Announcement: New Name - Same Mission for the Business Community

Speaker: 00:00:00

It's a new day for small

business owners in the U.

2

: 00:00:02

S., and today we're launching the fix for

the broken small business support system.

3

: 00:00:08

And on this show, I'm

sharing the vision with you.

4

: 00:00:12

Let's go.

5

: 00:00:13

Welcome to Small Business Mornings,

a weekly live stream about

6

: 00:00:17

the small business lifestyle.

7

: 00:00:19

Give you the news we need.

8

: 00:00:21

We'll look at the week ahead.

9

: 00:00:23

We'll have a laugh or two

and we'll get things going.

10

: 00:00:26

I'm your host, Pat Miller.

11

: 00:00:28

Here's our situation.

12

: 00:00:30

If you're a small business owner and

you're watching this right now, the

13

: 00:00:34

odds are that you're going to fail.

14

: 00:00:37

Sorry.

15

: 00:00:38

Truth, 52 percent of small

business owners in the U.

16

: 00:00:42

S.

17

: 00:00:42

will not make it to year five,

according to the SBA, and only 5%,

18

: 00:00:49

5 percent will ever make it to a

million dollars a year in revenue.

19

: 00:00:56

The odds are long and the

risk is outrageous, right?

20

: 00:01:04

And the missing link to help you

survive and to help you scale is

21

: 00:01:09

so brand new that we're just now

getting it to market for decades.

22

: 00:01:14

Small business owners have done this.

23

: 00:01:16

They've signed an outrageous loan and

they go network with other business

24

: 00:01:21

owners and they hope for the best.

25

: 00:01:24

Well, the results speak for themselves.

26

: 00:01:27

Do they not?

27

: 00:01:29

Are you satisfied that half of

our colleagues and maybe even

28

: 00:01:32

us are going out of business?

29

: 00:01:34

I'm certainly not.

30

: 00:01:36

What if we did something about it?

31

: 00:01:39

What small business owners need is a place

to be surrounded by others that care.

32

: 00:01:46

Others that understand.

33

: 00:01:48

And others that will help you

without sending you an invoice.

34

: 00:01:53

Now just think about this.

35

: 00:01:54

If you're not in a small business

community, imagine asking someone at a

36

: 00:01:59

networking event to actually help you.

37

: 00:02:05

That doesn't happen.

38

: 00:02:09

But it doesn't a community

because a community is different.

39

: 00:02:14

A community is not an audience

of some YouTuber or podcaster.

40

: 00:02:18

A community is not an

association or a chamber.

41

: 00:02:21

A community is a group of people

who are on a shared mission.

42

: 00:02:27

And on a shared mission, they

agree to support one another.

43

: 00:02:32

And on that mission, they can grow.

44

: 00:02:36

A business community Is one that agrees

to support one another through the ups

45

: 00:02:41

and downs of the small business lifestyle.

46

: 00:02:43

Now, this is uncommon.

47

: 00:02:45

It's really not happening

in the small business world.

48

: 00:02:50

Really, not at all.

49

: 00:02:52

Four years ago, we launched

the Idea Collective.

50

: 00:02:54

That was my effort to bring

community to the business world.

51

: 00:02:59

And it was effective.

52

: 00:03:00

For those of you that joined,

thank you so much for joining.

53

: 00:03:02

We're so glad you're there.

54

: 00:03:05

But it didn't grow big enough.

55

: 00:03:08

For that powerful network effect.

56

: 00:03:12

The network effect is when you get

so many nodes on the network that

57

: 00:03:16

the value of the network rises.

58

: 00:03:18

You meet people that you don't know.

59

: 00:03:20

You have experience that you don't have.

60

: 00:03:22

The community gets diversified

so you're hearing new voices from

61

: 00:03:25

new regions with new expertise.

62

: 00:03:28

That network effect is like when

a community can be supercharged.

63

: 00:03:34

We have members all around the

country, we just don't have enough.

64

: 00:03:38

Now why?

65

: 00:03:40

I think it was hindered by a lack

of clarity and being critical.

66

: 00:03:46

It was also kind of run with an aw

shucks kind of attitude like, Oh, well,

67

: 00:03:52

if you need us, you'll find us, you

know, we're doing something pretty cool.

68

: 00:03:55

It'd be a shame if you

missed it, but it's okay.

69

: 00:03:58

If you don't join,

70

: 00:04:02

I wasn't being aggressive.

71

: 00:04:04

I wasn't out there.

72

: 00:04:05

Say it with me running for office.

73

: 00:04:07

For those of you that have heard me

say something that all changes today.

74

: 00:04:13

Today, it's different.

75

: 00:04:16

And it's never going to be the same.

