Decision Making
I’M SEEKING 10 BUSINESS OWNERS WHO ARE TIRED OF PRETENDING THINGS ARE “FINE.”
I’m seeking 10 business owners who are tired of pretending things are “fine.” It is a common situation. More than one might think. Not always from the same cause, but for the same reason. For example: • The company is successful, but you are frustrated at the slowness or lack of growth. • The company…
Read MoreLET’S GET REAL. HOW CAN I HELP?
There are so many different organizations with different issues these days, and there is so much to write about, I thought I’d ask directly, “What is the top issue you are facing today?” Please respond by return email. I will keep all responses confidential. No individually identifiable information will be published. I will use the…
Read MoreLEADERSHIP DURING CRISIS
Crisis amplifies everything. It is the same with leadership. In times of crisis, it is essential to stay focused on how leadership works. There is only one leader. There may be a leadership team, but only one top leader. The leader sets the WHY and WHAT, and delegates the rest. Leadership is not a democracy. …
Read MoreWHEN 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 MoreWORKING WITH FAMILY
On the topic of working with family, I thought I’d publish an excerpt from Elephant Tale – Mostly True Stories About Entrepreneurs, a book I wrote a few years ago. Each chapter in Elephant Tales tells a story about an experience I had in real life, with the people turned into animals to protect the…
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 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…
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