4 Strategic Ways to Tap Into Your Competitors’ Client Lists
For many small business owners the idea of working with the competition can make their blood boil. It seems counterintuitive. But after twenty five years of business coaching, I can tell you that some of best boosts in profit and revenue come from thinking outside of the box. So today I wanted to share six […]
Change the Way You Think About Your Business With These 6 Thought Exercises
Many entrepreneurs have taken to wearing the same thing day in and day out to reduce decision fatigue and free up their time to focus on more important matters. Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, and the late Steve Jobs all believed in minimalist wardrobes. And while I agree the concept is a sound one, I want to […]
2 Things Top CEOs Always Do When Creating Business Plans
I have talked many times about the importance of having a focus day. The act of setting aside a day (or two) once a week to work on your business’s top goal and taking steps to make it a reality is crucial to growing your business and gaining independence. We have seen first hand the […]
Want to Stay in Business Longer? Keep Your Company Small–Very Small. Here’s Why
I was recently talking with Ian, a business coaching client who had seen amazing growth over the course of the past year. He had increased his revenue by almost three hundred percent and had reduced his overhead and staffing costs by almost seventy five percent. He had great systems and controls in place, and was […]
Do This One Thing Every Week To Grow Your Business
As a business owner, you are constantly looking for ways to be more productive. You use the latest software programs, read all the books and try to make your time spent working in the business the most valuable possible. But ultimately, you end up putting out fires and dealing with staffing issues and training. Which […]
Your Impossible Standards Are Ruining Your Company Culture. Here’s How to Fix It
A few days ago I took my kids to the local public library. As I sat there in an uncomfortably small chair waiting for my oldest son to pick out another ninja book, I happened to overhear a father and a son at the table next to me. The boy, no more than eleven or […]
The 1 Word Successful CEOs Say More Than 35 Times a Day
I recently wrote a piece entitled The 6 Words Successful CEOs Say Everyday and the response has been overwhelming. So many of you resonated with the piece, and let us know via social media and through email what your favorite word was and why. So I thought that I would expand on the idea of […]
2 Huge Mistakes That Are Causing 99 Percent Of Your Staffing Problems
As a business owner, you know how important your team members are to your success. And like many, you spend a great deal of time in the hiring and firing process. It can seem like a never-ending quest to find the right team members. Over the course of the last 25 years as a business […]
The Real Reason Business Partnerships Fail–and How to Save Yours
I met Jake (name changed to protect the innocent) at one of our business workshops recently. He had been in business for almost ten years now, and was looking to scale his business and gain more independence. When I asked him about his business, his eyes lit up with excitement as he talked about his […]
6 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Any Big Business Decision
As a business coach, I have helped thousands of business owners make major business decisions. We have worked through major key hires, acquisitions, exit strategies, large equipment purchases and everything in between. And for many business owners, making a big business decision can be paralyzing. It’s not uncommon to get caught up in the details […]
5 Things You Should Do Right Before a Big Negotiation
Want to make more money? Negotiate. Want to get a better price with a vendor? Negotiate. Want to hire that rock star new hire? Yup, you guessed it….negotiate. Negotiating is a tactic that is used in many different situations at work with an intended purpose of coming to an agreement. It is something that is […]
Think You Understand Your Financial Statements? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions
Do you know how to read a profit and loss statement? Do you know what your gross profit margin is and what it means for your bottom line? How about your Cost of Goods Sold? If you are like many business owners, you have a basic understanding of your financial statements but leave the heavy […]
Effective Communication – What Does It Really Mean And How Can You Improve Yours
Almost every job description for a manager includes some variation of “must be an effective communicator” as part of the requirements. Problem with this is that if you poll (as I often do in my workshops) what people define as “Effective Communication” you will get a lot of different definitions. And that’s where the problem […]
The Real Reason Customers Won’t Buy From You (and How to Convince Them)
Last week, I took my son to the orthodontist. While he has had countless cleanings over the years, he was experiencing quite a bit of anxiety over the unknown of a trip to the orthodontist. Would he need braces? Would they want to put them on right away? How long would he have to wear […]
3 Things You Need to Know About Hiring Top Talent in Today’s Job Market
As you are probably aware, finding and motivating talent to fill your job openings is becoming increasingly difficult in today’s very competitive job market. The following will provide you some insight to the reasons why and what you can do to be more effective. There’s a shortage of great talent We are at a historically […]
The 6 Words Successful CEOs Say Every Day
As a business coach for the past 25 years, I have helped thousands of business owners reach their full potential. They often come to me frustrated, overworked, and anxious about the future. Together we find ways that help them create an owner-independent business that is able to scale quickly and efficiently. The secret- these 6 […]
This CEO Lost His Elite Platinum Status With American Airlines, And Couldn’t Be Happier
