Starbucks. Finally. Crap, the parking lot is full! No..wait, there’s a spot. I almost missed it..I’ll just back in. After I park, I cut the engine and trip out of my car. I try not to run, but can’t help…
competitive advantage
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…
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…
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…
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….
Social Media: Tricks and Treats
Let’s be honest, if you’re like me, the idea of social media was scary at first. I mean, it’s one thing to publish a website, but it’s another to create an online presence that draws in people you don’t know and invite…
Entrepreneurship: A Cautionary Tale
Being good at something will automatically make you successful in business, right? Well, not so but we’d all like to think that. Many of us go into business for ourselves with a particular skill set that we have nurtured and…
Asking for Help – A Sign of Strength, Not Weakness…
Being an entrepreneur is the most rewarding, yet unforgiving, profession on the planet. It takes guts, smarts, and money – not to mention a little luck. For those of you who run a one-man operation, it takes even more. While…
The Initial Meeting….A Time to Listen, Not Talk
I’m a talker. That’s a surprise to some, but not to most. But my daughter, a thriving kindergartener, puts me to shame. As soon as she opens the car door, it starts. Talking 100 words per minute, I know who did what…
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? …
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…
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…