A review of seven business trends that can actually help small businesses and the professionals who help small businesses. Also includes the discussion of two fundamentals and has two extra slides at the end on defining business niches and one's own uniqueness.

1. The Future of Business – Yours, Mine & Ours:Trends That Can7Actually Help Us! Presenter: Glen J. Cooper, CBI, CBA, BVAL Business & Professional Coach, Intermediary, Appraiser & Speaker President, GlenCooperColorado.com

2. Summary: Workshop Outline: 1) 7 Trends to Help? 2) 2 Fundamentals 3) A Closer Look at the Trends 4) Questions to Ask Ourselves 5) Fixing Ourselves – 6 Steps to Cope with Stress to Achieve Work/Life Balance to Build a Valuable Business

3. 7Trends That Help? Quick Descriptions: 1) Change is getting faster 2) Science & technology driving change 3) People want more control 4) Relationships are multiplying 5) Transparency & accountability up 6) Ideas & information now free 7) Collaborators are winning

4. 7Changes? Quick Descriptions: 1) Nobody is keeping up 2) Significant breakthroughs ahead 3) Custom products/services 24/7 4) Friendship and trust mean most 5) We can’t hide our mistakes 6) Intellectual capital is fleeting 7) Complexity is forcing cooperation

5. Fixes Required? Quick Descriptions: 1) Slow down, deal with stress 2) Choose lifetime learning 3) Adopt “crowd sourcing” 4) Drop the “Elevator Pitch!” 5) Brand with true stories 6) Invest in systems, teams 7) Partner up with the best

6. Two Fundamentals: Everything We Need Is Within Reach 1) Accepting “What Is,” we must always start from where we are 2) Knowledge & relationships are in unlimited supply We All Need “Quick Wins” 1) Big wins come from many “quick wins” 2) We must have “joy in the journey”

9. There are 6 ways we can deal with stress. Steps in building a valuable business are exact parallels to stress coping skills. Who knew?

11. Computer literacy is #1. Learn to search, access information and build relationships

12. Regularly literacy would be good too! It may be time to return to school.

14. Our staff, markets & referral sources are changing.Women are our #1 game changers.

15. “Crowd sourcing” harvests the wisdom of “crowds.” Don’t know it? Better learn it!

16. Turn the organization chart upside down. Who speaks for your firm now?

18. Because they know a little, they think they know a lot. Half pre-sold and in a hurry, they don’t want to start at the beginning.

19. Drop the “elevator pitch.” Best response in an elevator is, “You first. What do YOU do?”

20. Coaching clients is an old “new” way to sell. Our clients and prospects need it!

22. People can now check out our stories. If they don’t catch inconsistencies, our competitors will.

23. Fakes and frauds will still be with us. Their working lives are shorter now, however.

27. Partnering takes due diligence and work. Help people you know and like build their talents, or Learn to know and like talented people

30. Create. Let’s give ourselves a few “Quick Wins.” Do what we CAN!

31. Share. We need to give, and get, feedback, encouragement and support.

32. Plan.Plan the Work.

34. Defining Niches? Guidelines: 1) People pay for what they want, often in response to a problem that frustrates them. 2) Observe who wants what, who is frustrated by what 3) Get clear on what wants, frustrations our services and products meet or address 4) Envision the person we need to talk to -Must be findable & “find-out-about-able” -Must want what we offer -Must be willing, able to afford to pay for it 6) Narrow the niche so we stand out in the crowd 7) Structure our presentations (SSBTGA)

35. What’s Unique About Anyone? Who They Are! 1) Unique experiences, ideas 2) Credentials, reputation 3) Lifetime learning 4) Lifetime skills 5) Current location 6) Contacts & friends