% of them are successful. They are successful because they learn from their mistakes, gain wisdom, and do a better job the second time. Wisdom is the key to business success.

There is only one way to gain wisdom: to seek knowledge. Knowledge can be gained through personal experience or from the experience of others. You do not have to be bitten by a snake to know it is dangerous. You were taught snakes are dangerous as a child, and you use that knowledge to make wise decisions when encountering snakes. The same is true within business. Knowing the risks and dangers of running a small business can provide a blueprint for making wiser business decisions.

Learning from Others

Over the last 20 years, I have acquired business knowledge. Some of it has come from books I read while studying business and economics at Randolph-Macon College. More was learned from professors as I acquired my MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus. But most of my wisdom has come from reading over 60 business books and 1000 business articles, completing over 500 hours of workshops, and applying that knowledge towards a +20-year business career.  

I have been everything from a sales associate, store manager, marketer, vice president, and now a small business owner, executive coach, and business consultant. I have the metaphorical scars from every significant mistake I have made over my career, and they are the source of the wisdom I share in my writings, coaching, and consulting. One of the benefits of being an executive coach and small business consultant who works across industries is that I get to see how universal most business challenges are. I can take what I learn from one business or industry and apply it to another.

Build your Learning Plan

Over the last 15 weeks, I have provided visibility to some of the knowledge I have gained throughout my professional career. As I have written each word, I have become more aware of the complexity and simplicity of running a business.  If you are a small business owner seeking more knowledge and wisdom for running your business, review the 15 topics below. Each covers a different lesson that can help you run your business better.

Read the article that answers a current problem you are looking to solve and know that each topic is interconnected. Each business management skill or practice I share is maximized when combined with other skills. After reading the articles, if you need additional help applying what you learned, reach out. My mission as a coach is to help you acquire and apply the knowledge you need to be successful.

Crafting and Communicating Your Vision

Getting Your Vision On Paper

Communicating Your Vision

Determining if Your Vision is Viable

Three Fundamentals of Business: Service, Scale, Strategy

Generating Revenue

Converting Vision to Strategy

Setting Goals

Refining Your Product and Service Offerings

Finding Your Niche

Building a High-Performance Team

Building Trust with Your Team

Getting Your Team to Work Together

Attracting and Developing Talent

Reducing Team Conflict

Must have Business Tools

Balanced Scorecard

Balance Sheet

Cash Flow Statement

 If you have read this far, thank you for taking the time to review this blog. Running a small business is one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do. If you would benefit from having additional support and guidance running your small business, please feel free to email Executive Coach Dorian Cunion at dcunion@yourpathexecutivesolutions.com or book a session to learn more about our services.

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From Checklist to Clarity: How Coaching Can Transform Your Work and Life

Do you feel like your life is a never-ending to-do list? Are you a high-achiever who's constantly grinding, yet still feel like you're falling behind? If so, you're not alone. On a recent episode of the Coaching Gold podcast, guest Brittany Brown, a Power6 Leader coach, shared her journey and insights on moving from a life of checklists to one of true clarity. This isn't about working harder; it's about working with intention and empowering yourself to thrive.

Redefining Productivity Beyond the Checklist

Many of us are stuck in a cycle where we overperform in environments that reward burnout. We chase promotions and accolades, only to find ourselves exhausted with no time for what truly matters. Brittany's unique program, Recharge and Thrive, offers a new blueprint for success. The goal is not just to rearrange your to-do list, but to reclaim the urgency that dictates your life. Coaching, in this context, becomes a powerful tool for discovering that you already have the solutions to your problems. You just need to strip away some of the beliefs and thoughts that are leading to your stress, anxiety, and overwhelm.

The Power of "Quiet Transformations"

The most significant changes in life aren't always loud or dramatic. As Brittany points out, they're often "quiet transformations." She shares compelling examples of these shifts, from leaders learning to trust their teams and delegate, to professionals scheduling a 15-minute mental health break and realizing the world doesn't fall apart.

These small, intentional actions build confidence and create habits that help to renew our energy so we can accomplish big goals. Like Brittany's client, who was afraid to step away from her computer for fear that she might miss something urgent, the stories we tell ourselves can be the root of our burnout. Challenging your current assumptions can be the first step into redefining a better career for yourself.

