Not too long ago, a friend made the comment that people don't really change, do they? At the time, I agreed with my friend but that conversation gnawed at me and now I feel differently. Like many, I spent a great deal of my life struggling with money management. I've improved that significantly over … [Read more...]
You don't know how it works here
If you have spent anytime in corporate America, you've heard the words "you don't know how it works here" probably more than a few times. I know I have and recently one of my friends shared her experience hearing this phrase one time too many times. This phrase is the epitome of thinking inside the … [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...]
Why Customers Matter
One of my three words for 2011 is customers. Every business focuses on customers - right? Well, actually no. My experiences in 2010 proved to me that many large companies have forgotten about the customer in favor of the product/service and the bottom line. I chose this word so that I can focus more … [Read more...]
Seven ways to spark creativity
In order to ship great stuff (even mediocre stuff for that matter) on a regular basis you are going to have to find ways to spark your creativity. As I look back at the last year or so, I realize now how much my creative productivity has increased. I paused for a few moments to make a list of the … [Read more...]
When it all comes together
For several months I have been contemplating a significant change in the pricing of ColorMetrix "off the shelf products." Today, while trying to decide what to write about here, I figured out how to properly move forward on the re-pricing project. I experienced one of those moments when it all comes … [Read more...]
Incremental vs. Breakthrough Change
Because change is a constant, it makes sense to spend time understanding the process and harnessing how it happens, with the idea being to arrive at the best possible outcome. Sometimes methodical incremental change will make sense. At other times breakthrough change could be required to remain a … [Read more...]
Embrace change
Change is a constant - right? Sometimes change affects you positively and other times negatively. Sometimes you accept change willingly and other times, not so much. I met a man this week who does not seem to accept change willingly but he does approach it positively. He argued and fought with a … [Read more...]
Focus on you
Why? Because you can't change anyone else. Don't be jealous. You don't want to be like them. You want to be like you. Find your own way. Your unique approach to the world is what people find interesting. You're doing it right. Yes, you are and keep the focus on you by helping others. When … [Read more...]
Know what you have the power to own
This is not a post about material possessions. It's about me not trying to fix you and you not trying to fix me. Know those times when I'm really tired, cranky, hungry, withdrawn? Yes, you know what I'm taking about because it happens to you too. Here's the deal. Think about how you are feeling … [Read more...]