Be Visible and Credible to Become Profitable

Business consulting visibility

Initially, being in business for oneself is a liberating feeling – and then the work begins. I am asked day in and day out about the quickest way to become profitable in business. The short answer is usually, there is no quick way to become profitable, unless you’re very lucky. The long answer is to make yourself and your business visible to your target market and when engaged, be credible in all you do; profits will always follow. This longer answer always leads to more questions about how to be more visible, and what does being credible in business mean?

Visibility is the byproduct of a number of things. You may have worked for a company where you established a reputation for being good at whatever it is you do, and you are already highly visible to a part of your target market or at least people who may influence your target market. You may have an offering that is either popular or part of a popular trend or issue. Maybe you live in an area where reaching the market is relatively easy and you have little or no competition. Or, you may live in an area that is far removed from the market or just the opposite, full of competitors with which to set your offering apart.

Regardless of the situation, visibility is the key to begin creating credibility. To become visible in support of credibility, your message must be clear and consistent. Regardless of how or what you say or do, your message must convey a consistency each and every time it reaches your target market. Your image, message, and business practices must all be clean, clear, and efficient. People like to see other people and companies that offer product and services in a way that there are no misunderstanding in what they will get and how they will be treated. This message begins with the first impression.

Your first impression may be a business card, advertisement, or an introduction through a customer, friend, or other associate. Your business card or advertisement is an easy way to control consistency. Having a logo that leaves a lasting impression or a tag line will help keep you visible. If you’re meeting people face to face, having a consistent greeting about your company will also reinforce any message carried on print media. While uniforms aren’t required in all industries, having branded clothes can also help reinforce your company’s visibility and image.

First impressions can also have a negative impact. The manner in which you and your company treat customers and vendors and how you present yourselves when in the public eye will impart a first impression that will either help or hurt you. For example, having a branded vehicle driven in an unsafe manner can hurt a company when that behavior affects other drivers. Having an employee, or yourself, act in a way that is questionable by arguing with customers or vendors and not following through on issues, may cause people to communicate in a negative way about you or your company, thus creating a negative first impression to countless potential customers.

Once you have established your visibility and created an image that identifies consistency, you must also operate with consistency. Consistent operations when created in support of your company goals can have a long term positive impact on your firm at all levels and is the foundation for gaining and keeping credibility.

The best way to create consistency in operations is to utilize policy and procedure for all you do. Many small business people shy away from the implementation of policy and procedure, thinking such things is only needed for larger companies with many employees. I disagree. Creating a simple written policy or procedure to follow for even the most mundane and simple tasks will ensure that, when followed, the task is completed consistently each time. Carrying that practice to areas where you service customers or deal with vendors will ensure that the customer or vendor experience is also consistent. How you deal with conflict can be handled in a way that offers objective understanding to all parties, and while it may not be an outcome everyone is happy with, it is an outcome that can be defended consistently and stood behind by an owner and their organization. Similarly, having a standardized policy for people attending functions for the company or dealing with other group or public issues can help set a foundation for performance by your team at events.

Repetitive consistency creates credibility. Have you ever met someone and walked away and thought; “Wow, what a nice person”? Then, after some time you meet that person again and when they come across in the same manner you say, “Every time I see that person they are always so nice”. On other occasions, I have come across people who are nice one day and not so nice the next. Sometimes I am told they were having a bad day or I just misunderstood them. Whatever the case, the inconsistency in action caused me to question who they really were. Any action can be identified by this. You go to a restaurant and get a different level of service with each different server. You go to a movie and sometimes the theater is clean and sometimes not. You take your car to a repair facility and sometimes it’s a good experience and sometimes not.

Attaining consistency and therefore credibility is the most difficult part of going into business. We all have issues that affect us from outside our work world; the kids, our partner, finances, the weather, etc. Regardless of the outside influence, allowing these issues to affect how we interact in our work environment is the most difficult of inconsistencies to correct. We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not how you act when times are good, it’s how you act when times are tough”. This statement goes as my personal foundation when interacting with people, and I work hard to make sure I remain consistent in word and deed.

