It’s Who You Know
Posted: September 27, 2012 Filed under: Your Business | Tags: homework, marketing, people, sales Leave a comment »I once counted the number of industries in which I’ve worked (way over 100 now and growing), and for each industry, I’ve found the following statement about building a business or career to be true. Read the rest of this entry »
The Dance
Posted: September 25, 2012 Filed under: Your Business | Tags: marketing, sales Leave a comment »
An ever-present challenge for small business owners is the dance between looking for new work while attending to existing work. Twirl away from marketing and sales in order to meet production deadlines, and soon you’re standing alone in the middle of the dance floor looking for a new partner. Read the rest of this entry »
Nimble Company
Posted: September 20, 2012 Filed under: Your Business | Tags: growth, strategy 1 Comment »
Photo by: Patti Trabon
Moving cows is a much more methodical activity than it seems to the Spaghetti Western watcher. Cow herding, cutting and sorting are not about speed, but about quickness. Rush at a vulnerable calf, and you end up racing around at the calf’s beck instead of your call. Instead, approach the calf with calm focus, and be prepared to quickly shift direction when the calf changes course. I feel a metaphor coming on. Read the rest of this entry »
My Spiel on Sales
Posted: September 18, 2012 Filed under: Your Business | Tags: how-to, sales Leave a comment »Whether a client is hiring their first salesperson, launching a referral program, or trying to stay motivated to sell in their busy sole proprietorship, I find myself repeating several key points when asked about the topic of sales. Read the rest of this entry »
Count to 90
Posted: September 13, 2012 Filed under: Big Picture | Tags: Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, energy, spirit 2 Comments »One of the best things I learned during Resident Assistant training at SMU was to count to ten before confronting an emotional situation. New insight from Jill Bolte Taylor, the brain scientist who survived her own stroke, suggests counting to 90 might be more helpful. Read the rest of this entry »
Use it or Lose it Retainer
Posted: September 11, 2012 Filed under: Your Business | Tags: how-to, money Leave a comment »For years of ongoing engagements, I charged a retainer that clients paid at the beginning of each month, with actual time used credited against the retainer. Unused time would spill into the next month, at times creating capacity problems when time allocated didn’t match cash received. Though I no longer work on a retainer, I recommend the “Use it or Lose it Retainer” to all my service-providing clients. Read the rest of this entry »
The Upside of the Downside
Posted: September 6, 2012 Filed under: Your Business, Your Life | Tags: homework 4 Comments »I’ve seen people lose big lately — the sudden death of a young mother, an entire production staff lost to an INS sweep, and flooded homes in Louisiana. In all of these big losses, I ask: “Where are the big wins?” Read the rest of this entry »
“This is SO Fun.” / “This isn’t fun.”
Posted: September 4, 2012 Filed under: Your Business 1 Comment »Two different statements, from two different clients: ”This is SO fun,” and ”this isn’t fun.” What’s the difference between these two? Read the rest of this entry »
