Ask any small business owner what they spend the majority of their time on, and you will likely hear something along the lines of: “I spend it putting out fires.” “I spend it answering employee questions and helping them do their jobs.” “I spend it helping my team with problems and challenges.” You are probably […]
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It has been estimated that executives can be in meetings for up to 23 hours per week on average. And business owners can spend more than that in a given week. That’s a lot of meetings, and if done improperly, it’s a lot of wasted time and missed opportunities. As a business owner, you have […]
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Hiring employees is supposed to free up your time. The goal is after we get past the initial hump of recruiting and onboarding, that having that extra person on the team will help free up your time to do more higher level tasks. That is the goal at least. But for many business owners, managing […]
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Another week is coming to an end, and if you are like most business owners out there your to-do list is still pretty full and you are running on empty. You may wonder “where did the time go?” You got up every morning and went to the office, put in a solid eight to ten […]
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Every product or service that a company sells to a specific target market carries with it predictable, specific and repeatable sales obstacles that you must learn to effectively deal with and overcome. Understanding the possible reasons for a “No” during the sales process, will go a long way to increasing the number of times you […]
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“I have a great idea for a new business or product!” It’s a statement that I hear almost every day, and for the majority of business owners, it isn’t necessarily a good thing. Let me explain. I coach business owners who have been in business for several years. They have a product or service that […]
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The most successful business owners set aside time each quarter to plan out their goals and action steps for the upcoming quarter. Not only does this allow you to focus your energy and attention on the things that propel your company forward, but it will also help you strategize the best way to leverage your team to reach your goals. […]
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When it comes to spending money in your business, not all expenses are created equal. In your business there are certain areas where a small investment can make a leveraged return and there are other areas where a big investment can be a waste of money. The flip side of that is there are places and times […]
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Over the last 25 years, I have worked with and coached thousands of business owners to help them grow and scale their businesses. I have helped entrepreneurs, just like you, learn how to systemize their growth, take control of their finances, make smarter business decisions and hire more efficiently. But all of that pales in comparison to […]
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If you’ve ever been faced with a decision as to whether you should quit a course of action or persevere, then you’ll find the following six questions from New York Times bestselling author and business guru Seth Godin a big relief. I met with Godin several weeks back to talk about this very question, which […]
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With the new year upon us, many business owners spend a great deal of time reflecting on the past year and planning for the future. As a business coach, this is one of my favorite times of the year, as I get to sit down with clients and celebrate their victories and plan out the upcoming quarter. So, today […]
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The end of the year is a time for reflection. It’s a time for planning. It’s a time for growth. As a business coach, this is one of my favorite times of the year because I get to sit down with my clients and go over the victories and the struggles of the past year and […]
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As a business owner, you are busy. And for many of you, the term “busy” is an understatement. You are constantly being bombarded by phone calls, emails and employee questions. You might work 70 or 80 hours a week and still feel like you don’t have time to work on the important and valuable tasks […]
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As a business coach for over two decades, it has become my passion to help others take control of their to-do lists and work less while creating more value for their businesses. But for many of us, we feel like a 70 hour work week is the norm. Everyone is doing it, so it makes sense that we too […]
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The holidays are here again, and for many that means elaborate home decorations, fancy dinners for friends and family members and expensive gift exchanges. During my weekly grocery shopping trip, I see shoppers frantically filling their carts trying to get it all done in time for whatever event or get together they have on their […]
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Have you ever been the recipient of well-intentioned but misguided business advice? I know I sure have! I recently sat down with some of my colleagues to find out what was the worst business advice they ever received and was shocked by some of their answers. Here is a short list of some of the worst business advice that these business […]
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I recently talked about hiring independent contractors and remote workers for your business, and how if done properly it can really help you scale and grow your business while keeping a handle on your overhead costs. And as a business coach for over 25 years, I can attest to the power of having a remote team of contractors to help grow […]
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As a small to medium-size business owner, you have no doubt struggled to find quality talent for your company at one point or another. Today’s competitive market makes it even more challenging, and there aren’t enough job candidates to fill all the open positions. Which is why, for many, hiring an independent contractor might be an idea worth exploring. […]
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As a business coach, I have helped thousands of business owners grow and scale their companies. And one of the biggest things we look at when scaling, has to do with their labor and talent pool. If you have a solid team behind you, the chance for success is much higher. But for many business […]
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In past articles I have touched on the concept of the Value Economy, and how you can use this idea to harness growth within your own business. The old method of thinking is that if you work harder, longer, faster, you will get the results you are seeking. But that’s like someone stuck at the bottom of a deep […]
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I‘ve shared a lot of tips and tricks about finding and hiring good talent recently, and the topic has resonated with a lot of you. The job market is competitive right now and there are more job openings than applicants, which can make it really difficult to find the right person for a particular position. […]
