There are a few fundamental elements of your strategic plan that must be crafted carefully and thoughtfully – with a sense of ownership, visionary thinking, and a relentless pursuit of your desired future. Your vision, mission, and values are the three most critical elements of your plan – so take the time to get these[…]
What is your story? Not a story about something that happened in the past, but a fast-forward tale about where your business will be in the future. This story will become the fundamental theme of your strategic plan. Strategic plans are much more than a collection of missions, visions, and strategies. These are simply the[…]
A few years ago, I published an article on the irrelevance of the economy. More specifically, the economy that had (by most measures) reached historic lows in our region. Preposterous? Maybe, from a macro economic perspective. But, not for a small business owner. The point of the article was to focus on what you can[…]
Today I’ll wear my CIO hat as we discuss a very important tool you should always use when making purchasing or outsourcing decisions. Understanding the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) calculation for your next website design, managed services agreement, or even a decision to purchase or lease equipment will help you determine the right strategy[…]
Without a well-defined action plan to improve the quality of your systems, processes, service, or strategy – the term quality may simply become just that – a term. Where are you today? Where can you achieve the best results in the least amount of time? What are your long-term quality initiatives? These questions can be[…]
Today’s strategy tip came to me as I unboxed my new 3D printer. Yes, I am now able to make some real cool (useless) plastic trinkets. Although the printer is not designed for strategic plans or Website strategies, we can use the concept of a 3D printer to look at our businesses in a completely[…]