Business Partner - Jeff Samford

Happy New Year!  2010 has been a challenging year for many and it's time for a fresh start. If you want better results in your career, now is the time to take action and chart your course. The outlook for 2011 appears promising with a slow but steady rebound. The overall unemployment rate is still in the 9's and double digits in some parts of the country and is improving slightly.  Security in the job market is tenuous at best. I continue to work with clients that have been downsized, outsized, rightsized and even capsized through no fault of their own. Several have lost their jobs several times in the past 5 years.  A recent article in the Wall Street Journal said that for those over 50, job longevity is now 2.3 years with an average of 45 months between jobs. Some people are calling this the new normal. More and more people are wondering what they could do on their own to replicate their previous income and provide more security and a better future. Our story this month is about a gentleman that decided to use the buy out of his employer to his advantage and take control of his future. When opportunity knocked, he answered the door! Congratulations Jeff, and welcome to the world of entrepreneurship!

Jeff Samford The company where Jeff Samford was working had been acquired and the operations were being moved out of the area. The new company was much more bureaucratic. That, in combination with the possibility of relocating, had motivated him to take a severance package and start looking at his options. Jeff had been in consulting and financial services businesses for his entire career.  He had jobs that he loved because they were challenging, and he felt like he was making a substantial contribution.  But they either required too much travel or the future prospects weren't so intriguing. He had other jobs where he was closer to home, but they hadn't provided the challenge or the customer interaction that he was drawn to. At this stage in his career, Jeff wanted to find a means to be close to home, travel less, get involved in the community and be in charge of the decisions.  While he didn't have a lot of direct experience in the sales profession, he enjoys building relationships and networking.  He also believes very strongly in providing excellent customer service.  On the personal side of his life, it was very important that he have a flexible schedule and have time for his family. After exploring an array of options, Jeff discovered Business Partner, a one-stop marketing business, to be a fit for both his skills and his goals.  Business Partner provides a single source for marketing solutions, everything from graphic design, four-color process printing, signs and banners to promotional items/gifts and trade show displays.  The business model allows Jeff the flexibility he was looking for and gives him plenty of direct interaction with his customers.   He will serve as a marketing consultant/coach for his customers helping them put together a plan to grow their business and coach them through the implementation. He is able to start his business out of his home office. Here's what Jeff has to say about business ownership: " Wow!  It's been an amazing time where I've learned a lot about myself and my abilities to leverage existing relationships and develop new ones to far exceed client numbers."  While Jeff has found that "wearing the various hats of CEO, COO, CFO, Sales and Marketing, etc. has been really challenging,"  he has been able to draw upon his vast experiences to understand how to spend more time on the business as opposed to spending more time in the business.  In Jeff's words, "I have a team in place that is focused on effective and efficient marketing strategies and tactics that work for all types of organizations.  We also provide marketing coaching for small and mid-sized businesses with a focus on rapid impact strategies that increase awareness and prospects.  I love working with both marketing directors and business owners to enhance their marketing efforts and results." If you'd like to learn more about how Jeff can help you market your business and improve sales, please give him a call at 804-612-0582.  The New Year offers us new beginnings and the hope for a better future. If you're in a career transition or unhappy in your present position, make a 2011 New Year Resolution to give yourself the gift of exploring alternative options. Like Jeff, you can seize the opportunity and perhaps discover a better life for yourself and your family.