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Are you looking to fill a position or two this quarter? You aren’t alone. For many small- to medium-size business owners, the struggle to find high-quality prospects is very real. As a business coach for over 25 years, I’ve helped thousands of business owners find talent for their businesses and have had the pleasure of […]
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As a business owner, you have a lot of responsibilities. And if you are like many of the clients I coach, your to-do list is extensive and filled with meetings and other responsibilities. It’s easy to get caught up in your task list, and to feel overwhelmed and anxious. But what if I told you that very little of that […]
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As a business coach for over twenty five years, I can say with great certainty that this is a topic that I feel very passionate about. I have on boarded clients that had great potential and an amazing product, yet they struggled with how best to use and leverage a business coach to grow their […]
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A while back we talked about the real reasons why you weren’t hiring new employees, and shared the hard truths behind why you might be hesitant to find and hire new talent despite a need for help. Today, I wanted to share a little more hard truth- this time surrounding the reasons why your employees […]
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Over the last 25 years, I have spoken with thousands of business owners in various stages of their professional careers. When I first sit down with them to discuss their business, I often ask them what their ultimate goal is for themselves and their businesses. And I often hear them say: “I want to be […]
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We have talked a lot about hiring and finding good prospects lately and the topic has resonated with quite a few of you. We are all looking for ways to tap into the talent pool and find good, quality prospects. Today, I wanted to go into a little more depth about what it’s like to […]
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The labor market is tight right now, and as such a lot of business owners and entrepreneurs are struggling to find good talent for their businesses. And even if you enlist the help of a recruiter to find your candidates, at some point you are going to have to interview the top contenders themselves, and […]
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If you’re running your own business, you’ve heard a few different things in your job description. You’ve probably heard about how important it is to be a great leader and how important it is to be a manager. When you hear these two terms used so often, you may start to think that they’re interchangeable. […]
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The labor market is tight right now, and the candidate pool is shrinking by the day. It seems like everyone has a job, and in order to find and recruit good talent you have to figure out a strategy on how to lure them away from their current position. As a business owner, this can […]
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Every company knows the importance of having a good leader. Every company knows the importance of having a business strategy. When these two things combine to create one powerful leader, the success of your business could improve greatly. What exactly is strategic leadership, and what is the difference between leadership and management? Most importantly, how […]
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If you’ve always wanted to be a true leader but have felt that you just weren’t born with the natural ability to lead, you may have given up on that dream. The truth is, everyone is a potential leader. Sure, some people are born with a bit of an advantage, but leadership is actually a […]
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If you’re reading this, chances are you’re in some type of leadership position or are about to make a transition into one. This also means that you make sure that you’re doing a good job at it, which is a great start to becoming a great leader. To be the best leader that you can […]
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Have you asked yourself “what is my leadership style?” Well, when it comes to leading, we know that there are many different leadership styles out there, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Ideally, a good leader can understand all of the different styles and implement them at different times, when they are most appropriate […]
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Many of us like to view ourselves as leaders or, at the very least, as people who could become great leaders. But what exactly goes into making a great and effective leader? And how can you become a great leader yourself? You might ask “ what is my leadership style?” While there are many different […]
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Over the last 25 years, I have worked with and coached thousands of business owners across the country to help them grow and scale their businesses. And along the way I have had my fair share of business owners who struggled with anxiety, control issues and fear of the future. There is another mental hurdle […]
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For a business owner, finding and hiring talent can be one of the most important (and hardest) parts of the job. And the reality is that even after you find the “one” you can still run into trouble down the road with an employee who is unable to perform some of the tasks outlined in […]
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What is Business Training?Business training is the process of learning and developing your business skills sets, knowledge, expertise and abilities to improve your business & employee’s performance. Most business owners are self-made leaders who have discovered how to run their business through trial and error: many of them have yet to obtain the skills, knowledge, […]
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A Business Owner’s Guide to Executive Coaching & Leadership DevelopmentMany business owners get stuck when they reach a plateau of business success. They struggle to grow their business past this point. The essential challenge boils down to – they’ve done all they know how to do, and what they know has taken them as far […]
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In this column I have talked a lot about the questions that you should ask as a business owner. In fact, I think that sitting down once or twice a week to look at where you have been and where you’re going is crucial to growing and scaling a successful business. Today, I wanted to […]
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“Let’s set up a meeting.” The statement itself seems harmless enough, but for the majority of us, the mere mention of yet another meeting is enough to send you off the deep end. It has been estimated that executives can be in meetings for up to 23 hours per week on average. And business owners […]
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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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