When I first met Daniel he was at a crossroads in his business. By many accounts he was successful. He had a consulting firm in North Carolina and had recently acquired two firms in California. When he reached out to me for business coaching, he was struggling to put the pieces together. He was working […]
3 Things You Should Never Do Before Selling Your Business
When it comes to selling your business, there is a plethora of information out there pertaining to how to sell a business. You can learn the mechanics of a good sale, the ins and outs of financing and contracts and even what to do after the sale. When it comes to the how-to’s of selling […]
Six Reasons To Take Tomorrow Off
Another day at the office is about to come to an end. You may have answered hundreds of emails, put out a few “fires” and hopefully made some progress on your quarterly action plan. Tomorrow, you plan to do much of the same. But I challenge you to take the day off. Throw caution to […]
Poorly Run Meetings Can Cost You Thousands of Dollars Each Year. Here’s How to Fix Them
How many meetings have you attended this week? This month? If you are like most business owners, the answer is too many. In my own business coaching firm, I sat down and crunched the numbers on our bimonthly executive meeting, and the results were eye-opening. Every two weeks my executive team and I meet via conference […]
How to find a business mentor
These days, it seems like everyone is talking about how to find a business mentor. There are websites, blogs, podcasts, radio and television programs popping up all around the globe talking about business mentoring programs and entrepreneurship mentoring, telling us why every entrepreneur needs a business mentor and how to find one in “6 easy […]
3 Things You Must Do Before You Start Your Next Project
As a business owner, you make decisions each and every day. You have to decide if it’s worth it to get that new equipment that will speed up your production time, you need to decide which candidate to choose for the new sales lead position, or come up with the best way to handle a […]
Where to Find a Business Advisor
Planning, projecting, managing employees, tracking and increasing sales, designing and implementing marketing strategies…are just some of the things on the to-do list never ends for business owners, especially for startups, small companies, or companies who are focused on growing quickly. Sometimes it feels like you’ll never be able to get everything done without four hands […]
How One CEO Grew Her Business by 300% While Caring For A Sick Family Member
Three years ago, my company was hosting an awards dinner for our business coaching clients. There at the banquet were the CEOs and owners of over a hundred companies from around the world. One of the final awards we gave that evening was to a quiet woman named Tina, who along with her husband, Matthew, […]
Why Every Entrepreneur Needs a Business Mentor
The internet, peers, friends and even family – all of these sources provide a steady stream of industry news, updates, analysis, knowledge and advice. While these sources can be a great starting point, this stream of information will only help to a certain extent. Online publications are typically generic, peers have their own personal set […]
Successful Entrepreneurs Take This Number of Vacations Every Year. Here’s Why
“David, I was wondering what is the number of vacations that a successful entrepreneur should take in a YEAR in order to maintain a healthy body, mind, and spirit (i.e., ideal self-care)?” I recently received this question from a business coaching client, and I wanted to share the answer with my readers. It’s More Than […]
Business Coaching: a Guide to Everything You Need to Know About Finding the Right Fit
If you’ve decided to hire a business coach, but are having trouble knowing where to start, this article is for you. If you’re wondering what exactly a business coach does and how it can benefit your business, you might want to check out this article before continuing. Hiring a business coach will expedite the growth […]
Forget the Resolutions, Let’s Talk About Professional Growth
I really enjoy creating action plans. My inner-nerd gets really excited over the possibilities of a new year or quarter. There are so many opportunities for growth and development, and I love laying it all out on paper and then working towards those goals over the coming quarter. As a business coach, I not only […]
The Problem with Perfection
Over the past 25 years, I have met with thousands of business owners struggling to take their businesses to the next level. They are often overworked, anxious and stuck. They have great ideas and products, and the means to bring them to their client base, yet they suffer from a debilitating condition that really hinders […]
Nobody Reads Your Employee Handbook. Here’s How to Create Internal Systems That Actually Get Used
When most people think about setting up systems and controls for their business, they think of a traditional employee handbook or manual. A central place to keep all the companies processes and procedures. You sit down and think about all the repetitive processes and write out the steps needed to complete each job to satisfaction. […]
Why CEO Moms Are Taking the Business World By Storm
Over the past 25 years of business coaching, I have had the opportunity to coach thousands of business owners from all walks of life, with great success. Recently, I have noticed an influx in CEO moms looking to scale their businesses and I couldn’t be more thrilled with this turn of events. As I have […]
Retirement as We Know It Is Dead. Here’s What Business Owners Are Doing Instead
In the past, owning a business was the epitome of the American dream. You worked for yourself, you made your own hours, you had control over your wealth, and eventually you got to sell the business (or pass it down to your offspring) and buy a little beach house in Boca Raton. The perfect way […]
How To Take Back Control Of Your Business (When It Feels Like It’s Controlling You)
It was one of those overcast nights where it seems like you are sitting in a cloud. I was alone, immersed in the hot tub on my patio. Soaking in the water, it occurred to me this was the first time I’d used the hot tub since I purchased the house almost a year prior. […]
Do You Need To Find a Small Business Coach?
