Reading Children’s Books Taught Me How to Run a Business
In Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice is meandering through the woods when she comes upon a cat and asks, “Would you tell me,…
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The 2-Percent Solution
The difference between first and second place in a yacht race is often less than 2 percent of the total elapsed time. The difference between…
A Message to Garcia
The following is a true story of initiative and responsibility. Though it was written more than 100 years ago, it continues to be relevant and…
Commonplace Genius – Borrowing Ideas from Other Industries to Solve Business Challenges
Borrowing ideas from other industries and disciplines is one of the best ways to make breakthrough improvements at your own organization. It also makes you…
Developing Your Target Audience Profile
Your Target Audience is not an actual customer. Your target audience is a profile that you identify to help you better focus your marketing message…
Stop Wasting Half of Your Marketing Budget
John Wanamaker, the Philadelphia department store merchant, famously proclaimed, “I am convinced that about one-half the money I spend for advertising is wasted, but I…
Business Coaching Helps You Reach Goals Sooner
Successful athletes know that a coach helps them achieve peak performance. Like a star athlete, you have a goal, but you also recognize that a…
5 Steps to Increase Your Profits from Existing Customers
While other businesses slash prices and downsize, you can actually increase your profits, weather economic downturns and position your company for long-term profitable growth. These…
What’s Past is Prologue
These words from Shakespeare’s, The Tempest[i], tell us that what has happened in the past has led up to today and influences tomorrow. We can…
Yes, It Is Your Job!
On a racing yacht, every crew member’s primary job—their overarching goal—is to make the boat go fast in the right direction. Each crew member performs…
Benefits of Forming an Advisory Board
An Advisory Board is the perfect fit for a CEO or ownership team that wants wise judgment, counsel and advice from others on how to…
Practice Does Not Make Perfect. Only Perfect Practice Makes Perfect!
There is never enough time for practice. So to make the most of your practice sessions start by making two lists: things that you need…
Great is the Enemy of Good
We over-analyze, over-plan and over-think, but get nothing done. We explore an endless stream of information that give rise to new questions—new possibilities. These lead…
Unconventional People, Unconventional Opportunities
Conventional people solve convention problems by applying conventional knowledge. Unconventional people are needed to solve unconventional problems and to take best advantage of unconventional opportunities.…
Do the Right Things Right, at the Right Time
It is not enough to do things well; you must do well those things that take you towards your goal. Efficient people do things right,…
