One of the Best Business Books I have Read
One of the first books I ever read on business and still to this day one of the best was, "How To Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carneige. My entrepreneurship teacher in high school made it mandatory for us to read it. I remember thinking that the author made the book very easy to read and straight forward. However, only being a junior in high school I did miss out on most of the real world advice and great business ideas Carnegie laid forth.
Become Genuinely Interested In Other People
It is amazing to me how much we all can get caught up in our own agenda and what we can great out of deals that we forget this basic and fundamental principle of business. When you take your focus off yourself and put it on the other person, doors begin to open and life gets a whole lot easier.
Ask Lots of Questions
Some of the best advice I have ever had in business was to ask more open ended questions. To me, this is the very best indicator if you have taken Carnegie's advice to heart about becoming genuinely interested in others. The more time you spend on listening and asking well thought out questions to others the further the conversation will lead you and the more success you will have.
Smile
One of the first things Carnegie tells you to do in his book is smile. Wow, what a simple concept. If you are looking for bang for your better business buck...look no further. I recommend trying to smile in every business interaction you have for the next day and see what happens. Whether you are talking on the phone or across from a plate of food over lunch, by smiling you will portray a more positive energy and create a warm environment others will naturally be attracted too.
Do They Like You, Do They Trust You & Do They Have Faith In Your Ability?
My first job out of college was working with a private portfolio manager as his investment analyst and assistant. He had this amazing ability with people when he would meet with them to win them over to his way of thinking and by the end of the presentation they always liked him. So, one day I asked him the secret to his success and he told me it was real easy. Do they like you, do they trust you and do they have faith in your ability? Don't you love it when people make things easy?
If I could tell you the single greatest influence anyone has had on my professional life it would have been those three little questions. I promise if you look back on those deals that fell through the cracks or when things went wrong for you in business, one of these three things were missing. If you follow Carnegie's advice on becoming genuinely interested in people you will already get two out of three right off the bat. So, that leaves faith in your ability which can always be improved upon with learning and experience (or by reading my blog of course).
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
What Can Graphic Design Do For You?
The Importance of Graphic Design
Speak to any business owner and they will tell you how crucial marketing is to a small business and how important this cornerstone is to the success or failure of a business in today's marketplace. A cohesive branding strategy for your business is extremely important in today's competitive environment and is crucial in helping to create a polished and professional image that will help you stand out from your competition. Your company website and online marketing strategy, promotional displays, marketing brochures and flyer's for products and services, distinctive logo's and signs all have one core component that will dictate how successful they are - Graphic Design.
Graphic Designs Proven Success
Graphic design has always been important to marketing and business success. The information age has caused the explosive growth of the Internet and e-business and incorporating graphic design that is suited to print and web has become absolutely imperative in today's economy.
The Face of Your Business
Graphic design is the first image that your customers and clients see of your business. Your company branding and design sends a very clear message to your vendors, customers and business peers and can have real negative or positive results for your business. Furthermore, graphic design needs to have the ability to transition between all media today including web and print media.
Consistency of branding
All of your marketing material should be consistent with your overall company branding. A consistent look and feel to your marketing material creates confidence in your company image and brings credibility to your business. In striving for a clear competitive advantage for your small business, consistency of your branding and developing a strong relationship with a talented graphic designer will cultivate continued success for your business.
Leveraging our Free Business Services Network
LowCountry Welcome partners with the best of the best that the local economy has to offer. Let our consultants show you how our LowCountry Business Services Network can cut your costs and maximize your success in working with the best of the best graphic designers.
Speak to any business owner and they will tell you how crucial marketing is to a small business and how important this cornerstone is to the success or failure of a business in today's marketplace. A cohesive branding strategy for your business is extremely important in today's competitive environment and is crucial in helping to create a polished and professional image that will help you stand out from your competition. Your company website and online marketing strategy, promotional displays, marketing brochures and flyer's for products and services, distinctive logo's and signs all have one core component that will dictate how successful they are - Graphic Design.
