For a majority of business owners, hiring and finding great talent is one of the most difficult parts of owning a business. You know the basics of hiring and have read all you can on the topic to help prevent the common hiring mistakes. But you may still struggle when it comes to your particular […]
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Over the last 25 years, I have worked with thousands of business owners to help grow and scale their companies. One of the biggest hurdles most founders and entrepreneurs experience is the inability to manage their time correctly and focus. Throw into the mix cell phones and emails, and it then becomes nearly impossible to […]
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As a business owner, you are tired and overworked. This is nothing new. For many entrepreneurs, an 80-plus hour workweek is to be expected and anything less is a rarity. While I have a lot to say on that topic, today I want to address something else about your workaholic tendencies. Something you might not even […]
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As a business owner, you make a lot of decisions every single day. Some big, some small, and some that will change the course of your business if navigated correctly. There is no shortage of opportunities to take a stand and pick a side. But as I have seen over the past 25 years with […]
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We’ve all had to give a presentation on something at some point in our lives. Whether we’re learning how to become a public speaker or just needing to give a small presentation on something at work, chances are, we’ll be needing to speak on something at some point. For many of us, this presents a […]
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Endings are tough for many of us. Whether it’s the end of a nice vacation away or the perfect date, the end can feel anywhere from uncomfortable to disappointing. When you’re giving a speech, you’ll want to end it on a high note. But how can you do that without missing something important or making […]
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What is a persuasive speech? Have you ever tried to convince someone to see your side of an issue? If so, how successful were you? A good persuasive speech is a type of speech where the goal is to convince your audience of your point of view. Whether you’re a professional at attracting people to […]
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Creating a company culture that propels your business forward is one of the most worthwhile tasks a business owner can do. If done correctly, your employees will know how to handle tough situations with ease, without you having to micromanage them every step of the way. So today, I wanted to address one of the easiest […]
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At some point or another, most of us find ourselves needing to speak in front of a crowd. Some of us delight in public speaking while others view it as an anxiety-inducing event. Some of us only need to do it a few times for presentations while others pursue public speaking as a career. Whatever […]
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For many of us, public speaking is one of our worst nightmares. The idea of having to get on stage or at a podium in front of hundreds or thousands of people sounds terrifying and more of a chore than a fun career choice. For some people, however, it becomes a dream job. Whether you […]
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We all have at least a bit of experience with creating outlines for things. It was drilled into us throughout high school, how important it was to create an outline before fleshing out our book reports or research papers. When it comes to speeches, the principle still stands. Outlining can be a great jumping-off point […]
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When you’re starting the endeavor to become a business owner, you have a lot of fears that may take up space in your thoughts. One of the biggest fears that many new business owners have is the fear of failing as a business. As a new business owner, you want to make sure that you’re […]
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We hear a lot today in all aspects of life just how important a brand identity is. Branding has made its way outside of just the business world and into the world of individuals and how they interact and present themselves; when a friend does something that’s consistent with how they always act, we call […]
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So you have decided to make the leap and become your own boss. You want to open your own small business. But where do you start? If you’re still in the infancy planning stage of the creation of your small business, the very first step that you should take before even creating a business value […]
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If you’re the owner of a small business, you want to make sure to do everything in your power to run your business in a way that gets everyone in on the success. When your team wins, you win. Your team is what drives the value of your business, your team is the foundation to […]
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You have your business all put together. You have gotten together with your creative team, you have learned how to write a vision statement, and you’ve formulated a plan of action. And, you have all of your employees on the same page about where you want your business to go. Once you do all of […]
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When creating a business from the ground up, there are quite a few different things that you must learn. There’s learning how to write a mission statement, how to write a vision statement, and creating an overall plan for your brand. One of the important first steps in creating a new business is to outline […]
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If you have been reading my column over the past five years, you know that while I’m serious about business, I’m even more serious about my family. Especially when it comes to raising my three sons. Over the past twenty-five years, I have helped thousands of business owners reach their goals, but I can honestly […]
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Over the last few years, I have written a lot about time management and shared ways that you can do more by working less. Once you understand that the idea of a direct, one-to-one relationship between time and value is outdated, you can begin to upgrade the use of your time within your business for […]
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Owning a business has its benefits. You get to create something that brings value or purpose to the world, you get to pave your own way and do it on your own terms. For most outsiders, entrepreneurship looks pretty enticing. But there is a dark side. One that we don’t talk about very often, but […]
