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Helping business owners grow their companies and transition with confidence, added value and complete control.
Tag Archives: employees
2013 Planning: Try Starting with “Who”
For many years, I’ve begun each annum with my clients by helping them answer the Seven Questions, some simple keys to basic planning for the year. This year the questions have been picked up by my friend Jim Blasingame at the … Continue Reading
Santa Boss: The Role of a Business Owner
Ebenezer Scrooge was visited by three ghosts, so it’s fitting that I tackle the issue of the holidays three times. We’ve discussed terminations close to the holidays, and the custom of dispensing year-end bonuses. But in the end Dicken’s Scrooge was … Continue Reading
Year End Bonuses: Incentive or Entitlement?
It’s time for our annual discussion of the Holiday bonus.I pine for the days of my spiritual ancestor Ebenezer, who was offended at the expectation that he would pay Cratchit a whole day’s wages without receiving any work in return. One year … Continue Reading
Holiday Terminations: Scrooge or Chicken?
This year, my first holiday termination conversation came on November 20th; a bit early in the season. Like traditionalists who hold off on Christmas decorations until after Thanksgiving Day, most business owners start avoiding termination announcements a few weeks before the holidays.With the Great … Continue Reading
Employee Confidentiality: Circles Within Circles
The father of a friend, a rancher in South Texas, conveys confidential information by preceding it with the following caution. “Now I’m going to tell you a secret, and you have to swear not to tell another soul. And when … Continue Reading
Employee Motivation: The Effect of the Economy
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter delivered his “Crisis of Confidence” speech, commonly referred to as his “Malaise Speech” although he never actually used that word. To a country reeling from stagflation and an oil crisis, it was an additional blow to … Continue Reading
Politically Speaking: Do Small Business Owners Have a Voice?
The political parties have completed their prime-time convention pageantry, and are buckling down for the 60 day dash to the election. Both profess to be focused on the”little guy,” the middle class backbone of America. One party says that you … Continue Reading
Posted in Entrepreneurship, John's Opinions, Leadership
Tagged Ayn Rand, economy, employees, entrepreneurship, news, politics
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Employ People; Don’t Adopt Them
I cringe when a business owner tells me “Our company is just like a family.” I have a family, and thankfully my business is nothing like them. Family members have the right to unconditional love. They can make mistakes (and … Continue Reading
Posted in John's Opinions, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, employee performance, employees, management
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It’s Your Money: Fighting Profit Guilt
A few weeks ago one of my peer boards was discussing the hiring of a new salesperson. One owner asked the others “What is the most important trait you look for in a new salesman?” Another member immediately burst out: “Someone … Continue Reading
More than a Feeling
This is the story of two business owners. It is true. It is real-time. Both stories occurred last week, and I was present in both conversations. The first story is one of disaster. A restaurant owner I work with was … Continue Reading
Lords of Chaos
Every business owner must be adept at dealing with chaos. Entrepreneurship demands the ability to choose a course of action when everyone else is staring into the headlights. It requires a willingness to make a decision with inadequate information, and to make new decisions … Continue Reading
Unlimited Time Off From Your Business
The second “rule” on our downloadable poster “Your Rights and Obligations as a Business Owner” is: “You have the right to unlimited time off with pay.” followed by the corollary obligation; “You have an unlimited obligation to customers. Business deadlines … Continue Reading
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, employees, leadership, management, small business advice
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