Maricopa Chamber of Commerce hosts speaker on tips for small businesses

“Arizona is about growth. It’s the number one place for small business in the U.S.,” Joan Koerber-Walker told Maricopa Chamber of Commerce members and guests Wednesday at their meeting at Harrah’s Ak-Chin Resort Casino.

Koerber-Walker, the head of the Arizona Small Business Association (ASBA) whose 3,000 members represent over 20,000 employees in the state of Arizona, founded CorePurpose, Inc. in 2002. Prior to that she spent 20 years in technology distribution and met her friend, Terri Kingery, Executive Director of the Maricopa Chamber of Commerce.

According to Koerber-Walker, there are 450,000 small businesses in Arizona, representing 120,000 employers and 950,000 employees. “It’s people like all of us who are driving the nation’s economy,” she said. “Thirteen percent of companies with 10-50 employees created 47 percent of the new jobs in the United States.”

In regard to employees, small business owners should look for those who are self-motivated because they will continue to be motivated. Employees should have values since “behavior follows values, and results follow behavior.”

In business, according to the keynote speaker, “Innovation is change–daring to be different. Innovation is doing something in a new way to make life better for people that matter.”

Business is not about you,” Koerber-Walker reminded the audience. By building a mind share for customers, investors, suppliers and employees, you are conveying information about what you do that can do something for them. Those individuals will be thinking, said Koerber-Walker, “the easier it is for me to do business with you, the more likely I am to come back again.”

She also listed detours, which can occur along the way, for any small business. They include “Founders Fever,” “Analysis Paralysis” and capital deprivation.

“Founders Fever” pertains to the individual starting his or her own business. “If you try to do it all by yourself, you’ll get so bogged down you won’t go anywhere,” explained the speaker.

“Trust yourself; you know more than you think,” advised Koerber-Walker, noting that it is possible to put too much emphasis on data (“Analysis Paralysis”).

Capital deprivation creates a need for realism. “You have to have enough money to do the things you want to do. Don’t rely on Santa Claus to grow your business,” urged Koerber-Walker.

She cautioned that any endeavor “that doesn’t generate revenue is not a business; it’s a hobby.”

Her recipe for success includes teamwork, enlightenment, courage, leadership, trust and the ability to refocus.

Finally, said Koerber-Walker, “When your goal is within reach, refine, innovate – and reach farther.”