The Dichotomy of Sales as an Owner
After finally catching up on sleep, there’s a fresh sense of clarity and readiness this morning. Let’s get straight to what matters most for owners of professional services firms, whether…
Mastering Ideal Client Acquisition for Owners of Professional Services Firms
Ideal client acquisition is the only sustainable growth path for serious professional advisors. Let’s be honest…you are already successful and for you to personally invest time in business development it…
The Importance of Continuous Prospecting in Professional Services
Every advisor learns this lesson eventually, some the hard way. Recently, I relearned it myself. For several months, I’d been holding a spot for a potential client. We went back…
Navigating Marketing in the Age of AI: Understanding Your Two Customers
I’ve been reading Mark Schaefer’s new book, How AI Changes Your Customers: A Marketer’s Guide to Humanity’s Next Chapter. It’s a powerhouse read because, whether we like it or not,…
The #1 Reason Referrals are the best: Skipping to the Front of the Line In The Sales Process
Every professional advisor I know wants the same thing: quality conversations with the right people at the right time. The problem? Most of us end up meeting prospects late in…
The Difference Between a Referral Partner and an Evangelist
In my Can I Borrow Your Car methodology, we explore the trust and responsibility behind every referral. When you lend someone your car, you aren’t just giving them transportation—you’re putting…
The Uncomfortable Truth About Reciprocity (or the lack thereof) in Referrals and Collaboration
Reciprocity. It’s the unspoken currency of referrals and collaboration and the single biggest reason why most financial advisors and professionals fail to build a predictable referral pipeline. Let’s stop sugarcoating…
Stop Hiding Behind Email: The Real Secret to High-Value Referral Meetings
A client recently asked me how to set up a meeting with a key center of influence—a referral source who could truly move the needle for their business. Like many…
Mastering the 80/20 Rule in Referrals and Client Acquisition
I've been diving into 80/20 Sales and Marketing: The Definitive Guide to Working Less and Making More by Perry Marshall. Actually, I’ve been listening to Audible and bought the hardcover…
How to Identify and Cultivate Ideal Clients in a Referral-Driven Financial Practice
Why are ideal clients so critical to the referral process for successful advisers? Here’s the deal: The one downside of the referral process is that it relies heavily on interpersonal…