You know, where you do something positive about the behaviors of those outside audiences that MOST affect your organization? And where you do so by persuading those important external folks to your way of thinking, then move them to take actions that help your department, division or subsidiary succeed? Yes, that's right, it's where you use the fundamental premise of public relations to produce external stakeholder behavior change - the kind that...more
As a "Motivation Trainer" for over 20 years, I have researched the subject of "Motivation." It is talked about a lot, but not very much is taught or written about it. It seems to be a word that eludes us. I often here people say: "Can you motivate me?" or "I need motivating." or "I've lost my motivation." Part of the challenge in understanding the concept of "Motivation" is to understand what it means. We seem to have a distorted definition of...more
A good consultant provides specialist abilities and experience, innovative ideas, second opinions (reality checks), unbiased appraisals, and new approaches.A good consultant will leave you with tools, plans, and materials, and will transfer knowledge and resources to help you use them.Avoid making mistakes and wasting time and resources. A small investment and timely, professional advice can mean savings and increased revenues in the future. Adding the services of a consultant can make a difference when time or human resource constraints would otherwise mean a lost revenue, market, promotion, or funding opportunity.Know your limitations and expect a consultant to know theirs. You may have someone on staff who will volunteer to create advertisements, a website, or a marketing plan--but if they aren't truly qualified, you could be paying later to undo damage or make up for missed opportunities. A good consultant will also refer you to other specialists or obtain the services of subcontractors when they need to complement their own expertise.You are uniquely qualified to handle many aspects of your own business. Hiring a specialist, when necessary, can free you to do what you do...more
Wouldn't it be nice for business owners and executives to be finished with their policies and procedures project already? They know they need to get it done, but maybe it's taking too long. Or perhaps their people are staring at a blank piece of paper, and they don't know where to begin. Or maybe they're not sure what to write. Or they're just too...more
I can hear the jokes already and most of them are not politically correct. Let me throw out a word that we often don't attach to work and yet I think it is a word of redemption, of contribution, of achievement, of community, and ultimately, of legacy.Here it is: LOVE. Kahil Gibran proclaimed, "Work is love made visible". I would further clarify...more
Calculating cash flow is one of the most important tasks of the business owner. Revenue and expenses are rarely constant in a business and cash requirements need to be planned for shortfalls, seasonal factors or one time large payments. At the end of the day, a company that cannot pay its bills is bankrupt. Unfortunately, while many business owners concentrate solely on their revenues and expenses to manage their cash flow, it's usually poor management of the cash conversion cycle that so often leads to a cash crunch in the business.What is the cash conversion cycle and why should I be concerned with it? The cash conversion cycle is simply the duration of time it takes a firm to convert its activities requiring cash back into cash returns. The cycle is composed of the three main working capital components: Accounts Receivable outstanding in days (ARO), Accounts Payable outstanding in days (APO) and Inventory in days (IOD). The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) is equal to the time is takes to sell inventory and collect receivables less the time it takes to pay your payables, or: CCC = IOD + ARO - APOWhy is this cycle important? Because it represents the number of days a firm's cash...more
You wouldn't drive a car without a gas gauge or speedometer, and if you're driving on an empty tank, you won't get very far. Then why would you make financial decisions without the proper tools? Businesses must master controlling the flow of cash....more
When we perceive the simple center in the seemingly complex, we can change our world in powerful new ways. Albert Einstein perceived the simple E=MC2 in the complexities of physical reality and changed the history of the 20th century.Big Daddy...more
Considering a work-from-home business? Clients often say their biggest fear is loss of momentum. Here are ten tips to keep yourself motivated and productive. (1) Build structure into your day.Create a schedule and To Do list every evening for the...more
Question: If you were starting out and had no references or a substantial resume, how would you go about finding paying customers for your services? To answer your question, I'll assume you're a junior copywriter or marketing consultant. When I first...more
Are you looking to consolidate credit card or other debt? Do you have bad credit history? There are many options available online nowadays to help you consolidate your debt. Whether you are wanting to consolidate credit card debt or other kinds of...more
When going to refinance or get a mortgage loan quote, the internet can be a useful tool to shop around for the best interest rate. The reason the internet is a good place to start applying, is because most mortgage applications online do not...more