Graphic Designs Proven Success
Graphic design has always been important to marketing and business success. The information age has caused the explosive growth of the Internet and e-business and incorporating graphic design that is suited to print and web has become absolutely imperative in today's economy.
The Face of Your Business
Graphic design is the first image that your customers and clients see of your business. Your company branding and design sends a very clear message to your vendors, customers and business peers and can have real negative or positive results for your business. Furthermore, graphic design needs to have the ability to transition between all media today including web and print media.
Consistency of branding
All of your marketing material should be consistent with your overall company branding. A consistent look and feel to your marketing material creates confidence in your company image and brings credibility to your business. In striving for a clear competitive advantage for your small business, consistency of your branding and developing a strong relationship with a talented graphic designer will cultivate continued success for your business.
Leveraging our Free Business Services Network
LowCountry Welcome partners with the best of the best that the local economy has to offer. Let our consultants show you how our LowCountry Business Services Network can cut your costs and maximize your success in working with the best of the best graphic designers.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
The E-Myth Revisited
My favorite commercial right now is the Verizon small business spot with the little girl who starts her own lemonade stand and grows it into an empire. The tag line: The Small Business with the Best Technology Rules. I have to wonder if that little girl might have read 'The E-myth'.
See YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUcpCB7Wls8
Staggering Failure Rate
My brother in law, a successful small business owner, recommended that I read the book 'The E-Myth'. In our conversation my first "a ha" moment came when he told me about the staggering statistics for the failure rate of small businesses: 40% fail in 1 year. Of those who survive 1year, 80% fail in 5 years, and of those who survive 5 years, another 80% fail. Now compare those dismal stats to those of franchises where at 5 years 75% are a success, and you begin to appreciate one of the main principles of 'The E-Myth' - discovering how to turn your business into a system.
Turning Your Business into a System
The author argues that one of the best ways to turn your small business into a system, is to create operating manuals that describe each function of the business. I did not choose to take it that far with my own business, but it gave me a whole new perspective on breaking down each part of my business and developing it into the most efficient and streamlined system possible. I began to look at every task or job within my business and started asking the questions: is there a better way to do this? how can I make this easier? what can I do to simplify this process?
Technicians, Entrepreneurs and Managers
Another key point discussed by the author was that most small businesses are started by 'Technicians' or people who are skilled at one job, i.e. a pie maker and decide to branch out on there own. While these 'Technicians' are great at the specific skill and job that had them start the new business in the first place, they tend to forget to put on those entrepreneurial and management hats that help to steer the business in the right direction and keep the finances and operations on track. Another important point by the author is that as the business matures, the owner will need to start stepping back from the 'Technician' and management roles and focus more on delegating.
In striving to make the most of your business and finding that perfect balance between work and your personal life, I encourage you to read 'The E-myth Revisited'. Your small business will never be the same.
See YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUcpCB7Wls8
Staggering Failure Rate
My brother in law, a successful small business owner, recommended that I read the book 'The E-Myth'. In our conversation my first "a ha" moment came when he told me about the staggering statistics for the failure rate of small businesses: 40% fail in 1 year. Of those who survive 1year, 80% fail in 5 years, and of those who survive 5 years, another 80% fail. Now compare those dismal stats to those of franchises where at 5 years 75% are a success, and you begin to appreciate one of the main principles of 'The E-Myth' - discovering how to turn your business into a system.
Turning Your Business into a System
The author argues that one of the best ways to turn your small business into a system, is to create operating manuals that describe each function of the business. I did not choose to take it that far with my own business, but it gave me a whole new perspective on breaking down each part of my business and developing it into the most efficient and streamlined system possible. I began to look at every task or job within my business and started asking the questions: is there a better way to do this? how can I make this easier? what can I do to simplify this process?
Technicians, Entrepreneurs and Managers
Another key point discussed by the author was that most small businesses are started by 'Technicians' or people who are skilled at one job, i.e. a pie maker and decide to branch out on there own. While these 'Technicians' are great at the specific skill and job that had them start the new business in the first place, they tend to forget to put on those entrepreneurial and management hats that help to steer the business in the right direction and keep the finances and operations on track. Another important point by the author is that as the business matures, the owner will need to start stepping back from the 'Technician' and management roles and focus more on delegating.
