4 Lessons Learned from the May PowerLink Advisory Board Meetings of 2021 – “The Art of Hiring a Superstar (when you have just a little money)” and a Sneak Preview of the June Sessions….
“The only way to predict the future is to create it.” -Peter Drucker
This month, PowerLink worked with more than 185 small business owners who attended one of our 14 Community Advisory Boards, Custom Advisory Boards or Private one-on-one mentoring sessions over Zoom. The topic was one that everyone has been dealing with: hiring in the face of expansion, contraction, pivot. All of our owners faced hiring dilemmas this month. So, we shared our Zoom stage with a veteran small business human resources expert, Brenda Dare, from Dare Enterprises.
In 90 minutes of talking, writing, sharing, laughing, and listening this month, here were a few of the Lessons Learned from May 2021 among Powerlink Small Business Owners across the United States about “The Art of Hiring a Superstar when Funds are Limited, but Needs are Many.”
- “I have to hire another person to help me. Should I hire a “Mini-Me” or should I hire someone with skills that I don’t have?” The answer surprised me. Most owners wanted someone who had skills they didn’t have. Brenda talked through what it takes to hire, train and manage someone who is different than you. This usually causes tension, but it is fixable, according to Brenda.
- “How do I convince employees I laid off to come back for the same wage when they get an extra $300 per month to stay home. Brenda pointed out that for full time, that is about $3/hour in extra pay and that it ends on October 1st. She talked through PA law on worker’s refusing work when an employer calls them back and how to document it for unemployment wages after a refusal.
- “How do I get someone to actually do what I hired them to do?” The discussion around this was lively! PowerLink programs stick to the “Traction” methodology which reinforces “Accountability” over job tasks and developing scorecards that employees have to maintain and report back to owners on. Brenda feels this challenge deserves a separate round of discussion later this year. We agree.
- “How do I hire, onboard and train someone to do a job that I am terrible at?” This one was easy for Brenda. She feels the key is hiring someone who has similar values to you. That means asking the right questions in an interview. Brenda gave examples of those questions in every session and then sent them out to attendees afterwards. She also offered to coach someone by phone if they had a tricky hiring situation.
All our Executives-in-Residence: Harry Edelman, Sherry Jordan, Patricia DiVecchio, Doug Stone, Brian DeCelle and Tia Baker gave a thumbs up to Brenda for her assistance at their meetings. If you want to reach her directly: Brenda Dare, Dare Enterprises (dareent.com), 412.231.6100.
June Topic: June for PowerLink owners means the end of Q2 “Rocks” and a mid-year gut check. How am I doing, really? They will be asking themselves the toughest question of the year: (1) Am I clear about where I want to take my business now that I’m half-way through 2021? (2) Am I clear about the top three business challenges (“Rocks”) I have to overcome in the next six months of the year? (3) Am I clear about how I am delegating some of these tasks to others? (employees, contractors, sub-contractors, or vendors).
Calendar of Events: PowerLink June 2021:
Here is the Calendar for June 2021 (Community Advisory Boards). If you are not already registered and interested in joining any group, just email or text me. The first few meetings are always complimentary if you qualify for one of our scholarship programs. Thanks to a multi-sponsor scholarship program through PNC Charitable Trust, Standard Bank Foundation, FNB Bank Foundation, Huntington Bank and Citizen’s Bank (2020/2021), we may be able to lower program fees to free or $25 if you qualify.
If you are new to PowerLink or returning but not registered through the program, let us know if you want to register for any of the monthly meetings in June over our Zoom platform by texting your contact info to 412.721.3186:
Tuesday, June 8, 2021: 8:30-10 am Succession Only CEO Circle—only for companies intending to sell their business, buy a business or pass it to their children or employees in the next 5 years (for our more mature PowerLink companies anywhere in the US. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to Harry Edelman, Regional Director at 412.389.5297 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested. Facilitated by an experienced Mergers and Acquisitions specialist with a passion for helping smaller companies exit successfully.
