If you look up the definition of “control freak” in the dictionary, you’ll see a picture of a business owner. Brilliant, fiercely independent people … but that stubborn streak can cap their business growth. Like, when less critical tasks crowd their plate. When they can’t focus on what makes their company profitable. When their Nobody-does-it-better … Read More
This one tactic can make you wealthy …
I’m too busy. Clients come first. It’s too tedious. I’m intuitively creative—I don’t have a process. What’s your excuse for not writing down your business systems? (C’mon, everyone has them). But what if I told you that written procedures could make you wealthy? Does that make them more enticing? Here’s how: 1. Returning clients. Clients … Read More
Who takes over from you?
As Seen In … Like Erma Bombeck famously said about housework, Succession planning expands to fill the time available. It can take years. Except … when it can’t. Let me share with you stories of three business owners who had to create contingency plans in a hurry: For lifestyle reasons, Kimberly Martinez had already chosen … Read More
Deviating systems
On a trip to Santa Monica, my husband and I stopped into 24 Hour Fitness Express. Armed with a free three-day pass and dressed to sweat, I was ready to climb the Stairmaster and pretend to work off the previous night’s dark chocolate lava cake. Only there was a problem. I hadn’t carefully read the … Read More
What to Include on Your Business Dashboard
Listen to the Episode Below: Marketing may have the sex appeal, but finance is where the rubber meets the road when it comes to growing your business. The hard numbers can tell where you’re succeeding, where you could put in a little more work, and where you’re hemorrhaging and should let go of what’s not … Read More
Top tips in creating a flexible work environment
Recent findings by Adobe indicate that 55 million—or 35% of the total U.S. workforce—are choosing to freelance. To be part of the “gig” economy. Also, many U.S. workers now consider work/life balance and flexibility to be the most important factors in considering job offers. According to a 2013 PriceWaterhouse Coopers study, 64% percent of Millennials … Read More
Is Your Business “Flexible”?
As seen in Enterprising Women Magazine How to Welcome Flexible Work Arrangements into Your Company There are many reasons people seek location flexibility for work. But for those who equate “workplace” with a brick-and-mortar office where physical presence provides accountability, the new trend toward “location independence” can be a challenge. Recent findings by Adobe indicate … Read More
Hold On … Loosely
Listen to the Episode Below: Ever catch an episode of Undercover Boss? Like them, we often watch our business grow without paying close enough attention to what’s happening right under our noses. Like them, once we begin to hire staff, we start disconnecting with parts of our business. And “disconnecting” can have a bad ripple … Read More
Don’t Let Tech Turn You into a Pavlov’s Dog
Listen to the Episode Below: Don’t be fooled! Efficiency doesn’t necessarily equal success. And relying on technology for efficiency can hurt us and our business if we don’t use the right tech in the right way. That’s right – I’m saying that not all technology is good for your business. Avoiding ways that tech can … Read More
Which Marketing Efforts Pay Off Best?
Listen to the Episode Below: When you think about the time spent on your business, do you count every coffee meeting and lunch date? Meeting with a client you’ve had for years? If you take a closer look at your marketing plan, you may start to see where the hours do – and don’t – … Read More
Avoid the Roadblocks to Smart Hiring
Listen to the Episode Below: I used to get nauseous every time I thought about hiring. How about you? We’re already overstretched (duh–that’s why we’re hiring — so we can scale our business bit by bit). So, not only don’t we have the time to devote to hiring well … but truth be told, we probably don’t … Read More
How Retainer-Based Services Grow Your Business
Listen to the Episode Below: Every company is unique, and it’s fascinating to learn the ins and outs of how the most successful companies grow to be in that category. Today we’re joined by someone who has taken their business from being the scale of a taxi cab, to the scale of Uber: Tom Clancy. … Read More