10 Good Reasons Not to Seek Investors for Your Startup
Sure, maybe you need the money. Maybe that’s what your business plan says. But seriously: Do you really want to have investors involved in your dream startup? I’ve said it before: bootstrapping is underrated. I get frequent emails from people asking how they can get investment for their new startup, and I’ve admitted to being a…
Read More6 Baby Steps You Can Take to Grow Your Business
Growing a business isn’t for the faint of heart. It comes with a lot of challenges, dedication and pain. Having a stellar product or service alone isn’t enough to turn your idea into a successful, profitable business. From marketing and branding to considering your customer experience, the life of a business owner can be hectic…
Read MoreIs Crowdfunding Still a Good Way to Gain Investment?
The rise of crowdfunding was an abrupt and noisy one. The major platforms that allow people to invest small amounts in speculative projects, the likes of Kickstarter and Indiegogo, seemed to pop up overnight, with huge success stories touting it as the future of funding. But with the dust settling and Kickstarter reporting this week…
Read MoreHow to Deliver Excellence: It Isn’t an Accident
I’ve never met a business owner or leader who didn’t want the employees of their organization to deliver excellence. And the truth is most employees want that too. They want to work for an organization that allows and even encourages them to go above and beyond for the people they serve. Sadly, most employers believe…
Read MoreHow to Get the Most Out of Your Inbound Marketing Agency
When they said it takes two to tango, they weren’t kidding. The timeless adage applies to agency–client relationships too. Having a hefty budget alone or hiring the most decorated inbound marketing agency is not the end-all be-all of a successful campaign. If you’re looking into hiring an inbound marketing agency or already working with one, here are some…
Read MoreThe Surprising Marketing Channel That Gen Xers Value
We hear so much about Millennials these days, that we almost forget Gen Xers as a market force. Well, a recent MarketingCharts study and Yahoo report give us some insight into this unsung generation. “Generation X, comprised of 81 million adults, has the highest spending power today, controlling 29% of estimated net worth dollars and 31%…
Read MoreHow to Become a Catalyst Leader
If you’re in the Baby Boomer generation about to retire or already retired, congratulations! But this article is not for you. As the Baby Boomers retire they are taking with them critical leadership skills that the younger generations just don’t have. There are several reasons for this. First, the same skills set that worked for…
Read More9 Tips for Scaling Your Business from Successful Entrepreneurs
The difference between a small business or startup and a successful and profitable company typically boils down to time and experience. But, there are certain factors that play a big part in how those companies grew to be successful—things like timing, having the right people, focus, and intensely hard work. Remember that every major company was…
Read MoreHow to Make Your Sales Goals Real and Yourself Accountable
“A verbal contract isn’t worth the paper it’s written on.” Samuel Goldwyn. There are a lot of quotes and adages that reflect the idea Samuel Goldwyn was getting at. The heart of the matter is this: When we get serious about something, we put it down in writing. Until something is on paper (or perhaps the…
Read MoreKey Techniques to Prevent Inventory Loss and Shrinkage: Part 1
Retail shrinkage can occur at any time following the delivery of goods and prior to those goods being sold. Some of the most common causes of loss include shoplifting, employee theft, and fraud by employees, suppliers, and credit card thieves. Whether you own a small shop, a warehouse that holds stock for clients, or a…
Read More