Planning, starting, running, and growing a small business is not a small undertaking for any entrepreneur. It takes detailed planning, long hours of hands-on work, and a healthy dose of determination, flexibility, and versatility to overcome all the obstacles that come your way. But if you’re an entrepreneur that’s already started your own business, or […]
If Your Team Keeps Making Errors, Your Procedure Could Be to Blame. Here’s What to Do
As a business coach, one of the first things we help our clients do is create solid systems and controls to accelerate growth. We also share our tips and tricks to getting the entire team on board with using the systems put in place. But what happens when your team only adopts bits and pieces […]
Business Coaching 101
Working with an experienced business coach is the secret weapon to help entrepreneurs, executives, and business owners increase their wealth potential AND quality of life. This ultimate guide will help you understand what business coaching is, what a business coach does, the benefits of working with a business coach, and how to find the right […]
6 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Any Big Business Decision
As a business coach, I have helped thousands of business owners make major business decisions. We have worked through major key hires, acquisitions, exit strategies, large equipment purchases and everything in between. And for many business owners, making a big business decision can be paralyzing. It’s not uncommon to get caught up in the details […]
How to Find a Business Coach
There are 4 main ways to find a business coach: Utilize your personal network Search online Search locally Start with your favorite business author A business coach is an experienced business leader and trusted advisor who can help a less experienced owner and their company to reach new heights. Finding the right business coach provides […]
Want to Stand Out in Your Industry? Start By Becoming an Expert–Here’s How
When it comes to marketing strategies for your small to medium-sized business, there are many ways to play the game. You can do paid advertisements, email marketing, influencer marketing or emotional marketing….just to name a few. But when it comes down to results, nothing beats expertise marketing. What is Expertise Marketing? The concept of expertise […]
What Does a Business Coach Do?
A business coach does four essential things for their clients: Provide structure for growing and developing their business Provide an invaluable outside perspective that solves internal problems Provide accountability to make sure you follow through Provide support through the tough moments leaders inevitably endure The goal of a business coach is to accelerate the growth […]
8 Human Resources Problems You Should Be Paying Attention To
Looking to scale your business? Begin by setting up a solid foundation on which to build. But be careful on how you set up that foundation. The best businesses consist of not one….not two…but five core pillars for strategic depth. So in order to scale your business you need a rock-solid base in all the […]
A Simple Way To Teach Your Team To Make Better Decisions
Systemizing If you’ve followed any of my articles in the past, you’ve noticed that I talk a lot about systemizing businesses. When done properly, a master system of controls can make scaling your business not only possible but much easier to achieve. Having a set of systems in place will allow you to grow an […]
Why Your Cash Flow Problems Have Nothing to Do With Your Sales (and How to Fix It Quick)
Every business owner has experienced cash flow problems at one time or another, and the gut reaction for most entrepreneurs is to immediately ramp up their sales efforts in an attempt to turn the tap back on and get cash flowing again. This instinct however is counter productive. In fact, in most cases ramping up […]
Forget the Cookie Basket. Here’s What Entrepreneurs Really Want for Christmas
As a business coach for over 25 years, I have noticed that our client base grows exponentially during the holiday season- and for good reason. More and more business owners seek out the help of business coaches during the winter months as they reflect and recap on the past years successes and failures. It is […]
Email Is Addictive. Here Are 9 Tips to Break the Habit.
