The best strategic plan addresses what you can stop doing. That’s counterintuitive, especially for small businesses who grasp at any shiny object to bring in revenue. But it’s not until you simplify and focus that you gain the clarity and strength to leverage your time, talent, and treasure. My ‘stop doing’ list became a lifeline. … Read More
Who takes over from you?
As Seen In … Like Erma Bombeck famously said about housework, Succession planning expands to fill the time available. It can take years. Except … when it can’t. Let me share with you stories of three business owners who had to create contingency plans in a hurry: For lifestyle reasons, Kimberly Martinez had already chosen … Read More
Island vs Ecosystem
As a small business owner, it’s common to think of our company as an island. Isolated. Self-contained. Having to generate all resources from within. Surrounded on all sides by unknown threats. That gets lonely. And stressful. It puts a huge burden on the business owner to “make it all happen.” What if you took a … Read More
Losing focus
Where’s your focus? Is it in “just get through today?” Or do you have a real strategy you’re working? One year, it took 3 smack-me-in-the-head-with-a-brick experiences to get the lesson of focus, and to apply it to my business. Lesson 1: I’m driving down Interstate 75 from Gainesville (GA) to Orlando (FL) to get from … Read More