"During the year I worked with Lenora, I increased my revenue twenty percent."

04.20.08

This is the second installation of my Case Studies Series, shared with you in interview format. Please read on where, in her own words, Linda Keith, CPA, describes our work together and its results:

Linda Keith, CPA
Helping Lenders Say "Yes" to Good Loans
Web site: www.lindakeithcpa.com/

Q: How did you meet Lenora?
A: She was recommended by three colleagues, all of whom were associated with the National Speakers Association.

Q: What did you do together?
A: We did a three-month, business coaching process. We met once a week, although when I was out of town my staff person met with her, so she ended up helping the entire company, not just me personally.

Q: What was it about your work with Lenora that was particularly effective?
A: What I needed and what she provided was the ability to work through the many options in my business at that time. She helped me winnow them down to those on which I should really focus.

I'm much clearer about the direction I want to take. I have less to do and more time to do it. The unexpected bonus was better defining the roles of my staff person. I was able to delegate more of what I had been doing and take on more of an oversight position. That was a huge relief.

Q: You mentioned that working with Lenora had benefits for the entire company. What kind of benefits?
A: Well during the year that I worked with Lenora, I increased my revenue by twenty percent. I sustained that level of increase the following year while laying the foundation for a major addition to my services and products mix. I now expect that new addition to double my revenue within three years.

Q: How have you benefited personally?
A: I have elevated myself from being a worker in my business to being the visionary in my business. Lenora helped me see that that was a more productive role than the way I had been running it. A direct result of that change in focus led me to a new idea that is going to make me a lot of money and provide better service to my clients. I would not be in this place if Lenora had not lifted my vision beyond the horizon.

Q: How would you describe Lenora's professional skill set?
A: I don't think in terms of professional skill sets. Lenora's depth and breadth of background brings so much to the table. She combines her business knowledge and her exposure to lots of different kinds of businesses with a counselor's ability to ask questions. She listens to answers, and then--well, I'm not sure whether she gently guides you in the right direction or just nudges you as you find your own way.

She's also driven to get her clients the results they need. So even though it wasn't always obvious to me where we were headed, she had an internal sense of timing to move us where we needed to be by the end of our time. You get the feeling that you're the only client she's thinking about all the time.

Q: What does your work with Lenora provide you that you can't get anywhere else?
A: Perspective. For 29 years, I was running my own show, charting my own course. There are few people who could just sort of step along beside me at my level and help me. And because she was so highly recommended by close friends, I was able to place trust in her quickly. Her reputation precedes her.