When it comes to productivity, there is nothing more destructive than an email inbox. If handled improperly you can waste an entire day putting out small fires and responding to emails that create little to no value for your business. Which is why I wanted to share my nine tips for regaining your time and […]
Want Your Business to Run Itself? Put These 36 Systems In Place
Want to Scale Your Business and Have More Free Time? Make Sure You Have a Process for These 36 Things. One of the most powerful operational secrets we have discovered after decades of helping our business coaching clients is the concept of a “UBS”. Are you tired of working 70 hour work weeks? Do you […]
The 4 Best Ways to Coach Your Employees to Greatness
As a business owner, you want to scale and grow your company without sacrificing your personal life or working 70 hours a week. The secret to doing so lies in your ability to coach your staff to collectively produce more and reach their goals faster. As someone who has worked in the business coaching arena […]
The Real Reason Entrepreneurs Struggle With Time Management
Do you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day? Are you working 70+ hours a week and feel like you are just treading water? You aren’t alone. After working with thousands of business owners over the past 25 years, time and time again we see a lack of time as a huge concern […]
Looking To Start Up? Be Sure Of These Three Things First
The idea of starting a new company is a provocative one. Whether this is your first business venture or you are a serial entrepreneur, the startup phase is exciting and full of promises and possibilities. But starting up is also riddled with uncertainty and doubt, which leads many entrepreneurs to wonder if their idea has […]
3 Practical Tips to Land Your Dream Client
As a business coach for over 25 years, I have worked with thousands of businesses teaching them how to scale and create owner-independent companies. While there are many components to a successful business like good business systems and a positive company culture, having a good solid customer base ranks at the top of the list. […]
Take Charge of Your Growth With This 1 Trick
As a business owner, you have thousands of ideas running around your head at any given time. You may want to tweak some product packaging, try a new marketing concept, streamline your supply chain, hire a new assistant–and the list goes on and on. It can be overwhelming, and often leads to decision overload, which […]
The Most Common Lies Entrepreneurs Tell Themselves (and How to Avoid Them)
Over the past 25 years of business coaching, I have heard every excuse in the book on why a business might be stuck in a growth slump. Here are the top 6 excuses that I hear every single day from small to medium sized business owners. 1. “I can’t afford it….” As in, “I can’t […]
The Freedom Formula: Available Now!
How To Succeed In Business Without Sacrificing Your Family, Health or Life BUILDING A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY AND CAREER DOESN’T MEAN SACRIFICING YOUR FAMILY, HEALTH, OR LIFE. You check email the moment you lift your head off the pillow in the morning. You bring work with you on vacation, sneak glances at your smart phone during […]
Can’t Stop Micromanaging? Here Are 6 Things to Do to Ease Your Worries
Being a great boss, takes a lot of time and effort. You want to coach your staff for development, help them recognize their successes and give them the tools and guidance to reach their company goals. But what happens when the best intentions turn out to be micromanaging? You may set out to help mentor […]
How to Quiet the Anxious Voice in Your Head and Enjoy Running Your Business
Stress and anxiety are a way of life for most business owners. You have staff, customers and vendors all relying on you to be successful and grow your business. And that little voice in your head will remind you that at every turn. If you find yourself struggling to turn that voice off and get […]
This One Tip Will Help You Regain Your Valuable Time
When left to our own devices, time management is sort of like a buffet. You have dozens of different options in front of you. Should you spend the next hour working on payroll? Finding a new assistant? Working on that new marketing project? Scrolling through Facebook? Shopping for new shoes on Amazon? The options are […]
Why You Need an Exit Strategy, Even If You Plan on Owning Your Business Forever
To a new business owner the words “Exit Strategy” are akin to “quitting.” The majority of new small to medium business owners are so wrapped up in the passionate phase of growing and scaling their businesses, getting out doesn’t even cross their mind. They have a romantic notion that they will still be actively working […]
Forget Spa Days and Massages. Here Are 3 Self-Care Tips That Really Work
I recently wrote an article on anxiety amongst entrepreneurs and it really struck a nerve with business leaders. So many of you are struggling with anxious feelings surrounding the fate of your companies, and at times it can seem overwhelming no matter how hard you try. Well meaning friends and colleagues may offer up advice […]
How to Lead Your Team During a Heated Election Season
When it comes to owning a business, managing employees is one of the most difficult aspects of the job. A great deal of your time and energy is spent developing a positive company culture and connecting with and coaching your key staff members. A lot of hard work goes into creating a nurturing work environment […]
Want to Keep Your Best Employees? Offer Them This 1 Thing (It’s Not Money)
Keeping your key team members is critical to your success. But do you really know what motivates them? Here are my top 12 things that you must focus on to keep your employees happy. What’s interesting is that 11 of the 12 aren’t based on money or “compensation”. Of course you need to pay fairly, […]
