As business owner’s our life blood is in making the sales, but the test in is receiving the payment. We need those payments, they are a measure of success for our business and for ourselves. But what happens when we don’t receive those payments? Here’s what I’ve learned about money from my business. Always have a plan B That old adage about counting your chickens before they … [Read more...]
Selling Your Soul
As an entrepreneur I got into this game to make more money for myself, like everyone else. The thing that I face continuously is should I make the sale or save my soul. The answer is surprisingly easy for me, I save my soul every time. I’m hoping that I rack up enough business karma to hit my goal of a $350m company, but in the meantime here is how I measure the situation. Why … [Read more...]
Can Small Business learn from the American Airlines Merger?
There is a theory in some circles that small businesses just don’t have what it takes to compete with big business and when we are invited to the table we don’t know what to order. The American Airlines merger gives us a great example of what do look for in a partnership and what we should avoid. Here are some lessons we can take away from the merger. Choose your partners … [Read more...]
I Want a Divorce…Business Style!
Nothing is certain in business except that you will form partnerships and sometimes those partnerships will crumble. Not only will they crumble, they will crash and burn. If the partnership has managed to cross business lines and become a friendship that can make the breakup even harder but there is a silver lining. Here’s what your business can gain from having a partnership … [Read more...]
Back to Basics
As small business owners we routinely perform tasks that larger companies would associate with assistants and receptionists. I answer phones, research client questions as well as conduct meetings and business development. As the economy continues to stall I have found myself performing tasks that even I have had to sit back and wonder if I should be doing them. What I have … [Read more...]
IP is the New Black
Last night I learned the best business information that I have heard in quite a while from Oliff & Berridge, PLC wait for it-Intellectual Property Rights. In building our empires we are so caught up in success and growth that we don’t think about risk. After you have spent years building your brand recognition and customer base, how easy is it for someone to come along and … [Read more...]
The Expert is In
As a consultant I am constantly cast in an expert role and for the most part that’s okay, but I want to be clear….I don’t know everything and that’s what makes me an expert. I know a lot about my specialty but when it comes to taking my own advice, I could do a little better. So here’s the best advice that I can give myself and hopefully it will work for you as well. Be still … [Read more...]
The Power of Perception
As a small business there is a perception that the quality of the service we provide is directly linked to our size. The question is whether that perception is true and if it is, are we actually the ones creating that perception? Here’s what I have learned to consider when projecting your business image. Perception trumps ability I’ve noticed that small businesses have a … [Read more...]
What we can learn from the US Women’s Soccer team
Reporters from all over have had some type of sound bite regarding the t-shirts the US Women’s soccer team. The shirts said ‘Greatness has been found’ and sports writers and enthusiasts are lining up to take aim at the perceived lack of humility. As a woman operating in a male dominated industry I have to say ‘Why should they be humble’? Here’s what I have been able to take … [Read more...]
Why are you important?
As we create our businesses more often than not we get caught up in the day to day firefighting strategies. What we don’t do because there isn’t enough time in the day, no one has figured out how to clone ourselves and/or we don’t see the immediate value is define a future strategy. It’s easy to spend so much time in our businesses that we don’t work on them, so here are a few … [Read more...]