What are we going to be covering in this 4th podcast in our Action Planning Course? A critical part of planning requires you to carefully examine all of the opportunities available to help you build your business … and to apply consistent criteria so that you can compare each of…
What are we going to be covering in this 2nd podcast in our Action Planning Course?First, we're going to pull up to the dumpster to drop off the the excuses everyone uses for the lack of planning.We'll see why plans in your head are only ideas and why unless they're…
What are we going to be covering in this 1st podcast in our Action Planning Course? These days, we're all busier today than a woodchuck chucking wood ... so it's refreshing when we can listen for a few minutes on the way to work to grab a little inspiration to…
Do you think you could distill a lifetime of experiences into a handful of sentences … so that when your grown children read them, they would hold them as dearly as they once held their teddy bears?
I’ve recently published several lists of “life lessons”, for lack of a better term, that keep coming my way from a variety of sources. These lists, scratched on the back of an envelope found in a plane crash, or tucked in a wallet for 50 years, are treasures because they’re personal … and each person believed he or she had captured the unique nature of their humanity.
[pullquote]Can you capture your life lessons on a 3×5 card?[/pullquote]
So, now come the Guideposts of business philosophy taken from the book, Marriott — The J. Willard Marriott Story by Robert O’Brien. It’s longer than most … not a note card but still a single sheet of paper … maybe Willard did more than most? Some may seem old-fashioned, others a little harsh for the more indulgent company cultures of the 21st century … but most of them are rooted in sound business practices. Work your way past some of the pedestrian entries to uncover a few nuggets and valid reminders that you can add to your own list.
How many times have we been told to write down our goals so we can keep them in focus ... and make sure we tell everyone around us so they can support us and cheer us on. Derek Sivers strongly disagrees and shares what he's learned from psychologists going back…
It's exciting, isn't it, when we stumble across crumpled notes that have been lodged in our wallet for years ... to discover timeless gems that we may have forgotten? I've earlier reported on the piece of paper carried in the wallet of John Wooden, famed UCLA basketball coach, which bore…
Do you often wonder how this country gets along with the Pollyanna views inside the Beltway, mostly comprised of those who have never had to meet a payroll? The Senate passed the Small Business finance bill last week as a few Republicans crossed the aisle to provide the needed votes. The House is expected to quickly pass this version. More later … but ….
So What? It’s a $30B bill so it sounds like a lot of money … but so did the TARP $750B number when it was announced … and it’s still a long way from fully invested. The NYT claims it will help “credit-starved businesses” … says who? Read Uncertainty is killing business – NOT credit in which I review why credit availability is NOT what’s killing small business. If you’re uncertain about what uncertainty we’re certain about … read the WSJ verbatim quote to be reminded of the painful litany of the economic and regulatory quicksand on the road to recovery.
[pullquote]Are you uncertain about what uncertainty we’re certain about?[/pullquote]
Sure, there may be qualified businesses struggling to get credit. It is tougher out there, the underwriting standards are less flexible … but will the economy recover when credit is extended to small and middle-market businesses? No, (more…)
In Volume 1, we quantify the gap in financial literacy that can destroy a business. We show you the difference between traditional financial statements, spreadsheets and ratios ... and the powerful visual and interactive tools that are available to help executives drive improved business performance. We know that you believe passionately in your business, and that you want to manage the risks and protect your family.We know that you want to understand the most important aspects of Strategic Finance because you know it plays a critical role on many fronts. Our introductory video will help you understand the power of Strategic Finance and and why your intense focus on Free Cash Flow is more important than any other measure of business performance.
Recently, I wrote, 7 Swing Thoughts to Overcome Adversity, inspired by Dustin Johnson's heartbreak at the recent PGA Championship. It was a controversial call except among golf purists but it resulted in a terrible calamity for the young golfer.Yet, Johnson has shown remarkable aplomb and resilience in the face of…