Just as babies need to crawl before they walk, businesses need to survive before they thrive. Keeping this in mind during a crisis is key to staying focused on the bigger picture. Whether it is a local or global crisis it is important to understand where your thoughts are at, to best serve your business …
The number one challenge small business owners tell me they face today is finding good help. I hear it from all areas of the country. People are looking for the answers, tips, tactics and all the advice they can get. Many are looking for the secret to a better team. Their challenges are similar. Not …
Whether you’re a new business owner or have been a business owner for decades there are lessons to be learned at each of the 5 stages of business. The key word being learned. While most owners look for ways to be more profitable, profitability is only one part of achieving a healthy business. A healthy business is one that …
I had some recent conversations with small business owners. All looking for ways to improve an area of their business. The conversations had to do with Sales, Profits, Processes, Customers or Teams. I thought it was interesting, how the conversations and questions came back to teams. The fact is you can’t grow your business alone …
I had a conversation with a client recently and they realized that they had positioned their company has a hero. They are simple the best at everything including team, warranty, quality, the list went on and on about themselves. How does a shop appear to a customer when you position your business at a hero? …
Trade Industry Silo I’ve been in the trade industry for over twenty years. As an automotive shop owner and a coach, I’ve spoken with hundreds of people in the trade industry frustrated over the following. These men and women are business owners, technicians, vendors, suppliers, or are part of the training and educations space such …
There is more to building, operating and growing a business than most new business owners realize. When a “doer” becomes a business owner, many find themselves in unfamiliar territory. Their skillsets and experience lie in the doing or production. In most cases they were known as the best in their field before they became an …
Point of View Do you know what the #1 complaint is from people looking for a service from a trade business? When I speak to potential customers, people in local networking groups (people who are searching for trade business services), they all have the same complaint. I can see their body change when they tell …
Micro-Managing happens when we feel that we don’t have control or are losing control of a situation or area of our business. It comes from FEAR. Fear of not being seen as the expert Fear of losing control of our brand Fear from not understanding our role The idea of allowing others to develop their …
Are you creating a sustainable business? One that is viable, continuous, worthwhile and supportable. A sustainable business is one that can operate without you being part of the day-to-day. This is a business that becomes manageable and sellable. A sustainable business is what many business owners hope for, but hope is not a strategy. Is …
We use the technology all the time. The purpose of a GPS (Global Positioning System) is location. You need to know where you are to be successful getting to your desired destination. You wouldn’t take a road trip without a destination, a map, and a vehicle. Business success is achievable when we: have a destination …