Every year about this time, company leaders start planning for the upcoming year. They look at equipment and technology needs. They make educated guesses about sales. If they’re lucky, they have a backlog of orders to carry into the next year. They add that backlog to historical sales data to produce a revenue target.
Please Don’t Make Me!
My friend Susan isn’t very adventurous. In fact, when anyone suggests a trip to another country or even another state she turns them down flat. “I’m not much of a traveler,” she’ll say. The truth is, the very thought of traveling to a strange place makes her feel uncomfortable and pushes her out of her comfort zone.
It’s Bosses Day, Pay It forward
One of the biggest challenges of owning a business is managing people. Some business owners seem to be natural relators; they were born with the gift of hiring good people and achieving great results through them. For others, it is not so easy.
5 Things To Remember When You’re Having A Bad Day
Bad days. Everyone has them.
6 Ways To Have More Fun Running Your Business
I was having coffee with a business owner last week. He was describing some of the challenges he was facing. He wrapped up his litany with the words, “Running my business just isn’t fun anymore.”
Are You Tracking These 4 Critical Sales Questions Every Day?
I was cleaning out files last week and ran across a list of questions one of my roundtable members shared three years ago. They are as relevant today as they were then.
The “Win-Win” Internship: How To Select & Savor Interns Who Will Enrich Your Business While You Enrich Them.
One of my favorite months of the year is September. O.K., partly because it’s my birthday month (yep, I’m a Virgo), but it’s also the month that a new crop of bright-eyed, bushy-tailed juniors and seniors go back to school. Each year I contact the accounting teacher and/or business teacher at our local high school and ask them to find
Light Bulb Moments – Bring ‘Em On!
I love going to conferences and being exposed to new ideas. That’s why I attended the MREA Energy Issues Summit last week and that’s where I had my most recent “light bulb” moment.
What Million Dollar Customer Have You Ignored today?
Have you ever had a bad car-shopping experience? Jim, an acquaintance, was shopping for a high end, luxury car. He contacted six dealerships. All sold expensive cars, yet only one showed genuine interest. The manager took all the time Jim needed, was highly knowledgeable and even told him when he could come back to look at a new model just
“They beat me up… But I kind of liked it.”
One of the things that I enjoy most about my work is that I get to meet all kinds of people in many different types of businesses. Each individual brings his/her own unique personality, skill set and strengths to the table.