The Perception and Reality of Business Effectiveness

Let’s talk about the “perception” and “reality” of business growth.

You know the difference between perception and reality. Perception gives you an “impression”. Reality is the experience of the truth of the matter. Reality is what counts. Perception/impression may not to give you results that you would expect, or like.

The perception of where your company is with regard to growth is based on your increasing sales and profitability, the company perspective of itself, and it as compared to your competition and industry standard.

You could ask yourself “What is the perception of my corporate growth?, “Is my corporate growth bringing me the long-term results I am looking for? And, what are the costs of my company not fulfilling its growth potential?

It is important to note here that the “reality” of a company’s achievement and growth could be quite different based on another perspective. The perception of your business condition could be deceiving, and could include a number of unseen losses.

Opportunity Analysis -

We can focus on a company’s position by asking these questions –

• What is the perception of how we are doing as a company?
• How can I “see” what to do to know where to go to do better?
• What would it take to improve the outcome of my results?
• What would the reality look like of what I could achieve?
• How would the improved results put the company in a more profitable and secure position?
• Am I committed to produce the results I envision?
• What can I do now to start gaining better business results?

Cutting Costs and Building Profitability -

As we know building profitability can often be focused on cutting costs.

The problem and limitation to building profitability by cutting costs is that you can only cut costs until you have no more costs to cut, and then you might be out of business. Obviously you cannot build company growth on out of business; you cannot build company growth on cutting costs.

You can build on opportunities. The key is seeing the opportunities and knowing how to address them. In perceiving opportunities “the forest and the trees", the being to close to see it, can come into play. The advantage of an outside business development professional is that they can see the opportunities clearer.

A business development professional unveils possibilities for companies by revealing business building opportunities through the background of extensive business experience and a natural talent in business clarity and ideas, coupled with a valuable outside perspective, that creates business results that are effective - looking in from outside of the current perception.

Creating improved business outcomes for company growth requires a prudent combination of successful cost consciousness and business building that provides the most effective long-term profitability results.

The importance of maximizing sales and profitability results to drive company growth is of course essential. If we take a moment we can imagine the benefits of maximum company growth. We can also picture the opposite...

The Costs of Perception -

What is the cost of lack of sales effectiveness? What is the cost in loss of revenue? What is the cost to companies in missed opportunities that they have to build their companies? What is the loss in jobs, profitability, company and industry stature, quality of life, and unemployment to families, and communities? The costs can obviously be enormous.

What are the costs of being effective and maximizing sales and profitability? Being happy.

In working with many companies I have seen they were not as effective in their sales processes or sales results as they could be. I found this true in both Fortune 500 companies as well as smaller companies. The sales and profitability loss of the companies existed as a result of these two areas:

1. The companies were unable to see the significant growth opportunities that were in front of them.
2. The companies were not aware of the greater opportunity they had to sell more effectively.

The companies, actually having the opportunity to do better, had been operating under a “perception of effectiveness”.

In other words - the general trend I see in companies is that they have greater opportunities to be more effective in their sales and profitability - than they realize.

Caldwell (CBD) improves companies business development results.

Caldwell (CBD) provides the outside perspective and ideas to perceive opportunities and generate positive results. A track record of consistent business improvement establishes the extent and value of the difference made for companies.

• One company that I worked with found the “perception” of their sales was outstripped when sales doubled to the “reality” of what its potential was with improved programs and opportunities. (See the “Brand Development” example under “Case Studies” on the Caldwell Corporate Business Development Web site.)
• For another company I created and implemented a competitive national sales program and increased sales almost 100% of yearly industry growth in just 8 months. In my work for the company I also initiated a sales force for multiple trades for the Midwest area of the country, created sales team manuals for multiple trades nationally, and addressed improving product packaging presentation.
• For one of the Fortune 500 company’s I worked with, I unveiled almost twenty opportunities where they could advance their sales and marketing endeavor.
• I was acknowledged as the key person responsible for one company receiving the U.S. Small Business Administration 1995 Exporter of the Year Award for the San Francisco District.

There are numerous examples of effective business building I have achieved for companies on the Caldwell Corporate Business Development Web site under “Case Studies” at www.caldwellbusiness.com.

Caldwell Corporate Business Development provides the skill, perspective, experience, talent, and ideas in comprehensive business development for building greater business effectiveness that improves business performance in companies significantly.

What is achieved for companies provides business clarity, improves the areas of company direction, solves problems, and gives companies a more competitive edge.

• Results… that I have gained for companies include greatly improved effectiveness in business through significant increases in sales results (in the areas of 100% growth); major improvements in corporate and product marketing strategies; creating effective business building programs; increased profitability; and improved business management and organizational development, making them much more profitable and competitive in their trades.
• The value… brought to companies is a cost-effective investment that is empowering for organizations that are committed to the growth of their business.

My background includes experience with Fortune 500 companies, such as Clorox and Safeway, as well as small companies and various industries.

“What my work with companies has consistently shown is the experience, talent, and capability to significantly improve what companies were doing in business results.”

My experience and talent could be valuable to your company in providing assistance on a special project or area that would benefit by the additional attention of a business development person, offering the right solution for your needs.

The key result of what my work offers is corporations gaining more effectiveness in business growth and profitability results.

Caldwell (CBD) builds effectiveness and profitability in companies through:

• Building corporate growth through identifying and developing growth opportunities, and improving marketing strategies and sales team results.
• Creating better company efficiency through organizational development.
• Improving “cost efficiency” through improving or eliminating ineffective business programs.

All of these factors are cost effective measures that improve the profitability, short and long-term, of your company that speaks to a company and its shareholders.

• My objective is to assist your company to produce more effective business results through improved business programs and more effective employees.
• My style is to support people so they can achieve more effective results from their work. I am not interested in making them look bad.
• My means is through an experienced, valuable outside business perspective that has shown consistent excellent results.
• The results I achieve creates improved business success for your company’s future.

My work shows corporations a valuable cost effective way to be more successful in gaining the business results and improved business edge they are looking for.

What is your company looking for?

A person once said to me regarding business… “You cannot move forward by holding back.” What I am offering is an opportunity for your company to move forward to new business realities.

I look forward to following up with you regarding how I can assist in making your company business development easier and more effective.

Sincerely,

AL CALDWELL
Caldwell Corporate Business Development