(Time to read this Blog article about 60 seconds) A loyal reader wrote recently to say that he misses my ‘Cranky Corner’ articles where I write about things that tick me off.  I do get cranky about certain things. It could be my age…or it might be that, like you, some things just tick me […]

(Time to read this Blog article is about 40 seconds) Put knowledgeable and passionate people in charge of every part of your business, get out of their way, thank and reward them…and watch your business grow.  See the two examples below… Dahlgren’s Building Supplies in St. Helens, Oregon also sells horse and other feed to […]

(Time to read this Blog article is about 60 seconds) Kids never stop asking ‘why’.  That’s how they learn and grow.  Then, as adults, most of us stop asking ‘why’.  We just carry on, day after day, doing the same things for the same old reasons.  We should all stop, every once in a while, […]

(Time to read this Blog article is about 60 seconds) Most businesses talk about the importance of creating a career path for their best people and promoting from within.  But in my experience there are six approaches to promoting from within…and most of them are ineffective.  Which of these sounds most like your business? We […]

(Time to read this Blog article about 60 seconds) Humans need not apply: In the heavily industrialized southern Chinese province of Guangdong  (pop 107 million), it is estimated that 80% of factory workers will be replaced by automation (robotics) in the next three years.   A recent White House Report estimates that 47% of all jobs […]

(Time to read this Blog article is about 90 seconds) Every industry and every market, including yours, is over-served and under-differentiated.  There are too many other people selling what you’re selling…and that’s your biggest problem.  To differentiate yourself you need a compelling value story…and then you need to tell that story in a way that engages […]

(Time to read this Blog article is about 60 seconds) One of the biggest myths in business today is that there’s no such thing as customer loyalty anymore.  The truth is that people are loyal, fiercely loyal, to what’s best for them…or what they assume is best for them.  That’s it! So, first we must […]

(Time to read this Blog article about 40 seconds) As a business owner or manager, many of the people you hire should know much more about their specific area of activity than you do.  That’s how you will move your business or department, your career and your life forward.  As a leader, your main job […]

(Time to read this Blog article is about 90 seconds) When coaching clients on creating a ‘winning culture’ that will attract, challenge, engage and retain top-performers, we use the following check-list to document a clear and specific description of what that culture would look like. Sit down with some of the best minds and hearts […]

(Time to read this Blog article about 40 seconds) Clients around the world keep telling me that running a business today is 10 times tougher than it used to be…and in many ways they’re right. We all have more demanding customers, more and stronger competition, increased complexity, faster change, shrinking margins, and the challenge of […]