Although many small businesses can be quite large as defined by the number of employees (usually 500 or less in the U.S.) or by a combination of employees and gross sales in other countries, they may still be owned and operated by one individual or perhaps, a family or a few owners. And, of course,…

This is the time of year when people are setting their “goals” for 2023. So I thought I would republish one of my most popular posts. ————————————————————————– I don’t have “goals.” I don’t believe in “goals.” I don’t allow the people I work with to have goals. Wait – what? I don’t have goals? I…

I know a lot of business struggle with the “Three Uniques.” I have seen a lot of “uniques” that aren’t unique, or at least aren’t unique to their prospects (they might be the only family-owned HVAC company in town, but do customers really care about that?). I use a framework I developed called “The 3…

It is a common expression that small businesses are the backbone of any economy. To further elaborate, it might be said that micro businesses make up a large majority of the small business marketplace. These businesses might be described as owner-operated businesses with perhaps no more than five or ten employees. They generally start with very…

Every marketing and business development activity ultimately focuses on the following goals: make contact, start a dialogue, and sell. Personal networking, telemarketing, online marketing, email campaigns, and direct mail are all activities businesses can undertake to start interactions with prospective customers. With any of these types of marketing, knowledge, and skill are required for the…

Businesses operate in a highly competitive environment. A unique sales process can be a defining strength for a business as it competes with direct business rivals. A defined sales process aims to ensure buyer satisfaction and generate higher revenues.    The following five success methods can be easily adapted for any size business:  1. Standardize…

It is the time of year when many companies start planning their strategy for the following year. Unfortunately, much strategy planning is an exercise in futility – plans are shelved quickly and don’t address what needs to be addressed. Part of this is confusion over what strategy is – strategy IS NOT long-term or high-level…

An organization needs strategy tools that focus on more than just repairing weaknesses. The company-wide vision must also amplify internal strengths—both current successes and aspirational opportunities. A SOAR analysis can be the perfect strategic tool for future-focused goal creation. This framework can align present market opportunities with desired outcomes and growth targets. This guide will…

It’s getting close to the end of the year, and what happens typically in a business? It is probably the time for annual performance reviews. Everyone who has worked for any period has perhaps had a performance review at one time or another. They either loved it, hated it, or dreaded it and very likely…

Every business, large or small, has a culture. Maybe, it’s called a business culture, corporate culture, or organizational culture, but they are all the same. The culture that is right for one company may not be the right culture for another company because each company is unique and has its own culture. Business culture is…

Success in a small business does not happen in an instant. Many small business owners and managers worry more about failure than anticipating and planning for success. While failure is a reality for small businesses, this is not where the focus should be. Obsessing about failure keeps a business in the present time. However, planning…

An efficient, no-cost way to improve operations is to observe employees, customers, and competitors. The best part of the observation, which includes oversight and listening, is that there is no cost to the business, and lessons learned can be implemented immediately. Observe Employees Employees are always doing something or should be doing something productive and…