Over the past two years, Taylor Brand Consulting has grown and evolved in ways I never could have imagined. Within two short years, I went from a "solopreneur" to adding two part-time specialist consultants. As a small but efficient team, we have ran PR and marketing for events with hundreds of attendees. Working primarily with nonprofit organizations, I have been fortunate enough to work on 6 different capital campaigns and raise substantial gifts through digital fundraising and PR. I have also been allowed to serve one of my favorite people groups: the small business owner. With my fellow entrepreneurs, I've designed and launched websites for first-time entrepreneurs and re-branded major organizations. In the summer, while contemplating the future growth of Taylor Brand Consulting, I asked myself, "What can I do to better serve my clients?"
I don't take this growth for granted for a solitary moment and know that the future of TBC isn't guaranteed without a continued commitment to delivering business-changing marketing and consulting. While mapping out the course I plan to chart in 2020, I also decidedly knew to achieve these new milestones, I would need to be the most well-rounded, obssessed-with-my-clients, hungry-for-knowledge version of myself possible. When I asked how I can better serve my clients, the answer I kept coming back to was centered around improving the consulting experience from first contact to desired result, and that begins with improving my knowledge of everything from sales and marketing trends, to business development and customer service.
From November 7-9, I attended the RISE Business Conference in Charleston hosted by the Hollis Co., founded by Rachel Hollis. Along with 6,200 other small business owners, I attended sessions from Ed Mylett, Rachel Hollis, Brendon Bruchard, Amy Porterfield, and so many more icons of business. If I were to transcribe my (literal) 21 pages of notes from RISE weekend we would be here all night, so I've put together some of the key takeaways that impacted me the most:
1. You have to be deeply connected with your audience, so much so that you don't pursue what you think they want, but answer the questions they ask over and over again. The successful and influential business owner is nothing short of obsessed with their client/customer.
2. Customer experience begins with the first interaction and continues through every point of contact. Even in how clients/customers interact with your website and receive invoices are a part of the customer experience.
3. Everything is "figure-outable". Meaning, if you work backwards from any problem, break it down into the smallest pieces possible, you can create an approachable plan of action to divide and conquer. How does one eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
4. Highly successful individuals don't have a perpetually mysterious "secret" that transformed them into phenomenon-like business icons. Success is a cut and dry formula, with unpredictable breaks (good or bad). The difference between the average person and the high-performer is found in high-performing commitment to the dream and choosing daily habits and actions that support that goal and denying what doesn't serve the purpose.
After attending RISE and investing in myself as a business leader, I have a clearer vision for the future of TBC, while simultaneously becoming better equipped to serve you. I am anxious to announce new services, improved services, and a new team member coming your way in 2020. In the meantime, I hope you've enjoyed my incredibly brief snapshot of RISE Business Conference.
To connect more, email me at taylorbrandconsulting@gmail.com, or comment on the article below. Thank you for reading!
