Did you think you would be further along in your business…and your life...than where you are right now?

There are THREE REASONS you get STUCK…

Greetings!

Have you been stuck on the “hamster wheel” of too much to do, not enough reward…and not enough money? I started in our family business with the dream of freedom…financial freedom, lifestyle freedom.  Then, I got stuck.  There are three reasons why this happens.  (Maybe you can relate?) 

1. You don’t have a clear idea of what you want or why you are in business. 
2. You are in denial about your financial situation and you aren’t priced right.
3. You don’t have a system for measuring performance and holding yourself accountable. Or, you choose not to. 

I was thinking of you when I came up with The Challenge. I was thinking about what it takes to get Unstuck.  My mentor grabbed me by the chin and helped me get focused, and get going.  He taught me how to make money and get really profitable.  I am challenging you to do that, too.  I will walk you through The Bare Bones Biz Plan with a day-by-day, week-by-week process. And, you have to take action.   You will have to be prepared and do your homework for each call, and at the end of the six weeks, you will have a customized Biz Plan, tailored to fit you…tailored for your business.

This is the seventh time I have offered The Challenge program. That's good news for you, because I have been working with The Challengers to refine and improve and "plus" the program. We have added terrific NEW features to The Challenge, thanks to their suggestions. Read on...and discover what I have planned to help you lay claim to the success that you really want, to your ideal business and perfect life.

Take The Challenge. Get off the hamster wheel. At the end of six weeks you’ll have a winning PLAN…a path to whatever YOU want out of your business.  

And if you don’t take the Challenge?  Well…another year is racing by.  Do you have another plan for getting your business back on track?  Your business holds the potential of creating wealth and freedom.  Why not fix it?  Or, start fresh with another one.  But don’t let another year slip by on the hamster wheel.

Here’s what The Challenge can do for you…and REQUIRES of you...

The Challenge requires that YOU meet – on time, on the phone – with me and the other Challengers once a week for eight weeks. The Challenge requires that you be prepared with your homework completed. What is in it for you? At the end of six weeks, you will have a living, breathing, workable PLAN, one that captures your vision and moves you in the direction of your ideal business. Then, we energize the last two weeks to revisit and improve the plan. (And, catch up if you got off track!)

Note that whatever energy you put into this process, you will receive back in multiples. Your business planning efforts reap wildly effective results.

Join me! We'll work together on the phone, via email and webinars. Let me help you, and do what I tell you to do...and in six weeks you will be on your way…Plan in hand, making your dreams come true. This process is a combination of focusing your energy on what you really, really want and taking inspired action in that direction.

BONUS! You will work less and achieve more. That's what The Challenge can do for you.

The Challenge works because it helps you…

Get focused.

Get going.

Get profitable.

1. You’ll see immediate results.

Each day, the work you do on your Biz Plan will start delivering results in your business and in your life. You will know where you stand, and have a simple path for getting where you want to go. You'll have clarity on WHY you are in business and WHAT you offer and WHO would spend lots of money with you. You'll be clear on the score...you'll know when you are on track, or off track. And you'll know what needs to be done to get back on track. You'll be on your way to a better business and a more fulfilling life. You'll have a PLAN...in writing and in action. That focus means you can work less and achieve more. It's all about making things...easier.

2. Weekly LIVE Inter-active Webinars

Once a week, we’ll meet on the phone for one hour in a lively, interactive Webinar. The agenda will be specific and to-the-point. You and other Challengers will work together, and move easily and quickly through the exercises that will help you build your customized Biz Plan. I will coach you through it…every step.

We use GoToWebinar™ so that you can SEE the forms and checklists and systems we use to build your unique Biz Plan. It makes it so much easier when you can see living, breathing Biz Plan examples of every exercise.

BONUS! We'll have Guest Stars joining us on the calls, successful Challengers who have put their Biz Plans together and are enjoying the results. These are real world business owners who are using focused thought, inspired action and a written PLAN to make great things happen in thier lives. They'll share tips and encouragement to help you build your winning business! And, we'll have renowned business experts drop in and share their experience and advice.

