Brandi Shelton is known as a hands-on leader that develops teams through mentoring skills which enhance business infrastructure and retain employee focus on work-life balance. She created the mantra of what her organization needed to build their focus towards big business. One Start, One Move, One Triumph. A foundation that seeks to build relationships with small and big business, allowing the owners and high level management to understand how to create business savings, long term marketing plans and vendor relations that sustain the business. Read our interview with the lovely Brandi below…
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
When I decided to start Utilize, it was based on a mission to use my degree every day. My goal was to ensure I stayed focused on my personal principles and drive to make a difference while being a resource to others. As we continue to evolve, The Client Commitment was developed.
The Client Commitment
Entrepreneurs and small business owners who receive three or more hours of service report higher revenues and increased growth. This is just one session. The longer the commitment, the leaner and stronger an organization becomes to properly develop systematic triggers that work to excel the business over time.
“One Start, One Move, One Triumph” will always work to anticipate, collaborate, and innovate, and create opportunity.”
I have always been committed to being different, but this was not my true scope. For years, I researched and considered the idea of owning something. I researched several items and talked to friends and then finally committed, because someone pushed me to live my dream. I developed the living mantra “One Start, One Move, One Triumph” Lifestyle. The Mantra provides a more dedicated and higher level of consistency that builds the steps to establishing the business. With a supporting element in diversity to engage professionals in the expansion of their business. This equals total client engagement. My clients count on us to help them transform confusion into possibility and rapid change/growth into lasting progress with sustainable, measurable outcomes. Our team will always work to anticipate, collaborate, and innovate, and create opportunity. Our goal is implement strategy, process, development and management tools that ultimately transform clients into benchmark companies within their industry. We set clear foundations that will unlock the full potential of a vision driven by passion and pushed by determination. The structure created to translate our client’s vision and values into sustainable growth, which in return reduces over all company waste.
Tell us about your business.
UCSMG focuses on inclusion, collaboration, performance, and opportunity. Always asking the clear questions to each team member and client “What impact will you make? How will you create change? Where do you see yourself now and 5 years from now?”
We provide creative, proprietary methodologies and frameworks for all services provided that develop the entire business and entrepreneur. Our plans always place importance on more effective and efficient ways of performing in the business. These integral products and services developed with clear leadership modules that drive sustainable outcomes. We implement strategy, process, development and management tools that ultimately transform clients into benchmark companies within their industry. We set clear foundations that will unlock the full potential of a vision driven by passion and pushed by determination.
UCSMG provides industry-leading services that encompass a large variety of specialized tools, best practices and value adding elements to a host of brands. Our people work across more than 10 industry sectors with one purpose: to deliver lasting results that are measurable and buildable. We help reinforce the trust of the public in all industry markets while inspiring clients to make their most challenging business decisions with confidence. We are proud to be part of the largest global professional services network, serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Our dedication to leadership extends beyond our clients and the commercial marketplace to our own organization and the communities where we work and live. Our success depends highly on the performance of the team. By modeling a host of fortune 500 high level firms that believe in a team based cultures. Cultivating and celebrating diverse skill sets, backgrounds, and values internally and externally is the only way the business will stay effective.
The way UCSMG works is with a clear focus on enabling leadership throughout our communities through cost related and sponsored volunteer work that leverages our skills and experience to help others achieve their goals. While adding continued value to the For-Profit side. Living the “One Start, One Move, One Triumph” Lifestyle allows consistency and diversity as the forefront of total client engagement. Clients count us to help them transform confusion into possibility and rapid change/growth into lasting progress with sustainable, measurable outcomes. Our team will always work to anticipate, collaborate, and innovate, and create opportunity, PERIOD.
Services we offer
Strategy & Operations Services: Our network of professionals draws on the strength of a full suite of professional services and industry experience to focus solutions on the real issues affecting businesses today. For a business to be successful, it must have a real time growth strategy in place. The strategy combines minimizing operational costs while increasing profits. We offer solutions to address a variety of risks that result from regulatory changes, market volatility, corporate events, and growing third-party relationships. The firm uses this expertise to consult with clients on operational issues such as streamlining processes, capitalizing on bulk buying of raw materials or utilizing staff more efficiently. Strategic planning consulting assists senior management in setting goals for properly timed growth while continuing to produce high quality and outstanding performance
Risk Management Assessment: The term is for a host of possibilities including fraud, poor management, financial loopholes and security breaches within the corporate technology system. A management audit detects problem areas with managers or owners, especially in small businesses. A manager or hands-on owner can become so ingrained in the daily operations that he loses sight of the bigger picture. An analysis of the company’s systems detects possible loopholes after identifying all possible risks associated with the business.
Human Capital Services: The Business of People – Today’s business challenges present a new wave of HR, talent and organization priorities. Human Capital services leverage research, analytics and industry insights to help design and execute critical programs from business driven HR to innovative talent, leadership and change programs.
Discovery/Advisory Services: Development as the pace of competitive change accelerates, Corporate Development is becoming a strategic necessity. Organizations need to be nimble in anticipating growth opportunities and competitive disruption, leveraging scarce resources and diversifying risk. Flexibility is critical as companies will need to be able to adapt their strategies in real time to avoid being left behind.
Consulting Services: No matter how complex your business questions, we have the capabilities and experience to deliver the answers you need to move forward. As the world’s largest consulting firm, we can help you take decisive action and achieve sustainable results.
Regulatory Services: Navigate regulations. Launch products faster. Predict. Preserve. Respond. So you can prevail. Risk powers performance. Better manage cyber, strategic, information technology, supply chain, and operational risks while discovering new opportunities
Technology Services: Today business and technology are inextricably linked. And keeping pace with the emerging technology landscape can be difficult for even the most tech-savvy leaders. Our technology professionals have deep experience applying technologies to help you achieve your business goals.
