For over 25 years, I’ve helped small business owners start, run, and grow their companies. I’ve worked with all sizes of businesses: from one-person micro-businesses to companies with hundreds of millions in revenue. I’ve consulted with companies in all kinds of industries. Some served consumers; some served other businesses. There were start-ups and long-established entities. …
Succeeding in Your First Business
Each year, one of the most popular new year’s resolutions is “quit my job and start a business.” If one of your goals in 2016 is to start your first small business, then I’ve got an important tip on how to succeed: start with a “training wheel” business. As the head of my fourth small …
16 Small Business Resolutions for 2016
Lose weight. Quit smoking. Floss. January’s the traditional time for making new year’s resolutions. But in addition to your personal goals, what do you want to achieve in 2016 for your small business? I’ve come up with a list of New Year’s Resolutions for Small Business, and since it’s 2016, it seems only natural that …
10 Things to Toss Before 2016
2015 is winding down, and I hope it was a great year in your small business. I wish you even greater success in 2016. One of the best ways to get ready for a successful new year is to clear the decks of stuff you no longer need, physically and mentally. It’s time for a …
8 Branding Tips From Santa
Santa Claus. Stop for a minute and picture Santa. I bet you’ve got a really clear vision: red suit with white trim, big white beard, and pretty chubby. You’ve also got a clear sense of what Santa stands for: giving, jolly, Christmas. And you know how Santa makes you feel: happy. Santa’s a branding genius. And you …
8 Steps to Lower Taxes Before December 31
December’s an important month in your small business. You’re focused on year-end sales or throwing holiday parties or cleaning up the office. But it’s also time to take a few simple steps to save on taxes when it comes time to writing out that check to the IRS in 2016. By focusing on just eight …
Seizing Opportunities
Most small business owners want to grow their companies, but when it comes to taking action to succeed, many remind me of the man in this joke: A huge flood threatened a town, forcing everyone to evacuate. Joe stays put, thinking, “I’m a devout man; God will save me.” The waters rise. Joe’s neighbor comes …
THANK GOODNESS! I Own a Small Business
It’s the season of giving thanks. Now that you’ve carved up the turkey, how about carving out some time to be thankful for what you receive from your small business? In the course of daily life, it’s easy to forget what we like about running a small business – especially when we have to deal …
8 Tips for a Knock-‘em-Dead Presentation
Americans fear public speaking more than earthquakes, flying, clowns, zombies, and even death. But if you own a small business, sooner or later, you’ll have to get up and speak in front of others. It doesn’t have to be a major address in front of 4000 people to be intimidating. When I first started in …
