Regardless of whether you are selling a product or selling your business it is important to make sure you understand what the customer is buying. An early mentor of mine by the name of Ron Muns had a business that developed software to track a company’s assets. After sales began to ramp up to unexpected
Know What The Customer is Buying Read More »
Small Businesses Often Undervalue Their Role When Partnering With Larger Companies. Learn How a Simple Hotdog Vendor Can Teach Us to Rethink Our Negotiation Power.
Understanding the real difference between assets and liabilities can reshape how you view personal wealth and business opportunities. Learn how a $32 million revenue stream was seen as a burden, and why your house might not be the asset you think it is.
One Man’s Asset Is Another’s Liability: A Business Owner’s Lesson Read More »
Just Because You Hear Something Repeated Often Doesn’t Make It True. Learn Why Critical Thinking Is a Superpower in Business and How to Start Using It Today.
Why Smart Entrepreneurs Question What Everyone Else Accepts as Truth Read More »
Three-quarters of all firms in the United States are categorized as “non-employers”. Non-employers are business that provides work for only a single or part-time owner. While small businesses which employ many people are usually started in response to marketplace opportunities, non-employer business is often started as occupational decisions. They can be a way to deal
How to Leverage a Turning Tide Read More »
Being totally committed and all in on the success of a business can be the difference between having a successful business and quitting before the business has had a chance to takes off. A few years ago I planted a garden for the first time in several years. The first few weeks were brutal. I
Are You Committed? Read More »
Successful Entrepreneurs Choose The “Best Path” To Their Goal, Not The Easiest Or Shortest Path And Are Willing To Sacrifice Much To Obtain It.
Do You Have What It Takes To Be a Successful Entrepreneur? Read More »
Why Every Business Needs Capital to Survive and Thrive. Learn How Debt and Equity Financing Can Make or Break Your Venture.
Why Every Business—Successful or Not—Eventually Needs More Capital Read More »
It Is The Knowledge You Gain In All Facets Of Business That Will Ultimately Help You Achieve Business Success.
Take Baby Steps To Avoid Business Failure Read More »
Sales opportunities exist in a declining market. When consumers cut back they look for savings. Try to repackage or reprice offerings to take advantage
How to Make Money in a Declining Market Read More »
New disruptive inventions don’t only affect manufacturers like our button manufacturer in yesterday’s post. Sometimes technology affects service businesses as well. Let’s consider the safety razor and the impact it had on the barber industry. While Jean-Jacques Perret invented the safety razor in France during the latter part of the 18th century, the invention reached
How Disruptive Technology Can Affect Your Business Read More »
From the Zipper to Artificial Intelligence, Disruptive Technologies Can Destroy Businesses That Fail to Adapt. Learn How to Spot Trends Before They Become Threats.
How the Zipper Killed the Button Business—and What It Means for You Read More »
A business associate of mine once used to charge $5,000 per day for his consulting services. I asked him once how he came to that rate and he said he heard someone was charging $4,000 per day and he wanted to be sure he was the most expensive option available. At the time he billed
Harness the Power of Expectations and Price Read More »
Why do we cling to options we never use? From computers to credit cards, the fear of loss drives our decisions. Learn how to turn this bias into business gains.
Keeping Doors Open: How Behavioral Economics Can Boost Your Bottom Line Read More »
As a rule, faced with two similar options and one dissimilar option, behavioral economics says that most people will discard the dissimilar option and choose between the similar options based on our hardwired need to compare two like things. Furthermore, behavioral economics shows us that by contemplating a number, which in fact can be quite
Harness Our Need to Compare and Decoy Prices Read More »
The Word “Free” Isn’t Just a Perk—It’s a Psychological Trigger That Drives Irrational Buying Decisions. Learn How You Can Leverage It to Boost Sales.
The Psychology Behind “Free”: Why It Works and How to Harness It for Profit Read More »
Discover How Behavioral Economics Can Help Small Business Owners Make Smarter Marketing Choices and Boost Profit Margins by Understanding Buyer Psychology.
Why Small Business Owners Should Master Behavioral Economics Read More »
Staying Tuned in to News Events and Policy Changes Can Give Small Business Owners a Powerful Edge. Learn How to Spot and Seize These Golden Moments.
How External Events Spark Sales Opportunities for Small Businesses Read More »
How Often Do We Buy Things We Never Intended To—Just Because We Tried a Free Sample? Learn How the Power of “Free” Can Boost Sales and Change Buying Habits.
