In my work with agency owners, the topic of uncertainty comes up constantly. We’re always looking for ways to reduce uncertainty. Why can’t we get a solid forecast from our sales team or better estimates from the production folks? But no matter how accurate we make our forecasts, intuitively we know they are either lucky…
I got on the phone with a client this week; this is what I heard… “We’re busier than we’ve ever been, we’re booking more projects, bigger projects, and more of them with our ideal clients, that’s the good news!” “The bad news is all that new business has really impacted our culture! We’ve canceled most…
There are lots of folks who will sell you a “9 step process for growing your business quickly so you can retire early”. (Spoiler Alert: It’s going to involve buying a lot of FaceBook ads!) Heck, I even wrote a curriculum that I used with some early clients to make them better CEOs. That doesn’t…
On Tuesday, I discussed how my journey to grow my business required more than hard work and book learning. I tried working harder and reading all the right books, but I still wasn’t seeing all the success I wanted. I also wasn’t the leader I knew I needed to be! Instead of getting closer to…
Building a business is hard work. There’s lots to do and lots to learn. But if it was just “work hard,” most of us could handle that. I gave “working all the time” a try, but I learned that growing a business is more than just putting in the hours. As my business grew, I…
On Tuesday, we talked about the frustrated owner who had set herself up to be the problem solver, the person that everyone brought all the crises to so that she could solve them. I find that when folks set themselves up with that (very overwhelming) job in the office, they also set themselves up in…
Well, now is the time to give your team some feedback! Why now? Let’s see… If your team is like the ones I’m working with, they’ve been working hard lately, pumping out lots of work that’s making 2021 a pretty good year for your company! What you might not know (but that your team members…
My client and I had been talking about how to get her free from the day-to-day so that she could tackle more long-term, strategic projects. Right in the middle of the conversation, she blurts out, “Why am I the only one solving problems around here?” Woah! That’s a big statement. “What do you mean?” I…
First off, in case you didn’t see it earlier in the week, Happy Bosses Day! Take a minute today and celebrate the difference you make in the world through your leadership, courage, and hard work. Seriously, it deserves celebration. One of the things I see consistently among my clients is that they don’t celebrate their…
No, I don’t think that offices should celebrate Bosses Day. I always think it’s problematic for subordinates to be buying gifts or throwing parties for their bosses. How can that not feel like butt-kissing? But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t celebrate! Without Bosses, nothing happens. For the last 25 years, I’ve been working alongside bosses!…