WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY - "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." That's my motto and I've been sticking to it throughout my career as a strategic planner. I cited it again today, conveniently using as my platform the SCORE Radio broadcast I hosted on WVOX AM 1460.
About the show:
The show, which airs at 1:00-1:30 pm, Eastern Time every second and fourth Wednesday, featured guest expert Darius Myers, President and CEO of Sportscart Media (www.sportscartmedia.com/). In fact, Darius went one step further, sharing his view (with which I concur) that strategic planning should not be relegated to business. Rather, it can and should be incorporated into every aspect of our everyday lives.
Through business planning, Myers identified a unique business proposition that combined his love of golf, talent and experience in advertising sales and marketing. The result was a business plan for Sportscart Media, a firm that places non-intrusive mobile advertising on the sides of sports carts that traverse top golf courses in the USA. The plan was sufficiently compelling to garner partnerships with a sports cart manufacturer and top drawer sales and marketing professionals, attract the substantial investment required to custom-design and amass a fleet of sports carts, and to generate media attention in fine outlets like SCORE Radio and Lisa Tolliver On Air and Online. Click the link to view the firm's media kit: www.sportscartmedia.com/media.html.
Elevator pitches:
Myers also effectively demonstrated another topic that I frequently preach about: the importance of having a polished, effective elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a 30-second or 60-second "commercial" that describes who you are and what you do. It should anticipate the challenge, "So what?" and pique the interest of listeners (who might be potential customers, investors, partners or colleagues) so they'll want to hear more. Side note: elevator pitches also make great cocktail party conversation-starters and job interview spiels.
About SCORE Chapter 306:
Today's show also introduced listeners to the wealth of business planning and other resources offered by SCORE Chapter 306, Westchester County's award-winning volunteer corps and non-profit subsidiary of the U.S. Small Business Administration. SCORE Chapter 306 is located at 120 Bloomingdale Road in White Plains, NY 10605. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM - noon, Eastern Time. Weekly seminars on topics essential to starting, financing and running a small business are offered every Wednesday at 1:00-3:00; no appointment is needed. Phone SCORE Chapter 306 at (01) 914-948-3907. Visit the chapter online at http://www.scorewestchester.com/ to learn about the weekly counseling sessions, training seminars, other events and volunteers.
About the producer/host:
In addition to hosting SCORE Radio on a rotating basis with other volunteer business experts, I'm both a SCORE counselor and client. I was honored to be selected as a "2001 SCORE Success Story" and keynote speaker for SCORE's May 2001 event at the White Plains, NY YWCA: "So You Really Want to Start Your Own Business?" Click the link to read "Meet SCORE Counselor Lisa "Tolliver" (www.score.org/volunteer_tolliver).
Upcoming broadcasts:
I will next host SCORE Radio on September 14, 2005 at 1:00-1:30 PM, Eastern Time on WVOX AM 1460.
I also host The Lisa Tolliver Show every 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 1:30-2:00 PM, Eastern Time on WVOX AM 1460 after SCORE Radio. The show's "four-eyed" mission: to inform, instruct, intrigue and inspire listeners about what's happening in the world of non-profits and public affairs.
Join me in the upcoming broadcasts:
July 27,
August 10 and 24 and
September 14 and 28
How to tune in:
Tune your radio dial to WVOX AM 1460
Listen live at www.wvox.com
Hear and share, from anywhere, via our call-in line: (01) 914-636-0110
Coming soon: listen via podcast
You're invited:
If you're listening, I'm listening. Talk with me!
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