Buy-in v. High Performance

You’ve got a high performer who doesn’t buy into your plans and culture; you also have an under-performer who metaphorically drives the company bandwagon. Who would you fire first?

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The Business Relationship Fast Filter

If you’re thinking of joining forces with a colleague, buying or selling a business, taking on an investor, or otherwise creating a business relationship outside the usual vendor or employee structure, don’t make another move without answering three questions. Read the rest of this entry »


5 Languages of Appreciation

Gary Chapman’s book, The 5 Love Languages, offers a helpful glossary for understanding how to most effectively communicate with those I love. I find myself offering this to employers who are struggling with employee appreciation.  And for those too squeamish to use the word “love” in a workplace sentence, Chapman has another book just for you.  Read the rest of this entry »


One Question

Thanks to my favorite human resources resource, Dani Rodenbough, I have one question I ask every prospective employee:  Read the rest of this entry »


Hire or Acquire

As business owners, we necessarily wear many hats, and some better than others. For those hats that aren’t the best fit, your choice is either to hire or acquire the skills your business needs. And I’ve got a couple of clues to help you choose Read the rest of this entry »


I Thee Wed

The creative lather created from collaborating with a like mind is contagious and seductive.  Passionate conversations that begin with, “I’ve always wanted to go out on my own,” and “You can do sales, while I build widgets,” have spawned infinite small businesses.

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Whoa or Go

The two horses I ride: Sami and Samantha.

The two horses I ride: Sami and Samantha.

I ride two horses, coincidentally with the same root-word name:  Sami and Samantha.  Sami is what I like to call, “whoa and no go,” but Samantha is more “go and no whoa”; both need direction for us to have a great ride. 
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3-Second Feedback

An annual review just isn’t frequent enough to motivate and accurately guide great employees. Unless you take meticulous notes year-round (and who has time for that!?), your review is likely to be shaped only by what your staff did for you lately.  You also risk an interim year of floundering between reviews.  It’s time you learned about the powah of 3-Second FeedbackTM (Okay – I didn’t really trademark this phrase, but it sounds like a trademark waiting to happen!) Read the rest of this entry »


Hire the Best Human Standing

One of my clients always says, “You hire for skills, but you fire for culture.” How about this: hire for skills AND culture. Read the rest of this entry »


Partnership is a Verb

Having a partner can be great when you’re a business owner, but it’s easy to become complacent, or let hotter fires prevail over your efforts to maintain a healthy partnership.  Read the rest of this entry »