About

Independent business analyst and small business owner J Cleveland Payne offers success tips for business owners and professionals every week in a quick and concise format.

  • Don't Undersell How Much Luck Went Into Your Success - TMBW 267
    Much of our uccess in business, and in life in general, comes from a coin flip that just happened to come up in your favor at just the right time.
  • The Disappointing But Simple Solution To The Fastest Way For A Business To Grow - TMBW 266
    Businesses will grow at their own rates, and that growth is mostly out of the control of the business owner.
  • Don’t Take An Opportunity That Could Lose You More Than 20% Of Your Investment - TMBW 265
    Know your 20% or less number before looking at deals.
  • Proceed With Caution When Taking On Partners - TMBW 264
    Every potential business partner you encounter is not looking to leave you high and dry. But it happens. That is why it is important to have rules to follow to keep you from signing on to potentially bad partnerships.
  • Learn How To Demonstrate Products And Services You Sell Properly - TMBW 263
    Learn how to highlight key features and usage tips for all your inventory and service products on your sales sheet.
  • Create New Product Launches To Attract New Customers - TMBW 262
    Introducing new products or services is a great way to attract customers you previously had no access to and retain customers with a shift in needs. Even if creating a new product or service isn't apparent, find a way to define and make them regularly.
  • Adapting To Change Is The Key To Business Survival - TMBW 261
    The importance of flexibility and adaptability in business can not be understated. From knowing how to pivot to a new strategy in the face of market changes or when just to give up a product or service that is not working, the market will force change...
  • Get Used To Telling (And Retelling) Success Stories - TMBW 260
    Highlights of significant achievements or milestones you have witnessed from previous customers are incredible tools to add to a sales pitch. If you think you lack the skill to be a compelling storyteller, plenty of coaches are waiting to sell you...
  • Keep Up With Industry News And Updates - TMBW 259
    Keep informed on the news and innovations going on in your industry, and if you have the talent, contribute personally with the writing and presentation of that information to your customers and other curious people.
  • Be Real About What Your Company Culture Represents - TMBW 258
    Just as important as your mission and values, it highlights team activities, values, and work environment. However, a person in power with nefarious reasons can also use these as a tool 'to protect' company culture.
  • Present Your Company Mission And Values - TMBW 257
    Understand what your business stands for, and learn to express your business's core principles and goals with simplicity.
  • Manage Yourself And Your Health Through A Crisis - TMBW 256
    Your physical and mental health are the most important aspects of your business because you cannot maintain a business without proper maintenance.
  • Don’t Rely On Loans If You Are Unsure Of Prospective Income - TMBW 255
    Unless you are wealthy and can cover the cost of paying it back, have investors who can cover it for you, or have massive cashflow to cover it through salary, I don’t recommend taking out loans at the offset of launch your small business.
  • Time Management Techniques For Entrepreneurs – TMBW 254
    This episode offers five strategies to help small business owners establish effective time management. SPOILER ALERT: You will never achieve genuinely effective time management, but don’t let that stop you from the attempt.
  • Take Advantage Of Networking And Collaboration Opportunities – TMBW 253
    The importance of networking, partnerships, and collaborations in driving small business growth cannot be understated. Despite the potential frustrations and exhaustion, remember that these connections can provide invaluable support and encouragement...
  • Mastering Customer Service In The Digital Age – TMBW 252
    Small businesses have no choice but to try and leverage technology to improve customer satisfaction. However, in this age where it is hard to get someone on the phone, you have the advantage of providing a personal touch, making your customers feel...
  • Building Your Brand From Scratch – TMBW 251
    Creating a solid brand identity and value proposition for small businesses can be daunting. But the best you can do out of the gate will help you immensely, even if your initial ideas need to catch on for the masses.
  • Cover Your Small Business Legal Basics - TMBW 250
    You may only need a little paper or minimum time with a lawyer on retention to get down to business. But you need to know this from the first day of offering your products and services for sale to the public.
  • Bootstrapping – TMBW 249
    Stories of people who could start and grow a business with minimal external funding are great. These stories also convince many people who can’t bootstrap their business to give it a shot when they should not.
  • Digital Marketing on a Dime – TMBW 248
    Digital marketing comes with a cost, so use cost and time-effective strategies for your small business.