28 Things You Should Not Be Doing As a Business Owner and 4 Things You Should
Content was originally published on Inc.com on May 23, 2019. I was recently talking to a new business coaching client about their plans to scale their business. After a few minutes of going over our plan of attack he posed the question to me: “How fast do you think I can grow my business?“ My […]
Writing A Business Book? Do These 4 Things First
Content was originally published on Inc.com on May 21, 2019. Have you ever thought about writing a book? If you are like many business owners, the idea has crossed your mind a time or two. You have knowledge to share and you know that others out there could benefit from that knowledge, but you don’t […]
Need to Cross Train Your Staff? Start Here.
Content was originally published on Inc.com on May 16, 2019. I recently told you about a business coaching client of mine: Josh. He had been in business over five years, and had done a great job of building up a loyal clientele and solid product portfolio. But he suffered from a lack of cross training […]
9 Things You Can Do Right Now to Cut Costs at Your Business
Content was originally published on Inc.com on May 14, 2019. Business costs is something that no business, even the most successful ones, can overlook. However, there are ways a business owner can cut back on these costs and save money in the long run. I recently shared with you 17 Things You Can Do To […]
6 Ways to Make Sure Your Company Never Runs Out of Cash Again
Content was originally published on Inc.com on May 9, 2019. Over the years, I have shared with you many tips and tricks to improving your profitability. Things like raising pricing, focusing on your winning products and services and redesigning workflow and systems, all play a huge part in your bottom line. Today I want to […]
Why Fear Is The Biggest Success Killer – And How To Overcome It
Content was originally published on Inc.com on May 7, 2019. I love talking to business owners about their businesses. The way that their eyes light up and they lean in as they tell you about their product or service. The way that they share with you how they took their business from an idea scribbled […]
How To Cross Train Your Staff In 30 Days Or Less
Content was originally published on Inc.com on May 2, 2019. Josh had been in business over five years, and had done a great job of building up a loyal clientele and solid product portfolio. His biggest reason for coming to Maui Mastermind had to do with his lack of owner-independence. He felt that if he […]
Understanding the PPP Workforce Reduction Rules After the August 4th, 2020 FAQs
The most important aspect of the Paycheck Protection Program is a borrower’s ability to have their loan forgiven if they meet certain criteria. Under the CARES Act, which created the PPP, one of those criterion was that, during their loan coverage period, the borrower had to maintain the same workforce levels they had prior to […]
The Top 5 Mistakes Every Business Owner Makes When Hiring a Salesperson
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 30, 2019. Hiring a solid sales team can be a challenge for any business owner, especially one who doesn’t feel particularly confident with sales themselves. Over the past 25 years, I have spoken with thousands of business owners who struggle with hiring and keeping a sales pillar […]
The 1 Financial Indicator You Aren’t Looking At
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 25, 2019. Do you ever wish that there was a magic number that would give you an insider view on your profitability? Do you wish that there was an easier way to take the pulse of your business’s financial health? Do you wish that there was one […]
17 Things You Can Do To Reduce Your Overhead Costs Today
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 23, 2019. “I would love to scale my business, David. But I am really struggling with cash flow issues right now.” I hear this every single day from small to medium business owners. They have a great product and a loyal customer base, yet they still can’t […]
Try This Thought Exercise the Next Time You Need a New Product Offering
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 18, 2019. I recently shared the idea of the business coaching concept of the six hats from the Late Dr. de Bono with our readership and I wanted to go into more detail about the hat that is going to change the way you look at your business. This creative hat will help […]
Flip the Hiring Model on Its Head With 1 Simple Move
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 16, 2019. I’ve been an entrepreneur for 25 years, and the majority of that time I’ve hired just like most people do: When I had an opening, I’d write an ad, sort through résumés, and hire the best candidate I could find. Is it any wonder that the […]
The 9 Most Common Small-Business Bookkeeping Mistakes–and How to Avoid Them
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 11, 2019. Over the last 25 years, I have helped thousands of business owners grow and scale their businesses. I have had the privilege of helping business coaching clients increase their revenue in a short period of time by teaching them how to create systems and controls […]
Make Your Meetings More Productive By Doing This 1 Thing
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 9, 2019. Over the past few weeks I have been sharing the business coaching concept of the six hats from the Late Dr. de Bono with our readership. Today, I wanted to focus in on the blue hat, which has to do with organization and planning. This […]
The Thought Exercise Business Coaches Do Every Single Session — and Why You Should Do It Too
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 4, 2019. I recently shared the idea of the business coaching concept of the six hats from the Late Dr. de Bono with our readership and I wanted to go into more detail about one of my favorite hats: the yellow hat. This hat is the one […]
A Case For Playing Devil’s Advocate
Content was originally published on Inc.com on April 2, 2019. I recently shared the idea of the business coaching concept of the six hats from the Late Dr. de Bono with our readership and I wanted to go into more detail about the third hat in the series: The Black Hat. This hat is often […]
