Category Archives: Depending upon others

Your fork in the road? Depending upon others.

I guarantee that there comes a time when growing businesses outgrow the original span of control of the entrepreneur.  It is a critical period and is a test of the entrepreneur’s desire and ability to delegate. And I found from … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, Growth! | 1 Comment

A personal story about quality control

So, I tell personal stories to show that we all should look for lessons learned by others.  Here’s one that is “on me.” As my enterprise computer software company which produced innovative lodging systems for hotels and resorts grew quickly, … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, Protecting the business, The fight for quality | 2 Comments

A heartbreaking story about time and money.

First, think about your time as money! We’ll get to my heartbreak in a minute. But first… There is a relationship between timeand money that is more complex than most managers think.  Fixed overhead for salaries, rent, equipment leases and … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, Finding your ideal niche, Protecting the business, Raising money | 3 Comments

Have you found your “teacher customer?”

 Your customers know what they want more than you do.  Find one to teach you. This week’s insight came from personal experience and from a good friend who advanced the notion of the “teacher-customer” years ago.  I internalized this phrase, … Continue reading

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Make your detailed strategic plan!

In these past weeks, we explored the need for a tangible goal and strategies that are measurable as steps toward achievement of your goal.  Today, we explore how to create tactics to accompany each strategy, and even suggest a number … Continue reading

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Is it YOU or your great plan?

So, what do you think is more important? There may be more choices here. But the most important ones for any size business, including start-ups, is: Do you believe it should be the quality of your management team, or the … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, Finding your ideal niche, Growth!, Raising money | 1 Comment

Are you at risk for tech killing your job?

Stop me if you’ve heard this story before. “My job as a (newspaper publisher telephone installer, stockbroker, travel agent, retail store manager) writer, poet, commercial artist – is safe as this economy continues to grow.”  Yup. Thought so. We are … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, Protecting the business | 2 Comments

Are you a dictator about sales deadlines?

Everyone who manages a company, a workgroup or a sales force wants to write as many new deals as possible and is usually wary about doing anything that might threaten the positive outcome of a pending sale. We hesitate to … Continue reading

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Things going right? Control your euphoria!

One thing a senior manager can count on is that someday, something will go right, very right.  Well, after all the disappointments, pressure and outright failures, this is NEWS. So, we tend to go overboard a bit.  As a member … Continue reading

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Is your strategic partnership just a glorified press release?

Celebrating that strategic partnership Many of us make it a priority to find and partner with companies that can add to our offering or extend our reach.  And we rightly celebrate each such pairing, often with a mutual press release. … Continue reading

Posted in Depending upon others, Surrounding yourself with talent | 1 Comment