Success Tips and Guest Posts by Topic

By Jim McKinley Everyone deserves a fun and restful vacation, especially busy people such as business owners and entrepreneurs, individuals who bear great responsibility. It’s that responsibility which makes getting away and relaxing so essential. As a business owner, your energy, drive, creativity, and mental and physical health are very important to the success of […]

By Liz Greene A looming deadline, a cramped schedule, emotional overwhelm at every level, and a thoroughly destroyed workspace. It’s utterly mind numbing (and we’ve all been there). That said, working in a cluttered and/or messy environment can negatively affect your business. I mean, no one likes working in chaos, but the benefits of a […]

By Dan Coughlin Two weeks ago I gave a full-day seminar at the Washington University Olin Business School. Thirty-six full-time executives from 24 different organizations made up the class. We were discussing one of my favorite topics, focus and sacrifice, when a woman raised her hand and said, “You’re talking about the fallacy of multitasking.” […]

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. I’ve heard that advice in a number of different settings over the years, but it’s especially important for small business owners. So, in a small business, what’s the main thing? Put as simply and succinctly as I can the main thing in small […]

Scanning, reading, responding, and deleting emails continues to be some of our biggest productivity killers, so it’s always a good idea to see if any new apps or strategies have been developed that can help us bring things under control. See if any of these will help you tame the email beast: Automatic writing There […]

By Dan Coughlin Over the past 30 days I’ve had about 35 Executive Coaching sessions. One thing I love about my work is I’m constantly learning from a very diverse group of people. One theme that is emerging for me is the value of paired opposites. Here are examples of what I mean: Feminine Traits […]

By Jeff Davidson Leisure, as a concept for many business owners, is on the rocks. Surely, it no longer means total hours minus work hours. True leisure time – enjoying a rewarding activity free from work and preoccupation with work – is difficult for many to achieve. Why leisure time gets pinched When the shift […]

By Dan Coughlin I’ve been coaching executives since August of 1997. When a pattern of behavior persists for over 20 years in multiple industries and in multiple roles across multiple organizations and in multiple countries, you know you’re on to something. This pattern of behavior is clearly engrained across societies and exists far beyond the […]

44: How to Get S**t Done with Todd Palmer Do you feel like you are spending a lot of time on activity for your business, but you aren’t really accomplishing anything? If so, you’re going to love our guest, Todd Palmer. Todd Palmer is the collaborative business advisor and CEO of  Extraordinary Advisors (EA). Simply put, […]

By Jeff Davidson Virtually every small business entrepreneur, when asked, agrees that having work-life balance is a worthwhile pursuit. Yet, so few people seem to be able to enjoy it on a regular basis. Where to begin? Achieving greater work-life balance starts with making small changes. Here are a few to consider: Stick to a […]

By John Tschohl First let me clarify the value of quality service. I believe that great service retains the customers you already have, attracts more customers, and develops a reputation that encourages customers to do business with you in the future. Are you guilty of the following customer service crimes? 1. Telephone torture. Too many firms […]

By Shep Hyken What does a good customer experience look like at your company? What does good customer service look like? Ask everyone on your team and listen to the answers. Will they be the same, or different? It will be interesting to see if your team recognizes the difference between experience and service. Many […]

By Shep Hyken It’s morning and you’ve just had breakfast. What are you going to have for dinner? In the U.S., 49 percent of people do not know what they are going to have to dinner. That stat comes from David Portalatin’s address at the Art of Beef Summit, sponsored by Cargill. As he was […]

One of the most exciting parts of any company’s journey is expanding into new markets. Whether that means going to the next town over, across state lines or into a new country, the feeling of growth and accomplishment never gets old. There will be, however, many new associated complications to manage. Supply chains will get […]

For the last several years, Forrester has consistently identified proactive engagement supported by automated technology as one of many key trends in customer service. Proactive engagement dramatically improves customer service efficiency. Case in point: Companies can easily automate the handling of customer support tickets involving routine issues, such as looking up account information, resetting passwords […]

By Shep Hyken In 1945 George Orwell published the literary classic, Animal Farm, which was required reading in my middle-school English class. I always remembered the line: All animals are created equal, just some animals are more equal than others. Someone recently referenced the book and this famous line, and it made me think about […]

By John Tschohl Providing outstanding customer service at the right price is the “Golden Rule” of most companies. It’s worth remembering that we all experience customer service every day. Customer service is a critical piece of your business, and you should fine-tune it as much as you can. Here are some well-known facts on customer […]

By Shep Hyken Two years ago I reported on NewVoiceMedia’s “serial switchers” report that indicated that $62 billion was lost due to poor customer service. That number, in their new report now has that number pegged at $75 billion! That’s a lot of lost business! Here’s my take on this. Customers want and expect more […]

By Shep Hyken The other day a buddy shared an experience he had with a company that sold him mulch for his yard. When the truck arrived, he asked the driver and his co-worker to put the mulch in the backyard. The driver said, “I’m sorry. Dropping the mulch off in the backyard is considered […]