In striving to make the most of your business and finding that perfect balance between work and your personal life, I encourage you to read 'The E-myth Revisited'. Your small business will never be the same.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
BIN LADEN AND HIGH GAS PRICES
Our Leaders Need to Give Praise to Our Troops for a Job Well Done
The first time I met my wifes' uncle he was very confident, humorous, outgoing and extremely patriotic about his country. We started discussing the draft and my thoughts on war and national conflict. This was before the 9/11 attacks, but I remember being taken aback with how passionate he was for country and our duty to serve. He was in the military and would continue to have a successful career in the armed forces. After serving numerous tours in Iraq, he came back to the states a completely changed man.
About a month ago we got to spend the day with my wifes' uncle here in Charleston and showed him downtown. The sun was shining and the food and conversation were flowing on his fun filled visit here to the east coast. It was amazing to read his e-mail's during his time over in Iraq and how much it had changed him. He told us that he was acting like the uncle we use to know and love on the outside, but inside he was nothing like that person anymore.
How great an opportunity is this Bin Laden victory for our troops? Our sword and shield who have been battling so long and hard for all of us, only to come home to their loved ones broken and changed. The sacrifices they make are hard to imagine, but I think our leaders have a great opportunity to leverage the Bin Laden victory to boost our troops morale and begin bringing our loved ones home.
Gas Controls Everything
In business school I learned of what happened to our country after the gas spike in the 1970's. But it wasn't until the first gas spike, just prior to the great recession, that I began to appreciate how much gas drives everything in our economy. Just yesterday I went to fill up a 5 gallon container of gas for my yard work for the season and was literally floored at what I was getting for my money. Usually when I fill my car up I equate what I spend to getting 1.5 weeks of driving out of the fill up, but seeing my $20.37 buying this piddly 5 gallon jug was just depressing.
I have had many discussions with colleagues and friends on what we can do about being so dependent on gas for our current way of life. The private sector has known we have had a major lack of an energy policy since the 1970's and what has it accomplished?
US Government Needs to Invest Major Capital Into Alternative Energy
I'm a big believer in the free market and entrepreneurship, but the private sector has failed miserably when it comes to alternative energy. The US government needs to step up to the plate and spend some real capital on alternative energy and do it with complete transparency to win the hearts of the nation. The oil tycoons have all the power, but if our government can show the people what we are up against in pushing back on oil--maybe, just maybe that garbage powered flying DeLorean time machine that Dr. Emmet L. Brown was tooling around in might actually see the light of day.
The first time I met my wifes' uncle he was very confident, humorous, outgoing and extremely patriotic about his country. We started discussing the draft and my thoughts on war and national conflict. This was before the 9/11 attacks, but I remember being taken aback with how passionate he was for country and our duty to serve. He was in the military and would continue to have a successful career in the armed forces. After serving numerous tours in Iraq, he came back to the states a completely changed man.
About a month ago we got to spend the day with my wifes' uncle here in Charleston and showed him downtown. The sun was shining and the food and conversation were flowing on his fun filled visit here to the east coast. It was amazing to read his e-mail's during his time over in Iraq and how much it had changed him. He told us that he was acting like the uncle we use to know and love on the outside, but inside he was nothing like that person anymore.
How great an opportunity is this Bin Laden victory for our troops? Our sword and shield who have been battling so long and hard for all of us, only to come home to their loved ones broken and changed. The sacrifices they make are hard to imagine, but I think our leaders have a great opportunity to leverage the Bin Laden victory to boost our troops morale and begin bringing our loved ones home.
Gas Controls Everything
In business school I learned of what happened to our country after the gas spike in the 1970's. But it wasn't until the first gas spike, just prior to the great recession, that I began to appreciate how much gas drives everything in our economy. Just yesterday I went to fill up a 5 gallon container of gas for my yard work for the season and was literally floored at what I was getting for my money. Usually when I fill my car up I equate what I spend to getting 1.5 weeks of driving out of the fill up, but seeing my $20.37 buying this piddly 5 gallon jug was just depressing.
