You’re busy. There’s no doubt about it. Whether you’re already in business for yourself full time, moonlighting on the side, or still working entirely for somebody else, odds are good that you’ve got a lot on your plate. It’s a hectic world these days for all of us. time is a resource, like money or commodities, whose value is dictated by its relative scarcity – and unlike almost any other...
It's a fact of life that there's always more work to be done. It wouldn't be hard to spend all your waking hours working on your business, and in fact many entrepreneurs do just that - often experiencing serious burnout when they push it too far. It feels good to be hard at work, and entrepreneurs often seem to wear their sleepless nights like badges of honour as a signal...
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...
In a very real sense, relationships are the fundamental building block of human society. It should come as no surprise, then, that when it comes to your business, the way you create and maintain your network of relationships is paramount to success. After all, a business is a vehicle for delivering goods or services between people – a transaction that is itself just another form of relationship. When you're 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,...
Working together with a partner or a team can have great benefits for any business: more hands available to get work done, more eyes open for opportunities and pitfalls, and more brains pitching ideas and coming up with solutions. Building a strong team and leading new team members to greater success is also personally rewarding for all involved. However, it also comes with its own set of unique difficulties. Personalities...
No matter what industry you're in or what business you manage, the most important component of your business is your reputation and authenticity. When you interact with somebody, they have to make a judgment as to whether or not what you're offering is worth their time. We live in a fast-paced world, and a lot of businesses try to offer rapid-fire convenience or bare-bones service in exchange for low prices....
When people think about earning an income, typically they think about having a job. And why not? That's what you're trained for throughout your educational years and onward into adulthood, and it's a system that has worked (for better or for worse) since the Industrial Revolution. A job seemed to offer security - a paycheck, a pension, reliable work - by tapping in to the business owner's resources and networks...
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...