The First Thing You Should Do About When Scaling Your Business
Content was originally published on Inc.com on March 28, 2019. I recently shared the idea of the business coaching concept of the six hats from the late Dr. de Bono with our readership and I wanted to go into more detail about the second hat in the series: The Red Hat. This hat is often […]
Why the Timing for Hiring Top Talent Has Never Been Better
Just a few short months ago, businesses were flourishing. In February, the unemployment rate was hovering around 3.5 percent . It was the perfect situation for job seekers and as employers we had to work hard to attract, recruit and retain top talent. Fast forward to the present. Job seekers are facing a completely different […]
This Trick Will Change The Way You Look At Your Business
Content was originally published on Inc.com on March 26, 2019. I recently shared the idea of the business coaching concept of the six hats from the late Dr. de Bono with our readership and I wanted to go into more detail about the first hat in the series: The White Hat. This hat is often […]
4 Strategic Ways to Tap Into Your Competitors’ Client Lists
Content was originally published on Inc.com on March 21, 2019. 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 […]
Change the Way You Think About Your Business With These 6 Thought Exercises
Content was originally published on Inc.com on March 19, 2019. 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 […]
2 Things Top CEOs Always Do When Creating Business Plans
Content was originally published on Inc.com on March 14, 2019. 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 […]
Want to Stay in Business Longer? Keep Your Company Small–Very Small. Here’s Why
Content was originally published on Inc.com on March 12, 2019. 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. […]
Do This One Thing Every Week To Grow Your Business
Content was originally published on Inc.com on March 7, 2019. 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 […]
Your Impossible Standards Are Ruining Your Company Culture. Here’s How to Fix It
Content was originally published on Inc.com on March 5, 2019. 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 […]
The 1 Word Successful CEOs Say More Than 35 Times a Day
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 28, 2019. 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 […]
2 Huge Mistakes That Are Causing 99 Percent Of Your Staffing Problems
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 26, 2019. 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 Real Reason Business Partnerships Fail–and How to Save Yours
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 21, 2019. 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 […]
6 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Before Any Big Business Decision
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 20, 2019. 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. […]
5 Things You Should Do Right Before a Big Negotiation
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 19, 2019. 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 […]
Think You Understand Your Financial Statements? Ask Yourself These 4 Questions
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 14, 2019. 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 […]
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)
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 12, 2019. 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 […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 7, 2019. 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 […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 5, 2019. 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 […]
Six Reasons To Take Tomorrow Off
Content was originally published on Forbes.com on January 31, 2019. 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 […]
Poorly Run Meetings Can Cost You Thousands of Dollars Each Year. Here’s How to Fix Them
Content was originally published on Inc.com on January 31, 2019. 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. […]
How to find a business mentor
These days, it seems like business owner is talking about how to find a business mentor and the importance of having an experienced mentor. An entrepreneur mentor is essential when an entrepreneur is wondering how to scale business. There are websites, blogs, podcasts, radio and television programs popping up all around the globe talking about […]
3 Things You Must Do Before You Start Your Next Project
Content was originally published on Inc.com on January 29, 2019. 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, […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on January 24, 2019. 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 […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on January 22, 2019. “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 […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on January 17, 2019. 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 Problem with Perfection
Content was originally published on Inc.com on January 15, 2019. 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, […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on January 10, 2019. 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 […]
Retirement as We Know It Is Dead. Here’s What Business Owners Are Doing Instead
Content was originally published on Inc.com on January 8, 2019. 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 […]
How To Take Back Control Of Your Business (When It Feels Like It’s Controlling You)
Content was originally published on Forbes.com on December 28, 2018. 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 […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on December 20, 2018. 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 […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on February 20, 2019. 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. […]
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
Content was originally published on Inc.com on December 13, 2018. 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 […]
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 […]
