What Do Small Business Owners Need from Washington State Policymakers?
Updated Feb. 1, 2012 Washington state legislators are getting an earful from small-business owners. But will lawmakers listen in the 2012 legislative session? Washington state’s small-business owners have voiced their concerns over six major public-policy issues, as a result of a Seattle-area conference held by respected think-tank Washington Policy Center (WPC). Their economic-related issues range [...]
[Read more...]Do You Know What Drives Your Profit?
Who have the toughest jobs? Well, in my experience, single moms who work outside the home, have the toughest job of all. Entrepreneurs have the second-toughest job. For profits, entrepreneurs must learn how to manage their financials and performance, which are difficult tasks. Savvy business owners know who their ideal clients or customers are. [...]
[Read more...]Consultants / Service Firms: Why Hourly Billing Isn’t Best
One of the first lessons I learned in business-performance consulting was to sell results, not my time. During the tail end of the 1990 recession, I had purchased a five-year-old print-marketing firm. Quickly, I realized I was overlooking opportunities for growth. My newly acquired company soon evolved into a full-service management consulting firm, which [...]
[Read more...]Study: Unemployment Stems Partly from Deficient Worker Skills, Education
One in six Americans live in poverty, according to the Census Bureau in 2011. The economy is difficult for them and others. However, in this knowledge-technology era, millions of American workers would be employed, if they kept in mind two adages. They’re apropos for veteran and entry-level workers. More on the adages later. First, [...]
[Read more...]President Obama Misses Mark Again, More of the Same
Sept. 9, 2011 President Obama is proposing superficial bandaids from political motivations that would accomplish little to solve the structural economic challenges afflicting the U.S. America’s economy is barely holding together by pins and needles. It could tear completely apart with one more catastrophe. With its $447 billion plan, the Obama Administration has proven again [...]
[Read more...]Business Management Lessons from Yahoo’s Demise
Updated Feb. 7, 2012 From a management perspective at the board level, Yahoo is starting to make the right moves. Chairman Roy Bostock, the chair for four years, and three long-serving board members have resigned. This follows the resignation of co-founder Jerry Yang after the search giant hired a new CEO, former PayPal executive [...]
[Read more...]Did Carol Bartz Use the Right Leadership Approach?
Feb. 7, 2012 Imagine, you’re at work and you suddenly get a boorish mass e-mail from the head of your company announcing she’s just been fired. How would you feel? Would you respect the person sending such a message? Would you be confident in your company? I don’t know about you, but I’d have a [...]
[Read more...]Profits: Size Doesn’t Matter but Image, Professionalism Count
Appearances and professionalism can make your small business seem huge. If you look as though you’re substantial and that you can handle anything thrown your way – your odds for success improve dramatically. That’s especially true in this economy. Clients and customers will often prefer dealing with you as a small firm – if [...]
[Read more...]Seeing the Big Picture: An Often-Overlooked Trait for Sustainable Competitiveness
Sports can be a great metaphor for business. So occasionally I enjoy hearing broadcast analysts explain why they believe some teams are victorious. Some even become dynasties while others fail. Often the analysts’ conclusions are applicable for business. It’s also true, like businesspeople, sport analysts sometimes don’t understand the big picture. In analyzing successes [...]
[Read more...]Why Startup Companies Fail – How to Win
As a critical thinker, Dr. Peter Drucker left a giant legacy of thought leadership. For my money, the world’s foremost business philosopher left us with timeless teachings. A personal favorite of mine is one of his lesser known quotes: “Arrogance is being proud of ignorance.” The quote is applicable in a myriad of ways [...]
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