Mark saw his bosses’ reaction to his project and knew he was in trouble. “She’s so picky. Why does everything have to be done exactly her way?” Karen, Mark’s boss had the opposite reaction, “Why can’t he just do exactly what I tell him? Why does e have to improvise?” Bosses are usually good at what they do, that’s why
Don’t Labor on September 4th
Labor Day 2017 is celebrated in the United States on September 4th. Having a day off is a nice way to celebrate the end of summer. But what is the day intended to commemorate? Labor Day was created to highlight the miserable working conditions in the late 19th century. According to History.com, the average American worked 12-hour days, seven days
Secure Your Own Oxygen Mask First
On every flight, an attendant announces: “Please secure your own oxygen mask before helping others.” The warning could apply to business owners. Are you endangering your business by neglecting critical issues?
Will You Do What You Have To Do To Get Results?
Our 50th state is full of people who know how to get things done. I heard the legend of one determined community on our recent vacation. Ferry, Alaska is a remote community, population 32 (11 households). It has the dubious distinction of being located across both banks of the Nenana River. Until recently, only a railroad bridge connected the two
When Was the Last Time You…?
There are lots of ways to end this question: cried at a movie took a trip read a book got angry ate cotton candy But other questions are more thought provoking.
Run Full Tilt
I was watching Kurt play fetch with his new puppy, Max. Kurt would throw a ball as far as he could, Max would race after it, never slowing down until he had it in his mouth. Sprinters call this “running through the tape”. Have you’ve ever watched as some runners near the finish line and slow up in the final
Four Powerful Questions
For several years I did a show called “Talking Business” on a local radio station. (Thank you Neighborhood National Bank for sponsoring it!) One of the most popular shows was “Four questions business owners should ask themselves every day.”
When in doubt, do without.
JoAnn shared the best advise she ever received from her grandmother; “When in doubt, do without.” The advice rings in her ears when she shops, when she ponders taking a vacation on a credit card and most recently when she was approached by a friend to get a tattoo.
Everything can change tomorrow – Can you adapt?
John Nese’s business was going broke. His family-owned grocery store was being eaten alive by big chain stores. So, when a woman called looking for a unique mint soda, he saw an opportunity. Today John’s store, Galco, sells every imaginable kind of soda from around the world. Business is good. John Nese was able to adapt, here are other examples:
Make People Talk About You
I walked into a purchasing manager’s office and noticed his wall was peppered with quotes on blue postcards. There were quotes about quality, pricing and appreciation. I asked about them and he enthusiastically explained that a supplier sends a quote-card every month as a thank you for doing business with them. He even pointed out his favorite.