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
Do You Have The Guts To Be Candid?
Linda here. I am often struck by comments people make when they miss an opportunity to speak up. “That man pushed right in front of me without even an ‘Excuse me’. I wish I’d have told him how long I’ve been waiting.” “She knows I don’t like to reprimand people, so she pushes the rules a hair past the limit
Mirror, Mirror On The Wall, Who’s The Fairest Of Them All?
What do you see when you look in the mirror? A face so familiar you hardly “see” it anymore? What do you see when you look at your business? The same machines, the same equipment, the same people doing the same things they’ve done for years.
Have You Ordered Your Tesla?
The Quartz Daily Brief (www.qz.com) is one of the first things I read every morning! This article by Steve LeVine made me think about visionaries, the people who draw us into their dreams and make us believe the impossible is possible.
Your Price Is Too High!
Like most of us, you have heard (and uttered) those five dreaded words more than a few times. It’s the most common objection encountered in every industry, and the most difficult to overcome.
Do You Know If Your Customer Is High Touch Or High Tech?
It happened again last week. I called to ask a simple question about my account and was given four levels of voice mail options; none of which met my needs. Pressing “0” and hitting # didn’t help. My frustration increased when I was disconnected.
“Puppy Wisdom” And Applied Learning
This summer, my friend Sarah got a puppy she named Molly. Molly has been busy educating Sarah ever since.
Blue Zones Are Not About Pills Or Politics
Chances are you’re going to live a lot longer. If you’re a man living in the United States, your life expectancy is 76 years. If you’re a woman, it’s 81.
Don’t Get Caught Without An Answer
When I owned Raven Machine and Tool, I made a list of companies I wanted on my customer list. Tennant was at the very top. They had a reputation for producing top quality products. They were loyal to suppliers, paid promptly and when potential customers saw you worked with Tennant they knew you were a good supplier.