I have had many discussions with colleagues and friends on what we can do about being so dependent on gas for our current way of life. The private sector has known we have had a major lack of an energy policy since the 1970's and what has it accomplished?
US Government Needs to Invest Major Capital Into Alternative Energy
I'm a big believer in the free market and entrepreneurship, but the private sector has failed miserably when it comes to alternative energy. The US government needs to step up to the plate and spend some real capital on alternative energy and do it with complete transparency to win the hearts of the nation. The oil tycoons have all the power, but if our government can show the people what we are up against in pushing back on oil--maybe, just maybe that garbage powered flying DeLorean time machine that Dr. Emmet L. Brown was tooling around in might actually see the light of day.
Friday, April 29, 2011
E-mail is a Small Busines Owners Best Friend
Time management is a challenge
One of the most common complaints from my fellow business owners is the lack of enough time in the day to get everything done. We all strive to find that perfect balance between our work life and our home life and often times this can prove to be quite the challenge in today's world. However, there are a number of tools available to help boost productivity and time management in maximizing our efforts in our day to day tasks.
Uncover the best communication channel
Take that all important step into the high tech 21st century and begin to test the waters on e-mail as a primary communication channel for your business. I have built my business on a personal one-on-one relationship with my clients and customers and definitely think it is very important to call or meet with them when business calls for it. I, like most entrepreneurs, am a people person and enjoy talking and meeting with my contacts face to face. However, e-mail has proven to be an invaluable tool in boosting my productivity and has even been my primary means of doing business with some clients. In addition, making e-mail one of the primary means of communicating with me has freed me up to prioritize my day and tasks and helped to maximize my accomplishments on a day to day basis.
Old School vs. New School
For some businesspeople, there just isn't any other way to do business then over the phone or face to face. Don't fight the old dog if he doesn't want to learn a new trick. The good news is, as an e-mail business guru you can catch that ever elusive time factor to meet with those contacts that prefer the more personal route.
I encourage you to try and implement e-mail communication into your business and see the explosion of productivity and efficiency that it can bring.
One of the most common complaints from my fellow business owners is the lack of enough time in the day to get everything done. We all strive to find that perfect balance between our work life and our home life and often times this can prove to be quite the challenge in today's world. However, there are a number of tools available to help boost productivity and time management in maximizing our efforts in our day to day tasks.
Uncover the best communication channel
Take that all important step into the high tech 21st century and begin to test the waters on e-mail as a primary communication channel for your business. I have built my business on a personal one-on-one relationship with my clients and customers and definitely think it is very important to call or meet with them when business calls for it. I, like most entrepreneurs, am a people person and enjoy talking and meeting with my contacts face to face. However, e-mail has proven to be an invaluable tool in boosting my productivity and has even been my primary means of doing business with some clients. In addition, making e-mail one of the primary means of communicating with me has freed me up to prioritize my day and tasks and helped to maximize my accomplishments on a day to day basis.
Old School vs. New School
For some businesspeople, there just isn't any other way to do business then over the phone or face to face. Don't fight the old dog if he doesn't want to learn a new trick. The good news is, as an e-mail business guru you can catch that ever elusive time factor to meet with those contacts that prefer the more personal route.
I encourage you to try and implement e-mail communication into your business and see the explosion of productivity and efficiency that it can bring.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
A Fresh Cup of Coffee Every Time
Is there anything better then that fresh brewed cup of coffee?
I tend to drink 1-2 cups of coffee per day and I'm definitely what you call a coffee fan. Nothing gets me ready for my day better then a fresh cup of joe. Last Christmas, after looking at many varieties of coffee/espresso makers, my wife and I finally decided to get a Keurig K-Cup Coffee Machine. I had seen a few of the businesses around town have them out for their customers and always happily made myself a cup when I had the opportunity.
