“Your Move — The Power of Peer Learning” A CEO roundtable helps you work on your business. Bruce Corson Bruce PetersAlthough the concept of peer learning is exploding in the academic world, it’s sadly underutilized in business circles. Some CEOs are intrigued with the idea of joining a peer group, but hesitate to show up until they solve the problem…
“On the Network: The Best Person to Market Your Business Is…You!” Tips on networking include ideas for maximizing the value of contacts and sales leads. I’m always amazed how many folks talk about networking — yet, when questioned, will admit they’ve rarely if ever benefited from it and are confused about what it really is. To many it’s just another…
“Extreme Measures — Managing With Style” Hecky Powell, owner of Hecky’s Barbeque, Evanston, Ill., repeatedly asked the young men working the take-out counter to pull up their pants — to no avail. Saggy pants and exposed boxers continued to appear, and Powell didn’t believe the fashion statement conveyed the right message to customers.Then Powell relented — sort of. The men…
“Don’t Litigate: Mediate!” Mediation avoids the adversarial arena and brings dispute resolution back to basics – both sides talking to one another. It could pay your company in human and business relationships, as well as in time and resources, to seek out the services of a professional mediator. OVERVIEW [top]When in the course of human events disagreements arise, it’s best…
“Your Move — Trading Places” Why do entrepreneurial businesses flounder after they’ve survived the startup phase? Lloyd E. ShefskyAt some point, a growing business moves from being an entrepreneurial company to being a managed one. And if the entrepreneur can’t make the leadership transition — or isn’t willing to relinquish control to a professional manager — the company will fail….
[vc_row full_width=”” parallax=”” parallax_image=””][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text] “A good temper and a happy mood will show up in your bank account.” — Ed Lowe Our panel of entrepreneurs responds …Whistle while you ‘work’We make bread every day. We enjoy what we do, and our customers appreciate the fact that we do it. It’s hard not to smile when you think you’re getting…
“Extreme Measures — Personal Involvement” An employee called Jack Hartnett’s home in the middle of the night with a pressing question: “Can you help me with my sex life?” Hartnett was glad to help. As president of D.L. Rogers Corp., Hartnett believes in helping his employees both personally and professionally to retain them in an industry rife with turnover.His personal…
“Your Move — A Martial-Arts Approach” Get out of your comfort zone to grow your company — and yourself. Dan MillerWhen I began to study Songahm tae kwon do last year, I was amazed to discover its numerous links to business. Structure. Each class begins and ends with an oath, an espousing of values, and participants address each other as…
“Partner Power!” Taking on a financial partner not only solved a space problem for Sheryl McCaleb but also created a valuable new asset. In 1997, just two years after launching her company, Sheryl McCaleb needed more elbow room.Hair Prosthesis Institute (HPI), which makes custom-hair prosthetics for women and children, was growing faster than McCaleb had anticipated. She had already increased…
“If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em” Standard Candy’s revenues jump 30% through contract manufacturing. The Standard Candy Co., based in Nashville, Tenn., has been making Goo Goo, a caramel, chocolate, marshmallow and peanut confection, since 1912. When James W. “Jimmy” Spradley bought the company with help from his father in 1981, he envisioned creating a national craving for the…