If your staff don’t have clarity about what’s expected, they will imagine what you’re looking for. That may not turn out well
A professional came from the big city to a small town to build a cabin so he could escape the hustle and bustle of life, and set down roots where he could revive his spirits. His plan was to build a tiny house from the ground up. He asked around for help building his dream…
If we fail to implement best practices, the results are going to be predictably unhappy
There’s a certain adrenaline rush you get when you go over the handlebars of your bike and are flying through the air, as I did recently. That thrill (and pain) is hard to replicate except maybe by riding bulls or broncos at a rodeo. The result, however, is certainty predictable: you’re going to hit the…
The new leadership is a blend of personal and interpersonal skills that form the basis of your ability to impact, influence and inspire others
Most executives agree that collaboration is more important than ever in today's turbulent business environment. A company's very survival may depend on how well it can combine the potential of its people and the quality of the information they possess with their ability – and willingness – to share that knowledge throughout the organization. Deloitte’s Future of Work research…
Mindset is crucial to achieving goals. However, it isn’t the only thing that makes you successful. Uncover the habits you need to succeed
Success is a mindset. If you believe you’re successful and you put your mind to what you want to accomplish, you will be ‘successful.’ This is one of those statements that’s true and not true at the same time. Quite a paradox for business owners. I recently spoke at the Universal Womens Network Success Summit.…
Change is the only certainty for businesses and their employees. Preparing for that change may be a matter of survival
I recently heard a wise man say, “What makes life precious is that it ends.” It got me thinking about some of the things in my life that have ended that I could have appreciated more. For 28 years I ran my retail business. There were people and features about that business that, in hindsight,…
We have yet to see the damage done to corporate balance sheets. And many consumers will constrain their spending
Our puppy Winnie died last week. If I was a betting man, I would have said Winnie would have lived to the ripe old age of 12 years old, which is the average life expectancy for a bichon frise. That, however, didn’t come to pass. Winnie was mischievous and playful, and in the end that…
Online marketing is very visual. The graphics and text are what catch your customer’s eye. Here are three tips to get started
I’m sure it’s happened to you: a great image passes by your screen and you stop scrolling. Boom – you find something you didn’t even know you needed. Online marketing is very visual. The graphics and text are what catch your customer’s eye and make them stop scrolling. I create a lot of images and…
It’s time for micro businesses to start rebuilding, thinking differently and moving forward with new purpose
It’s time to start rebuilding. That was the resounding message at a recent micro business forum via Impact Calgary that I was part of. Impact Calgary seeks to inspire, launch and grow tech-enabled businesses that have social impact. A micro business is defined as 10 employees or less. They account for nearly 74 per cent…
As you start to use online advertising for your business, you’ll need to know how much to budget. As a general rule, you should spend five per cent of total revenue on marketing. That will maintain your current position (in this case, on your online platforms). If you want to grow or gain greater market…
A lack of employee accountability leads to a lack of production and profitability, a loss of morale and high staff turnover
A few years ago, I was working with a construction company that had an issue with projects not completed on time. There was general frustration among the workers because one of the foremen – the owner’s son – would sleep in his truck during working hours. Supplies weren’t being picked up on time, safety meetings…