Posts Tagged ‘small business’
WHEN YOU GET KNOCKED DOWN
Covid-19 has hit us in a way that was scarcely imaginable. It also has humbled us to know how little control we have over our businesses and in life. You’ve been knocked down by this situation. You are not alone. Step 1: Get Up. Don’t lay there overanalyzing what hit you. If you don’t get…
Read MoreHOW BUSINESS OWNERS ARE COPING WITH THE IMPACT OF THE CORONA VIRUS
I am fortunate to have many friends among businesses and to be privy to how they are responding to the health, regulatory, and economic impact of the Corona virus here in the U.S. I asked a few of them to share their experiences in the hope it would be helpful to others. Freight Forwarding Here…
Read MoreBEING HUMBLE
The most potent leadership trait is humility. Humility is not the diminishment of oneself. Humility is the act of subordinating oneself to something higher or better. For you, the company leader, the “something higher” is the purpose of the company. When you subordinate your wants to the company purpose, it provides a powerful example of…
Read MoreMY HEAD EXPLODES!
There is a conversation that happens all too often when I speak with business owners that makes my head explode! It goes something like this. I’m usually speaking with an owner who is struggling with getting something done for the betterment of their business. The business owner says, “I tell them what to do. But…
Read MoreDOES THE END JUSTIFY THE MEANS?
I thought it was obvious the answer is no. Yet a Google search produced 111,000,000 results of debate, justification, and philosophizing in less than one second. Regardless of the discussion, the end never justifies the means. This belief is an essential part of humanity. I know you already know this. Still, sometimes amid the…
Read MoreDO YOU GROOM YOUR LEADERS OR JUST PROMOTE THEM?
“It was her turn,” said the CEO. I had asked the CEO how a specific member of their leadership team was promoted to that position. I’ve heard other answers like, “They’ve been with me a long time.” “I trust them. She is very loyal.” “He needed to make more money.” “My [family member] needed a…
Read MoreTWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
How Important Are the Decisions You Make? Leadership is a lonely position. Big decisions require wise counsel. The more critical the decision, the more important the counsel becomes. Do you have the proper support system to help you with decisions? Do you find yourself struggling, as described by Winston Churchill, “Want of foresight, unwillingness to…
Read MoreHOW TO SELL DOG TRAINING
The business owner was an experienced dog trainer who needed to turn her part-time venture into a full-time business. She advertised “Dog Training” and received a good number of inquiries weekly. But most of the people who called wanted “sit, stay and fetch” for $20 an hour. Her offering was four 2-hour sessions at $100…
Read MoreTAKE THE FIRST STEP
A friend of mine tells a story about when he took a job helping a sheepherder in New Zealand (yes, he lived a much more interesting life than I). He and the sheepherder drove out to the pasture where the sheep were grazing. The sheepherder told him to walk over to the dogs were and…
Read MoreIS IT MORE IMPORTANT TO BE RIGHT OR…
Too often conversations about teamwork, delegation, and empowerment, I hear comments like, “but what if they don’t come up with the right answer?”, or some variation thereof. It’s a red herring. Think of a problem. Now think of 10 ways to resolve the problem. Force yourself to come up with 10 different solutions. Consider the…
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