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.
Summertime, summertime, sum sum summertime…
CLICK HERE OR ON THE IMAGE TO SING ALONG Summertime brings vacations, sunny distractions and no school. It tends to be a more relaxed and slower time of year for most businesses. However, thinking it has to be that way is a trap! Take advantage of the less hectic schedule to regroup, refocus and re-strategize!
Mess Makers and Fixers
It became clear as I listened to the conversation around the table: there are two kinds of people in the world – the mess-makers and the mess-fixers. Mess makers come in all shapes and sizes; their intentions may or may not be good. Some know they are manipulative, but others don’t have a clue.
Multiplication by Subtraction
It could happen to you. A crucial member of your staff leaves. You have a decision to make. Do you replace or not? A company owner I recently talked to was faced with that complicated decision. Replacing the employee would have been the logical choice; it would have filled out the team and made customers feel better. It would have
The Devil is in the Details and the Fine Print
The saying “the devil is in the details or the fine print” cautions us to be wary. When you open a bank account, log into a website, sign up for a “free” app or a new cell phone, you agree to terms spelled out in the fine print that carry significant implications. While you should read the fine print before
You Should Pick Up Pennies Too
Linda here. Walking across a parking lot last week I spied a penny on the ground. I picked it up. Picking up coins off the ground has been a long-standing pastime for me. Money is money, whether it’s a penny, a quarter or a dollar.
Your Competition Isn’t Who You Think It Is
Linda here. When anyone starts a business, one of the first things their banker wants to see is their business plan. Every good business plan has a section called Competition.
Are You Lucky or Are You Good?
Dean Johnson, owner of Arcon Construction Company was my first boss when I moved to Mora. The year I joined Arcon, he treated all the employees and spouses to a week on South Padre Island, to celebrate their best year ever. I listened as Dean described growing his highway-heavy construction business from nothing to sales of over $30 million