I've spoken at length about "how" to start a business. That is, after all, the primary focus of this blog. But one thing I haven't really spoken about is "why." Not why you want to start your own business in the first place of course, that speaks for itself, but why you are starting this particular business? While there are any number of explanations, it's my feeling that they all...
Experience is the key to surviving in your path through the maze of regulations, computations, and tribulations that will face you when you set out on your own business venture. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, experience is what you get immediately after you needed it. That's why it's so important to borrow the wisdom of others - and that's what mentoring is all about. Mentoring is a time-honoured tradition in...
You might think you're getting into business for yourself to pursue your dreams. Finally, you think, you'll be doing what you love and working for yourself, and you'll be happy. You might even be right. Unfortunately, odds are good that you're not. Even if you're getting into a business that you're passionate about - which you should be, if at all possible - working at anything for 18 hours a day,...
I've got a to-do list that's a mile long, it sometimes feels, and I'm sure you can relate. My list is important, and it helps me focus on what I need to accomplish and prioritize my tasks - both essential undertakings. But man, can it be a drag! What's more, it's not as useful as you might think. The time you spend on your to-do list doesn't always match up...
France, like much of Europe, takes a much more relaxed view of work and its place in life. The nation is known for a supportive labour regulatory framework and the 35 hour work-week (Germany also has a 35 hour work week, which doesn't prevent it from being one of the most industrious nations in the world). Now, it's gone a step further in preserving its citizens off-duty time by making...
It's an all too common tale: you're at a convention, panel, or meeting and you spend the day making new connections. It's an exciting feeling and you can envision all the ways the new contacts can help your business. But when you get home, you're exhausted from the busy day and you drop right to sleep. Then the next day you get caught up in business and making up for...
The brain is tricky thing. It's the most important organ in the body, yet also the least well understood. However, scientists have spent years unlocking its complexity, and although they have not yet mastered the brain, they've learned a great deal about it. One of the most important lessons thus far has been on the value of habits. Your brain is a muscle like any other. When you work out...
The heart of our economy is competition. By competing with one another, businesses are forced to find greater efficiencies and deliver results that better match what the market demands. This is the great strength of capitalism, and the results speak for themselves. However, it is also a weakness. Competition can become so great that businesses (and people) can begin to take it to heart. It doesn’t take long before some...
When's the last time you did something without procrastinating, even for a minute? With so many distractions in our high-data culture, it can be hard to retain your focus on any one project for long stretches of time. That's not always a bad thing - some people are simply happier with a lot of different things occupying their attention at the same time. For others, that can be overwhelming -...
If you're like most people, you like being right. And why wouldn't you? It's good to have an accurate view of the world around us, and it feels pretty great to be on the right side of an argument. There's certainly nothing wrong with being right. However, there's more to the story than just being right. If you're a warrior, then you need as few enemies as possible - the...