How do you lead a fast-growing business?

The answer, says business coach and Bill Gallagher, is you constantly have to work at it.

Leaders must be able to forge strong relationships with teams of 10, 100, 1,000 or much more as their organization grows. That becomes more difficult as the numbers increase.

Gallagher is a former jewelry business CEO and entrepreneur turned business coach, podcaster, and speaker.  He has led companies and business divisions as large as $500M in revenue.

As business leaders are growing their companies, they need to constantly be upgrading their leadership skills, much in the same way a fast-growing business needs to update its systems and software.

Gallagher says there are four core areas leaders need to work on, based on the ‘Scaling Up‘ framework (based on the book by Verne Harnish):

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People often ask… “how can I add new revenue streams to my business… but without a ton of extra work?”

Here’s one way you can do it.

You are probably getting asked from time to time for recommendations of resources, software, books or companies.

And you probably make those recommendations frequently.

I believe if you are already making those recommendations, and it wouldn’t increase the cost of the person who is receiving those recommendations, and you disclose you are getting compensated as a referrer, then I think it is totally fair to get compensated.

After all, you have put in all the research, work, effort and testing to determine which resources deserve to be referred, so you are saving people a lot of time and headache.

Here’s a quick video explaining how this works:

How to Refer Quickly and Easily (without Feeling Sleazy) 

Here are the steps you should follow to do this.

1. Sign up for the referral program of the resource you are recommending. It could be a software, book, company or other program. They need to have an affiliate or referral incentive program set up already.
2. Create a short review of this resource. I do this because I find it is easier and feels less “sleazy” when someone asks you for a recommendation to refer them to the review rather than directly to an affiliate link. I also find it is more of a ‘value add’ which makes them WANT for you to get ‘credit’ for the referral.
3. Create a short write up and insert this in text expander software. I do this because it is a huge time saver. You can create a couple of paragraphs and the links, and then all I need to do is type up a few characters and boom! All the paragraphs and links are inserted in whatever email or message I am typing. I also create ‘pretty links’ (using Pretty Link Lite plugin) so that I’m not referring the person to an ugly URL (i.e. https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=999840&u=1775845&m=61624&urllink=&afftrack=). Be sure to include a note diclosing that it is a referral link. Here’s what my copy looks like when I recommend Thinkific software:

We’re huge fans of Thinkific.

I’ve tried dozens of different online course building software options, and Thinkific is my favorite, because it is very easy to use (no coder/developer needed), fast, reliable, easy to upload different kinds of media.

They also include video hosting which is a big cost savings.

Here’s a short video review I recorded inside of our account: http://rise25.com/thinkificreview/

I love that they have a free trial so you can try before you buy.

Here’s a link to do a free trial: http://rise25.com/thinkific/

(full disclosure: that’s a referral link which doesn’t increase your cost, but I only recommend it because I love it).

4.  Each time someone asks you for a referral or recommendation, use what you just created!  It will take you just a few seconds but you will really benefit with commissions coming in over time.

You ever have trouble connecting with a big client prospect?

Maybe you recently got a great lead… and you’re just wishing/hoping/praying they become a client.

But you reach out and then …. it’s nothing but crickets.

Don’t worry – we’ve all been there.

It’s not easy getting clients, especially when those clients are big, successful, and too busy to return your call or email.

But don’t despair, because there is a solution – and it’s easier than you think.

Why It Is So Hard to Connect with Prospects

Maybe your ideal client is a busy CEO.

Maybe it’s a busy HR exec.

Maybe it’s working Moms.

Doesn’t matter.

No matter who your ideal client is, they’re probably busy. Because everyone is too busy these days.

You know and I know how hard it is to get a returned email or a phone call.

Especially in today’s day and age.

I get emails every single day from readers and podcast listeners who want to know how they can connect with their prospects and get calls and emails returned.

I even give away email templates which work like magic – but the job is still hard if you don’t use the templates right. 

And it is especially hard to connect with your prospects when you are viewed as a “seller” – someone seeking to connect so that they can sell a service or a product.

It’s like everyone suddenly has “spidey sense” for people who trying to sell these days.

So how do you get through?

How do you get clients when it feels like an uphill battle just to get people to return your emails or phone calls?

Do you …

Just dial the phone again and again and again?

Do you need better “cold email” templates?

Maybe use some super ninja software?

It’s none of these things.

After a career spanning a stint as a White House Aide, a speechwriter to a Governor, 10 years as a practicing lawyer and running 3 separate multiple six figure businesses, I figured out a formula which you can use in any industry to get clients – no matter what kind of client you are pursuing.

I didn’t invent this formula, and I’m not the only one who uses it. In fact, it’s been tested millions of times. And I’ve used it throughout my career to connect with VIPs, Influencers and high level clients.

I call it “The Pedestal Strategy.”

What Is “The Pedestal Strategy”?

Let me ask you this… what if you had a strategy that could “cut through the noise,” bypass gatekeepers, grab your prospects’ attention and take you straight to talking directly with decision makers, without being salesy or forcing you to stumble over awkward small talk?

That’s the Pedestal Strategy.

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Want to make more sales? Use humor.

Brendon Lemon is a standup comic based in Chicago who also works in a day job in sales.

In this interview, Brendon shares lessons learned from years of doing standup comedy which can be applied to make more sales. Learn how to not be a cheesey salesperson in this quick interview.