About Us
Management Consulting business with over 25 years of commercial (e.g. sales, marketing, business operations) experience. Helping small, mid-size companies develop their internal business infrastructure.
How We Got Started
After close to 30 years in corporate America and holding a wide variety of executive leadership positions, I felt it was time to venture out on my own and share that intellectual property.
The products and services we offer
Recommendations Received (5)
"Great leader and true Master of his field. "
"This company I highly recommend. They’re not only incredibly knowledgeable, but truly professional."
Products & Services
AH2 & Beyond….is a problem solving consulting firm that offers more than your typical solutions. We go “beyond” the expected to define results that...
Teaching entrepreneurs/small business CEO's how to sell their products in the most "Valued-Added" way. Teaching how to partner with customers...not...
“What’s the problem”? You have assembled some of the best talent there is, a team chocked with talent and potential...yet every year the performanc...
Gallery
Recommendations Given (68)
"An up and coming business that is going to have wide impact in the Houston TX community!"
"Great organization with great leadership. Absolutely, my full recommendation!"
Recent Activity
Dennis…great transparent sincere question brother!
I absolutely understand where you're coming from and I think the advice you've received has been very good. However, just receiving the ole "provide great value", "put out great content", and my favorite "strengthen your brand" won't open doors...
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Dennis…great transparent sincere question brother!
I absolutely understand where you're coming from and I think the advice you've received has been very good. However, just receiving the ole "provide great value", "put out great content", and my favorite "strengthen your brand" won't open doors when no one knows who you are. It's analogous to "Well you don't have experience"…yet no one hires you to get experience LOL!
Here are some steps you can take to knock that "door obstacle" down, I have no doubt if given the opportunity you will demonstrate value:
1.Find a MENTOR. Identify someone who can help you get through the tough forests and possibly introduce you to some potential contacts. Mentorship is a wonderful tool to learn from and get help wading through the difficult times.
2.Become a VOLUNTEER. Participating with a local charity or nonprofit is an excellent way of gaining great relationships, helping to increase your brand, and importantly demonstrating LEADERSHIP. Consultants have to demonstrate leadership.
3.Get TESTIMONIALS from thought leaders. One of the best tools a consultant has in their tool belt is a rolodex of top notch testimonials from key thought leaders in their consulting space. Testimonials from friends, old colleagues won't cut it from a credibility standpoint.
4.Become a THOUGHT LEADER yourself. Whether it's writing some great white papers, getting published, or being asked to speak at a symposium becoming a thought leader is KEY.
5.Be a smart NETWORKER. In my humble opinion networking events can be a waste of time if not properly strategically chosen. This is where a mentor or someone in your specific consulting space can help you navigate to the RIGHT networking audience.
6.STAY THE COURSE. Giving up should not be a option, when the product is "YOU" you have to believe in yourself…otherwise no one will or trust you.
Again, being an African American male consultant myself I know where you're coming from but having implemented some of the steps I've outlined has helped me tremendously. Certainly, I'm sure I've been turned down by some potential clients because of my skin color…but quite frankly those aren't the clients I'm looking for. My current clients (e.g. SC Johnson, BASF, Johnson & Johnson to name a few) I obtained from mentors, becoming a thought leader and just plain ole hustling.
I loved your question Dennis! Just stay the course and work with people who want to work with you based on your merits.
Good Luck!
1 Reply
Hello Robert,
Of course, taking a more tactical approach (e.g. building a website, lead generation, saturating social media) are good pieces of advice...I would first however identify your "VALUE PROPOSITION". Unless you can pinpoint why your business is unique, value added, and disruptive all...
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Hello Robert,
Of course, taking a more tactical approach (e.g. building a website, lead generation, saturating social media) are good pieces of advice...I would first however identify your "VALUE PROPOSITION". Unless you can pinpoint why your business is unique, value added, and disruptive all those tactical steps aren't going to matter if you don't have that core message.
The best way to market yourself is determining the "WHY ME", once gathered then you're in the position to drive your message from whatever platform (e.g. website, social media etc) you like to yell that proposition from.
Good Luck!
The suggestions offered are very good ones (e.g. great website, networking, Facebook ads, LinkedIn profile etc.).
