Many of us have just completed setting our goals for 2009 (and if you haven’t yet, stop reading this right now and get going on it!). Writing down your goals is a great first step toward achieving them. But once you’re done with this exercise, then what? Unfortunately, for so many business owners, the next…
When our business grows to be more than we can handle on our own, we bring in employees and entrust them with portions of the work. In the beginning, the risk is low; we can monitor them closely and if someone drops the ball, we know how to pick it up since it’s stuff we’ve…
We all know the stories of doing business with a handshake. Now, imagine while you’re shaking hands, the person’s other hand is pillaging your pockets and wallet. And I am not referring to your customers – but rather, your employees. Sound absurd? Then consider that 7 percent of ALL revenue in the United States, a…
Sit back and imagine yourself sitting on a beach looking into the vastness of the ocean. It seems as if the earth continues forever while you watch the sun slowly dip into the violet horizon. As you look at the beauty before you, your thoughts become clear and you forget about all of your tedious…
It’s not often that I recommend listening to country music, but I want you to listen to this song before you continue on. Go ahead and give it a listen … it’s just time. Done? Ok. The message of this song is how important it is to spend time with your children. While I certainly…
If you want to see one of the most significant barriers to the success of a small business, just look on the desk of a small-business owner. There, you will likely see piles of unfinished work and unreturned phone messages scattered about. “If I could only get ahead!” they cry. But they can’t get ahead…
We all know the importance of communication in business. But what if, despite our communication efforts, our staff members don’t retain the important information we need them to know? Things like: What is our company’s vision? What is our company’s mission? What are we focused on improving this year or this quarter? What is our standard elevator pitch that…
We have all heard the saying, “Always listen to your customers.” But let’s be honest. Your customers do say some pretty … um, stupid things, don’t they? Of course, when our customers have good things to say, we are all ears. It’s wonderful to get positive feedback. When our work is appreciated it’s fulfilling, rewarding and…
Mission Statement: We resolve to be pretty much OK. We won’t make glaring errors, so our customers will be somewhat satisfied. We want people to like working with our team, and feel comfortable working at our company. Now, there’s a mission statement – if you’re on a mission to fail. No business would ever create such…
Your staff is one of the most important aspects of your business. Without them, your growing business could quickly shrivel. So, an open position to you could feel more like a black hole. If you already have a small staff, an open position may mean more work for you and less time managing the business. Or, if your…