Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance (Proverbs 20:18, NIV).

When is the last time your business received expert advice?

The practice of obtaining guidance is nothing new; such has been upheld through the ages and cultures, from the ancient Greeks (Plato and Aristotle above) and Hebrews to the president’s cabinet.

While we have over 60 years of combined experience in the staffing industry among our internal staff, we know that there is still much to learn. A lot has changed since we first opened out doors in 1982, and who knows what else could change in the next 30 years?

Recently, Abbey Placements invited two consultants through TempNet to evaluate our business practices: Jerome Gerber from Award Staffing in Minneapolis/St. Paul and John Hayes from B. Loehr Staffing in St. Louis. They visited our office, interviewed our staff and analyzed us inside and out. Discussions went on at the office, at some of our favorite Bloomington/Normal eating establishments, and even at owner Ken Poirier’s house for Saturday breakfast.

Their visit lasted only two days, but by the time they left we were completely invigorated with new ideas and purpose. We also had a clearer vision for what our business might look like five years, ten years, even twenty years down the road.

Here are several key takeaways from the consultation:

• Senior staff should prioritize time with the most profitable activities, particularly building and nurturing client relationships. Other tasks should be delegated to support staff as much as possible.
• Be consistent about the key differentiators in our branding message throughout all media. We’ll be implementing a few changes in our website and other communication in the near future.
• Research your target market and don’t assume you know the landscape until you have the facts. We learned that there may be more local business opportunities than we had realized.

In sum, a consultation can be a game changer. If you have a comparable opportunity, we highly recommend seeking advice to help your business thrive.

Where do you go for business advice?