One more I would add is to start a compelling testimonial and referral process. Most of my clients are driven from either current or previous clients who've experienced value from my...
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The suggestions offered are very good ones (e.g. great website, networking, Facebook ads, LinkedIn profile etc.).
One more I would add is to start a compelling testimonial and referral process. Most of my clients are driven from either current or previous clients who've experienced value from my services. To be honest, you can advertise all you want but unless you can prove the value of your services...you'll just be wasting money on social media ads.
Get that one client to provide a testimonial or referral prospect for you and start building that "Value Evidence File".
Good luck!
www.ah2andbeyond.com
("Top 10 Fears Searched For On The Internet")
•Fear of Flying
•Fear of Public Speaking
•Fear of Heights
•Fear of Intimacy
•Fear of Failure
•Fear of Success
•Fear of the Dark
•Fear of Rejection
•Fear of Death
•Fear of God
1993 study done by polling firm Bruskin-Goldring, 45% of those...
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("Top 10 Fears Searched For On The Internet")
•Fear of Flying
•Fear of Public Speaking
•Fear of Heights
•Fear of Intimacy
•Fear of Failure
•Fear of Success
•Fear of the Dark
•Fear of Rejection
•Fear of Death
•Fear of God
1993 study done by polling firm Bruskin-Goldring, 45% of those surveyed said they feared public speaking, 30% said they feared death. In another study of 3,000 Americans published in the Book of Lists (David Wallenchinsky, Little, and Brown, 1995), the number one fear cited by 41% of those studied was speaking to an audience. Finally a study by Ronald Seifert of the Behavioral Institute of Atlanta indicated that as many as 40 million Americans hate speaking so much, they'd do almost anything to avoid it.
Below are specific ways to address fear of public speaking:
•Knowledge (Knowledge Of Subject)
•Self-Confidence
•Enthusiasm
•Preparation
•Message
•Listening Skills
I've highlighted "PREPARATION", because hours of preparation before that important presentation can alleviate a lot of nerves...and ALWAYS remember that most audiences want to see you succeed (the audience is just a nervous as you are).
I teach a full course on public speaking, anyone interested please contact me...I promise it's a lot of fun and less nerve racking LOL!
Thanks for the post!
The question is..."Are YOU willing to jump out of that box"?
This is where you pull out the inner being of YOU. With access to the many forms of technology (e.g. Youtube, Google Hangout, Instagram, Facebook Live, and now Periscope) there are many ways to reach and CONNECT with an audience that's...
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The question is..."Are YOU willing to jump out of that box"?
This is where you pull out the inner being of YOU. With access to the many forms of technology (e.g. Youtube, Google Hangout, Instagram, Facebook Live, and now Periscope) there are many ways to reach and CONNECT with an audience that's interested in Hot Tubs.
You must 1st however build on your value proposition, create a story/message, and then become a "Ham" (LOL!) and market feverishly. I've worked with many clients who didn't realize their talent to be hams in front of the camera.
The bottom line is you have to find ways to connect with the hot tub buyer creatively and emotionally....and currently the social media mediums are the hot ticket (pardon the pun) ways to achieve such objectives.
So, again the question is....are YOU willing to jump out of that box?
Thanks!
Great subject!
I wrote a blog post named: "I will buy just don't sell to me"....okay??? Below is some of the post:
We are all "fickle" creatures by nature, one day we want attention, the next day we want to be left alone......
As a sales professional being a "mind reader" is often times a...
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Great subject!
I wrote a blog post named: "I will buy just don't sell to me"....okay??? Below is some of the post:
We are all "fickle" creatures by nature, one day we want attention, the next day we want to be left alone......
As a sales professional being a "mind reader" is often times a prerequisite in determining when customers are ready to buy and remains to be the "Loch Ness Monster" of mysteries. With that said I'm revising a former post entry named "People don't want to be sold....really"? to "I will buy just don't sell to me....okay"?! which brings a different twist to the conversation. For years the sales & marketing profession has tried to capture lightning in a bottle on how to implement ways of getting customers to buy a product without selling them....I call it the "Jedi Eye Mind Trick of Selling". This idea that customers don't appreciate being sold to is both untrue and true at the same time if that makes cogent sense, in other words, it depends on the interaction.
