Diamond Effect - Strategies to Scale Your Service Business as a Sellable Asset

Imagine that in three hours you have a meeting with a potential client to discuss your services proposal. Yet you’re still going back and forth on your pricing.  You’re trying to gauge what clients “can afford” as you don’t want to lose them. But at the same time, you don’t want to go too low and feel like you’ll be working for free if they accept.  This is not the first time this situation has ha...

In today's episode, Maggie talks about the critical role of planning in fostering business growth. She distinguishes between project planning and weekly planning, outlining their respective benefits in saving time, maintaining focus, and enhancing client satisfaction. Project planning is vital for service-based businesses, ensuring timely and successful project completions through realistic d...

In today's difficult economy, everyone seems to be a bit more anxious, and on the edge. And that can lead to unnecessary deterioration of service provider-client relationships when unexpected challenges arise. In this episode, we dive into the three essential strategies for mastering client relationships. 1) A robust sales process 2) Contracts, policies, and procedures that establish clear ru...

In my latest podcast episode, I dive into the world of data analytics for CEOs and business owners. It's not just about having the information; it's about understanding financial, marketing, and operational data to make informed decisions.  For example, did you know that tracking your conversion rates, profitability, sales cycle length, etc. can lead to catching opportunities you might o...

Let's be real, we are in the 21st century with 99.9999% of your ideal clients using technology, and especially e-mails.  Embracing email marketing in your service business to the fullest can save you lots of time, generate many more sales on auto-pilot, make it easy for clients to refer, and help you strengthen the relationship you have with them without spending hours and thousands of dollar...

Have you ever clung to a business dream with the same tenacity you'd hold onto the last cookie in the jar—only to worry it might crumble? That's where my entrepreneurial journey began, and it's the heart of the latest Diamond Effect Podcast episode. Snuggle into the behind-the-scenes tales of my transformation from a hopeful dreamer to a six-figure CEO. It's been a rollercoaste...

As I look back on how I started my business and what allowed me to keep doubling it since then.  And how I work with my clients to ensure they get similar results. We always start with the basics. A solid business foundation. One that supports your CEO decisions and guides your actions. In today's Maggaie's Moment, I walk you through what that foundation is and why it is so critical to c...

Two weeks ago I attended a coaching conference in Washington, DC. Such conferences allow me to keep growing as a coach. Staying on top of the newest coaching techniques and better ways to help my clients is a priority for me. The better I am as a coach, the faster my clients get results, and the bigger their return on investment is. At the same time, during such conferences, I always learn or am r...

Did you know your business coach doesn't need to specialize in your specific industry? To scale your business in a way that allows you to stand out, you need to grow your industry expertise and your business acumen. In today's Maggie's Moment, I share 3 reasons why having a wider perspective, outside of your industry, will help you grow your service business. Being a high-performing...

From my experience, having worked with hundreds of small business owners through my coaching, training, and workshops, there are three main causes of entrepreneurial overwork. And they have to do with 3 S's - Strategy, Skillset, and Systems. In today's episode, I explain why that's the case in each S, give you examples to illustrate, and share tangible strategies of how you can star...

You know there is a huge potential for you to reach more clients and organically grow your service business through social media. You also feel overwhelmed by all the demands that you need social media requires for you to be successful there. So most of the time you either aren't using social media for your business at all or are very on and off, which is not the result you'd like. In to...

As a service business owner, hiring a contractor or an agency to remove marketing and sales responsibilities off your plate because you don't like them isn't a good reason to do it. It actually will lead you to lost money, minimal results, and a lot of frustration.  This podcast episode will help you do it at the right time and get the maximum return on your investment. Today I want to h...

If you have ever told yourself "This doesn't or won't work for me." when considering a marketing tactic for your business, today's Maggie's Moment is for you. Especially if that specific tactic works for other businesses in your industry. Tune in to learn the 5-step process of making any marketing acting you want to adopt work for you. And if you're ready to doub...

In this episode, I give you practical tips to help you master time blocking as a crucial tool for business owners to manage time, prioritize tasks, and reduce stress.  I address common issues entrepreneurs have with time blocking, such as distractions and unrealistic expectations. I also outline a three-step process for effective time blocking aligned with your business growth strategies. This epi...

"Easy money" projects, clients, and income in your business can be a good thing when you need to pay an unexpected bill or earn a few extra bucks.  However, that can put you in a trap of working lower-paying work and not having time to sign clients paying your full price. And, therefore working hard and underearning. In Today's Maggie's Moment, I share with you tips on how to a...

How do you double your service-based business without adding more work? By embracing the concept of strategic constraint and the Pareto Principle. Instead of spreading yourself too thin trying to do it all, you want to make it strategic and take a few actions that will create most of your results. Such decisions are based on positive emotions rather than fear. By focusing on the 20% of efforts tha...

What if the thing you’ve been avoiding doing so far in your service business is the exact thing preventing you from growing it?  No matter how much you want to believe that it’s not. No matter how much you’re trying to do without it by finding other solutions. That thing could be you presenting in front of people. Or hiring your first employee. Or holding your team members accountable.  You’ve bee...

Your current happy clients that stay or keep coming back (depending on the services model you have), and also refer anyone they know to you, should be the bread and butter of your business. Yes, bringing on new clients consistently is key, but if you cannot retain a core clientele you'll always be hustling. It's always harder, more expensive, and takes longer to convert someone who doesn...

The prices of everything have gone up, and so are your business expenses. Rent. Fuel. Lunches. Vendors are raising prices.  You’re worried about not making enough income or even going bankrupt. You can’t shake that off, which is making you feel panicky and hopeless. But being stuck in panic isn’t going to solve the problem.   As a business owner, the CEO, you have two levers to use to solve this....

In today's episode, I'm talking with one of my clients, Paola Di Fonzo, owner of BallooniqueTO , an event decorator, and a balloon stylist.  We delve deep into the world of entrepreneurship and success exploring a topic that's often glamorized but rarely understood: the difference between hustle and hard work in business. 1. Defining the Terms: First things first. We clarify what we...

39-41% of businesses in the US are women-owned Canada is lacking at 17-18% but that number is growing More and more women enter the entrepreneurship and business world. And with that more and more valuable perspectives and ideas. Today I highlight what women value as they run their businesses. And encourage all of us #womenentreprenurs to use our voices and confidently share our perspectives. They...

In this episode of the Diamond Effect podcast, I help you explore the intricacies of pricing strategies for service-based businesses. I address the psychological barriers often leading to underpricing and the subsequent impact on business growth. With a focus on mindset and practical strategy tips on what to consider when first setting prices for your services and then how to raise them, this epis...

As your service-based business grows and you start getting busier and busier with clients, inadvertently a time comes when you start feeling overwhelmed. The feeling itself is not a problem. It can prompt you to change how your business is structured and/ or how you, the service provider and the CEO, work in it. The problem starts when you don't do anything. When you accept the overwhelm as s...

You feel like you are being pulled in all directions right now. Trying to keep up with clients' work. Post something on social media weekly. And occasionally do a networking lunch between service projects and client emergencies.  It feels like you've barely kept your head above the water. You're tired of shooting in the dark, figuring out how to sign the next client while overworkin...

Two types of planning will increase your productivity and effectiveness and save precious time doing unnecessary things. I talk about them in today’s Maggie’s Moment. Tune in :). I teach these planning skills as part of my T.O.P. CEO Performance Enhancer Formula. All is a simple, practical, and easy-to-implement way. If you want to double your service business without adding more work to your sche...