[nabentre] nabentre - blind business owner

[Daniel Meek]

Thank you for taking the time to respond to my email.  You certainly put a
lot of thought into it, and I sincerely appreciate your input.


You had several very good ideas.  Your idea of writing a column for a local
paper or magazine is definitely something I want to pursue further.  I will
prepare a list of all the local papers, magazines, and web sites.  I will
contact a few by phone to see how they respond.  Perhaps, I will mail or fax
my weekly posts to all of them to keep my content fresh in their mind.

As for the networking, I seem to have a few hang-up's I need to work on
first.  I seem to have social anxiety with my blindness in that type of
environment.  I know, I know... I need to get over it.  The funny thing is;
when I have hosted investment seminars for my clients in the past, I have no
problem speaking in front of a group.  I just have an issue inter mingling
with that group.

My eye condition is called Retinitis Pigmentosa, and my vision did not start
to decline until high school.  Thus, I have always relied on a human guide
for mobility.  I did attend the Oklahoma School for the Blind for my last
three years in high school of which I was taught a little cane work (in
retrospect, I should have paid more attention to my mobility instructor).
As for getting around my office and home, well you know, we don't really
need assistance in getting around our own environment.  I am very fortunate
that my wife, father, and mother-in-law (in no paticular order) all help me
with transportation to the office.

Again, thank you for your valuable insights and I will keep the list updated
with my progress and experiences.

Daniel










On Thu, Sep 1, 2011 at 1:10 PM, Mary Ellen <gabias at telus.net> wrote:



> Your business sounds intriguing and the questions you raise are thought
> provoking.
>
> Although going door to door would be possible for a blind person, I believe
> it's difficult for anyone.  For one thing, much of the work would need to
> be
> done in the evening, since most adults work during the day.  Also, many
> people are becoming increasingly wary of anyone they don't know who knocks
> on the door.
> I agree with you about cold calling.  It's a discouraging, and not
> particularly effective, way to meet new clients.
>
> Having said that, a very successful salesman friend once told me that if I
> walked up to enough people and said "You wouldn't want to buy my product
> would you?" I would eventually make sales.  Naturally, he didn't recommend
> that technique.
>
> Your present clients could be a gold mine, even though they're not a source
> of continuing referrals.  They might be willing to write brief testimonials
> recommending your services which you could use in a brochure or other
> promotional literature.
>
> Have you tried joining groups like the Chamber of Commerce in your
> community?  It takes time, and a lot of schmoozing, but business groups
> will
> eventually help you meet new clients.  You might also consider business
> networking groups.  The members themselves may not be interested, but they
> might know people.
> Community fairs and other trade shows are really tough venues for blind
> people, since passers by tend to pass by people who don't make eye contact
> and such places tend to be noisy.
>
> What about going to local merchants and offering a draw for a prize of some
> sort.  In our business, we offer free magnetic massages.  I don't know what
> sort of prize you could offer that would compliment your business, perhaps
> free financial makeovers.  People could put a form with their name, address
> (either email or street) and a contact phone number.  Since this is back to
> school time, you could target families and offer a draw for $100 worth of
> school supplies.  Then you could phone the people and tell them that,
> although they haven't won the grand prize, you would be happy to talk with
> them about planning for their financial future and the postsecondary
> education of their children.  Obviously, one family will really win, and
> you
> could publicize their story, without giving any identifying information.
>
> If you live in a small enough town, you might be able to interest a local
> community paper in doing a profile of you and your business.  Papers always
> like good news stories, and a financial planning company with a solid track
> record of service to clients is truly a good news story these days.  This
> is
> one instance in which your blindness could help you, since it would give
> the
> reporter a somewhat unusual angle.  You'll have to work hard to make sure
> the focus is on your skill as a financial adviser, rather than how you can
> pour a cup of coffee as a ablind person.
>
> You write well.  Have you considered asking the local paper to hire you to
> do a weekly or monthly financial column?  Even if you have to write it
> without compensation, the exposure will make it easier for potential
> clients
> to view you as a trusted expert.
>
> Others on this list have more background in internet marketing than I have,
> but my instincts tell me that yours is a business based on relationships.
> I'm not suggesting that you need to be boosm buddies with your clients, but
> people tend to choose their financial advisers out of a sense that they're
> personally trustworthy and good people with whom to do business.  It's
> harder to convey that personal warmth over the internet.  You might,
> however, consider a tasteful advertisement on local web sites.  Most
> communities have web sites touting the virtues of their community .  In
> Kelowna, we have www.castanet.net and www.ilovekelowna.com (or .ca, I
> can't
> remember which.)  You could place an ad for a month or two and test your
> results.  I think, though, that doing a financial column for your paper or
> for one of those web sites would net you more in the long run.  Also, you
> probably wouldn't have to pay to do the column, since it would enhance the
> attractiveness of the web site.
>
> Although they aren't usually very well attended, an open house might get
> your business name in front of the public.  If you're located in a public
> building, you might work with the other tenants to do a building wide open
> house.  In that way, you could meet potential clients who have come to the
> building to support another business.
>
> If you have a cause or charity that is particularly important to you, your
> business might spearhead a community fund-raising event for that group.  In
> doing so, you can get recognition and free publicity for your business
> while
> doing good at the same time.
>
> As for how to deal with blindness, I think you're right on target.  When
> you
> meet people, blindness is the elephant in the room.  Dealing with it
> positively and directly in the beginning clears the air and lets people
> know
> how comfortable you are with the subject.  If you're comfortable, they will
> become comfortable eventually, too.  I don't think, though, that it will do
> you much good to talk about your blindness in promotional material, except
> in the case where you're being interviewed by the press.  In that context,
> you can work with the reporter to make the references to your blindness
> positive.  I don't think it's particularly relevant in how you do your job,
> except that your computer talks to you.  Putting too much emphasis on
> blindness is the opposite end of the pendulum from ignoring it completely;
> either extreme has difficulties.  If you choose to have a picture of you in
> your promotional material, you could always show yourself reading Braille
> or
> traveling with a cane or dog.  Doing that would say that you're blind
> without making it an issue.
>
> If I think of other networking possibilities that will help you market
> yourself with little or no cost, I'll pass them along.  Please keep us
> informed on what you do and how your strategies are working.  Your
> experience could be helpful to a lot of people.
>
> Mary Ellen Gabias
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabentre-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Daniel Meek
> Sent: September 1, 2011 8:49 AM
> To: nabentre at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [nabentre] nabentre - blind business owner
>
> 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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-- 
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:  advisorFYI.net

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:
The contents of this message, together with any attachments, are
intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which they re
addressed and may contain information that is legally privileged,
confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended
recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution, or copying of this message, or any attachment, is
strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error,
please notify the original sender by return email and delete this
message, along with any attachments, from your computer. Thank you.