Business survival is all about strategy. Upheavals in the playing field can bring down the powerful and successful overnight. Rules have changed, new challengers are constantly entering the field and competition is deadly. Be strategic; work smart. Tip the odds in your favor. 1. Be a victor, not a victim. A victim sees hopelessness; a…
Change is a part of business, with opportunities constantly vanishing and appearing . Technorati has left the scene (sort of like “Elvis has left the building”) and some options for business promotion have gone with it. Facebook changes constantly, companies are purchased for billions of dollars, and life goes on. Take heart; in all the turmoil there…
In business today, your marketing strategy must be constantly changing, constantly improving, constantly finding ways to create a power marketing presence. The sales and marketing funnel is old hat – you meet a lot of people, narrow the field and cultivate potential clients, narrow those down to prospects and finally, at the end of the…
It’s the new year, and time for brand new creation – new growth, new profits, new business processes, and yes, new joy in 2014. For most of us, the new year began aerobically, as we shoveled our way into 2014. This was followed by “let’s just hunker down and hibernate,” as the deep freeze set…
Take a moment to reflect on Christmas. In the rush of shopping and parties, and getting at least some work done for business, it’s too easy to lose sight of the reason for the season. We have so much abundance which we overlook and ignore. So take just a moment to appreciate everything – the…
Some businesses such as fire protection, law enforcement and medical facilities must be staffed, holidays or not, and we deeply appreciate the individuals who give up their holidays to do so. However, in spite of our consumerist perspectives, most retail business is not a matter of life and death. Increasingly, many retailers and eager consumers…
We’ve all been there – trying to improve processes, making things better, more efficient, smoother running, only to have the great solution explode into the great catastrophe. What went wrong? We had input from all stakeholders, discussed the issues fifty dozen times, and had buy-in. We moved forward with excitement, enthusiasm and confidence… and got…
Achieving goals can seem like running through McDonald’s cinnamon fruit oatmeal. The more you stir it up, the thicker it gets. Instead of looking at actions, try looking at the things which block your progress and keep you from reaching your business goals. For example, if your goal is to double business, the barriers might…
Today’s hot new markets will evaporate tomorrow. Even if sales are booming, smart businesses are constantly looking ahead to develop new markets. Walmart is selling groceries, McDonald’s is selling lattes. Small businesses are also scrambling for new ideas, and frozen yogurt franchises are springing up everywhere. Even if you’re not in the grocery, latte or…
Growing business is a matter of survival. Coasting along is not an option. Hungry competitors are trolling for clients, and complacent business owners are their prime target. In these shark-infested waters, growth is a greater challenge than ever before. Your new ideas are copied within days. Old competitors are pricing below cost, just to gain volume.…