76

: 00:04:19

My mission is to serve small

business owners at scale.

77

: 00:04:22

And I want to become an indispensable

part of their small business lifestyle so

78

: 00:04:27

they can build a business that they love.

79

: 00:04:29

And here's the real part and lead

a life that's fulfilling to them.

80

: 00:04:36

Every single one of us

building a small business.

81

: 00:04:39

We're qualified to go work for corporate.

82

: 00:04:41

We've just chosen not to, because

that just doesn't fill us up anymore.

83

: 00:04:47

We want to go do our own thing.

84

: 00:04:48

We want to go build our

own small business dream.

85

: 00:04:52

That's why we don't work

for someone else anymore.

86

: 00:04:57

I want to see those folks succeed.

87

: 00:04:59

And when you think about my mission and

the whole at scale part of it, meaning

88

: 00:05:03

many, many small business owners,

that probably sounds silly to you.

89

: 00:05:12

Kind of sounds silly to me.

90

: 00:05:15

But if you look around the

country, it's kind of needed.

91

: 00:05:18

I just shared the stat with you.

92

: 00:05:21

We know that small business owners

need a community like this, and I

93

: 00:05:24

know that they need it everywhere.

94

: 00:05:27

Is that crazy?

95

: 00:05:31

Is it wild to think that some guy

in his basement in some community

96

: 00:05:34

like you, that we are gonna fix

the small business support system?

97

: 00:05:38

Is that out of reach?

98

: 00:05:40

Maybe it's too out of reach.

99

: 00:05:42

Maybe it's just foolish.

100

: 00:05:49

Maybe we shouldn't try.

101

: 00:05:52

Maybe,

102

: 00:05:56

but if someone like me and someone

like you doesn't dream that big, who

103

: 00:06:04

else is going to step in and serve?

104

: 00:06:09

Who's going to offer this product that

entrepreneurs just like you, but they're

105

: 00:06:13

in Kentucky or North Dakota or Ohio.

106

: 00:06:17

Those folks need what we have.

107

: 00:06:24

If someone was going to fix this,

it would have been fixed by now.

108

: 00:06:26

I'm telling you, right?

109

: 00:06:29

If someone was going to fix this,

it would have been fixed by now.

110

: 00:06:32

So dammit, I'm excited and

I'm on a mission now, and I'm

111

: 00:06:36

glad that you're here with me.

112

: 00:06:38

I'm excited to announce the

small business owners community.

113

: 00:06:43

And you can find it at

small business community.

114

: 00:06:46

com.

115

: 00:06:50

If you're an entrepreneur that's

working to build your small business

116

: 00:06:53

dream, there's now a nationwide

community that's ready to walk with you.

117

: 00:07:00

And here's what makes it different.

118

: 00:07:02

We're talking about business and we're

talking about the personal ups and

119

: 00:07:06

downs while we build our business.

120

: 00:07:09

I call that the small business lifestyle.

121

: 00:07:12

Now that's a little bit unique

because there are support groups

122

: 00:07:15

like emotional support groups.

123

: 00:07:16

There are business groups, fine,

but we've created a space that puts

124

: 00:07:21

collaboration over competition.

125

: 00:07:24

And that's enabled because we've

banned the spammy sales posts and those

126

: 00:07:29

referral sharks that infest other groups.

127

: 00:07:33

When you come into the small business

owners community, you're going

128

: 00:07:36

to get battle tested feedback and

experience and not a sales pitch.

129

: 00:07:43

We're also available nationwide

with our online platform and in

130

: 00:07:48

person, a growing number of cities.

131

: 00:07:50

Plus, we host a big old conference.

132

: 00:07:52

Our annual conference, our fourth

annual one is going to be in

133

: 00:07:55

October in downtown Milwaukee.

134

: 00:07:59

Now, as I got ready for this morning

show I had 25 pages worth of theory and

135

: 00:08:10

reasons and stuff I wanted to share.

136

: 00:08:12

And I was going to logic my way into

sharing this announcement with you

137

: 00:08:17

and like giving you the reasons.

138

: 00:08:19

Well, you know what?

139

: 00:08:19

Nobody cares.

140

: 00:08:21

You know what people care about?

141

: 00:08:22

They care about their pocketbook.

142

: 00:08:24

They care about their business

and they want to get further down

143

: 00:08:27

the road than they are right now.

144

: 00:08:29

That's really what we're

doing in the small business.

145

: 00:08:43

How about we do that?

146

: 00:08:45

There

147

: 00:08:58

we go.

148

: 00:09:01

So let's show you the community, shall we?

149

: 00:09:04

When you come into our online

platform in the online platform,

150

: 00:09:09

you're going to find an exclusive

home for you and your small business.

