How often have you rushed ahead in business, instead of taking a breath? A while back, I took on a leadership role with a business group. It had the promise to showcase my systems and operations expertise. A chance to explore: How can the group hum like a well-oiled machine … especially for the next … Read More
The sacred cows that are killing your business
What’s the plan, Stan? Do you have a plan to make sure next year is better than this year? Or are you looking at much of the same? I know from working with business owners for over 20 years that it’s hard not to repeat the same actions. Especially if they’re locked into deeply held … Read More
The #1 way business owners sabotage their goals
Have you ever gotten excited about a business goal … only to find your enthusiasm wore off after a few months? You’re not alone. I was speaking to a group of entrepreneurs about goal setting. Several were concerned because they had started with such robust passion for their goal, only to find they lost their … Read More
The overlooked investors in your business
Every business has investors. Yes, even if you own it by yourself. As you know, running a growing business can be a 24/7 proposition. You work on the weekends. Have your vacations (such as they are) interrupted by staff. Lose sleep in the wee hours. On a recent call, my client Frank rationalized his all-in-all-the-time … Read More
The black hole of most strategic plans
As Seen In … My client, Mike, is a busy entrepreneur. Whirling around like a Tasmanian devil traveling to client sites. Putting out fires. Encouraging employees. There’s barely enough time to handle strategic planning, much less the kind of “what if” planning should his airplane crash. Or car veer off the road on the way to … Read More
How to run a successful business
I was sitting with my client Miriam over cocktails, a couple of weeks ago. She was having challenges growing her corporate training business and we were coming up with a game plan. (Sometimes, wine helps). Out of frustration she asked, What’s the secret? If there’s one thing—one magic bullet to running a successful business—what do … Read More
Clever people and grocers …
As Seen In … … they weigh everything. ~ Zorba the Greek So do my clients when it comes to growing their business. Do I want more? they ask. Of course! they reply. There’s the mortgage. The kids’ college fund. Mom’s medical expenses. And that bucket list trip to Tahiti! Yet surely as the sun sets … Read More
Buttercream icing
It’s my birthday week, so naturally, my thoughts turn to cake. (I love cake.) As a kid, I got to choose what kind of cake I wanted for my birthday. Not there was such a wide selection in those days. You got Duncan Hines® chocolate cake or golden cake. Chocolate icing or vanilla icing. Fruit filling … Read More
What can you STOP doing?
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
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
You don’t sharpen a knife against a sponge
You don’t sharpen a knife against a sponge. I love that expression. It goes beyond the platitudes like there is no I in team, or it takes a village. To grow—in any area of life—you need people who will help you sharpen your skills and thinking. Who will challenge you constructively. Not just rubber-stamp your … Read More