Once you establish an image that is visible, and reinforce that image with both policy and procedure to guide your everyday actions at work, and uphold those with a consistent mannerism that supports the personality you want your company to have, you have set yourself and your company up to be profitable.

Profitability is not measured in money only. Being profitable is defined as both “making money” and “producing good or helpful results or effects”. Having a consistent image will result in a positive effect on morale within the organization. If you present a consistent impression, you will likely be invited to more functions and events. This in turn will lead to more visibility. You will make friends and create partnerships that will help you and your company in both tangible and intangible ways. By being visible and credible, you create the opportunity to be much more than financially rewarded; you create the opportunity to be truly prosperous in all you do.

What are some ways that you have become profitable through Visibility and Credibility?

© Individual Advantages, LLC. 2015

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How to Mitigate Financial Risk Using the S.M.A.R.T. Management System

June 9, 2025

In an increasingly volatile economy, businesses cannot afford to be reactive when it comes to their finances. Whether you're a startup founder, a growing enterprise, or a seasoned business owner, the risk of financial instability is real—and growing. At IA Business Advisors, we help companies proactively navigate these risks using our comprehensive S.M.A.R.T. Management System . S.M.A.R.T. is more than just a goal-setting acronym. It is a decision-making and execution framework that brings clarity, structure, and alignment to every part of your business. From six-week action plans to one-year targets and long-term strategy, S.M.A.R.T. ensures your financial operations support healthy growth and resilience. Understanding Financial Risk in Today’s Business Climate Financial risk is multifaceted. It ranges from cash flow disruptions and market shifts to internal mismanagement and over-leveraged growth. As Brian Smith shared on a recent Daily Influence podcast episode, unchecked growth can drive a company into bankruptcy. Scaling without intention—chasing fast growth without aligning the internal team and financial resources—leads to diluted communication, quality issues, and operational chaos. Mitigating financial risk begins by understanding that more revenue doesn't always equal more stability. True sustainability comes from building systems that support intentional, well-paced growth. The S.M.A.R.T. Framework in Action: Reducing Financial Risk Our S.M.A.R.T. Management System guides businesses in creating resilient, financially stable operations through: 1. Specific: Build with Intentionality Clarity is power. One of our podcast guests, Mike Heatwole (CEO of The Dala Group), emphasized the importance of sitting down to define what matters most—whether that’s paying down debt, investing in growth, or launching a new venture. When your financial goals are specific, your strategy becomes targeted and less prone to reactive decision-making. “If we don’t know what the goal is, how do we get there?” — Mike Heatwole, CEO of The Dala Group 2. Measurable: Track What Matters Many companies are blindsided not by invisible risks, but by unmonitored ones. We help clients implement tools to track cash flow, margin fluctuations, and budget variances in real time. Visibility into your financial health gives you the power to respond early and course correct as needed. 3. Achievable: Assign Financial Stewardship Risk is reduced when financial responsibility is distributed. Through teamwide financial literacy and clear accountability, we empower organizations to make stronger daily decisions. No individual person should carry the entire burden—and no key area should go unmonitored. 4. Relevant: Make Risk Management a Habit Quarterly or biannual financial health check-ins create a sustainable rhythm. These don’t have to be complicated—they just need to be consistent. Regular reviews embed risk awareness into your company culture and decision-making process. 5. Timely: Foster Honest Dialogue Financial silence is a hidden threat. As Brian noted on the podcast, emotions like fear or shame can prevent businesses from facing financial realities. We encourage honest, blame-free communication around financial performance, creating space for solutions and collective action. Case in Point: Short-Term Action, Long-Term Impact One of our clients, a family-run distribution company, had strong revenue but was bleeding cash due to aging receivables. Together, we built a six-week S.M.A.R.T. Plan focused on accounts receivable recovery. We implemented weekly check-ins, assigned ownership, and used real-time tracking. Within 90 days, their outstanding A/R dropped by 22%, freeing up capital and restoring operational confidence. It’s Never Too Late to Get Financially Intentional Many leaders in their 40s, 50s, or 60s worry they’ve waited too long. But as Mike Heatwole wisely shared: “It’s never too late. Just get started. Do something.” Progress—not perfection—is the goal. Start small. Build momentum. Take the next best step. This mirrors a concept we love from The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan: measure progress based on how far you've come, not just how far you have to go. Final Thoughts: Make Financial Stability a Strategy Mitigating financial risk isn’t about a dramatic overhaul. It’s about consistent action, visibility, and intentional decision-making. With the S.M.A.R.T. Management System, IA Business Advisors helps businesses turn risk into clarity, fear into focus, and instability into opportunity. If you’re ready to start, we’re ready to help. Let’s have a conversation about what matters most to you—and build from there.