Tuesday, June 8, 2021: 4-5:30 pm City of Pittsburgh Businesses sponsored by Citizen’s Bank—to promote growth and new business strategy. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
*Tuesday, June 8, 2021: 5:45-6:45 pm Youngstown, OH Businesses sponsored by Citizen’s Bank-to promote growth and new business strategy. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
Wednesday, June 9, 2021: 11-12:30 am Pittsburgh East—PowerLink Without Walls II – Community Advisory Board to promote growth and new business strategy. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
*(NEW) Wednesday, June 10, 2021: 5-6:30 pm Retail Only Community Advisory Board in Indiana PA (open to retailers and downtown/urban location businesses) to promote growth and new business strategies beyond bricks and mortar street traffic. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
*Thursday, June 11, 2021: 8:00-9:30 am Harrisburg/York Regional Community Advisory Board sponsored by FNB Bank to promote growth and new business strategy. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. May Topic is How to Hire a Superstar with your Small Budget in 5 Tested Steps. Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own hiring and retention tactics. Register by text to Sherry Jordan, PowerLink Regional Director at 814.881.8106 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
Monday, June 14, 2021 4:30-6 PM Executive CEO Circle --$1 million and more (open to our larger PowerLink companies, manufacturing companies and alums anywhere in the US with $1 to $10 million growth and income goals). June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
(NEW) Tuesday, June 15, 2021: 11 am-12:30 pm: PowerLink without Walls I for Small Businesses Anywhere in the World —to promote growth and innovative new business strategies regardless of your location. For owners doing $150,000+ in annual revenue wanting to hit $1M in the next 5 years). June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
*(NEW) Tuesday, June 15, 2021: 3-4:30 pm: Penn State PowerLink Community Advisory Board for Contractors Only—if your business is connected in any way to facilities, construction, design, renovation or maintenance and you want to grow through private sector and government contracting, this group will limit its discussion to only construction/maintenance related marketing and new business strategies. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
*(NEW) Tuesday, June 15, 2021: 4:45-6 pm. Huntington Bank PowerLink Community Advisory Board for MBE, WBE and Veteran-owned Small Businesses. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021: 2-3:30 pm: Westmoreland County CC Community Advisory Board sponsored by Standard Bank: to promote growth and new business strategy. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
Or you can text Courtney at the Westmoreland County Chamber at 724.880.1703.
*(NEW) Wednesday, June 16, 2021: 5-6:15 pm Downtown Washington, PA Businesses sponsored by Huntington Bank and PCRG—to promote growth and innovative new business strategies in the urban/merchant areas of the City of Washington. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested. Or you can contact Christy at PCRG crowing@pcrg.org or Sara at Downtown Washington, PA sarah@downtownwashingtonpa.com
*(NEW for 2021) Thursday, June 17, 2021: 12:30 – 2 pm City of Youngstown, OH Businesses sponsored by Citizen’s Bank—to promote growth and new business strategy. This event is moved to Tuesday, May 11th at 5:45 pm. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested.
Thursday, June 18, 2021: 3:30-5 pm Washington County Businesses sponsored by the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce and Huntington Bank—to promote growth and innovative new business strategies. June Topic is How to Hit My 2021 Revenue Goals with 6 Months Left in the Year? And what issues am I still Confronting for Q3?” . Guest advisors presenting and interactive advising at all sessions. Also share your own revenue strategies. By invitation only. Also share your own hiring and retention tactic. By invitation only. Register by text to 412.721.3186 with your email and location desired if you are new and interested. Or you can contact Brian/Megan at the Peters Township Chamber of Commerce at brian@peterstownshipchamberofcommerce.com
Also note that our June session will also let everyone share their key New Business challenge and let the group help “crush” that challenge with insight based on experience, lessons learned and mentoring. These meetings are private and confidential. You must register in advance to attend as a guest.
Have a productive and prosperous 2021! A.
Anita Brattina, CEO and Board Chair, PowerLink
1501 Ardmore Boulevard, Suite 404, Pittsburgh PA 15221, 412.721.3186 (M), anita.brattina@allfacilities.com, www.powerlink.org
“Helping small and emerging companies achieve their next level of success through access to executive and CEO advisors.” A Pennsylvania 501(c)3 corporation.
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