Small Business Owner's Biggest Challenges?

Lack of DOING anything. It can be anywhere, but the best example is here on WF. There are people here that post and post, and ask tons of questions and waste hours/days doing nothing, but "researching" or discussing with others. If they are here, posting all the time, how much are they really accomplishing or getting done? How much "experience" do they have? What are they learning that works or doesn't work? Not much.

Not everyone, but there's lots of them here. So, the biggest challenge to small business owners is not doing something that will make a difference.

Those that do, succeed. Go big or go home.

I totally disagree. I've yet to meet a business owner that isn't working tons of hours. And I wouldn't call the people you are referring to business owners. And the fact is that you have no idea how many hours those people are working any way. Personally I work close to 80 hours a week on average but still spend maybe an hour a day on WF.

From my experience, business people are generally only interested in 3 things.

1 Getting more sales
2 Improving operational efficiency
3 Lowering operational costs

Nearly ALL B2B products cover at least one of these needs above

It's usually a step in the sale. Like;
"I need more traffic coming through my door"
"The people coming through my door aren't buying"
"The Big Box Stores are stealing my customers (Or Amazon is stealing my customers)" Probably I hear that the most.

That's what I hear.

What gives them the most bang for their buck is a way to get the customers they already have, back in the door. It's hard to sell sometimes, because you have to explain about Customer value, and Lifetime value.....concepts most small business owners don't think of until we make them think about it.

The three things you listed that I highlighted? I never get those responses.
I strongly suspect it's because those options aren't given to them.

And the services you offer may be different from mine.

I think I agree... somewhat. Time management/organization/strategy seem to be the most fundamental issues imo.

Moreso organization, because that tends to override everything else.

Which leaves us to the question, is organization a "business problem", or is it actually a >>personality defect<<?

I tend to believe that its far more of the latter.

And because of this, I don't see how a marketing consultant can truely help solve this type of issue. Business owners like this need to go to a bootcamp, a shrink, or go see Tony Robbins... because the way they think is usually the real problem.

I have worked with various disorganized business owners before. You can show them what to do, how to "manage" their time, but its like teaching someone to manage their children. Its an ego thing. They always know whats best. The minute you're not there, the minute you walk away, that ego comes back out and sabatoges everything.

Thats why I say focus more on leads.

If you can show them that being more organized will lead to more business and more sales, and you can anchor that in their mind, you keep it simple. As if you're teaching a child - "when you do good little boy you get this tasty piece of chocolate".

I realize what you're trying to say, but you're digging too deep. If business owners really want to learn how to manage time, they'll go to a Tony Robbins seminar, not call a marketing consultant. Unless you want to position yourself like Tony Robbins, than by all means, have a blast.