Consider forming alliances with the so-called “competition”.
Many business ventures have a natural marriage: wedding planners need florists, for example. Those types of connections are obvious to us. The connections that are not so obvious may yield even more powerful results. Consider the opportunity for a salon owner to host a seminar about ‘creating financial security’ or a boutique might host a book club or a mortgage broker could sponsor a dog show.
Consider also forming alliances with the so-called ‘competition.’ Crazy, you say? That’s only a perspective. Just imagine that there is room for us all in our field, and that we form ‘unlikely alliances’ with people who might be perceived as our competitors.
When we get creative and get connected, the possibilities are unlimited!
Betty, Adrian and Mona: Betty was a specialist in working on women with coarse hair. Adrian was a color and highlight specialist. Both women owned salons in the center of a small town. They shared many of the same friends, and even belonged to the same church. From an outsider’s perspective, they would have been great business partners.
Many women who knew both Betty and Adrian were not comfortable picking one salon over the other; so they choose to go to neither salon, in efforts to stay neutral. One day at a local net-working event, Betty stood up and announced her support of Adrian’s salon: “If you need color and highlights, there is only one place to consider! Adrian is your stylist!”
Both women were in a better position when they were servicing the clients whose needs best matched the service they best provided. The clients who had been avoiding both salons were no longer uncomfortable going to one or the other of the salons; rather, with Betty’s announcement, she had given the ladies ‘permission’ to go to the salon that best served their needs. Subsequently, the two salons even hosted joint spa events, where all the ladies came together. Business increased 30% the first year they supported each other.
Betty also had a close personal friendship with Mona, a local financial planner. As talented as Betty was with her styling tools, she was at a loss with managing her personal finances. She was also hearing from her clients that many were having a hard time with managing their financial affairs.
Mona was financially sound and organized, but her image was in desperate need of a makeover. Both women agreed to share their strengths and booked a half-day dedicated to one another. During this time they shared their mutual connections with each other, and even went as far as to make formal introductions both online and by phone to others who would be instrumental in helping accomplish the goals they had both outlined.
Betty has a balanced checkbook, a new IRA account and a financial game plan and Mona has a new image which has increased her self-confidence. Mona’s shift in energy and excitement opened up new opportunities for her.
Is that an exponential ‘winning connection?’ Indeed!