There’s still one quarter yet to finish for 2013, yet we are already focusing on what will begin ninety days from now. That’s what leaders do, after all! Typically, the prospect of a new calendar year is exciting. A business can reflect on what has happened in the current year, sort out the … [Read more...]
How to be a Good Coach: Tips for employee-focused leaders
Being a good coach means putting others before yourself and always making decisions for the good of the team. Here are a few tips on how to take coaching principles into the workplace in order to be an employee-focused leader. Listen This is the most important part of communication. Part … [Read more...]
Steps To Help Prepare For a Small Business Interview
Why are so many academics obsessed with training their students to enter the major corporation-workforce when America’s business model has shifted from large corporations to small corporations? The answer is simple: they shouldn’t be. There are approximately 2,000 major corporations with over $1 … [Read more...]
A Leader Emerges from Disaster
Inc. Magazine and Inc.com produced GrowCo in New Orleans on March 5 - 7. The conference is aimed at businesses in the growth stage. This year was exceptionally well-attended not only due to the location, but also for the fabulous speakers. The two that were most impressive this year were New … [Read more...]
Sweet Beginnings Tea
On Tuesday, February 7th, I had the pleasure of attending a fundraiser for a program near and dear to my heart. Through this organization I have meet some terrific people with wonderful hearts and great leadership skills. The fundraiser benefited Sweet Beginnings, a non-profit. It took place at … [Read more...]
Remember to ask, “What business are we in?”
Kay Plantes is an MIT educated economist. She has been a friend and business confident for several years. Her book, Beyond Price, provides great insight into how commoditization can destroy a business. I thought this blog, and the five points she poses, should be read by you. Some of these … [Read more...]
The Value of a Village
In 1996 Simon and Schuster published former First Lady Hillary Clinton’s book, It Takes a Village: And Other Lessons Children Teach Us. The title of the book is from a Nigerian proverb. The premise of the book is a focus on the impact that groups, individuals and communities have on raising a … [Read more...]
The Evolution of my Interpretation of Entrepreneurial Success
My entrepreneurial trek began in late 1970 when I quit my job and began work on the development of a fast food restaurant with two partners/friends. We opened for business in February of 1971. At that time, I thought success would be freedom from a boss, cash and fame. Quitting my job to … [Read more...]
Growth is Good: Sustaining Success is Great!
The life path of an entrepreneur is never clear. The compelling need to grow is constantly at war with the tranquility that results from a well run operation. The entrepreneur will achieve success with one business operation, or business model and think “One was great, so two would be twice as … [Read more...]
Healthy Relationships: Business Style
The majority of small business launches are done by partners. Launching a business usually requires emotional support as well as financial support. It always helps when each partner is knowledgeable in different aspects of business. For example one partner knows the product, another that knows … [Read more...]