Are You Getting What You Paid For
There is an adage that, “You get what you paid for.” The basic idea is that buyers receive value commensurate with price. This ideal sounds nice until it doesn’t happen. Remember this before purchasing a company with lofty expectations; only to have bad things happen soon thereafter. The good news is that another adage, “An…
The Cost of Being Unprepared
Do bad things really happen to business owners and leaders? The answer is, “Absolutely YES!” Two weeks ago, the Seattle business community was shocked to learn that Melanie Dressel, CEO of Columbia Bank, unexpectedly passed away. Two days after her family notified Columbia Bank’s Board Chairman, an interim CEO was named and an announced search…
The Limitlessness of Possibility
Is your company running at its optimized best? Is there opportunity for improvement? If so, what’s holding your company back from realizing its potential? To transform unrealized potential into awesome results, start by asking, “What is possible?” You never know what is possible if you don’t ask the right person Last weekend, I was at…
How Will YOU Be Remembered
What is the real goal of owning your own business? What are you trying to accomplish? How will your work impact the lives of others? What will others say about your non-work related contributions to the world? How will you be remembered by family, friends and colleagues? What is your legacy? This doesn’t have to…
What Small Business Owners Must Leverage to Beat Big Business
There is an economic war going on between small business and Big Business. The future weapons for Big Business are automation and artificial intelligence. This accelerating trend is not reversing. Are you ready for the future? Here’s the BIG PICTURE… Per the White House Big Business will increase profits by eliminating jobs. There is a…
Ability to Lead Others Through Adversity
Super Bowl 51 was a case study of effective leadership in action. Being a Seattle Seahawks fan, it is hard to give props to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, but they put on a master clinic that few saw coming after the Patriots saw themselves down 21-3 at halftime. Below are three key…
Why Your Reality Becomes Your Truth
Have you ever noticed how some people see things one way while other people see the exact same situation completely differently? While this phenomenon is very prevalent today in the world of national politics, it is also happening inside your company. Chances are quite high that you have no idea as to the extent it…
Effective Listening is a Two-Way Street
There is an epidemic of leaders and owners who believe that effective business communication is a one-way street. This is called the, “leader talks and followers listen syndrome.” In other words, it is your job as a leader to give orders to people who are lower on the company food chain. Although what you say…
A Simple Model to Grow ANY Business
A truism for life is that simplicity is better than complexity. To illustrate, when was the last time you used calculus in a practical way? Unless you’re an engineer, the answer is probably, “I don’t know.” At some point, math becomes too complex and precise to be helpful. When it comes to business, it is…
Companies Need AIR to Breathe
If your company has a problem attracting high quality employees, inspiring them to deliver great value and retaining them to help your company grow, then it is time to bring more oxygen, or AIR into your business. AIR is a necessity for companies that want to thrive and avoid dying. What is AIR Surviving and…