Satisfied customers don’t grow on trees, ripe for the picking. Yet without them, your company is doomed. Most businesses models rely on repeat customers, customer referrals, or at least, the credibility of satisfied customer testimonials. If you want your business to succeed and grow, it must attract and satisfy customers. Repeatedly. Seems pretty straightforward, but … Read More
Sadly, Your Company Must Have a Collections Policy
The first time it happened, I was shocked. (Okay–naïve too, but shocked). “What did I do wrong?” I wondered. “Wasn’t the client happy with the service I provided? After all, I swooped in, saved the day, and got them their pound of flesh. What’s going on?” It happened to me several times despite my best … Read More
Learn to Delegate
If you look up the definition of “control freak” in the dictionary, you’ll probably find my picture. It’s not in my nature to delegate—and the same often holds true for business owners in general. Many are fiercely independent … but there comes a point when that ferocity prevents success – if it keeps you from … Read More
The Importance of Recurring Income Streams
“You see this here doughnut? What you got is the hole.” I’ll never forget that sinking feeling when I heard that from a business expert I consulted. I couldn’t believe it. I was stunned. Humiliated. 12 years of building my law firm—all that blood, sweat, and treasure—and I have nothing to show for it … … Read More
When Women Entrepreneurs “Tip the Scale”
After reading some stats on the growth of women-owned companies, I was tempted to get depressed. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce (2010), 88% of all women business owners are sole proprietorships without employees. 80% of all women-owned businesses earn less than $50,000. (It’s not so fabulous for men-owned businesses either: 77% for ownership … Read More