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As a business coach for over twenty five years, I have pretty much seen and heard it all. But today, I wanted to talk about something that I see more and more in the business community, and why it’s a sign that there is a problem in your business. Let me begin by setting the […]
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I want to challenge you today; to stretch your thinking about how you approach building your company. I want to start off by sharing the story of Tom Santilli, CEO of a successful technology wholesaling company in Florida called xByte Technologies and long time coaching client of mine. In the early years Tom was a […]
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“All I do is work. Even when I’m with my family, I’m still responding to emails and texts for work. The saddest part is that my family has just gotten used to it. When I do actually put down my smartphone, they act surprised, as if I’m just a temporary visitor.” Over the past 25 years, […]
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It seems that social media has become the standard method of communication, marketing, and even maintaining relationships. We shop through social media, we make friends through social media, we use social media for many aspects of our lives. To keep up with the times, it’s a good idea to have a few different social media […]
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In today’s world of business, social media plays an incredibly important part in conducting business with your company. One of the most efficient and popular ways to stay in contact with other professionals, companies, business partners, and even new recruits is through LinkedIn. If you’re new to LinkedIn, you may have a few questions about […]
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When your company is growing fast, it’s an equally exciting and somewhat stressful experience. On the one hand, you have a stellar team that’s working hard and helping your company reach new heights, you have more clients than ever, and your business is gaining the recognition it has earned. On the other hand, however, you’re […]
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Your company is growing, and that’s a phenomenal thing. However, your current employees and yourself are struggling to meet all of the new work demands. It’s time to bring in someone new. You can recruit through social media recruitment, job ads, and word of mouth. Once you have those resumés the real work begins. To […]
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Are you working 60-plus hours a week and struggling to get everything on your to-do list accomplished? You are not alone. Over the past 25 years, I have worked with thousands of business owners across various industries, and the stories are very similar. They work long hours, rarely take a vacation and still don’t have […]
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If you’ve ever been curious what my life is like then come over for an evening at my house. As you walk into our calm and peaceful home, I greet you at the door and lead you to our clean and immaculately set kitchen table. My kids are sitting quietly, napkins on laps, patiently waiting […]
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I recently shared with you the concept of the “time and effort chains,” which are the factors that trap us within a business and force us to work longer and harder, with little to no additional value or payoff. Today I wanted to share with you the final chains that hold us back and keep us […]
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If I made the assertion that eventually the gains of working longer and harder eventually cap out would you agree? I ask this question to business owners all the time and it seems universal that we all get that at a certain point, working longer and harder has a degrading rate of return in terms […]
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In the past I have talked a lot about building a successful business while still staying true to yourself and your purpose. And I talk with entrepreneurs every day that struggle to find the balance between fueling their passion and purpose while still keeping their business profitable. You have a great idea that gives back […]
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Over the past two decades, I have had the privilege of working with business owners and entrepreneurs across various industries and markets. The majority of business owners I have worked with are hard-working, passionate individuals who have the capacity to do great things. Yet, they struggle to scale and grow their business due to a […]
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If left to my own devices, I have a tendency to be a bit of a control freak, and after twenty five years of business coaching, I can say with great certainty that I am not alone in my need for control. Many business owners feel the need to have their hands in all aspects […]
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Fatherhood has been one of the greatest things I have ever done, hands down. Watching my three sons grow up and learn about the world has taught me more things than I ever expected, and has really given me a new perspective on life and business. As a business coach for over twenty five years, […]
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For many business owners the only thing worse than hiring, is firing someone. I have seen it far too often with my business coaching clients. It often starts with procrastinating filling a position in the first place, only to find out days, weeks or even months down the road that you chose a team member […]
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If you’ve been reading my column here on Inc.com you’ll see several hundred articles I’ve written on topics like increasing sales, retaining your best employees, managing cash flow, and growing your profit margins. Many of these ideas started from a seed I read in one of the 1,000+ business books I’ve read over the past […]
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I recently sat down with Tara, a business owner, who was having trouble with the marketing pillar of her business. She had made it a goal to get new clients and her marketing department head had a ton of ideas on ways that they could market the product line and get the word out, but […]
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“I would love to hire help, but I just can’t afford it right now.” I have heard this statement a thousand times over the last twenty five years as a business coach, from business owners that are stressed, overworked and overwhelmed. Their businesses are usually doing well and growing, which leads to the need for […]
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You arrive in the office at 8:00AM ready to work. Your to-do list is full of high value tasks that will help your business scale and grow. You fire up your laptop and the all too familiar “ping” of your inbox serenades you…drawing you into the depths of mundane tasks and low level activities. The […]
