At Your Service: Keeping Your Business on Track

Fabian Vazcaino, business consultant. Photo: Kimberly Hunter

By Kimberly Hunter

 Hello Urban News “Biz Buzz” readers. It is so great to connect with you again. For those of you who may not be aware, I own Forte Affair, an event planning and production company based here in Western North Carolina. I have been working and working and working and yes, longing, to get back to communicating with each of you via the Biz Buzz articles. I am glad to be back; thanks Johnnie.

This year has been a year filled with so many transformations in myself and my business. I began the year taking a personal financial course with a group of people who have now become my friends. In the course of developing better habits of financial stewardship, I have become friends with an amazing, thirty-something professional. Have you ever accidently stumbled across someone who possesses the “big picture” intellect your business needs to push you into the next level? Well, cancel your plane to Vegas because you just hit the jackpot!

Fabian Vizcaino is an
unassuming and brilliant professional who can brighten and fine-tune
the picture of your business in one hour. You do not need Hi-def
television or a receiver box to benefit from the assessment he provides
your business during his consultation time with you.

Do you want to grow your business skills? Ability? Industry knowledge?
Competitive advantage? Time management? Or even determine if you really
have a business? Then take a look into the mind of this independent
business developer.

Kimberly Hunter (KH): “Fabian, what is your role as an independent business developer?”

Fabian Vizcaino (FV): “It depends on the business but primarily I work
alongside my clients to identify elements and factors of their business
that are not being explored.”

KH: “That is a very broad line of work. How are you able to provide
targeted information to so many different types of businesses?”

FV: “There are a few things I do to work successfully with my clients.
The first is to truly understand their business “pains.” Every business
has an area or areas that are going through a little pain or
difficulty. My job is to truly understand where the business “hurts” so
that I can bring the right form of aid to that area of the business. My
work is similar to that of a surgeon, except I work to diagnose, repair
and then strengthen the weak area(s) of a business.

Second, I know that every business has a life cycle. Some businesses
have a short life cycle and some have very long life cycles. But all
businesses have a life cycle. Part of my role is to show my clients
that their business is an active organism with life and that life must
be planned.”

KH: “When you first explained this to me, I didn’t get the essential
meaning of what you were saying. Will you explain this a little
further?”

FV: “Certainly. Many people look at their businesses in terms of tools,
assets, resources, etc. Part of the relationship I build with my
clients and their businesses is to work with them to see that the
people in their organization are the living elements or life cycle of
their business. People are not tools but the life cycle of the
business. This includes, you-the owner, employees, clients, vendors,
shareholders, committee members, anyone and everyone that is associated
with your business.”

KH: “When we live with principles of people first, our business plans change.”

FV: “Oh yes. Business plans that do not include children and future
generations will be too small. The business life cycle will be
shortened for lack of forethought and inclusion as to whom and how the
business or organization will carry on after you retire. It takes
people to carry on the work, the dream, the vision. Plans that do not
include future generations often fall short of creating a longer life
for the business.”

“You know there is a key component to business that is more than money
and success. It is humanity. The human part of every business is what
we call Human Resources. We’ve just placed it in a category that
addresses only certain aspects of humanity.”

KH: “Fabian, this is really great insight. I don’t want to give too
much away, so tell me how do you prepare a prospect to work on these
types of things? Business owners are not only busy with work, but busy
with family and community obligations as well.”

FV: “It really does not take more time for the client during the
initial stages. As I stated earlier, I want to understand the common
challenges the owner or director faces within their organization. So I
observe and ask questions initially. When it is the right time, the
client and I move onto addressing each of the challenges that have been
identified.”

KH: “What final nuggets or tools do you have to offer our readers?”

FV: “There are four areas of focus when assessing the tools available
in every business: Skill, Perspective, Awareness, and Vision.”

KH: “Thank you, Fabian, for an insightful and amazing interview.”

To schedule a consultation with Fabian or inquire about his services, call him at (828) 275-4347.