The great thing about the Keurig K-cup Coffee System is that you get a fresh cup of coffee every time! In about 20-60 seconds, Keurig delivers a piping hot cup of pure greatness embodied in liquid form of your favorite flavor and variety. The system utilizes a super heated temperature of around 192 degrees to unlock that great taste that you will quickly become accustomed to utilizing the Keurig K-cup System. Sure, you don't quite get as much bang for your buck as brewing a whole pot of coffee at a time, but this blogger feels that what you gain in K-cup perfection is well worth the added cost.
So why am I talking about coffee on a small business blog?
One of the best things we can do as small business owners is blow away our customers' expectations. Word of mouth has always been one of businesses best friends and you would be surprised at how far the little things go in making a difference for your clients.
Take a look at your own life and see how your thoughts and feelings change for the businesses that offer you the K-cup experience? I believe one of the best ways a company can strive to achieve greatness is finding some little way that we can reach out to our customers lives and help to shape a positive experience for them. Too often in business we all get hung up on our own agendas, and we forget that one of the fundamental principles in winning friends and influencing people is to become genuinely interested in others.
I challenge you to find some small way you can reach out to your clients and make a difference for them.
I tend to drink 1-2 cups of coffee per day and I'm definitely what you call a coffee fan. Nothing gets me ready for my day better then a fresh cup of joe. Last Christmas, after looking at many varieties of coffee/espresso makers, my wife and I finally decided to get a Keurig K-Cup Coffee Machine. I had seen a few of the businesses around town have them out for their customers and always happily made myself a cup when I had the opportunity.
The great thing about the Keurig K-cup Coffee System is that you get a fresh cup of coffee every time! In about 20-60 seconds, Keurig delivers a piping hot cup of pure greatness embodied in liquid form of your favorite flavor and variety. The system utilizes a super heated temperature of around 192 degrees to unlock that great taste that you will quickly become accustomed to utilizing the Keurig K-cup System. Sure, you don't quite get as much bang for your buck as brewing a whole pot of coffee at a time, but this blogger feels that what you gain in K-cup perfection is well worth the added cost.
So why am I talking about coffee on a small business blog?
One of the best things we can do as small business owners is blow away our customers' expectations. Word of mouth has always been one of businesses best friends and you would be surprised at how far the little things go in making a difference for your clients.
Take a look at your own life and see how your thoughts and feelings change for the businesses that offer you the K-cup experience? I believe one of the best ways a company can strive to achieve greatness is finding some little way that we can reach out to our customers lives and help to shape a positive experience for them. Too often in business we all get hung up on our own agendas, and we forget that one of the fundamental principles in winning friends and influencing people is to become genuinely interested in others.
I challenge you to find some small way you can reach out to your clients and make a difference for them.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Google Leads the World of Small Business Software
My brother has been a computer programmer for the past 13 years and we often debate who the "BEST" software company is. Microsoft had been the clear leader in our debate up until about 4 years ago when the Android operating system was brought to the mainstream of the then budding smart phone industry. Since the 2007 open source agreement for Android, Google has seen its Android platform dominate in gaining market share and challenge the mighty Apple for supremacy.
So what does all this mean for the small business owner?
The wealth of software Google has for small business is incredible and something the small business owner should not live without.
So what does all this mean for the small business owner?
The wealth of software Google has for small business is incredible and something the small business owner should not live without.
- Gmail - has proven to be invaluable in my business keeping my business/personal contacts and calendar synced to my smart phone and business PC seamlessly. Google has made Gmail completely user friendly and blown the doors wide off the competition.
- Google Maps - a must have for the small business owner in helping to find local businesses. The navigation feature in Google Maps is such a great feature and has saved my business time and money over and over with the convince of having the software right on my smart phone.
- Google Voice - how many of us have wished for one phone number that we could immediately port to any service provider? Enter Google Voice. Not only does Google Voice forward all calls to any phone number that you tell it to, but it transcribes voice mails directly to text as well. Talk about bang for your buck!
- Blogger - create your own Blog with Google Blogger. Custom templates, easy set up and tracking again provide a great resource for small business.
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