By Shep Hyken There are many great customer service stories that can serve as a template for how to handle a problem. I always fall back on my five-step service recovery process to handle all complaints and problems. For those that haven’t been following, the five-steps are: 1) Acknowledge the problem and thank the customer […]

51: Self-Improvement and Coachability as Keys to Business Growth with Core Dial Coachability is vital to growth and adaptability. Personal change is a monumental step in taking your company to the next level but requires asking self-evaluating questions. It is often difficult to make those observations and critique ourselves. This is why hiring a coach […]

49: Becoming a Strong and Deliberate Leader in the Workplace with Sally Helgesen Women are slowly but surely moving up in the business world. While progress is increasing, many women are still struggling to continue to grow their business without reaching a plateau. There are many examples of women who have defied this cycle, such as […]

What makes a successful sales rep? Here are some often mentioned attributes: Total focus on their own accomplishments, and The ability to work independently. What makes a good manager of sales reps? I don’t think too many would argue with these: Total focus on the accomplishments of others, and The ability to work closely and […]

By Dan Coughlin Over the past 30 days I’ve had about 35 Executive Coaching sessions. One thing I love about my work is I’m constantly learning from a very diverse group of people. One theme that is emerging for me is the value of paired opposites. Here are examples of what I mean: Feminine Traits […]

Challenges. Every career has them. No matter what industry you are in, there will always be challenges. This is especially true if you’re setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur. While there’s no easy path to success, you can make the journey more enjoyable with these tips for overcoming the common challenges women […]

I’m always on the lookout for free online courses that I think would prove valuable to small business owners and entrepreneurs. A few recently caught my eye and I’d like to share them with you. If a tech startup is in your future Technology Entrepreneurship: How to Start a New Venture. This course comes from […]

Futurists are always wrong. That’s a rock-solid truth I’ve learned over the years. This is particularly important at our current point in human history because many of our highest profile business leaders have become futurists. This is because many of our highest profile business leaders are also technology leaders, and technological developments prompt envisioning the […]

Here’s a shocking fact of U.S. businesses: Leadership training doesn’t typically happen until managers have been on the job for some 10 years. I think it’s easy to understand why this is so. Very often individuals sort of “morph” or evolve into management positions. It can happen several different ways: The organization grows and a […]

Straight Talk About Money with Larry Winget Why are so many of us afraid to simply say what we think? The answer is that we’ve been told that every word we speak should be politically correct and not be offensive to ANYONE. Our show introduces you to my friend and mentor who says we shouldn’t mince […]

Achievable Steps to Business Success in a Changing Environment with David Lapin As a business leader, how do you stay creative, innovative, and relevant? That may sound like an impossible task, but we know it’s important to constantly change your business products and operations. “What’s hot today is dead tomorrow.” Today’s show will help you […]

48: Don’t Just Keep Up – Get Ahead in Your Business with Mark Sanborn The biggest mistake people make in their business is getting comfortable; reaching their goals and remaining stagnant, only waiting for someone else to catch up and for them to fall behind. Mark Sanborn is an international best-selling author, entrepreneur, and speaker […]

Note to women entrepreneurs: Make society’s gender stereotypes work in your favor! Personal experience and years of observation have taught me that women have a more difficult time winning investor backing for their startups than men. In fact, only about 1.3 percent of startup funding goes to women-owned projects. Since the most in the venture […]

Challenges. Every career has them. No matter what industry you are in, there will always be challenges. This is especially true if you’re setting out on your own path as an entrepreneur. While there’s no easy path to success, you can make the journey more enjoyable with these tips for overcoming the common challenges women […]

By Anthea Taylor Years ago, you would set up a business and only worry about your social responsibility once the company had started to make a good profit. The alternative to this was to create a non-profit that had its sole focus on social responsibility. Enter the Social Enterprise – a seemingly ideal balance between […]

Are the leaders at Shopify some of the smartest in the business? If the criteria we’re using to answer that question includes the ability to create good will, I think the answer is a resounding yes. I have long admired Shopify’s collection of free photography housed on its Burst website. When most companies create graphics, […]

They say fashions go in a 20-year cycle. It’s the same way in business – although I’m not exactly sure how long the cycle is. During this cycle you hear how all the “big guys” are chasing the little guys out of business. However, the tide does turn and eventually specialty stores pop up and […]

Each year we mention the annual FedEx Small Business Grant Contest, what the prizes are, and how to enter. This year I also wanted to take some space to mention the grand prize winner because the business has a powerful story. And, along the way, I think you’ll get some tips on how to pull […]

All the good ideas have been taken! This is an often-heard complaint that is about as far from the truth as the earth is from Alpha Centauri. The problem is that we live in such a stimulus-rich environment that it dulls our imaginations. John Steinbeck said, “Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and […]

Unicorns definitely exist in two places: on elementary school kids’ back packs and among startups. It’s the second category that I’m most interested in, and today I want to look at the major unicorns to squeeze out some branding strategies. In the startup world, unicorns are companies with valuations greater than $1 billion that are […]