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Over the past 25 years, I have worked with thousands of business owners in all stages of life. These are intelligent, hardworking people who have the drive and passion to go out and start their own consumer or service businesses. But for many, they aren’t the ones calling the shots in their business: It’s been […]
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If you are like most business owners, you crave independence. You are likely one of the business owners who work 60, 70, and even 80 hours a week on their businesses and feel like they are neglecting their personal and home lives in the process. You know that working such long hours with little time […]
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“David, if only I had more time…” “I would love to do that, but I just don’t have the time…” “I work 70 hours a week and still run out of time…” The only thing business owners need more than cash is time. I see it over and over again with the thousands of business […]
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I was recently re-organizing my office when I came across one of my journals from 2001. In it, I had written about how hard I was working and how close I was to getting burnt out. I was on the road teaching workshops 10 months out of the year, and it was really taking a […]
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For many business owners, working remotely has become the new normal. The benefit of a flexible schedule can come with a few distractions so it is important to have a plan for success. You can keep your business and productivity on track with a few simple steps. Make (And Keep) A Consistent Remote Work […]
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In the past, working from home was seen as a flex-work opportunity used for any number of reasons: reducing commute times and the environmental impact of carbon emissions, accommodating employees who needed more flexible schedules, or the ability to hire more employees before upgrading to a larger office building. However, remote work is becoming more […]
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For many entrepreneurs and remote workers, achieving a work-life balance that allows them to be productive at work and enjoy their time off to the fullest can be a daunting task. However, this is not just another check mark on your to-do list. A work-life balance is essential to your productivity and helps you avoid […]
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As an entrepreneur, you know that your day can throw almost anything at you. Creating and sticking to a morning routine can help ground you and prepare you for a successful and productive day. If you create a successful routine, you’ll foster a successful business. Ultimately, you’ll want to create a routine that is tailored […]
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As entrepreneurs, we may often feel confident about where we are and where we’re headed in our careers. However, sometimes it is a good idea to step back and take a look at the big picture. Personal development plans are essentially a broader set of goals that are similar to a map to get you […]
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Working remotely with a team of people presents its own set of challenges but it can also be rewarding if you make a few adjustments to your remote management style. Managing a team working from their own homes requires a careful balance of structure and flexibility. Here are a few things to keep in mind when […]
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Maintaining a positive and fun office culture is one key to the success of your business and the productivity of your team. When your remote employees are separated by time zones and physical distance it is important to foster and maintain your office culture even more so than in a traditional office setting. Here are […]
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Over the last twenty five years I have helped thousands of business owners develop and fine-tune their sales funnels. Whether it be pricing challenges, closing tactics or choosing the right salesperson for the job, there are many ways to increase sales within your company. But the one thing that many business owners fail to look […]
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You’ve made your vision board and determined where you want to eventually end up as an entrepreneur. Now it’s time to get to the work of reaching those long term goals that you’ve carefully thought about and written down. Even with your vision board and a personal development plan, you might feel like your goals […]
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If you are an entrepreneur, chances are you are working too many hours and focusing on the wrong things. Generally speaking, we are working more hours and taking less vacation than ever before and suffer from more anxiety and stress than previous generations. While this isn’t a new issue for business owners, it’s one that […]
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As a business owner, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. You have employees and customers that are relying on you to know the answers and do the right thing, and sometimes those answers don’t come easy. You don’t know everything and at times you may be stressed and anxious thinking about what the […]
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In the past we have talked a lot about how to grow your business and scale without sacrificing your life and personal relationships. And today, I wanted to introduce you to the concept of “fewer and better” and how this very simple concept has allowed my own business (along with thousands of others) to grow […]
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Want to close more sales? Of course you do! Every day I talk to business owners in various stages of growth and help them find new ways to reach their target audience and close more sales. No matter what the product or service, 95% of the time the sales process is going to be very […]
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For 25 years I have helped thousands of business leaders grow their company and succeed professionally. Some of these high performers needed help scaling their business, some wanted to be able to step away from it all and spend time with their friends and family and a growing number of entrepreneurs are simply physically and […]
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Over the past 25 years, I have helped thousands of small to medium business owners learn how to hire smarter and more efficiently. And if I am being completely honest here, it took me another ten years before that to learn the ins and outs of finding and hiring qualified team members. The biggest mistake […]
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