An Afternoon of Business Consulting: My BBB Experience
Paula Fleming, CMSO, discusses an afternoon of business consulting and the BBB experience. (March 2024)
My Afternoon
Sometimes, the best perspective comes from the outside. As the CMO of the local Better Business Bureau, I'm lucky to hold a position where I can help businesses of all sizes navigate the often choppy waters of growth, branding, and visibility. That's why our member benefits include a free Business Consultation – and this afternoon, it was my turn to be the "fresh eyes" for a growing business.
The business in question is a mid-sized, family-owned company that's ready to branch out and expand its service offerings. There's something infectious about the energy of a company poised on the brink of something bigger. As I pulled into their parking lot, a mix of excitement and responsibility washed over me. I respect the vulnerability it takes for a business to invite an outsider in, to hear honest perspectives on the things they hold close. I wouldn't take the opportunity lightly.
Walking through their doors, I was met by a team of leaders. You could feel their sense of shared purpose along with a healthy dose of nervous anticipation. We settled into a conference room, the scent of freshly-brewed coffee in the air – that time-honored staple of important meetings.
After some warm introductions, we dove right in. I listened intently as they described their plans for expansion, their challenges, and their hopes for the future. I took notes, scribbled questions, and noticed the unspoken questions hanging in the air, too. There was pride in their legacy, and a genuine desire to do right by the next chapter.
And then it was my turn to share. With their open minds as my foundation, I began to unpack my thoughts on their branding. There was an opportunity to make their messaging even clearer, to define the unique aspects of their company against their growing field of competitors. We talked about marketing – could they reach a wider audience by venturing into different social media spaces or exploring targeted ad campaigns? It was a brainstorming session, a back-and-forth dance of ideas.
The afternoon stretched on; time seemed both to fly by and stand still in those moments of shared strategizing. As the meeting wrapped up, I could see the shift in the room. The nervousness had eased into something more thoughtful, the pride now had a roadmap with suggested signposts and detours.
Change can be unsettling, but it can also be exhilarating. Walking out those doors felt a little like witnessing a butterfly preparing to take flight. I'm incredibly grateful to be part of BBB's member business solutions, facilitating these vital conversations. Because in the end, growth isn't just about tactics, it's about unlocking a company's potential, about helping them pull back their own curtains and step boldly into the future they're striving for. Ultimately, the steering wheel is in their hands, and change can be a winding road, but I wish them every success on their journey ahead.
