The Sounding Board
We hope this question-and-answer session with Marilyn Lippold, director of The Sounding Board, will help you decide whether this Yellow-Tie Business-Building Alliance is a fit for you.
If you want to visit a future The Sounding Board meeting to determine whether the group fits you and you fit the group, contact Marilyn using any of the means below and ask to be invited.
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Q: We would like to hear your story -- why did you start this group?
A: I want to establish relationships with a group of people with whom I can collaborate on all aspects of building my business -- where I can provide value to them and they can provide value to one another. I want only highly qualified professional people who will always do what's best for the customer.
I would like to promote the group as a whole to all of my clients needing business services. I would like to have 10 to 15 people who will spend the time to get to know one another well and work together to refine business concepts, learn best practices and promote business for everyone.
As the name implies, I expect that we will work as a sounding board for each other and address critical issues for all of us.
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Q: Within the choices of business to business (B2B), business to consumer (B2C) or both, how would you best classify the prospects to whom your members sell?
A: We all sell business to business.
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Q: How else would you describe the prospects to whom your members sell, and/or the people you want in your group?
A: I would describe our prospects as small- to medium-sized businesses located primarily in the Eastern Missouri and Southwestern Illinois regions. We will primarily be meeting with the owners of the company.
I am looking for a small business accountant, a web designer, public relations company, marketing and research, a lawyer specializing in small business assistance, a printing company, promotional and gifts company, someone concentrating on health insurance for businesses, office supply company, computers/networking, commercial property manager or commercial realtor, investment plans for business owners.
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Q: When, where and how often does your group meet?
A: We meet the second and fourth Tuesday every month from 8 to 10 a.m. in Fairview Heights, IL.
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Q: What else do you want to tell people about your group?
A: Only qualified professional people will be accepted into this group. I am looking only for people that are ready to give of themselves. Business card pushers are not wanted. Members must truly believe in the Yellow-Tie philosophy of helping others without keeping score.
With the right people we will be a powerful group with a reputation of always doing what is best for our clients. We will be able to help a new business starting out with virtually everything they need to get their business going. We can also help existing businesses evaluate their current processes and come up with solutions that may be better for them.
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Q: How do you want people interested in your group to contact you?
A: People can reach me on my cell at 618-531-5553 or through the contact form on my website.