That’s the question what I’ve been trying to answer as I’ve been on my own journey to develop a Compelling Message for CEO Think Tank and refine the value prop of what we do for our members as well as our prospects. 

And - after spending the last few weeks talking to over two dozen CEO’s and business owners of small to mid-size companies, some patterns are definitely emerging.  Things that we do well and want to continue to do as well as things that we need to start doing and do more of in 2010.

(Remember:  this is the work that you should be doing in your own businesses - on a regular basis.)  It doesn’t suit anyone to sit on their laurels for long.  The market is always changing and to stay ahead - you’ve got to be talking with people…

So what have we found?

What’s the biggest pain that we solve for CEO’s and executives of growing firms?  

Helping them to find answers to the question “What do I do NOW that I’ve got this problem”- whatever this problem is for the moment.  (You never run out of problems when you’re trying to grow a business after all.) 

The second pain that we’ve helped them with? 

Pointing out the potholes that they’re going to run into…or could run into as they grow.  “I want to know what I don’t know,” one of our CEO members said to me.  “I know a lot but it’s what I don’t know that’s going to get me into trouble down the line. ”

How are we helping them to solve these pains? 

By giving them a braintrust of other smart, enlightened executives who are traveling the same road - and in many cases have been there and done that - and - teaching them how to grow smartly.  We give them proven frameworks and tools and access to resources and experts - things that they otherwise wouldn’t know about or would take them valuable time - something no on seems to have nowadays to find.  

How are we unique? 

Because of our own experiences working with hundreds of small and mid-size businesses - and because we’re entrepreneurs too - we’re working to grow our business and using the same tools and techniques.  As one CEO said, “You guys know stuff.  And it’s not just theory!” 

So where we need to spend more time and do things differently?  

Helping them to prioritize and focus - even more so than we’ve done in the past.  And even though we’re sometimes known as a major pain in the you-know-what with our clients, they also asked us to do an even better job of holding them accountable to what they said they were going to do and noodging them along when they’re not delivering. 

Why this shift?  More so now than ever before, I’m hearing people in the business community talking about not having time to do all the things that they need to do.  And they need help and guidance to:

* Sort through all of the items that they could be focusing on,

* Make the right decisions about what to focus on and

* Have a plan (and make the time) to get their priorities done.

So that’s what we’re going to help them do….along with a whole lot more. 

We’ve been successful in the past and helped our members to grow and survive - but the work never stops.

So what about you?  Who are you talking to?  What are you learning about your market and your customers?  And what  will you do differently in 2010?

Let me know…and come on March 9th if you want to learn more! 

BTW, the first 25 people to register will get a free copy of Kevin Daum’s new book:  ROAR:  Get Heard in the Sales and Marketing Jungle!