Your Path to Clarity: What You Can Do Now

Gaining clarity starts with a few intentional steps. The first is to get honest with yourself about your current habits and how they make you feel. Then, consider taking action with one or more of the following:

• Set and Protect Your Goals: Treat your personal and professional goals like an unmovable meeting with a CEO. Schedule dedicated time on your calendar to work on them and be vocal about the support you need from your team or family to make it happen. This simple act of protection reinforces their importance.

• Connect with Your Body: When you look at your to-do list, pay attention to how your body reacts. Do you feel a sense of dread or excitement? Tuning into these physical cues can reveal what truly energizes you versus what drains you.

• Be Open to Experimentation: You don't have to have all the answers. The path to clarity is often about being open to exploring new ideas and trying different things. As Brittany notes, "the openness to explore different things" is the first thing clients get right. This willingness to experiment gives you the feedback you need to move forward.

These aren't just tips; they are the building blocks of a career led with intention, not just urgency.

Want to hear more of Brittany's insights and be inspired by the full conversation? You can find the full episode of the Coaching Gold podcast on Spotify and YouTube. You can also connect with Brittany on LinkedIn by searching "Brittany J Brown" and explore her services at boldambassador.com.

If you're ready to move from your checklist to a life of clarity, it's time to start the conversation.

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Building Trust: The Foundation of Success in Your Career and Business

In a world filled with distractions and competing priorities, what is the one thing that can make or break your professional relationships, your career, and even your business? Trust.

On a recent episode of the "Coaching Gold" podcast, Executive Coach Dorian Cunion joined host Dr. Rudy Jackson to discuss his coaching journey and the critical role of trust. As a former 7-Eleven executive, Dorian shared how his own experience with an executive coach motivated him to help others find their authentic leadership style and advance their careers.

This podcast episode is a must-watch for anyone who wants to improve their leadership, build stronger teams, or find more success in their professional life.

Key Concepts Around Building Trust

1. Trust is the starting point for all successful collaboration.

Dorian explains that whether you're trying to land a new job or lead a team, establishing trust is the first and most crucial step. He models this in his coaching by creating a safe space where clients can be vulnerable and share their fears and goals without judgment. This approach is not just a coaching technique; it's a blueprint for effective collaboration in any setting.

2. Mistrust can be the root of performance issues.

Many business owners and leaders blame employees for not meeting expectations. However, Dorian often finds that the real problem lies in a lack of trust. When there's a breakdown in communication, it can prevent employees from asking for help or lead to leaders micromanaging their team. The solution is to focus on rebuilding trust first.

3. Small actions can build trust.

If you want to start building trust immediately, set aside a little extra time to get to know people on a personal level. Move beyond a casual "How are you?" and ask thoughtful questions about their family or what's going well in their life. These simple, human interactions are the foundation of trust and are a critical first step toward building stronger relationships.

4. Repairing trust requires humility.

Dr. Jackson added a key insight, noting that trust is often broken unintentionally. The key to repairing it is a combination of awareness, prioritization, and humility. By acknowledging your mistake, listening to how your actions affected someone, and modeling the behavior you want to see, you can create a culture where it's safe to admit mistakes and work toward a solution.

5. Coaching helps you find the answers within yourself.

One of the principles of coaching is that people are naturally gifted and whole. A coach's role is not to provide all the answers, but to help clients tap into their own values, strengths, and experiences. 90% of what people need to succeed is already within them, and coaching provides the clarity and confidence to unlock that potential.

Why You Should Watch the Full Video

This podcast episode offers more than just theoretical advice; it provides a real-world perspective on what it means to be a coach and how the principles of coaching can be applied to everyday professional challenges. You'll get to hear from an experienced executive coach who has walked in your shoes and is dedicated to helping others succeed.

Whether you're a small business owner, a leader, or an individual in career transition, the insights shared in this conversation can help you build the trust needed to achieve your goals.

For more information on Dorian's coaching practice, you can visit his website, Your Path Coaching and Consulting, or connect with him on LinkedIn.