The Alternative Board® is a proven resource that more than pays for itself in measurable bottom-line benefits. As a member of TAB, you learn to deal more effectively with the challenges and opportunities you face, resulting in greater business success for you and your organization.
The Alternative Board brings together owners of privately held businesses to overcome challenges and seize new opportunities with a combination of peer advice and one-on-one coaching. Board members meet monthly to learn from one another’s successes and mistakes to grow their businesses to the next level. Business owners also create more valuable and profitable companies with scheduled strategic business coaching sessions focused on business and personal growth.
TAB membership provides you with:
- Time-saving resource sharing because your board has over 200 years of business experience.
- A sounding board for ideas and a focus group for those selling to business owners.
- An opportunity to develop better business and leadership skills.
- Personal business development through private coaching sessions with your TAB-Certified facilitator.
- A “think tank” environment to develop alternatives and business ideas.
- An executive support group, although you are in business for yourself, you are not in business by yourself.
- Accountability to your peer board members, who help you accomplish your objectives.
- Practical solutions you can use immediately and a source for best practices.
- A perfect opportunity to develop a long-term perspective and strategic plan.
In other words: TAB provides answers to your questions, and questions to your answers.
Who will be my fellow TAB Board members?
In order to qualify for membership, each board member must be the majority shareholder or prime decision-maker within their firm. TAB Board members lead companies that don’t compete with other members of their board or maintain a key vendor relationship with another member of the board.
How will TAB help improve my company?
You will be able to immediately apply your board’s practical expertise to your business. Since board members aren’t competing with one another, there are no hidden agendas to worry about, and you can speak freely about your concerns and ideas. TAB members learn to deal more effectively with both personal and business issues. This diversity of backgrounds of combined experience on each 6-8 member TAB Board, will allow you to accelerate your learning curve when it comes to the opportunities and challenges facing your company.
How will I benefit from being on a TAB Board?
The primary benefit of membership on a TAB Board is an opportunity to surround yourself with experienced, successful business executives, month after month, and be able to “pick their brains” in a relaxed, confidential environment. TAB Board members are from non-competing businesses and are not locked into your way of thinking. They can help you think outside the box. You’ll view things from a broader perspective and avoid mistakes by learning how peers solved similar problems.
Who is the TAB-Certified Facilitator?
Each TAB Board is led by an experienced businessperson who is an expert in key areas of operating a business. Each facilitator has either operated a successful business or been a consultant to leaders of companies for at least 7 years. Our facilitator is Ruth Schwartz, whose 25+ years as a successful business experience helps her relate wholeheartedly to the struggles and joys that you experience as a leader.
What is the role of the TAB-Certified Facilitator?
Besides facilitating the monthly board meeting, the TAB-Certified Facilitator will meet with each member for private coaching sessions between the board meetings and constantly monitor the progress you are making in accomplishing the goals you establish when you join the board. In addition, the facilitator assists in helping the board prioritize and sequence your strategies into a logical planning process, as well as holding you accountable for the implementation of strategies recommended by the board and accepted by you to improve your business.
But my business is unique, how are others going to help with my product or service?
They’re not. The reason you are in the business you are in is because you are an expert in that particular product or service. However, 75-80 percent of the opportunities and challenges in your business have nothing to do with the product you are selling or the service you are providing. Most business challenges today are about the management of your employees, your cash flow, taking advantage of new technologies and—most importantly—the effective use of your time as the leader of your company. Your fellow TAB Board members bring a lot to the table that can help you see (and run) your business differently.
How much does it cost?
There are three or four different plans available to fit your distinct needs. The complete package (coaching, education and a fully-facilitated advisory board) is only $595 per month—and you never have to sign a term contract. Ask us about emerging educational programs, one-on-one coaching, or our money-back guarantee.
More info:
TAB Board meeting member testimonials:
“While we each have different businesses and concerns there are SPECIFIC goals and tasks as an answer.”
“There was a willingness to give input.”
“Nothing I am doing or not doing now will change the fact that I’m going to keep working hard to get what I want.”
“I like the brainstorming.”
“I like being understood by being asked clarifying questions that reveal whether I can put my issues into terms others can understand. “
“When I leave here, I feel like I can do it!”
“It gets the wheels turning. I get into the day to day and the wheels stop turning. I appreciate everyone’s strengths. It brings out the better things in me.”
“Marketing 101 – The Dramatic Difference. ‘Distill it until it Glows.’ I rewrote my press release with less copy and distilled it. I hope it glows.”
“WIIFM. This made it concise as to why people buy and helping to separate the meat from the potatoes.”
“Establish a budget. We assume that it’ll cost too much so we don’t always do anything.”
“Don’t do too much. Pick one product. Set a goal and meet it.”
“As business owners we start with our personal goals. Being a business owner means working smart.”
“Keep what’s important in mind. Find that one thing to focus on.”
“Have fun with your plans. Relax into the process. Being uptight will not make it go faster.”
“I want to give my employees recognition. And start new marketing campaign based on using local service to save gas.”
“I’m going to make sales calls.”
“I got clarity on how to build my website. For marketing I want to think outside the environmental box and focus on cost savings.”
“I want more exploration with my online presence. I will add discounts for early pay in addition to prepay to improve cash flow.”
“I will focus on testimonials and customer appreciation with free water alarms.”
To become a TAB Board member, contact Ruth Schwartz today!