Are you currently running any promos/contests/giveaways that you would like our readers to know about?
Our Social Media is a platform for giveaways and more. But every week I open all communication channels for those that are not clients to inbox, text or email me questions about their challenges. This happens usually on #MakeItHappenWednesday, #Takeover and #ThankfulThursday.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
Currently I hold a Double Bachelors in Business Administration and Management. Master’s in Business Administration and several certificates in working with special needs professionals, sales and career coaching.
Where is your business based?
Location: 24123 Greenfield Rd., Suite 211, Southfield, MI 48075
Type of Business: Management and Consulting Firm
Corporation: LLC
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
First step is establishing all the elements that people see when I present to the masses. My focus is always what will they think when they see this. So my step one was building the visual element (The One Start Globe), learning how to define that to others and securing a name that reinstates with that mission.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
Effective is the giveback I provide on Social Media Weekly. I allow those that have questions to inbox me, email or text their questions and we work on solutions at no cost. This provides creditability, social engagement and most importantly they can fix an issue. Other areas are giving a free 30-minute consult coupon and sponsoring events of like-minded professionals.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
The main issue is ensuring clients were comfortable in sharing their passion for what they wanted to provide to the consumer and getting them to trust me to help orchestrate the vision. Our daily challenges are scheduling and client responses that hinder others from working.
How did you overcome these challenges?
Overcoming challenges plan of action follows the Mantra.
- One Start: figure out the issue/problem
- One Move get a team together and dissect the issue, discover the possibilities and create a plan
- One Triumph identifies the action plan is in place and progressing. I do this every day with everything, meetings especially.
It allows me to stay creative.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
My motivation is key. So I create areas for peace and music that will drive me to stay in a happy space. I learned how to shut down when I was pregnant in 2013. So I start with a 20oz cup of tea, music and a bit of reading inspirational stories of the conquest from other professionals. On the hard days I listen to motivational speeches and music that make you want to get up and go.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I do not view competition. But if you want to say what sets me apart it’s a few things. One, I do not do cookie cutter actions to gain monetized results. Each element created is custom to a client’s needs and level at that time. We offer exclusivity, meaning one type of client at one time. Each client has to commit to a one-year service contract. Strides do not come in 90 days. Each client must obtain a life insurance policy for themselves that is privately funded. Not the policy you get from an employer. These are just some bare essentials that force the client to know we are serious.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
The very best advice comes from one of my youngest clients. It’s actually her tagline: Be Honest Be Humble Be You. Its effect purposeful and it reminds you of something great. It’s a living Affirmation that makes you Greater than Yesterday.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
My advice is to stay driven and humble. Humility is usually the first thing you lose when your revenue changes. However, increases come at a cost. Humility is where the payment becomes justified and the steps you continue to take give pure purpose in developing the right foundation you want people to see when they look at you.
What is your favorite business tool or resource?
A business will always need a foundation (Start), the driver is a movement to be creative and purposeful in what you do and say (Move), the intentional goal is the (Triumph). When I look at tools this is always a focus. That is how I select, learn and endorse.
Organizational Tools
Smartsheet.com, Postcron.com, ZenDesk, and Constant Contact.
Smartsheet, Daily Tool for Planning: is the world’s leading SaaS platform for managing and automating collaborative work. Over 90,000 companies, and millions of information workers, trust Smartsheet to help them accelerate business execution and address the volume and velocity of today’s collaborative work.
Postcron.com, Social Media Management: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook in a app or online.
ZenDesk, Customer Helpdesk Tool: It allows a consumer to chat with me or my team via website.
Constant Contact: Allows we to connect with all those I have met over time. A resource for building and announcing what is happening in Brandi’s World.
Financial Tools
Square.com, Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, and Facebook Cash.
All great ways to collect payments from clients and handle business electronically. I do not like taking cash payments, to old school. I need to stay cutting edge in new ways for me and my clients to make money without challenging the time we spend collecting it.
Website Tools
WordPress.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @ucsmg
Twitter @ucsmg
Facebook www.facebook.com/ucsmg
Website www.ucsmg.com and www.brandisprinciples.com
Email utilizeconsultsvc@gmail.com or brandisprinciples@gmail.com
Hashtags #brandisprinciples #1start1move1triumph #definingthegoodlife #MylegacyMydream #thestruggleofbusinessandlife #invisible #fierceambition #watchitgrowwithabudget #TheBurdenOfProof #TheBurdenOfLeadship #ThePinkCollar #CreateYourJourney #CutCritque #MyBusinessMyBasics #utilize #onestartchallenge #1start #1move #1triumph
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
There are so many I stay focused the Harvard Business Reviews, Entrepreneur Magazine, Inc, Fortune and The Economist. All sources provide great resources and follow-up articles that drive an understanding in business.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I focus on learning everyday so this is a hard question. However, the one element that I focus on the most is Social Media. It plays a tremendous role in the effects of building brand awareness. Social Media is now considered a true tangible good. So it is my focus to build my expertise on it and how it can affect my clients in their pursuit to greatness.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
Goals, another hard question! My goals are the following:
- Travel and present a workshop monthly in each state I go too
- See 10 new states in 2017
- Go to 1 overseas country or at least have it ready to go for 2018
- Produce 10 more books/guides that support my business and client needs
- Conduct College Level workshops (January 2017)
- Partner with 5 great companies that want to induct change
- Take 1 Family Vacation where I really disconnect
- Take 2 Girlfriend vacations
- Get a larger office and do trainings weekly
- Stay focused on the Why all of the above items are important and drive towards the goals