By definition, a vision is “something seen in a dream” or a “thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination.” Every business begins with a vision, and every successful business should have that vision in writing. In one sentence or in one short paragraph, a vision statement clearly and …
Strategizing Articles and Interviews (category)
The most successful business owners are always thinking ahead. If you are a new business owner, strategizing about mission statements, corporate culture and business plans are things you would be smart to address early on. More seasoned business owners can benefit from articles on everything from setting client expectations to creating a niche for your small business
7 Ways to Make Meetings More Effective Over the Summer
Summer days at the office can drag on, and so can meetings. But meetings are expensive. Say you have 10 employees who each make $70,000 a year ($35 an hour, in other words). That’s $350 for a one-hour meeting. In fact, the average meeting costs about $500 to $1,000 an hour. Other issues with …
Transitioning a Family Business: How to Do It and Keep the Family Intact
Statistics compiled by Johnson Cornell University tell us that 40 percent of all U.S.-based family businesses, of which there are approximately 5.5 million, are passed down to the next generation. From there, about 13 percent keep their doors open long enough to be transferred to the third …
How to Survive Working from Home: Advice From Other Entrepreneurs
When people learn that I work from home, one of the first things they generally say is, “You’re so lucky! I wish I could work from home too”. I usually just smile in return when what I really want to do is tell them exactly what it’s like to work in the same place where you eat, sleep, socialize, …
Turning Networking Contacts into Referral Relationships
We all know about New Year’s resolutions – but summer is characterized by its own set of resolutions, particularly in business. When people resolve to slow down for the summer, they tend to go into overdrive by reaching out to networking contacts “one last time” before checking out. As a result, …
Your Mission Statement: Don’t Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Good
Writing a mission statement for your company can seem so daunting. How do you boil down all of the most essential values of your business into a single, concise statement? How do you make sure it communicates the right message to your team and to customers? It seems like there’s a lot of pressure to …
