I just got off the phone with a client who wants to close his landscaping business. Brian is successful and talented. And relatively young (late 30s). But it was just too much darn work, and Brian was growing to hate it. He had tried shifting his model from taking new projects to focus only on … Read More
The black hole of most strategic plans
As Seen In … My client, Mike, is a busy entrepreneur. Whirling around like a Tasmanian devil traveling to client sites. Putting out fires. Encouraging employees. There’s barely enough time to handle strategic planning, much less the kind of “what if” planning should his airplane crash. Or car veer off the road on the way to … 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
You don’t sharpen a knife against a sponge
You don’t sharpen a knife against a sponge. I love that expression. It goes beyond the platitudes like there is no I in team, or it takes a village. To grow—in any area of life—you need people who will help you sharpen your skills and thinking. Who will challenge you constructively. Not just rubber-stamp your … Read More
Building wealth
As Seen In … Have you built a job, or built a business? If you have passion for starting and growing, that’s great. Don’t care about selling your company? Here’s an invitation: When you have a sense of the “end game,” you make business easier for yourself in the long run. Most businesses close because … Read More
The day Les Brown called my office for help…
When you’re running your business, it’s easy to feel alone. Your spouse/significant other doesn’t get it. The kids are clamoring for attention. Employees think you’re Daddy Warbucks. Vendors and strategic partners are leaning on you. And the IRS has its hand out …. Is it just a pipe dream that someday you’ll get to play … 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
Creating a Subscription Model … Then Stepping Back
Listen to the Episode Below: Touching base and staying involved in all of the goings-on in your business can be a circus! How can you balance every customer relationship and still feel like you’re giving them 100%? (Answer: You just can’t). But there are things you can do that will help you manage your time … Read More
How to Get Your Business Out of Your Head
Listen to the Episode Below: Your business process is no good to anyone if you keep it all in your head. Documenting how your business works and runs is vital to growing and scaling your business successfully, especially in the service business industry. But let’s not mince words–the process can be painful. So how can you undertake … Read More
What Makes Your Business Sellable?
Listen to the Episode Below: When it comes to selling our business, we sometimes over-estimate what we’re actually worth. This can be extremely risky. Selling your business when you’re not financially ready can break your bank and your profit margin. So how do you know when you’re ready to sell? J.C. Maldonado is my guest … Read More
Do Your Clients Ring the Register?
Listen to the Episode Below: As entrepreneurs, we often only want to talk about our top line. Your big money is the sexiest part of running your own business, but how can you guarantee bragging rights (and scale) if you don’t understand where the money is coming from? Having a financial brain on the team … Read More
Are You In The Way of Your Business Growth?
Listen to the Episode Below: Do you want to be right or be successful? Today’s guest, Jean Otte, knew from the beginning that her business wasn’t all about her – it was bigger than her, and she’s giving us some great tips on how we can put our egos in the closet without leaving behind … Read More