By Paulyne Antoniou There’s something about motherhood that makes a special kind of entrepreneur. More than half of companies in the United States are now home-based. They’re run mostly online, and sometimes earn 7 figures a year! So, you too, as a mother, could be one of them – and your foray into Mompreneurship could […]

51: Self-Improvement and Coachability as Keys to Business Growth with Core Dial Coachability is vital to growth and adaptability. Personal change is a monumental step in taking your company to the next level but requires asking self-evaluating questions. It is often difficult to make those observations and critique ourselves. This is why hiring a coach […]

By Jim McKinley Everyone deserves a fun and restful vacation, especially busy people such as business owners and entrepreneurs, individuals who bear great responsibility. It’s that responsibility which makes getting away and relaxing so essential. As a business owner, your energy, drive, creativity, and mental and physical health are very important to the success of […]

Social proof. Testimonials. Recommendations. Likes. Positive feedback. 5-Star reviews. There are a lot of different terms for when customers say good things about your business and your team. We’ve talked about the importance of sharing these glowing words with prospects – such as featuring social proof on your website – but there’s another way to […]

By Anthea Taylor As any business up and down your main street, you need to give your customers a reason to keep coming back and talking about yours. Having your customers identify with your brand is the best way to make sure that you become a mighty presence no matter the size of your business. […]

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. I’ve heard that advice in a number of different settings over the years, but it’s especially important for small business owners. So, in a small business, what’s the main thing? Put as simply and succinctly as I can the main thing in small […]

What makes a successful sales rep? Here are some often mentioned attributes: Total focus on their own accomplishments, and The ability to work independently. What makes a good manager of sales reps? I don’t think too many would argue with these: Total focus on the accomplishments of others, and The ability to work closely and […]

Every business owner with job openings today is feeling the pinch when it comes to finding candidates who have the right technical skills. But don’t let that fact push you into offering a job to the first person who seems to have the right skill set – you could end up in a worse position. […]

Did you ever work for a company that paid pretty well, but the employees walked around like zombies with no motivation or excitement for their work? Or, did you land your first job at a company that exuded positive vibes, where everyone was happy to be there and you felt valued as an employee? Now […]

46: End Small Business Failure with Melinda Emerson As technology progresses, the trivialities of staying relevant in the small business world gradually become more arduous. Many people lose their purpose and no longer enjoy the business they one started out of their passion. If you’re a small business owner looking to get your life back, […]

Could tomorrow’s high technology replace the branch lopper in your garage that you use once every two years to trim the trees in your front and back yards? I’m not talking about some fancy robotic laser that would automatically trim all the trees and shrubs around your home, I’m talking about the ability of network […]

If you aren’t publishing a mix of custom and curated content in your digital marketing program, you aren’t enjoying all of the benefits available to you. Let’s quickly outline what I mean by these two categories of content. Custom content is anything created expressly for your website or social media accounts. Curated content is content […]

When you want to get publicity about the great things you’re doing in your business, an important strategy to follow is to “pick the low-hanging fruit” first. However, there’s a problem with this strategy: Identifying the low-hanging fruit. Let me tell you what I see happening over and over again. Business owners will have something […]

Are you a sprinter or a marathoner? It’s one of the most important questions you can ask yourself, because becoming a local or industry leader – and maintaining that position – is like running a marathon. via GIPHY You may sometimes feel that you’re on a treadmill and not making any progress, but that’s simply […]

“Girls only like guys who have great skills.” – Napoleon Dynamite. “Skills” were the key to success with high school girls, as Napoleon Dynamite viewed his world. And, I’d have to say that skills are the key to success in digital marketing today. The problem for a small business owner is that as digital marketing […]

Are you a sprinter or a marathoner? It’s one of the most important questions you can ask yourself, because becoming a local or industry leader – and maintaining that position – is like running a marathon. via GIPHY You may sometimes feel that you’re on a treadmill and not making any progress, but that’s simply […]

We’ve been talking about it for decades, but the idea of the paperless office still finds some resistance. However, with the dramatic increase of the use of mobile devices and virtual teams, eliminating as much paper pushing as possible is absolutely necessary to maintain a level of productivity that assures you are competitive in today’s […]

Few business owners question the importance of social media marketing today, but doing a consistently good job with social media marketing is not easy. In fact, it can become very time consuming. Whether you take care of it yourself, or you have someone on your team who’s in charge of your social media marketing, it’s […]

Unless you’ve been living a Rip Van Winkle existence the last decade or more, you know the importance of content marketing for competitive success. But you can’t approach content marketing in a haphazard fashion. You have to give it thought, devise a strategy, and implement your strategy over the long term. Faithful follow through is […]

It’s important to understand the difference between sales and marketing and it’s even more important to understand that you need to be doing both marketing and selling at the same time. That may seem like a “no-brainer,” but in a small business it’s often the same person or people who are responsible for both sales […]

One of the most important concepts to understand when promoting your business is the natural tensions between brand advertising (branding) and direct response advertising. When you receive a mailer telling you that your local Ford dealer is having a year-end clearance sale, that is direct response advertising. After the sale is over, the dealer can […]