When it comes to achieving your goals, many people fall short because they don’t have a compelling “why” to want to dedicate to reaching their goals. Every goal you create should have a “big why” that propels you to stay focused on getting the work...
As the year comes to a close, it is time to reflect on what worked this year and what didn’t. Perhaps you accomplished your goals, perhaps you didn’t quite see them all the way through. Either way, take the next few weeks to truly ask...
When it comes down to getting things done in your business, and taking your productivity to the next level, it all falls back on how your team executes – and if they execute well. If your teams are not performing, then it is time to start...
Making decisions can be challenging, especially when it can mean the difference between your company growing or not. Over the years, and through some of my own personal mistakes, I’ve found that the key to making the right decisions and having them positively translate into...
I’m often asked this question, “why do some people make millions, while others don’t”. And, my answer is always much simpler than people may think. I’ve studied what differentiates the most profitable businesses from those that barely make ends meet. In other words, to be...
When it comes to achieving your goals, the biggest hurdle is setting them first. Believe it or not, this is where many people fall short. You can’t achieve a goal that you have not set. That’s why I dedicate 4 whole days at the end...
As a business owner, your business or work life is only one small portion of what makes you who you are. What good is having a successful career, if other areas of your life are in shambles? When you look at your life, there are...
In business, productivity is everything. When you first started, you naturally had to wear many hats. You had to be the marketer, customer service, sales rep – all rolled into one. But, as your business grows and you bring on staff, your role must shift...
Starting a business is a financial balancing act. You need cash to get started and you need enough to hold you over while you generate buzz around your business and attract customers. But, cash flow challenges aren’t a start-up problem. As you scale your business,...
When you study the world’s greatest athletes you quickly see a common trend emerge: practice. I once asked a professional tennis coach what truly separated the good players from the best. And his answer was simple, “the best players practice at least 6 days a...
Consider this question… In a crowded marketplace with thousands of other businesses, can you really stand out and make a decent profit? If you know how to consistently stand out, then the answer is: yes! When your customers have dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of options to...
I will be the first to tell you: change is hard. Whether you are “forced” to change because of an unexpected shift in your industry, or if you are looking for a new way to shake things up – change is inevitable. And, as technology revolutionizes...
How often in your business do you find yourself or your employees saying, “We don’t do it that way?” Now, don’t get me wrong, having systems and procedures in place – that should be followed – is always a great way to increase efficiency. But, if...
When it comes to building a team of peak performers, training them appropriately is key to how they will treat you and how they will execute. For example, when you have to continually remind your staff to perform or complete tasks, you inadvertently establish a...
In business, having to overcome obstacles is just an inevitable part of the process. But, how you tackle obstacles will be key in determining if you will be able to persevere and be successful. When you come across a challenge, if you’re like most, you...
We’ve all been there… we make a goal, think we’re committed to seeing it to fruition and then somewhere along the lines we drop the ball and never reach it. And, for the busy business owner, this happens all too often when other things get...
When it comes to starting and running a profitable business, how you handle your finances can be one of the biggest predictors of your future success. I always hear entrepreneurs say, “I need to make more money,” but this may only be one side of...
As we near the end of the year, now is the best time to start evaluating what has worked, what didn’t work, and, more importantly, where you want to go in 2019 – and beyond. Whether you carve out 3 days, like I do to reflect...
When you get feedback, how do you often respond? Are you quick to jump to conclusions or get defensive? If you’re like most people, the word defensive may come to mind. We often are reluctant to see the fault in our ways and that is normal....
I was approached, not too long ago by a business owner who had an employee that was spending too much time on her phone, while she was at work. He had tried to put rules in place, but that didn’t seem to work. And, though...
I’m often asked, “What can I do to stay motivated?” and my response is actually a very simple one. I follow the same three steps when I make goals in my business as well as in my personal life. When it comes to staying on track,...
When it comes to growing your business, stepping out of the box is often mission critical to your business success. I recently had a client reach out to me because their sales were dropping, despite them sending out 100+ emails a day. Naturally, they went to...
We’ve grown accustomed to think that bigger is better and less is worse. But, in reality, when it comes to getting things done in your business, taking a step back and investing time to grow your business is what is important. I had a client who...
If you’re like most entrepreneurs and business owners then you know, the more your business grows, the more problems you’ll encounter. Simply put, challenges propel us to grow and to transform what we do and how we do it. I found this out firsthand last year with my...
I have a motto I live by: “I want my customers to adore me and my competition to hate me.” I know this is a bold and unconventional statement to make, but I see many business owners, time and time again, falling into the competition trap....
Even the most successful business owners and entrepreneurs have to overcome those voices that tell them they “can’t” or that they “shouldn’t”. But, how you handle them when they inevitably happen will help set you apart from your competition. In some cases, that voice in...
When’s the last time you’ve challenged yourself? Pushing yourself further physically, mentally, or emotionally is always a good exercise to remind yourself of just how powerful you can be when you are able to commit, focus, and execute. I make a point to challenge myself,...
When you set a goal, do you choose something that is within reach or do you go all out and pursue the unreachable? If you’re like 99% of Americans, you’ll like go for the goal within reach, right? We all have done it and/or still do it. That’s...
