If you are already in business it is hardly likely that you will agree with my title. Aren't all businsesses different?When you think in broader terms, yes, of course you're right. I want you, however, to look , for the moment, only at the basics.All businesses are about turnover, profit margins and overheads. Basically that is all there is to it. All three must come together in perfect harmony for a business to succeed.No matter what the experts...more
The idea for this month's newsletter came from an unlikely encounter: I recently had lunch with a new friend named Rick Rockwell. You may remember him as the bachelor from the first-ever reality TV show, "Who Wants to Marry a Multimillionaire?" During our meeting, Rick described some of the knowledge he gained from doing the show, along with a few of past his experiences in business, ethics, and of course, primetime romance. The stories were...more
If we want to fill our heads with the doom and gloom society seems to thrive on, all we need to do is turn on the local news at night. To make that quantum leap toward personal happiness and success in life, sometimes we just need to do what so many people seem to be talking about lately: clean house and take personal inventory of the people we associate with most. One of my favorite quotes of all time is, Avoid the ugly people. Mind you, when I say ugly, it has nothing to do with physical appearance. The comment illustrates that to best achieve our goals and wants in life, we should surround ourselves with other like-minded people to support us on our journey. In other words, we need to clean house of our own ugly people who, for some strange reason, we feel the need to hold onto. Maybe youll relate to a personal example from my own life. On the surface, Mark (not his real name) was a pretty nice guy. I thought of him as my personal anchor, someone who kept me grounded and helped me stay on focus and direction. But every time Id venture out into something new, Mark would put his ugly hat on. Rather than becoming a voice of reason or attempting to illuminate both sides...more
When I made the decision to do free workshops and book signings for my latest book, Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer, I thought it would be easy to draw an audience. I had, after all, done all the right things to prepare for this big event: I had a successful e-zine, AbsoluteWrite.com, sent weekly directly to my target market; I was a...more
Okay Friends,It's time for a 'check up from the neck up'! It's time for an evaluation in each area of your life. Some of you may be saying 'I don't need one!' Well, you may be right. And you may not be. But you know what they say? The best time to go see the doctor is to have a preventative plan, not a recovery plan.So, with that said, fill in all...more
Today's business environment isn't getting any easier, nor will it get easier anytime in the future. I'm not psychic but I have learned that business NEVER gets simpler. More competition, shrinking profit margins, increases in fixed and operating costs are just a few of the issues we deal with everyday. You can lament this fact or, you can take proactive measures to bullet-proof your business. Here are few strategies that can help:Clearly define your business. The most successful business people know what they are in business for. They have one or two areas of specialty or expertise and they stick to what they're good at. They avoid the temptation to try to become everything to everybody. In many fields, specialists tend to do better than generalists and, in bookselling, it's no different. Have you created a niche market for yourself?Is your niche viable in your location/city/town/market?Are you the best at what you do in your trading area? Do you stick to what you're good at or do you stray from this when revenues are lean?Mounting bills, a slow month or months, pressure to generate dollars to the bottom line; it's tempting to take on new work or do something in an area you don't...more
There once was a hawk, ferocious and swift. He was young and agile with many years of life to hunt the open ranch lands. In a nearby field, a mouse scurried about the ground. The hawk saw the hurried motion and swept speedily toward the rodent.Just...more
You open your computer, the flashing button says, "We have a new update for your software program. Do you wish to update now or later?" You choose the Update Now button and immediately your computer begins to download a new version of the software...more
Fiercely combative business, non-profit and association managers use every PR weapon they can lay their hands on. Which means they employ strategic, rapid-fire print and broadcast tactics every day of their business lives. Still, many realize they...more
I've been both a CEO and a consultant, so I've seen from both perspectives what goes right and what goes wrong when a consultant comes in to a company. Generally the CEO or the manager who hires the consultant tells the consultant what he or she...more
Only one of every 5 businesses makes it to its 5th year, and fewer still make it to 10 years. What do the successful businesses have in common? 1. The experience and skills of the top managers. Over half of business failures are directly related to...more
Businesses and other organizations can capitalize on the interest and excitement the 2004 summer Olympic Games will create when they're held in Athens, Greece, August 13-29. Channel this heightened enthusiasm into the achievement of your...more