3. One-to-one personal coaching with Ellen

You’ll have access to me for private one-to-one coaching over the phone. If you have specific questions, we’ll get on the phone and hammer it out together. I will make “open call” times available throughout The Challenge. AND I will meet with you for a private 30 minute phone session to help you with YOUR Biz Plan. One to one...fully focused on YOU.

4. Networking with other Biz Building Challengers

You'll help each other as we review Challenger homework. You are not required to share your homework. However, if you are brave enough to share your Biz Plan exercises, you will be rewarded...with wild applause and great gifts.

5. The Bare Bones Biz Complete Suite (a $595 value...is included!)

GET THE COMPLETE SUITE RIGHT AWAY!!  For over 20 years I have been growing businesses...my own and others. As a result, I have a GREAT collection of books, forms, files, checklists. These tools can help you build an extraordinary business. And they "dovetail" perfectly with The Bare Bones Biz Plan and The Challenge.  This will also give you a chance to get a jump on reading The Bare Bones Biz Plan prior to our starting line date. 

Here’s what's included …

My four books...

• Where Did the Money Go?,
• How Much Should I Charge?
• The Bare Bones Biz Plan. (NOTE...we will use The Bare Bones Biz Plan as the guide book for The Challenge)
• The Weekend Biz Plan.  You’ll use this as your Biz Plan refresher tool.  
• ALL the forms to complete The Challenge exercises PLUS dozens more!
• The Complete Suite toolbox on a USP jump drive, is a zip file for each section of The Bare Bones Biz Plan. This means every form I have can be customized for YOU and your business. It is soooo much easier to edit than create from scratch. The Complete Suite may save you YEARS of work...otherwise spent creating your Biz Plan, procedures and systems from scratch.
• You will also receive the PRINTED version of each book, form, checklist and procedure in the accompanying Binder.
• The Setting Sight Suite
• The Building the Team Suite
• The Making Money Suite
• The Getting it Sold Suite
• The Getting it Done Suite
• The Making Sure Suite

In each of these Suites are super useful files that will help you flesh out and EXPAND on the work you are doing to build your winning business plan. Save these files on your computer. Use what you like. Customized these forms to work for YOU. Every form is a result of working with my clients in the “real” world to get focused, keep track, communicate and DO what is needed to make business WORK. Some I created for my own businesses. What I have learned is that it is so much easier to edit a form than to start one from scratch. Have fun making these tools your own. The result: An extraordinary business…more impact, more money and more fun!

This is a $595 value and I am INCLUDING it in The Challenge. This is a suggestion from a few of our Challengers who had purchased The Complete Suite separately and really benefited from the handy "toolbox" of business tools! (Click here for more about The Complete Suite!)

6. FREE audio companion to The Bare Bones Biz Plan

You’ll get a FREE copy of the audio companion to The Bare Bones Biz Plan. This program is chock full of tips and suggestions for completing the exercises and building your own Biz Plan. This is a retail value of $14.95 and it’s included in The Challenge. BONUS! You can also download FREE tabs and cover pages to help you customize and organize your Biz Plan Binder.

7. You won’t have to go it alone.

We'll build your Biz Plan TOGETHER. I’m here to help. And, you’ll benefit from the power and encouragement of the group. We’re in this together. Your success is leveraged with the success of other group members. It makes the process FUN, too.

8. You’ll work smarter…not harder. You'll get RESULTS!

The Challenge is easy. You can DO this. Just let me be your "Pace Setter" and I will guide you through the process of building and using a POWERFUL Biz Plan...to drive you to your BEST business...and life!

BONUS! BONUS! BONUS! BONUS! BONUS! BONUS! BONUS! BONUS! BONUS!

Once you sign up for The Challenge, you can always participate in future Challenge programs. You may need a little review and dust-off of your Biz Plan. Once you are part of The Challenge community...you are welcome to play with in upcoming Challenges. You can visit Weeks One through Week Six, or just stop by for the Week that you are currently working on.

