“I don’t know.” 3 simple words. They’re not always easy to say. No one likes to admit they don’t have an answer. Some people won’t say “I don’t know.” They’d rather stumble their way through a bogus answer, pull something out of thin air (or elsewhere!) or outright lie. For some, avoiding “I don’t know” […]
The 4 Immutable Laws of Giving Great Proposals
I’ve never met a Request For Proposal I liked. They’re typically poorly designed, laden with pointless questions and ripe with ridiculous demands. Truth is: RFPs aren’t even meant to find the best vendor. They were invented by process-loving bureaucrats, whose sole mission in life is to procrastinate, justify their jobs and cover their asses. RFPs […]
Social Networks Are Not Personal
They’re professional. There are plenty of social networks designed for personal use, but they all have professional implications and opportunities. And to ignore those issues is a mistake. Your “Stuff” Is Exposed Most social networks have some level of privacy to keep prying eyes away from your profile and content, but don’t assume it’s full […]
Ignore a Customer’s Lifetime Value at Your Own Risk
Too many businesses ignore the lifetime value of customers. Doing so will lead to failure. You can measure the lifetime value of a customer in two ways: The total amount a customer will spend; and, The total amount other people will spend after being told about your business by a customer. Without getting into precise […]
10 Essential Business Leadership Skills
Are you a leader? Truth be told, not everyone is a leader. It’s just not meant for everyone. And that’s OK. But more people are leaders than they realize. Leadership takes on many different faces; it’s just a question of understanding how you lead and why. Here are 10 key business leadership skills you’ll need to succeed as a leader.
How Do You Hire The Right People?
Very, very carefully. Hiring people is the biggest, most challenging decision a business owner has to make. This is even more true for entrepreneurs starting new companies. When hiring people, there are two ways to do it: Build a core, passionate team. Or don’t. Very few people would admit to choosing #2 as an approach, […]
What Does Your Competition Look Like?
A few days ago I was stuck behind a bus, late for a meeting. And not just any meeting. An important meeting. (Are there any other kinds? Heh. Kidding.) Between cursing myself out for not leaving 10 minutes earlier (too busy checking email – stupid) and scrounging around in the car for a mint (Swiss […]
The Top 10 Tips For New Consultants And Freelancers
You’ve just decided to leave your job. Or maybe you’re moonlighting. Either way you’re out there, offering your services to the highest bidder. Congrats! The world of consulting and freelancing is a vast, mercurial place filled with all sorts of opportunities. But there’s danger lurking about as well. When you first jump into the game, […]
How Long Did That Really Take To Do?
No matter what you do, you can’t create more time. It’s why the idea of working smarter not harder is so popular. It’s why there are millions of productivity websites, blogs, books, guides and gurus. People argue over the semantics of “time management” constantly … can time really be managed? If you can’t control time, […]
Is Home Depot Scamming People With Fake Comments?
While looking at some contemporary rugs on the Home Depot website I came across a few comments that looked suspicious. Let me preface this quickly — having communication features like comments and reviews on e-commerce sites is great. I often look at the reviews and ratings before digging into product details, because there may be […]
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