There are many details involved in starting a business. Here, I've boiled it down to the seven that I have found to be most important to continuing business success. 1. Open a checking account. The moment you make the decision to go in business for yourself, open a new checking account. Decide how … [Read more...]
Archives for 2011
Mentors
Mentors provide the inspirations and guidance to elevate you to a higher level of success than you might even think you are capable of achieving; at least that's been my experience. Formal and Informal Mentors Formal mentors are normally folks with or for whom you work. Formal mentors are great … [Read more...]
Six tips for the traveling business executive
Recently I was asked how I manage to run a business and I travel as much as I do. The answer is that's it's not so tough most of the time. Other times the logistics of conference calls and Webex meetings can be frustrating. Here are some of the tips and tricks I use to stay on top of the game. 1. … [Read more...]
Editorial Planning
For one guy who also manages to run a successful business, I generate a fair amount of content. That does not happen by accident. I have an editorial plan and I constantly refine said plan. If you have a blog where you don't publish regularly (like this blog was until July 1, 2010), you know how … [Read more...]
Why Content Matters
My first post of the year revealed my three words for the year: customers, content and strategy. A couple of weeks back, I shared my thoughts about customers and, today, I'm going to drill down into content. Content is at the heart of what ColorMetrix and Jim Raffel do. Content is the glue that … [Read more...]
Kitchen Table Companies Reviewed
By now you may have heard that my friends Joe Sorge and Chris Brogan have started Kitchen Table Companies. Kitchen Table Companies is a community for small business owners doing business the old fashioned way - around the kitchen table. Chris started there, so did Joe and hey guess what? - me too! I … [Read more...]
Public Speaking in 2011
Tomorrow morning, I'll head out on a trip that includes my first public speaking event of the year. I'm reminded that I wrote a fair amount on the topic of public speaking last year. There was a good reason for that as I had set a goal (one I attained) to speak 12 times in 2010. For 2011, I have not … [Read more...]
The power of planning
Over the last year, I have become a planner. Sure, I still find myself working close to deadlines, but not nearly as often as in the past. I believe the writing I have done on this blog in the last year is a key to my transformation into a planner. The power of planning posts Writing the The Help … [Read more...]
Live a shameless and unapologetic life
By no means does the title of this post infer you should be ungrateful; quite the opposite. The simple fact is that unless you won the biological lottery (think Paris Hilton) or the pay-your-dollar-here lottery, you have worked damn hard for the success you have. I'm fairly certain there are few … [Read more...]
Changing Business Processes
As I closed out my 2010 bookkeeping over the last two weeks, I realized I had done something right about 12 months ago. As I tallied my business auto miles and out of pocket cash expenditures for the year, the process was going much faster than the previous year. I had made two business process … [Read more...]