I run a series of Mastermind Groups for Toronto entrepreneurs. We meet monthly to discuss our businesses and solve the challenges we are currently facing – from financing to marketing to human resources. I am a big believer in pulling from those around you to make yourself better. I am equally a supporter of learning from those who are more experienced than you so you can learn from their successes. That’s why I took my groups to meet with Frank Cianciulli.
Frank has set up a number of businesses including two that have become the fastest growing companies in Canada. He is on Canada’s top 40 under 40 list, was named Ernst & Young’s emerging entrepreneur of the year, and has won numerous other awards.
When I took my members to see Frank, he shared some of his experiences with us as well as gave his advice on how to run a business. The thing that stuck with me most from what he said was that entrepreneurs too often focus on the wrong things. He gave examples of salespeople working on setting up their spreadsheets, writing sales scripts, getting lists of potential people to call, putting together a sales strategy… but not actually picking up the phone and drumming up some business!
He told us that revenue solves a lot of problems in a business and that there is no excuse for not making sales. His message was a simple one: Do not waste time on tasks thinking that you are adding value to your business. Being busy does not mean that you are being useful. It made me examine some of the things I do in my business and if there is a way to cut out some of the fat and be even more proactive about actually doing what needs to get done.
Are you so focused on the process and doing the things that you enjoy doing instead of focusing in on the things your business needs to succeed?
Evan Carmichael
