[nabentre] nabentre - blind business owner

[Daniel Meek]

Hello,

My name is Daniel, and I’ve been following this list for about a year.  I
would like to introduce myself, as well as, ask for some feedback.

I am a 38 year old blind business owner.  Actually, I have 3% of my vision
left; however, it is easier just to tell most people, “I’m blind”.  I’m
certain you can relate.

I was very fortunate to start my business right out of college.  Through the
right contact of a retired insurance agency owner, I formed a partnership
and started an investment management company.  Basically, I supplied the
investment management and my partner supplied his referrals / long time
client base.  We began in 1998 and had phenomenal success.  Since my partner
already had a loyal relationship with his old clients, they took his
recommendation and came on board.

Around 2002, we pretty much secured all his old book of business and focused
on serving our existing clients and growing through their referrals, which
kept us growing steadily for a few more years.

IN 2008, my partner left the business and moved into a retirement center.  My
client’s average age is in the upper 70’s and are not active in the
community anymore, thus, I do not receive anymore referrals.  I feel I serve
my clients well, and still have my original clients from 1998, but that fact
doesn’t supply growth.

As of now, my business is slowly dying, literally.  My clients are passing
away, and their children either have existing relationships with other
advisors or just spend their inheritance.



In summary, I was fortunate to start a business and extremely grateful for
the opportunity.  However, the way we started the business did not give us a
normal structure (i.e. we had no marketing plan or long-term mission).

As other blind business owners I would appreciate your feedback on the
following.

1.        Marketing:  companies like Edward Jones, go door to door to local
businesses to market / prospect.  I really do not feel this method of
prospecting fits a blind person.  Additionally, telemarketing tends to
irritate me, so that leaves out cold calling.  In what ways have you
experienced success in marketing and prospecting?  Note: my marketing budget
is limited.

2.       My Blindness:  In your opinion, should we project our blindness as
an asset in business?  Obviously, in a face to face interaction my blindness
is addressed in the beginning.  However, on the internet, in print, or even
on video my blindness would be undetected.  Should we project our blindness
in our business?

3.       The Internet:  It seems like everybody claims internet marketing is
the greatest thing.  Have any of you had success with online marketing?  I
created a blog several months ago at www.functionaladvice.com , and have
mainly been visited by spammers.   How do you feel about blogging and social
media?



I appreciate any feedback you can offer, and look forward to being an active
participant on the list.

Daniel



-- 
Daniel Meek
Investment Advisor

"Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall
find the way." -  Abraham Lincoln

Synergy Capital Management
Office: (405) 495-0100
Mobile:  (405) 760-7727
Email: dmmeek at gmail.com
Web:  FIadvice.com

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