We’ll also provide on-going "Challenger Exclusive" access to our website so that you keep USE your Biz Plan to move you in the directions of your IDEAL business and Perfect Life!

Are You A Good Fit For The Challenge? It's not for everyone. I just don't tolerate whining or complaining. Ready to make a dramatic, positive change? Great. Ask yourself these questions.

Do you…

• Want to make more money?
• Want to build a better business?
• Need to untangle the slinky not mess made of your financial situation?
• Desire to know what direction your company is moving in?
• Crave order and want to get rid of the day-to-day “fire fighting?”
• Want more time, money and resources so that you can have a bigger, positive impact in life?

Join me. I will guide you DAY BY DAY for six weeks. And, at the end of the program...YOU claim the rewards: A winning business and a better life.  I’ll help you…

Get focused.

Get going.

Get profitable.

Why Should You Learn From Me? 

My husband “Hot Rod” and his buddy Richard Yox started a plumbing and solar contracting company.  Hot Rod and Yox were good technicians and they got busy…fast. Within a few years, their business grew from easy-extra-money to maxed-out-overwhelming. On a Friday afternoon, Yox complained about a remodeling project. He was fed up with the general contractor and our flaky employees. He said, “If I don’t do it myself, it will never get done.” Yox had worked about 100 hours that week and he wasn’t feeling well.

By Saturday, Yox was in the hospital. By Sunday afternoon, he died. He had health problems and didn’t take great care of himself . . . there was too much work to do. He was 33 years old.  It was devastating for Hot Rod, who had been friends with Yox since they were in third grade.  We were stunned.  We started to recover, as you just do. 

And, then I did a really stupid thing. 

Yox had been the bookkeeper at Hot Rod and Yox, Inc. After he died, I raised my hand to take over those duties. Hot Rod had no interest in the paperwork, and was more productive out in the field. I had a degree in business and lots of working experience, so I figured — piece of cake — I can handle the accounting for a dinky plumbing and heating company.

I was wrong. The next few years were . . . humbling. Every month I would ask, “Where did the money go?” I didn’t know why we weren’t making any money.   I would try and talk to Hot Rod about it, and all he heard was, “You are not good enough.”  It was so stressful on both of us. 

Then, at Hot Rod’s urging, I wrote a letter to Frank Blau. Frank is a super successful contractor and – as I was to discover – a brilliant mentor.  My letter was a request for help — and a pathetic justification for why we were charging $30 per hour. Frank called me on the phone a few days later.   He introduced himself by telling me I had my head so far up my #@% I would never see the light of day.  He told me I didn’t know the first thing about business or accounting and that we would never make a profit.  Even worse, he added, I thought I was so smart with my business degree.  That degree just meant I was arrogant in my misunderstandings. 

Well. I was…offended. Then, I got angry. Then, I got over it. 

I called Frank back.  This was the beginning of our unlikely mentorship.  This mentorship, now a deep friendship, has had a rippling impact on so many others, in powerful, positive ways. 

Frank is an amazing man.  He’s funny and irreverent and he loves to help people make money.  And he believes that one should make a good living providing essential goods and services.  His meat-and-potatoes advice applies to everyone who has hung up the shingle – or plans to – offering the gifts that he or she has to share. 

I am so grateful for Frank.  He taught me how to make money.  Frank mentored me.  So, I am honor bound to help others. In 1995, I started Bare Bones Biz- a business planning and profitability consulting company to help folks turn their big ideas into successful businesses.   Since then, I have helped thousands of business owners start, fix and grow their businesses.  My basic approach works.  With the help of some terrific investors/mentors, I started Benjamin Franklin The Punctual Plumber.  Within 2 years, we went from $0 to $40 million in franchisee sales and 47 locations.  I learned that the simple systems I teach work…from Main Street to Wall Street. 

