According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 50 percent of small businesses fail within the first four years. Companies that start with the right mindset and resources improve their chances of not only surviving but also thriving. The key to success for start-ups in the first year of business is to succeed with … Read more
When it comes to being an effective leader, there is no one magical formula. I have seen complete opposite styles get the same amazing results. In order to become a great leader, you need to hone your skills on a consistent basis. There are several events that leaders can face that will challenge their skills … Read more
That time of year has already arrived. Tax season. Having a small business is already a challenge in itself. Ensuring you complete all the necessary documents and making sure your checks and balances are in place can be overwhelming. Add tax filing to the equation, it can be a nightmare. But it doesn’t have to … Read more
My oldest son has become almost obsessed with his height. At 12 years old he is one of the shortest of his friends. No matter how much I encourage him that he still has a lot of growth ahead of him, he is anxious to begin his next growth spurt. It has become almost a … Read more
You often hear people claim how busy they are. How many of those people are productive? In fact, “busy” should not be what you are aiming for. Racing to check off as many things off your to-do list is not a measure of productivity. Productivity is about being effective and utilizing time management techniques to … Read more
It was great to collaborate with Jennifer Davis on her blog. Jennifer is the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for the international business of Leyard and also serves as the vice president of marketing and product strategy at Planar Systems and Runco International. The original post can be found on Jennifer Davis’ Blog. As a leader, one of our most … Read more
The difference between a Dreamer, a Goal-Setter and an Action Taker determines whether or not the dream will be accomplished. For any of us to become successful, the difference needs to be understood and the transition made from Dreamer to Action Taker. I have had plenty of dreams. Most of them stayed just that, dreams. … Read more
With the rise in popularity of online marketing, many effective offline marketing methods are easily forgotten when marketing campaigns are planned. Most believe that digital marketing is the only way to get results. While this may be true for specific industries, some of the most proven marketing ideas happen offline. Whether your goal is branding, … Read more
Throughout my career in retail, it was easy to measure the results of my efforts. Key Performers indicators were always available to guide me in the areas I needed to prioritize. Those were tangible results. Then as a leader, there are other results that are just if not more important. Leadership effectiveness could be measured … Read more
Video has become one of the preferred ways to get information. Websites such as Udemy are offering online courses where participants can get education on a variety of topics at their convenience. How can companies leverage the power of video training for more complex topics where one on one instruction is needed and one-way communication … Read more
Grit and Mental Toughness are two words that have become popular in recent years. Defined in her book, “Grit”, Angela Duckworth explains that Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. It isn’t talent. Grit isn’t luck, or even how intensely, for the moment, you want something. It is about having a goal you care … Read more
Millennials represent an increasing share of the workforce and a growing number now occupy senior positions. They are no longer tomorrow’s leaders but the leaders of today. How businesses connect and engage with this growing workforce is important for employee engagement. According to a Deloitte Millennial Survey, two in three Millennials expect to leave … Read more
Guest Post By Jennifer Davis, CMO of Planar and Leyard In every organization, there are those that are identified as key contributors to the success of the business whether they have exceptional technical skills, great relationships throughout the company and with customers, or a track record of delivering results. We often call these “high … Read more
Wherever you look, there is someone giving you information about something bad or discouraging that is happening in the world. After all, it is FEAR and SHOCK that sell news. Whether it is about Politics, Business or World Events, chances are, you are flooding yourself with negativity. There is a saying that what you focus … Read more
Is there an App for that? Nowadays, no matter which industry you are in, chances are your consumers are expecting you to ease the transition between what you have to offer and the end user. Applications are a great tool that is becoming a vital step to your customer relationship management. However, building an app … Read more