When you hear "People don't like to be sold" what you're really hearing is "People don't like to be uninspired". I've been fortunate in my career to be around some of the best sales & marketing professionals on earth which has inspired me to set up residence in the field, and what they all have in common is this ability to inspire people....not manipulate them. There's a sense of sincerity in their approach and just being around them you feel you're the only person in their world that matters, is this a gift or can it be taught? My honest answer is some people have that innate compassion compass that allows them to focus intensely on the needs of others. The behavior of selling is not far different from the normal behaviors of life I've often said "Sales Mimic Life", we as a profession with some fault have placed too much confusing nomenclature around the basic fundamentals of selling when quite frankly it just boils down to "LISTENING TO THE CUSTOMER". I don't prescribe to the notion that "People don't want to be sold" because the context around that statement isn't available and often times NOT considered....just to give that blanket statement who's going to disagree other than me?
Thanks for the post!
Here's my listing on some of the best books on Sales & Marketing:
1) Exposure: (Tynan, Kevin B.)
2) Creating Winning Sales & Marketing Plans: (Levy, Sidney J.)
3) The New Positioning: (Trout, Jack and Rivkin, Steve)
4) Sales, Marketing, & Continuous Improvement: (Stowell, Daniel M.)
5)...
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Here's my listing on some of the best books on Sales & Marketing:
1) Exposure: (Tynan, Kevin B.)
2) Creating Winning Sales & Marketing Plans: (Levy, Sidney J.)
3) The New Positioning: (Trout, Jack and Rivkin, Steve)
4) Sales, Marketing, & Continuous Improvement: (Stowell, Daniel M.)
5) From Mind To Market: (Blackwell, Roger D.)
6) 10 Steps to Connecting With Your Customers: (Bethel, Bill)
7) Alliance Advantage: The Art of Creating Value through Partnering(Doz, Y.L. and Hamel, G.)
8) Stop Selling, Start Partnering: (Wilson, Larry and Wilson, Hersch)
9) Building Customer Partnerships: The Key to Winning in a Competitive Marketplace (Faris, P.F.)
10) Customer Loyalty: How to Earn It, How to Keep It (Griffin, Jill)
Thanks!
Developing extraordinary "Salesmanship"...
This is a great post because it emphasizes the fact that the one important area ALL small business entrepreneurs need to develop are selling skills. Following up is a critical strategic selling skill.
Below are a few things you can do to not only...
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Developing extraordinary "Salesmanship"...
This is a great post because it emphasizes the fact that the one important area ALL small business entrepreneurs need to develop are selling skills. Following up is a critical strategic selling skill.
Below are a few things you can do to not only reconnect with that potential client/customer but set yourself apart from those who are competing for their attention as well:
1) Follow up question: Yes, a nice thank you letter is appropriate but why not follow that with a question (could be from the previous conversation) to get them to engage? It also demonstrates your willingness to learn more about them, and to identify what they value.
2) Create a Community: Whether it's newsletters, linkedIn groups, Facebook groups etc there are a variety of ways to keep that potential customer engaged with like-minded customers you already have. Build a FOLLOWING and convert those prospects to loyal customers/clients.
3) Use Technology: Instead of the usual e-mail/phone call, take advantage of innovation using platforms like SKYPE, JoinME, Google Hangout etc to make the follow up process more personable...and the potential customer/client once again can see you face-to-face (which is how you met in the 1st place).
4) "Open House": "Open House" has always been synonymous with grand opening, why not use this same idea as a follow up mechanism to introduce your new prospect to your establishment. I've helped my clients set up "Store Tours", "Sampling Parties", and a "Get To Know Our Company" happy hour as ways to re-engage with prospects. Also, this is a great way of providing a "reason" to follow up with the potential customer/client.
These are just a few strategies that are fairly "out of the box" ideas that may separate you from just doing the ordinary follow up tactics.
Bottom line is that none of these ideas work unless you increase your "Selling Skill" acumen...because in the end reconnecting with that potential client/customer means you'll have to sell them once again.
Thanks again for the post!