That’s how The Challenge works. I will be your mentor.  The Bare Bones Biz Plan is a sound, simple, no-nonsense plan that will appeal to your common sense. I’ve learned a lot about building businesses over the last 20 years. From mom-and-pop-shops to a Wall Street-bound conglomerate, I have used a simple Plan to reach goals and enjoy uncommon business success. It is so much fun to envision what you want…and then make it happen. The Bare Bones Biz Plan will work…as long as you are willing to think differently and act accordingly.

One step at a time, we’ll get through it together. And YOU will reap the benefits. You get the WIN! You are six weeks away and all you have to do is say, “Yes.” I will take care of the Plan. You just have to keep up. You can do it…one step at a time.

Everyone I have worked with has helped me...to help YOU!

And, I know that I would NOT have the success I have without Frank and other amazing mentors who have shaped my life.  Our family plumbing business was failing.  I can’t describe the energy I saved by letting go of a bad approach and allowing myself to be helped.  How freeing it is to know how to manufacture money with a profitable business!     

That’s how The Challenge works. I’ll help you.  We’ll help each other.   The Bare Bones Biz Plan is a sound, simple, no-nonsense plan that will appeal to your common sense. I’ve learned a lot about building businesses over the last 20 years. From mom-and-pop-shops to a Wall Street-bound conglomerate, I have used a simple Plan to reach goals and enjoy uncommon business success. It is so much fun to envision what you want…and then make it happen. The Bare Bones Biz Plan will work…as long as you are willing to think differently and act accordingly.

One step at a time, we’ll get through it together. And YOU will reap the benefits. You get the WIN! You are six weeks away and all you have to do is say, “Yes.” I will take care of the Plan. You just have to keep up. You can do it…one step at a time.

Are you ready for The Challenge?

The #1 requirement:

You are WILLING to change the way you think and act. And, be honest with yourself, if your plan was working…you wouldn’t be reading this.

The Investment: $1,495 for the intensive six week program…The Challenge and The Complete Suite ...PLUS two additional weeks of "Biz Plan Polishing!" (This is a bargain compared to my individual consulting prices. Take advantage of it...and my offer to help!)

It gets even better! We’ll finance the program for you. Pay with your credit card…and we’ll charge the card every 2 weeks – interest free! – three easy-to-cash-flow payments of $635…$430 and $430…  each. Reserve your spot now.  We’ll charge the first payment to your card. THEN, you won’t be charged until after the first call.  If you don’t like the program…you can change your mind. 

The Complete Suite is the whole tool kit of books, forms, systems and checklists that support your Biz Plan. The Complete Suite includes The Bare Bones Biz Plan and all the other files I have developed to help you implement your Plan and get your company running like a Swiss watch.

Not sure what would be the best way to proceed? Email or call me and I will help you through the ordering process! I am here to HELP you. (Take advantage of my offer!)

Say YES...and get ready for a Quantum Leap to Success!

Not sure? Email me at contact@barebonesbiz.com or call 1-877-629-7647. Let’s find out if you are ready to do whatever it takes to succeed...if you are ready for The Challenge. Space is limited so don’t delay!

The Investment: $1,295 for the intensive six week program…The Challenge and the Complete Suite...PLUS two additional weeks of "Biz Plan Polishing!" (This is a bargain compared to my individual consulting prices. Take advantage of it...and my offer to help!).

And, remember...we'll finance the program for you. Pay with your credit card…and we’ll charge the card every 2 weeks – interest free! – three easy-to-cash-flow payments of $433 each.

The starting line is September 13th, 2011 at 12:00pm central time.

I only want to work with people who need and want what I have to offer. That’s not everyone and I am OK with that. If for any reason you change your mind about participating in the program, I will give you ALL your money back. So, even if you are a little skeptical, why not sign up and try it out?

Will you be there? Are you ready to FINALLY achieve your business goals and make this your best year yet?

Join me for…The Challenge...

Sign up now. Just do it.

P.S. I’m so proud of these Challengers. THIS is how we create a rockin’ GREAT economy…one winning business at a time.

The Challenge Testimonials