The CEO Mindset and Growing the International Side of Your SME: Expanding Your Business In the US

How To Use the CEO Mindset
To Grow the International Side of Your SME:
Expanding Your Business In the US
Elli St.George Godfrey
Executive Coach/Trainer
Ability Success Growth

About Elli
•Executive Coach and Trainer
•“CEO” of Ability Success Growth since
2005
•Work with clients in Ireland, Northern
Ireland and US

Focus areas:
• Adapt to your changing role as
business owner/ executive in your
growing SME
•Designing and managing change
•Business planning
•Support to increase cultural
awareness of both home and the US
©2013 by Elli St.George Godfrey. All Rights Reserved
www.abilitysuccessgrowth.com

What are we talking about?
•How do you define CEO and is that your
role in your SME?
•Expanding or exporting as a way to grow
•Planning and preparation are a must
•Smoothing your path with wellestablished resources in US


It’s all in
the
details!


How do you define…?


What does a CEO do?

5 Things…
(generally speaking)


The 5 things that a CEO does…
• Sets the vision and tone for the organization
• Designs and explains how the organization will
grow and develop over time
• Seeks out talent to make the vision, tone and
growth happen
• Holds everyone accountable to the business goals
• Makes sure revenues and profits stay healthy


Sound
familiar?
Hmm….

Become a Practical Visionary

Pragmatism:
Taking ideas and ideals
and acting on them
followed by assessing
or measuring them.
William James
American philosopher


Vision

Vision

What are you aiming
for this year?

©2013 by Elli St.George Godfrey. All Rights
Reserved

Start by listening to yourself…
•
•
•
•

What does your business really
do?
How does this inspire you?
To what country do you most
want to export/expand?
What is your greatest dream
about exporting/expanding?

Leadership
You provide
the tempo,
structure
and
direction

Leadership Exercise
 When you are in a leadership position, do you prefer to
a. Give instructions and let your team members do their work
b. Monitor your team closely to see how they are performing
c. Let the team manage themselves
d. Some combination of the above
 I can explain my vision for the organization clearly and succinctly
a. True
b. False

 I can identify my emotions accurately and express them appropriately
a. True
b. False
 I feel confident about making difficult decisions, even if it means upsetting others
a. Never
b. Some of the time
c. Most of the time
d. Always

Your Leadership has a direct impact
• Identifying your leadership style supports what
works already
• Your communication style needs to be clear for both
your staff at home and new hires in the US
• There is an emotional life to building a business in a
new environment
• Noticing the gaps in your leadership skills makes it
easier to know what to learn now


Why expand in the US?
•Positive entrepreneurial
business environment
•New revenue streams
What are you aiming
•Gives you more
for this year?
credibility at home
•Adventure
•Hard work


Planning and preparation are crucial
•
•
•
•

Know why you want to do this
Identify how much capital is needed
Do market research
Use current business networks and
organisations
• Be aware of cultural differences and
similarities
• Explore needed resources

Planning and Preparation Exercise
• Is this in sync with my business vision?
• Given my cash flow, is this a good action right
now?
• Will this make money?
• Do I really want to do it or do I think I’m supposed
to do it?


Resources or Where Do I Begin?
The Business Coalition
One Boston Place Suite 600
Boston, MA 02198
+001 781 935-9580
www.thebusinesscoalition.org
US Customs and Border
Protection
Boston Field Office
10 Causeway Street Room 895
Boston, MA 02222
www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/

Massachusetts Office
of International Trade
and Investment
Boston Fish Pier
212 Northern Avenue
East Building I
Suite 300
Boston, MA 02210
+001 617-830-5400
www.mass.gov/moiti

There are also contacts within consulates, networking groups (e.g. Boston Irish
Business Association), enterprise boards and trade organisations. Please ask if
I can introduce you to US-based resources.

3 questions…
1. What are your expectations?
2. What would happen if you don’t consider
yourself the CEO of your business?
3. Why is adding exporting or international
expansion to your SME so important right
now?

Want to explore your aspirations for
growing your SME internationally?
Let’s schedule a 1 hour consultation…
Elli St.George Godfrey
Executive Coach/Trainer
Elli (at) abilitysuccessgrowth (dot) com

The CEO Mindset and Growing the International Side of Your SME: Expanding Your Business In the US

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The CEO Mindset and Growing the International Side of Your SME: Expanding Your Business In the US