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Helping business owners grow their companies and transition with confidence, added value and complete control.
Tag Archives: leadership
Dealing with “Malaise”
This starts out sounding like doom and gloom. It isn’t. I have come to the realization that the world of small business ownership is changing, and we have to change with it. For the next few weeks this column will … Continue Reading
Leadership vs. Management
What is the difference between a leader and a manager? We talk a lot about managing employees, but no amount of management will direct employees who don’t know what they are supposed to be doing. Simon Sinek on TED.com talks about the … Continue Reading
Posted in Entrepreneurship, Leadership, Managing Employees
Tagged entrepreneurs, leadership, management
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Performance Reviews- Best Practices
Performance reviews are a pain. In my nearly 40 years in business they have always generated the same complaints. Managers hate to do them. As a consequence, they are frequently over due. They provide the employee with little information on … Continue Reading
It’s Time for the Boomers to Step Up
Why I Need to Say This Three years ago I wrote an open letter titled “Last Chance to Save America” and sent it to my entire email list. It went viral, and I received almost a thousand emails in reply. … Continue Reading
Who are the Real Business Performers?
A business owner told me a story the other day… “After I was in business a few years, a large corporation made me a terrific offer to come work for them. I left my company in the hands of my … Continue Reading
Posted in John's Opinions, Leadership
Tagged business ownership, entrepreneurship, leadership
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The Third Factor- A Third Eye?
For several years my writing and speaking has focused on two factors that are indispensable for entrepreneurs; creativity and tenacity. Creativity is the drive that not only makes entrepreneurs see opportunities, but also makes them consider every problem or challenge … Continue Reading
Cancer in the Workplace
It was my first ownership of a business. I had moved to California to take over a failing auto parts distributor, and the deal came with a minority share in the business. I was just 30 years old. The housecleaning … Continue Reading
Posted in Leadership, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, employees, leadership, sales management
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Why Business Owners Shouldn’t Cold Call
The Owner as Salesperson If your business employs salespeople, then you’ve probably had them bring an account challenge to you. “You need to talk to this customer, Boss. You can (fill in the blank) better than anyone else.” The fill-in-the-blank … Continue Reading
Posted in Managing Employees, Sales
Tagged business ownership, leadership, sales management, small business advice
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Your Fault. My Consequence.
My friend Larry Linne, the author of “Make the Noise Go Away” has a great saying about employee mistakes.”Your Fault. My Consequence.” A good employee will accept responsibility, and be accountable for screwing something up. Unfortunately, it is still the owner’s … Continue Reading
Posted in Leadership, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, employees, leadership
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The Peter Principle Goes All the Way Down
Every small business, if it is to be successful, needs a competent Second In Command (SIC). In many companies that position is held by dint of tenure or loyalty as opposed to pure ability. When we see a key employee … Continue Reading
Posted in Leadership, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, business planning, employees, leadership, management
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Employee Incentives that Work
After four blogs on the long term motivations for running a business, perhaps it is time to return to some more practical advice. One of the most persistent issues for a business owner is trying to motivate employees with incentives. You install … Continue Reading
Posted in Incentives, Managing Employees
Tagged business ownership, employees, leadership, management, sales, small business advice
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