151

: 00:09:14

That's on purpose, not on Facebook.

152

: 00:09:17

Why?

153

: 00:09:18

Because I wanted to have a private

conversation and I wanted to give you the

154

: 00:09:21

chance to interact with other members and

not be one click away from your clients.

155

: 00:09:28

That's why we're on Mighty Networks

and not with Facebook or some

156

: 00:09:34

other public facing network.

157

: 00:09:37

The other thing that we're

doing inside the community I

158

: 00:09:39

think is pretty darn unique.

159

: 00:09:41

Eight hours a month, eight hours a month.

160

: 00:09:45

We get together.

161

: 00:09:47

And we do something that

we call the idea slam.

162

: 00:09:51

Now in the idea slam, we have folks

get time in front of the group

163

: 00:09:56

to get experience and feedback

from other entrepreneurs that

164

: 00:10:00

know what they're talking about.

165

: 00:10:01

We're all sharing what we've seen.

166

: 00:10:04

We're all helping each other grow.

167

: 00:10:07

That's your chance to solve

problems and capture opportunity.

168

: 00:10:10

Hey, has anyone ever seen this?

169

: 00:10:11

Am I crazy?

170

: 00:10:13

Someone would say, no,

you're, you're not crazy.

171

: 00:10:15

That is how that works.

172

: 00:10:18

In addition to idea generation

and problem solving, we're also

173

: 00:10:22

getting into accountability.

174

: 00:10:23

We do a weekly accountability call and

we've added new how to get stuff done.

175

: 00:10:28

Calls called how's calls, which are

ways that we are getting after the

176

: 00:10:33

day-to-Day steps that are needed

to make our dreams come true.

177

: 00:10:38

So this isn't a place

where you post and pray.

178

: 00:10:41

This is a place where you log in

and talk with other entrepreneurs

179

: 00:10:44

and you get problems solved.

180

: 00:10:49

And these action oriented sessions,

they're just different than networking.

181

: 00:10:54

In addition to all of these meetings

that we have online, because it's getting

182

: 00:10:57

up to be like 20 meetings a month now.

183

: 00:10:59

In addition to all of that, we have

on demand classes, how to open, uh,

184

: 00:11:05

get your email open rate up or how to

build your business through Instagram.

185

: 00:11:09

And we have special interest clubs.

186

: 00:11:13

A coaches club, a public speaking

club, a sales club, an AI club, loads

187

: 00:11:19

of different small conversations

that are going on inside of there.

188

: 00:11:24

And then we thought, okay, how

do we expand the benefit beyond

189

: 00:11:27

just the online membership?

190

: 00:11:30

Well, we've added something

really cool, brand new.

191

: 00:11:35

We've just added a legal hotline

hosted by Athena legal solutions.

192

: 00:11:40

So in addition to the online community, we

now have a free members only legal hotline

193

: 00:11:46

because you've been there before, right?

194

: 00:11:48

You get the letter and you're

like, this looks official.

195

: 00:11:52

Do I need to do something with this?

196

: 00:11:54

Now I'll just ignore it.

197

: 00:11:55

And then 90 days later, it's like,

Hey, you didn't do the thing.

198

: 00:11:59

You shouldn't have to take that risk.

199

: 00:12:01

And you shouldn't have to start

the law, a legal taxi meter, just

200

: 00:12:06

cause you need a yes or no question.

201

: 00:12:08

So inside the community members can

schedule the time with one of our

202

: 00:12:12

members, that's an attorney and get

questions answered free of charge.

203

: 00:12:18

Nice.

204

: 00:12:21

In addition to that, we're adding a

new directory for all of our members.

205

: 00:12:26

We also added hundreds of

dollars in monthly savings with

206

: 00:12:29

our deals and discount section.

207

: 00:12:31

And we've beeped up the discount

for the annual conference.

208

: 00:12:36

Members of the community now get

into the conference for 150 off.

209

: 00:12:41

Other organizations like this,

some of them are like 2, 500.

210

: 00:12:45

Some of them are 249.

211

: 00:12:47

This entire thing, this answer to the

test, this support system that you

212

: 00:12:52

need to grow the business 57 a month.

213

: 00:12:58

It's less than a gym membership.

214

: 00:13:00

It's less than one dinner out.

215

: 00:13:02

And you're plugging into the business

support system that you won't

216

: 00:13:05

believe you were working without.

217

: 00:13:08

We even offer a two week free trial.

218

: 00:13:11

Where's my free trial.

219

: 00:13:12

There's my free trial.

220

: 00:13:14

Come on up onto the screen free trial.

221

: 00:13:19

It's not working this morning.

