Building and implementing a budgeting and forecasting process is critical to revenue growth. In today's fiercely disruptive and competitive world, the importance of such an approach cannot be undermined. And during the volatile and challenging times, we need to...

As the first wave of businesses opened up these past couple of weeks, it is critical for business owners to cut through the noise and focus on the three things that matter most, to lead the way to preserve and restore revenue as well as profitability, rebuild and grow...

At this point, you’re probably tired of reading blogs about sugary snack rolls. If you humour me by reading this last one, I promise to keep it short, and I promise that this will be the last time that I mention Twinkies in a blog. English: Hostess Twinkies. Yellow...

Customers are a lot savvier than they used to be. With tools like the internet and social media at their disposal, they can do a great deal of preliminary research before embarking upon the purchasing journey. They also have considerably more expectations regarding...

Let's just cut to the chase:  if you're doing any B2B marketing or networking, you need to be on LinkedIn.  I'm amazed when I hear of professional consultants who just "don't see the need to waste time on LinkedIn."  If your pipeline is healthy and your calendar is...

Everyone wants innovators in their business, but finding employees who are willing to innovate is a very challenging task. As we discussed in my last blog post, the most innovative workers might have a non-traditional background for the position you're staffing. If...

While it may seem hard to be optimistic about the business landscape, inevitably things will improve, and businesses will re-open. For this to succeed on an individual basis, most companies will need to review and reassess their current business plan. (Many companies...

Your current and prospective customers spend a lot of time on their phones, so it’s logical for you and other small businesses to focus on different marketing strategies. Among the most popular now, depending upon the business, is text message marketing. According to...

I’ve been involved with small business leadership for longer than I care to mention.  If you’re trying to guess how just how long, I’ll only say that in the first peer advisory board that I led, we had to kick out a Stegosaurus, because she wasn’t paying her dues. ...

The Economist has long argued that innovation is one of the most important assets of a country's economic growth rate. Tom Kelly, of IDEO, has written a fascinating book titled Ten Faces of Innovation that focuses on how to innovate.  IDEO may be the most innovative...

In a small or medium-sized business, it’s common to be the only one making decisions about every aspect of your company—thus the saying, “it’s lonely at the top.” No matter how large or small your business is, being the sole decision-maker for the company can be...

I will not profess to know what is on the other side of this global pandemic; in fact, it would be fair to say that no one knows what is on the other side. What we know for sure is that not knowing specifics or a trend is not a reason for inaction. Now is the time to...

No one can predict what will happen to the business landscape in 2021 (look how far off the experts were about 2020, pre-coronavirus pandemic!). But one constant will remain in place next year, and for years to come: the primary importance of high-quality customer...

It’s hard to believe that 2020 is nearing its end, but it will surely be one to remember for years to come.  This year has been a difficult one for business owners. Many of my clients included have persevered like never before, and for this, they should be commended. ...

There is a reason why high performing athletes have coaches. To reach their highest potential, to improve their performance, and to win. Multiple studies have proven that coaching in business has similar benefits. With the right coach, you will be a better leader and...

When it comes to growing a business, most people look to bringing in new clients, landing a major contract, or getting a new sale. What about your focus on existing customers? Your existing customers are your most probable (and most times the most profitable) source...

It’s helpful for any business owner to have someone they can turn to for business advice. In my experience, I’ve found that discussing your business issues with a person, or in a group of like-minded individuals, is particularly helpful when overcoming business...

Good communication is essential in all areas of life, but especially in the workplace. Disconnected, uninformed employees can have a detrimental effect on your business and bottom line. Implementing effective communication skills, tools, and strategies in the office...

The term “company culture” gets tossed around a lot lately, and it’s true that a strong corporate culture can make a big difference in boosting employee recruitment and retention. But, increasingly, men and women who put in eight hours or more a day in the workplace...

Well before the onset of COVID-19, buying trends among consumers were already tilting towards a huge increase in digital shopping. Now, with all of us practicing some form of social distancing, digital commerce is more prevalent than ever before. With that boom, of...

As the CEO or business owner, your job is crucial in setting the tone for your company culture. These five pitfalls can lead to discontent, high employee turnover and a negative culture. Your role as CEO or business owner goes beyond planning for the future and...

Project Management in a nutshell Broadly speaking, Project Management involves assigning a team dedicated to achieving certain goals in alignment with specific success criteria within a specified time frame. While we will examine various project management...

Coaching differs greatly from therapy. That’s according to a Harvard Business Review survey which makes the distinction that coaching focuses on the future, whereas therapy focuses on the past. The majority of the survey’s respondents maintained that coaching clients...

One of the most difficult things a leader will have to deal with in the workplace is the death of an employee. Whether the result of ongoing health complications or a tragic accident, a death in the company requires nuanced, careful handling. In recent times, I have...

A company’s strategic plan is only as effective as the process that goes into creating it. If the approach is too rigid, hierarchical, or only serves as an empty exercise, it’s unlikely the business will in any way benefit from the process. If on the other hand, a...

There are many compelling reasons for incorporating a volunteer element in your company culture. For one thing, marshaling the power of your workforce for the good of the community is always a positive measure to take. Also, being an active participant in local...

The Chocolate Wars is a fascinating story about the history of the chocolate industry; written by Deborah Cadbury. Of course, Mrs. Cadbury's family business was featured in the story; Nestle, Hershey, Mars, and many other companies were are also detailed. This history...