As business advisors, we’ve noticed many clients ask specific questions like, “How do I hire a sales rep?” However, they often need to address bigger issues first.
The Answer is a Question ❓
Inexperienced clients often ask the wrong questions. For example, instead of “How do I hire a sales rep?” they should ask, “Do I need a sales rep yet?” Our approach involves asking guiding questions to uncover the real issues.
Pandering to Laziness 🥱
Inexperienced entrepreneurs often seek shortcuts, influenced by media and companies selling unnecessary products. They oversimplify the process and ignore crucial steps.
Hacking the Tree Down 🪵
Media glorifies overnight success, overshadowing the value of steady, committed effort. This fuels a misguided search for quick fixes instead of building a solid foundation.
Inglorious Insights 💡
Young entrepreneurs fail because they chase hacks rather than understand the necessary steps and priorities. True success comes from learning and applying lessons over time.
Do the Right Things 👍
Experienced advisors who learned from their mistakes can offer valuable, practical advice. It’s not about finding a single hack; it’s about doing the right things in the right order.
Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey co-authored the New York Times bestselling business book, The Barefoot Spirit: How Hardship, Hustle, and Heart Built America’s #1 Wine Brand. The book has been selected as recommended reading in the CEO Library for CEO Forum, the C-Suite Book Club, and numerous university classes on business and entrepreneurship. It chronicles their humble beginnings from the laundry room of a rented Sonoma County farmhouse to the board room of E&J Gallo, who ultimately acquired their brand and engaged them as brand consultants. Barefoot is now the world’s largest wine brand.
Beginning with virtually no money and no wine industry experience, they employed innovative ideas to overcome obstacles, create new markets and forge strategic alliances. They pioneered Worthy Cause Marketing and performance-based compensation. They built an internationally bestselling brand and received their industry’s “Hot Brand” award for several consecutive years.
They offer their Guiding Principles for Success (GPS) to help entrepreneurs become successful. Their book, The Entrepreneurial Culture: 23 Ways To Engage and Empower Your People, helps corporations maximize the value of their human resources.
Currently they travel the world leading workshops, trainings, & keynoting at business schools, corporations, conferences. They are regular media guests and contributors to international publications and professional journals. They are C-Suite Network Advisors & Contributing Editors. Visit their popular brand building site at www.consumerbrandbuilders.com.
To make inquiries for keynote speaking, trainings or consulting, please contact sales@thebarefootspirit.com.
Our preferred approach to problem-solving involves viewing the situation from multiple perspectives. Often, defining the… Read More
Our answer is simple... LOYALTY! Watch our advice HERE Read More
We believe storytelling is the best way to convey business principles, especially through theatre. Watching… Read More
We built the Barefoot Wine brand by hiring experts in areas like finance, taxes, compliance,… Read More
In early April, Bonnie M. Harvey and I had the pleasure of traveling to Mississippi… Read More
College teaches more than just academic knowledge. It equips you with essential entrepreneurial skills crucial… Read More