Since the subject of delivery problems is on my mind. I thought I’d mention that most delivery problems are actually a operating strategy problem.  Read more... (349 words, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

Whether you are providing a product or a service, this is one of the most important things you must remember.  Your clients don’t care who didn’t show up for work, who’s sick, what shipment didn’t come in, or any of the other things that could keep you from delivering on your customer’s expectations.

If it’s a supply problem, find a different supplier.  Your customer doesn’t care if your price is 10% lower than the guy down the road if you don’t have any in stock but the guy down the road does.  Though your customer may feel empathetic for your employee with the flu, they would rather call the other company with a whole team of people that could help them immediately, than sitting around hoping your one employee will get well soon.  Read more... (158 words, estimated 38 secs reading time)

I’ve heard it said that the worst number of all for a business owner or leader is the number “one“.  This is true for so many reasons.  It can be hard to multiply because it takes risk, work, determination, sometimes disappointment, but multiples is nearly always better.  Read more... (152 words, estimated 36 secs reading time)

• If you have only one sales person and she leaves the organization:  Who’ll sell new clients to keep the production team busy?
• If you have only one person producing all sold services or goods and they are unable to work for a period of time:  Who’ll produce all of the things your sales team promises to your clients?

My Step Father was a pretty good guy.  He was a much older gentleman (old enough to be my grandfather) who fought in the second World War.  After the war, he was stationed in the last US Horse Calvary unit, which patrolled the US / Mexico border.  My mother met him when I was in junior high school and he was a breath of fresh air who shared tons of advice with me during my teenage years before passing away when I was 22.  Read more... (535 words, 1 image, estimated 2:08 mins reading time)

1. Start-Up costs are low and negotiable.
2. Low overhead  (technology has made the in-home office acceptable and efficient).
3. Potential clients are seeking opportunites.
4. Your audience is looking for something new and fresh.
5. Chances are that your current situation is volatile anyway.
6. You can be the hero when you’re the first moving forward.
7. The best customers will be the first ones captured.
8. The leftover customers are the biggest pain.
9. Your competition is waiting.
10. Next year, month, week, or tomorrow may be too late.

So a new year has begun and most people have made their resolutions (and many of them have already been broken). So, is yours still going strong. I have another challenge for you.

I happen to have couple of friends who’re currently wrestling over the decision of leaping from the assurance of a bi-weekly paycheck that a corporate job brings and venturing on to try their hand on their own. Though they know they have much needed products and services to offer and can offer them with a far higher level of service than their competitors. They’re just scared. The thing is, it’s not just these individuals that are battling this. On what seems like a daily basis, I meet business owners and decision makers that know what steps they need to take in order to bring their company to the next level but want to “feel out” the market (aka until it’s too late and be the last to join in) before making a move.  Read more... (245 words, 1 image, estimated 59 secs reading time)