How many times have you heard that one or similar stories to it? Such and such a rock star, movie actress or mega-mind was born here, they attended university or did their internship here. As if to say being from here had a role in that success. The real truth is every community across our fair planet has their share of rock stars. What all these individuals have in common is not so much that they’re from here but that they looked outside of here to realize their dreams and goals. Most home-town business people and other talents and skill…

Being a 70’s kid, I did not have the privilege of witnessing the Apollo 11 mission. However, I did not miss out on the Space Shuttle missions. Each time I witness these take off’s I’m in awe, not just at the event itself but the creation, the many people who make it a possibility. All that hard work. When the mission is a success, there’s such tremendous joy and celebration but when a rocket fails – the disappointment is clearly evident. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHMmMgdcOSU Watching Antares go down in a fiery explosion, I felt its loss. One can only imagine how someone…

If you take the time to study any successful business from large to small you’ll notice some qualities they all have in common. If you want to have a long term business it’s important that you learn what these qualities are so that you can develop them within yourself. Thankfully, most things can be learned even if they don’t come natural. When I first started my business more than two decades ago, I was building HTML websites, managing newly formed online communities through bulletin board systems and a lot of other things that I don’t do today. I’m still in…

As a small business owner you’re supposed to be the master of your domain. Every story you see about working from home talks about working from the sandy shores of a foreign land, enjoying a lot of family time and down time with friends. But, the truth is, most small business owners don’t live that way. In fact, many are so overworked that they suffer from burn out. Photo Credit © Depositphotos.com/BrianAJackson If you don’t want to risk burn out it’s important to schedule in down time. When it comes to getting things done your calendar is your friend. Everything I do,…

The holidays are right around the corner. Are you prepared?   The beauty of a small business is, we can be light on our feet. Besides, you still have a little bit of time and if you’re stuck with what to offer, this list should get you started. The Add-On Bundle Include a not-usually-offered or not-offered-before add-on to your product(s). It could even be a service. Example: Get a personal coaching session when you buy this today. The Value Bundle Gather your best selling products and bundle them at a meaty enough price for you not to lose money but…

Of late, I’ve noticed that my down time has vanished. Poof. Gone. I wondered why and when the answer presented itself, it was simple and yet profound. It’s not because there’s more work on my plate. There’s always a ton of work to be done. No. I realized one day, the real reason is because every bit of down time that presented itself, is filled with something else. Every spare moment, minute, or hour that’s not spent actively doing, I’ve filled it. By: Reading a book Listening to podcasts Watching a webinar Catching bits of a tutorial Reading RSS feeds…

If you still have a perfunctory business card, you know just something thought of at the last minute and maybe even worse; printed out on your computer you’re not taking your business seriously. You know the kind that you punch out of a sheet? You’re missing the point of having a business card. The point is to let someone know your brand and make them curious enough to call you when they need what you have to offer. Business cards are another way to brand your business. You don’t want to be branded like everyone else, boring or worse… standard.…

As a leader, decision making is part of the deal. Ultimately, everything comes down to what we want to happen and that means we make the final call. It’s tempting to think that small business owners are naturally good at decision making. Maybe. We do make more decisions on a daily basis but the truth is, decision making may not come easily all the time, and certainly not for all leaders. Wherever you are on the scale of decision making skills, we can all benefit from learning from those who are great at it. Decide & Implement Quickly When I…

There comes a time in almost any business where you want to retire or move on to another product and the thought of selling comes to mind. But, how do you know when the right time to sell your business is? How do you know when to do it so that you can maximize your profit? Here are five ways to determine when it’s the right time to sell your business. Plus, if you’re just at the start-up phase, it can give you some insight on how to set things up so your business is salable. The Market Is Right…

I’ve just completed a workshop teaching branding to graphic design firms from Canada and the United States. As part of that training, confidence in selling is a crucial element in delivering branding to their customers. On the surface it would appear that selling is a crucial first step. “Selling” is a difficult skill for many of us – myself included. It’s something I work at tirelessly. Defining my brand and working at it is one part of my overall branding strategy. To me selling is a bit of a misnomer. I don’t so much sell, as participate in a conversation.…