222

: 00:13:20

There it is.

223

: 00:13:22

Two week free trial.

224

: 00:13:26

So for those of you that have been on

this journey with me, let's just review

225

: 00:13:30

why we needed to change the name.

226

: 00:13:32

Moving from the Idea Collective

to the Small Business Owners

227

: 00:13:35

Community is a big move.

228

: 00:13:36

So why did we do it?

229

: 00:13:38

Well, we don't need to niche

down to a place or a person.

230

: 00:13:41

This is needed everywhere.

231

: 00:13:44

This need is immediate and it's important.

232

: 00:13:46

And with a name like the Small Business

Owners Community, Small Business Owners

233

: 00:13:50

will know exactly who this is for.

234

: 00:13:53

And we can clearly position the

community as something different

235

: 00:13:57

than the local in person solutions.

236

: 00:14:00

And if you didn't know who we

were, compare this introduction.

237

: 00:14:03

Oh, hi, I'm Pat Miller.

238

: 00:14:05

I'm building the idea collective.

239

: 00:14:07

Or hi, I'm Pat Miller.

240

: 00:14:09

I'm building the small

business owners community.

241

: 00:14:13

Like an immediate difference, right?

242

: 00:14:14

Like that.

243

: 00:14:15

You can tell right away

what the difference is.

244

: 00:14:18

Our values didn't change.

245

: 00:14:19

Our tagline of don't grow

it alone didn't change.

246

: 00:14:22

Our pricing didn't change.

247

: 00:14:24

The only thing that changed is that

we're getting ultra clear and more

248

: 00:14:28

direct to help us cut through to

people who don't know about us yet.

249

: 00:14:33

And, as I said at the beginning,

we're taking a leadership

250

: 00:14:37

position without apology.

251

: 00:14:39

We don't need to hide or feel less than

by saying, Oh, well, we're the small

252

: 00:14:45

business owners, community of Milwaukee.

253

: 00:14:48

Maybe someday we'll

help people everywhere.

254

: 00:14:50

No, no, no.

255

: 00:14:54

For the last four years, we

have innovated a solution.

256

: 00:14:57

And we've been testing what works and

what doesn't, we've been building this

257

: 00:15:01

community behind the scenes and now,

today, it is our obligation to share

258

: 00:15:08

it with as many people as possible.

259

: 00:15:12

Nobody's claimed this, no one's

taken a leadership position, so

260

: 00:15:18

today, that's what we're gonna do.

261

: 00:15:22

And if you're watching this, and you're

building your small business dream all

262

: 00:15:25

by yourself, I want you to know that

together we're building something bigger

263

: 00:15:31

than just your own small business.

264

: 00:15:33

We're building the small business

support system that should have been

265

: 00:15:36

available this whole time and it wasn't.

266

: 00:15:42

So if you're not with us yet, I'm asking

you to take the two week free trial.

267

: 00:15:45

The link is right there on the screen.

268

: 00:15:47

Because if you don't, you're

going to log off and you're

269

: 00:15:51

going to have a conversation with

your cat about what to do next.

270

: 00:15:55

Or you're going to guess about, geez,

did I, did I price that high enough?

271

: 00:16:00

Or, wow, do I need to

make that investment?

272

: 00:16:04

You're going to try and engineer

all of these ideas in your own head.

273

: 00:16:07

You're going to try and solve

your own problems and you

274

: 00:16:10

can't see your blind spots.

275

: 00:16:12

And you're going to try and make

decisions outside of your areas

276

: 00:16:15

of expertise and experience.

277

: 00:16:18

It doesn't have to be that way.

278

: 00:16:22

If you're doing it by yourself,

you've put business on hard mode.

279

: 00:16:25

And that's not a U.

280

: 00:16:27

S.

281

: 00:16:28

business support problem.

282

: 00:16:29

That's a you problem.

283

: 00:16:31

As of today.

284

: 00:16:34

So join us because we want

to be a part of your success.

285

: 00:16:38

The small business owners

community is live and I'm

286

: 00:16:47

pretty darn excited about it.

287

: 00:16:49

I'm Pat Miller, founder of the

small business owners community.

288

: 00:16:52

God, that feels so good to say I'm

excited that you joined us this morning.

289

: 00:16:55

I hope we get a chance to work

with you inside the community.

290

: 00:16:59

And I promise next week, we'll

have a full blown small business

291

: 00:17:03

mornings to share with one another.

292

: 00:17:04

But today, big announcement

couldn't be more excited.

293

: 00:17:08

We'll see you in the community and

we'll see you right here next week.

294

: 00:17:12

Thanks for tuning in.

Share Episode

Shownotes

Transcripts

Follow

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube