“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”
~ Anonymous
It may sound like a very cynical take on things, but there’s more than a little truth to it. The right relationship with the right person at the right time can make a huge difference in your business fortunes. So how do you meet this wonderful person? One way is by sheer luck. Another more practical way is by networking. To start our new series on networking, we’ll take a look at what networking really means and why it’s so important.
on Thursday, 03 October 2019.
Posted in Business Strategy
At some point you’ve probably sat beside someone who’s complaining about the news. The complaint usually goes something like: “It’s always war and death and tragedy!” Maybe you agreed with them or maybe you just rolled your eyes. It does sometimes seem like the complainer has a point though. Why can’t they just print something happy? Well, there’s a way to change that negative narrative, at least in a small way. That’s just one small example of the value of community service.
on Thursday, 26 September 2019.
Posted in Business Strategy
“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.”
~ Sherry Anderson
As a business owner, how do you give back? As the leader of a company, you know the value community service can have for your organization. As a person, you know that nothing beats the feeling of having made your community a better place to live. The problem many business owners face is how to give back. Tight budgets often mean we can’t be as generous as we’d like.
on Thursday, 19 September 2019.
Posted in Business Strategy
Details matter. Each small thing may not make or break a product or service, but taken together they can add up to a measurable improvement in quality. While focusing on the details is great, sometimes obsessing about the details means we lose sight of the overall picture. We’re so busy focusing on working IN our business that we forget to work ON our business.
on Thursday, 12 September 2019.
Posted in Business Strategy
You’ve probably heard the old expression about all work and no play making you a dull boy or girl. It sounds all well and good, but all the play in the world won’t reduce that stack of work that’s piling up on your desk. It won’t make that deadline go away or miraculously add more hours to an already full day. No, you’ll need to keep your nose to the proverbial grindstone if you want to get ahead. Then suddenly you realize you’ve become an obsessive, grouchy shell of your formerly cheerful self.
on Thursday, 05 September 2019.
Posted in Business Strategy
“I love it when a plan comes together.”
~ Hannibal, from the A-Team TV show
Yes, there’s nothing like the feeling of having a plan. A good plan helps you sleep at night and provides a sense of security. Sure, you can wing it, but why would you? A plan can give you hope, but hope is not a plan. With Q4 rapidly approaching, is your plan ready?
on Thursday, 29 August 2019.
Posted in Business Strategy
“The buck stops here.”
~ Harry S. Truman
By now you’ve probably heard about the importance of making a quarterly plan for your business, and you may well have a beautifully laid-out document ready to implement. You’ve probably asked yourself what assets your business has and examined the best ways to leverage those assets.
on Thursday, 22 August 2019.
Posted in Business Strategy
A good plan starts around a very basic idea. It says: “I’m going to accomplish this goal in this amount of time.” For a business, this plan might mean you want to increase sales in the next quarter. However without a comprehensive plan that details what you’re going to do to get those sales, you run the risk of never reaching your goal. A good plan should also include a timetable and milestones so you know you’re heading in the right direction.
on Thursday, 08 August 2019.
Posted in Business Strategy
