It is the end of the first quarter and time to check the score.Just as planning your goals for the coming year should always begin with a look back at the year in review, so planning your business for the rest of this year should take a look back at the first quarter. Business planning isn't just a numbers game, but also an accounting and analysis of the year's overall progress.Begin by asking the hard questions: What happened in your business...more
When people work together, they usually follow a number of related actions or a process. Processes reduce uncertainty by making it clear who needs to do what, when, and with whom, and ensure that important actions are not forgotten.Some of the great benefits of processes are: People involved don't have to think what to do next Output(s) are known in advance Process templates reduce planning time and effort Repeatability can be achieved...more
Often companies believe that they can only dominate their market if they are the biggest players around, having the most money to invest or having the most customers - this is a myth. Most definitely being a big player with a lot of money to invest with a large sales team can be an advantage, and certainly a powerful positive, however it doesn't guarantee that you'll be the dominant player in any market. In this article I am going to look at several things you can do which will help you to dominate your market regardless of your company size.ClarityClarity is more important than size, and if you can be absolutely clear about who your customers are and where your target market is, then this will give you a great boost over most of your competitors. It's often tempting to try meet every market demand for as many different people as possible so that you don't miss out on any business opportunities, but my experience is that this almost always does more harm than good. You will often get on far better being absolutely clear about who your customers are, and what you're offering your target clientèle.Decide on Your NicheThe best way to achieve clarity is by deciding on a specific...more
The stock market is a tough game to monitor with many players playing and large amounts of money at stake. Large volumes of securities are bought, sold and traded and not everyone is interested in playing by the rules. Many have more sinister plans in mind, such as cheating the game. One prominent example of cheating the system is known as naked...more
Most of us remember the dubious "doctor" in Huckleberry Finn who proclaims to have the cure for any malady. From the back of the crowd his shill would loudly proclaim that he himself had been healed by the magical elixir. Oh my, but the quantity of snake oil they sold before the townsfolk discovered they had been duped - and the doctor long gone....more
Amid recent news reports that there continues to be an ongoing and substantial gap between the net worth of Whites and other racial groups, it is easy to be distracted and overwhelmed by the raw data.However, I am immediately reminded of a quote offered by an economic expert from the past..."There are lies, damned lies and statistics."Despite the real fact that the same set of stats can be skewed to represent almost any point of view (consider elected officials, talk show hosts, those who steal in the name of God, et al), knowing this does not prevent many of us from being swayed in our thinking - and actions - by the masters of sophistry.The ability of an individual to look at twin newborn gorillas and deem one a cover girl (cover gorilla?) and the other a repulsively ugly thing is indeed a most interesting truism concerning human behavior.This tendency, better known as hypocrisy, is possibly the most pivotal factor leading to interpersonal, and sadly, inter-racial strife. As a student of history I always attempt to place things in an historical perspective.In the book, "The Richest Man In Babylon", the author provides economic advice that would enable any person of any color or...more
How many so-called "Get Rich Quick", "Make Money In 24 Hours" or the "Latest Break Thru Millionaire Money Making Secret" programs have you bought that promised all the wealth you could ever imagine.Just to be disappointed that it's the same old...more
There is no shortage of hype on the Internet. A start up business does not have to look far to find a "Guru" who will offer a miracle solution for the "getting found" dilemma that faces every on line business. Typically, this product or weekend...more
It's hardly surprising that so many companies are nowadays choosing to have training carried out at off-site training facilities rather than on their own premises. After all, in recent years there's been a steady increase in the amount of high tech...more
The paperless office has been talked about for a long time, yet never seems to even start to become a reality in almost any sector of business. Look around any office environment and you would be forgiven for thinking that the opposite of the...more
According to recent news articles, bankruptcies are at their highest level since October 2005, with an average of 5,945 filings per day during the month of March. Adding to this the fact that 663,000 Americans lost their jobs last month, indications...more
As a 34-year-old, born-and-bred New Yorker, as I read the details of Barack Obama's stimulus plan, many memories come to mind. A product of the NYC public school system, I have worked hard for my money, and according to government classifications am...more