If You Give a Mouse a Cookie…
Photo credit: Misha Corbett …..He’s going to ask for a glass of milk! So begins the children’s classic by the same name, written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by Felicia Bond. I heartily recommend it to the parents of children, to grandparents and to all who are kids at heart. If this one doesn’t make […]
Manage the When
We live in an instant world. As consumers, we’re accustomed to instant gratification. You can find myriad products and services online, swiftly do your research, and buy them right now. “Amazon” offers a world full of possibilities with “1-Click Ordering” and even the online auction “eBay” offers a “Buy it Now!” button. In the world […]
Beat the Heat!
It’s HOT out there! It’s summer everywhere in the Northern Hemisphere and the closer you get to the Tropics, the hotter and steamier it gets. In Florida, we’re in that magical time of year where nothing quite dries out and weeds and mildew are in a steel cage death match to see which will win. […]
Fire-Fighter or Fire-Preventer?
Which of these best describes you at work? When you think about your typical day, your activities might fit those of a: Fire-Fighter, if you… wait for the “alarm” to sound before you spring into action; never seem to know where a problem is going to pop up next; feel like you run from problem […]
When it Really Matters
Many things we do are routine tasks that don’t require extra thought or preparation; this isn’t to say that they don’t require careful execution, however. As it applies to our work, we can think of these as our daily “work habits”. There are other situations, however, where much more is at stake and we must […]
Socks
Hiring a person to join your business is the most important decision you will ever make. The effects are long lasting on co-worker, clients and the business. The value of a superb hire is far greater than the direct cost of employing the person; conversely, the ultimate cost of a poor hiring decision makes the […]
Creating Value
If you boil all of the daily activity down to its essence, the fundamental purpose of a business is Creating Value. Without it, the business will cease to exist sooner or later. The definition of what constitutes Value varies, however, depending upon the relationship of the party to the business.When if comes to Creating Value: […]
My Brain on Business
I spend lots of time thinking about business; that even includes occasionally dreaming about it. The Art of Business absolutely fascinates me; I’m amazed at the power of what a talented group of people can accomplish by working together in an environment of mutual respect and trust. That’s why I began writing cultivation(s) nearly two years ago, […]
One and Done
It doesn’t work that way for most of us. At least not when it comes to producing something worthwhile and with lasting value. To do that requires thoughtful preparation, regular practice and continuous improvement in the product or service being offered. The same holds true for the “value” of individuals to the organization they lead […]
Budget Beliefs
It’s that time of year, when winter still has a firm grip on the weather, but warmer thoughts turn to the spring season ahead. It’s also now when Budget Season takes hold across the business. There are two distinct camps when it comes to the Budget process: those who dread it like Punxsutawney Phil (“six […]