Enhancing Interpersonal Relationships for Toxic Workplace Recovery

May 29, 2025

Hello, team! Mary here, continuing our journey through the I in Team series, where we challenge and empower you to Find , Be , and Build Your Influence. One of the most common things we’re asked to help our clients with is toxic workplace recovery. This directly connects to the culture of the team, and while rebuilding that culture takes time and intention, it is absolutely possible. In fact, with the guidance of our I in Team approach and S.M.A.R.T. Management system, we’ve successfully helped more than 19,000 teams evolve into high-performing, values-based cultures. If you’re ready to take the lead and breathe life back into your team, we’re here and ready to support you. Practice Emotional Intelligence One of the most impactful steps you can take on your toxic workplace recovery journey is to practice emotional intelligence (the ability to recognize, understand, and manage both your own emotions and the emotions of those around you). Toxic environments are often the result of emotional disconnection, poor communication, unnecessary competition, and a culture that avoids constructive feedback. Begin by shifting your perspective: respond with empathy, ask thoughtful questions, and use “I” statements. These habits model two traits, emotional regulation and empathy, that influence how your team interacts and solves problems. Start small. For example, set a personal goal to give one piece of sincere praise or recognition per day. This is a S.M.A.R.T. goal, and it starts to reinforce positive emotional exchanges. Over time, this contributes to a psychologically safe environment where people feel seen and supported. Foster Open Communication Once emotional intelligence begins to take root, toxic workplace recovery is just around the corner. Open communication becomes more natural because when team members are aware of their own and others’ emotions, communication becomes seamless. The number one rule? Listen. Really listen. Without listening, communication is incomplete. Try implementing monthly influence partnerships—team pairings that rotate so members can get to know each other beyond surface-level roles. This creates connection and, when done with consistency (Timely), fosters trust across your team. Another way to build open communication is by creating a structured feedback loop. Clarify how and when feedback should be given—perhaps during weekly one-on-ones or monthly review meetings—and make sure all team members understand the difference between criticism and constructive feedback. S.M.A.R.T. feedback is Specific and Relevant, and when delivered with respect, it encourages team members to grow without fear. Lead by Example As we say throughout the I in Team series, everyone is a leader regardless of title. Whether you’re in the C-suite or just starting your first job, how you show up directly shapes the culture of your team. To begin, set some respectful boundaries rooted in your values. Let others know what you need to succeed and what behaviors support or disrupt your work. When disagreements arise, demonstrate what respectful disagreement looks like—calm, focused on solutions, and free from personal attacks. If your workplace has leaned into competition, shift the focus to collaboration. Collaborate on micro-goals, like shared tasks or cross-functional projects. Make the results Measurable and celebrate wins together (publicly, if possible). Consider S.M.A.R.T.-based team-building events (like problem-solving challenges or goal-setting workshops) to reinforce collaboration in a meaningful way. Final Thoughts Toxic workplace recovery starts with you. Every interaction, every word, every moment of listening is a chance to model what’s possible. Show up the way you want others to show up. If your team is struggling to rebuild or you need expert guidance, reach out . We’re here to help. Let’s keep influencing responsibly and positively together.