The Courage to Try: A Few Good Businesses

If you’ve ever had a conversation with a small business owner, you can’t help but walk away changed. Their enthusiasm and determination is infectious and to some, delusional. But, when I think of the long list of delusional people who have gone on to create successful companies, something inside of me nudges me forward and challenges me to add my…

Decision Makers Are Still In the Office…So Call Already!

During the holiday season, many of us are looking forward to some downtime. As a small business owner, you may not have the luxury of taking extended time off during the year because you are your business.  But, the long hours and sacrifice of time away from family and friends have taken a toll and we’re…

Preparing for Change – 3 Ways To Find More Cheese

Preparing for Change – 3 Ways To Find More Cheese

About ten years ago, I was working at an affinity marketing firm. From time to time, management would get all associates together in a large banquet hall for the all-employee meeting. You’ve been to those…free coffee and poppy seed muffins. Well, these meetings were often used to tell us how good (or bad) the company was doing and plans…

Developing Strong Ties: Blue and Red Make Purple…

It’s fascinating to me to watch people network. The smiles and firm handshakes. The warm introductions and business card exchanges. All a necessary part of growing your business and getting your name out there. But I’ve also witnessed the other side of that. The whispers and eye rolls. The brush offs and avoidance. All unnecessary parts of growing your business and getting your…

Color Me Green

In last week’s posting, I put a question before you.  If you can get a 24 ct box of crayons for about 50 cents or less, why would the crayon maker in our example price the 6 ct double ended crayons at $2?  I mean, it’s fewer crayons so how do they get away with that? Well, it’s simple…

Break the Mold

Edwin Binney, along with his cousin, C. Harold Smith,  formed Binney & Smith in 1885. The company created many things, like a new type of black coloring used to make black car tires and later school supplies.  But at the gentle nudge of Edwin’s wife, a school teacher, Binney & Smith did the unthinkable.  In 1903, they created…

Who Stole My Crayons?

If you had to name one event that could ruin your entire day, what would it be?  I’ll throw one out for free – having a bad customer service experience.  Whether its your coveted morning latte being made with  bitter coffee (yuck!)or having to wait in the doctor’s office an hour past your appointment time,  a poor customer service…