Most entrepreneurs and small business owners talk about scaling their business. When truth be told, what they are actually doing is growing their business. So, what’s the difference? When you grow your business, you alone are taking your business to the next level. You, single-handedly, are working...
As business owners, we’re almost wired to assume that more money, a more prestigious title, or even more praise are enough for an employee to want to perform at their best. However, the reality is, there are often many more factors at play that can...
Though success is not guaranteed in business, there are certain steps and actions you can take to put yourself on a winning trajectory. However, it all comes back to you truly reflecting on what you want and being willing to put a plan to execute...
Being a ski instructor is not the most glorifying job, nor is it one where you expect to learn some key lessons about business. But, during my time, in the 1980’s, working in New York City as a ski instructor, I soon realized that the...
In business, it is not what you know, but how you execute. And, trust me, I’ve seen it time and time again, when business owners make a plan, but never execute it. Or, even worse, they execute the plan, but only half-heartedly. To truly follow...
Starting a business is complicated enough. But, when you add in business partners to the mix, it can be a disaster if you do not get organized on day one. To build your business’ foundation, you must create an operating agreement. This is not optional. Even...
First things first. You cannot execute, without a plan. And, you cannot plan without a goal. Take it a step further, and it becomes clear – you cannot create a goal until you can identify what it is you want to accomplish. The foundation of...
When you started your business, did you consider how your business would fit into your life, or how your life would fit into your business? As an entrepreneur, you hear about (if not have already lived through) the 12, 14, even long 16 hour work days...
When it comes to how you handle your business and your personal relationships, knowing the difference between reacting and responding is critical. If we take a look at the dictionary definitions for each, then it becomes clear that having a reaction is not the same as...
I’m always asked when the right time is to start a business and to be honest, there may never be “the perfect time”. Starting a business, even when you are the most prepared comes with an inherent level of risk. Just how much risk you...
When it comes to your personal and professional development, are you focusing on bettering yourself and staying challenged? All too often in life and in business, we let our responsibilities and schedules crowd out taking time to reflect on how we can be better, in...
In business, you’re constantly evolving to try to determine what products and services to offer your customers to meet their needs. We ask ourselves questions like… What need do our customers have? What products or services will they want to buy? What price are...
Too often I see entrepreneurs and business owners fall victim to their ego. They invest their time, money, and sweat into a business venture and risk losing everything rather than making the decision to walk away. Contrary to popular belief, giving up can be one...
Focus, in business, is your secret weapon. With it, you can hone in on anything and reach any goal you are committed to. Without it, your business can be paralyzed or moving in opposing directions that stop your forward progress. The choice is yours… Choose clarity and...
When it is time to make a decision, what do you do? Do you have a set of internal standards or criteria that you run through? Or, do you simply go with your gut and “wing it”. In business, having a standardized system is everything. It helps...
I often hear people comment that they “can’t” do something, when in reality what they are saying is that they “won’t” put in the effort to get the results they want. We as a society, have been conditioned to expect fast results with minimal work....
Quick question for you to consider… Where are you storing your ideas? Are you writing them down or are you storing them in your memory? If your answer is the latter, then I challenge you to find a more consistent way to document your ideas, thoughts, concerns,...
Do you have someone in your life (maybe it’s you) who seems to talk and talk and talk? We all know at least one person like this. Some people may even consider me to be a constant talker. On a recent trip to a vintage...
If you want to challenge yourself, go train with Navy Seal commanders. That is exactly what I did when I flew to California and spent three of the most grueling days of my life. I wanted to push myself outside of my comfort zone and...
As an entrepreneur, you’re often THE expert in your business. You’ve perfected having to wear multiple hats, at any given time, to get everything done. But, what happens when you hire your first employee or work with your first team? For many, it will involve having to...
You often hear the phrase “get everyone on board”. If you think of your business, or even your personal relationships, as a proverbial boat, where you need people to row to keep the boat moving and making forward progress. As with any boat, you’ll naturally...
Fill in the blank… “if it is to be, then it is up to _____.” Did you say “me”? If you did it is okay because I would have said the same thing. As entrepreneurs and business owners, we often think in terms of “me” or “I”. You...
We all know that life is short, that how we live will define our level of success. But, what we all often take for granted is the company we keep. Your five closest friends are not only important on a social level, but they are...
today’s society, we have the mantra “go big or go home”, where we imply that having everything is the ideal. And, for those who don’t have everything, they should be constantly striving to add more to their list of growing successes. This way of thinking...
I am always asked, “How do I become more well-rounded?” And my answer to them is often this, “You don’t want to be!” Think of it this way, being well round is like a globe. You know the old-fashioned ones that have the continents, but nothing...
I’ll cut to the chase - most forms of accountability don’t work. We’ve all been there with a goal we want to achieve and then within days, we’ve already failed. But, why is this always the case? We don’t have a battle-tested, proven way to actually hold ourselves...
Not everything in your life is urgent, and not everything in your life is important. So, what’s the difference? Urgent tasks are those things that have to be addressed immediately. Perhaps it is a question from a client that needs to be answered to move a project...
When it comes to being successful, there are certain actions you must take to reach your end goal. First, you have to figure out what it is you want. Then, must create an efficient and an effective plan to get what it is you want. Next,...
