Owning a franchise is the best way to become your own boss, but not all franchise owners are equal. Here are 10 things successful franchise owners have in common. If you are looking to make a plunge into the exciting and often challenging world of franchise ownership, it doesn’t hurt to learn from the crème de […]
Character
Can a “Good-Hearted” Entrepreneur Succeed in Business?
People argue over whether an entrepreneur with a sense of fairness, a desire for collegiality, a want to share the profits can succeed in the long run within a business world full of lions and tigers that eat timid entrepreneurs for lunch. Does a “good heart” diminish the chances of success? First, let’s separate the […]
These 5 Elements Measure Your Real Power as a Business Leader
How does a small business owner increase his or her power? If you believe as some do that power is all about title, position, authority, control, and supremacy, you’ll be hard-pressed for an answer. Leaders in small businesses can give themselves any title or position they want. They have complete authority to do whatever they […]
Self-Leadership: A Prerequisite for Teamwork
Building effective teams requires building self-leaders. Let’s start with teams first. Is it better for organizations to be more like a natural (wild) garden or an orchestra? One of these models is not better than the other—they reflect different purposes. A natural garden has beauty, freedom of expression, and individuality that cannot be reproduced in […]
Building a Successful Business is Harder without Trust
It probably goes without saying that without trust in your partners, your employees, or the people you rely on for parts or supplies, building a business is exponentially more difficult. As a small business owner, I’ve had partners I trusted, partners I’ve respected, and one or two who lost my trust. So when Lynda Bekore […]
Leadership Development: 5 Special Qualities Shared By Courageous Leaders
The following content is inspired by my keynote HEART OF A LION: The Essential Qualities of Courageous Leaders. There are many different aspects that make up the complex psyche of a true leader who passionately strives for success for both themselves and others. A leader has so many special qualities that it’s inspirational when you work with […]
What the Best Leaders Learn from Hate and Hypocrisy
A few years ago, I was on an executive retreat with 10 friends, all of whom run successful businesses. The idea was that we would learn from one another about how to grow our companies and deal with the challenges we faced. John Drury, who became an executive coach after selling his advertising agency, served […]
Victim or Victor
In this blog we’ve often discussed the “false dilemma”—the unnecessary use of the word “or.” For example, “Wealthy OR Happy” as though it’s necessarily one OR the other when of course it can and should be both. Another is “nice OR successful.” Then there’s “giver OR receiver.” And numerous others. On the other hand there are those things that are one or the other. […]
Surround Yourself with a Winning Team
Sports gives us such a great window into the rest of our lives. Over four quarters, nine innings, two halves, or whatever frame it uses, a game is a miniature lesson. The coaches and players prepare, come up with a plan. They put it into action. And within a few hours, there’s a winner and […]
Leadership Skills: 5 Key Ingredients of Courageous Leaders
A great leader knows how to get the best out of their people. Through strong, clear guidance, they enable others to walk tall and achieve success in many ways. Courageous leaders are inspirational. That isn’t their ambition. It’s simply a positive by-product of their character and powerful work ethic. By following the example a good […]