How Free Samples Turn Browsers Into Buyers Read More »
Coming up with a great idea is the easy part. It is the execution of bringing your idea to market that is the hard part. I have run into many clients who have a great idea, around which they want to build a business. When I mention that they can license the product to a
Being an Inventor Does Not Make You an Entrepreneur Read More »
It’s Not About How Much Money You Make—It’s About What That Money Can Buy. Discover How Location Impacts Your Standard of Living and Your Business Profitability.
The Surprising Truth About Income and Standard of Living Read More »
Do Service Businesses Need A Sales Tax License? Discover How A Pass-Through Pricing Strategy Could Help Mobile And Service-Based Entrepreneurs Stay Compliant.
Sales Tax Workarounds for Service Oriented Businesses Read More »
Understanding How Value Creation Ties Into Wages Is Essential for Both Employees and Employers. Discover Why Raises Should Reflect Contribution—Not Just Tenure.
Wages and Worth: Helping Your Team Understand Value Creation Read More »
In Today’s Digital World, One Bad Customer Experience Can Quickly Snowball Into a Public Relations Nightmare. Learn How One Restaurant Got It Wrong—And How Your Business Can Get It Right.
When Good Service Goes Bad: The Viral Cost of Poor Customer Experience Read More »
How Entrepreneurship Changed My Life—and My Family’s. Learn How Owning a Business Shifts Priorities, Time, and the Need for Support at Home.
The Hidden Cost of Being the Boss: How Entrepreneurship Impacts Family Life Read More »
Task discounting is the phenomenon whereby people assign more value to near-term or simple tasks than they do to future or complex tasks, even if these tasks hold more value. Have you ever really stepped outside your business and challenged yourself to answer a simple question: Why do I do the tasks I do? If
Are You Guilty of “Task Discounting”? Read More »
As the Federal Deficit Soars, The Risk of New Taxes and Tariffs Grows. Learn Why Small Business Owners Must Stay Informed and Engaged in the Legislative Process.
Will Rising Taxes or Tariffs Hit Your Small Business? Here’s How to Prepare Read More »
How A Random Clown In New York Went Viral And Made A Small Film Studio Famous Overnight. Discover What Made This Campaign Work—And How You Can Replicate It.
How a Silent Clown Took Over NYC (And What Your Business Can Learn) Read More »
In a Bold Move, Pepsi Turned a Boring Bus Shelter Into a Jaw-Dropping Ad Experience. Discover How Your Small Business Can Capture That Same Kind of Attention.
How Pepsi’s Giant Tentacle Ad Stopped People in Their Tracks (And What You Can Learn) Read More »
If Your Customer Can’t Quickly See the Price, They Likely Won’t Buy. Learn Why Transparency in Pricing Is Crucial and How to Avoid Losing Sales Over Secrecy.
The Surprising Truth About Why Visible Prices Close More Sales Read More »
Every Business Needs a Jester—Someone Who Helps Reveal the Truth Hidden in Plain Sight. Discover Why This Overlooked Role Can Save You From Failure.
Why Every Business Needs a Jester to Avoid Costly Mistakes Read More »
Discover How Outrageous Marketing Can Help Your Brand Stand Out and Spark Word-of-Mouth Buzz That Gets People Talking and Sharing Your Message.
The Power of Shock: Why Outrageous Marketing Gets People Talking Read More »
Many Entrepreneurs Start Part-Time Before Going Full-Time. Discover How a Side Hustle Can Help You Learn the Ropes Before You Quit Your Day Job.
Learn To Supplement Your Income Before Taking The Plunge Read More »
Entrepreneurship Can Take a Toll on Family Life, but Having the Right Support System Makes All the Difference. Learn Why This Often-Overlooked Factor Matters.
The Hidden Key to Small Business Success? Support at Home Read More »
The events playing out in the news over the past month, with Secretary of State John Kerry trying to broker peace talks between Israel and Palestine, got me thinking about how much national economic conditions affect a country’s bargaining position. More specifically, I was thinking about the role a nation’s attitude toward business creation
The Currency of National Wealth Read More »
The Relentless Spirit Of American Entrepreneurs Drives Innovation, Growth, And Prosperity. Discover Why This Work Ethic Sets The U.S. Apart And What It Means For You.
The Relentless Spirit of American Entrepreneurship Read More »
Discover Why Relying on a Single Paycheck Is Riskier Than You Think and How Entrepreneurship Offers a Smarter Way to Diversify Your Income Streams.
Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Employer: The Case for Diversified Income Read More »
Discover How Writing Notes Activates Your Brain, Strengthens Memory, And Helps You Stay Focused, Make Smarter Decisions, And Grow A Better Business.
Writing a business plan is not about the document—it’s about the clarity and confidence you gain in the process. It’s your earned knowledge that matters most.
Why Writing a Business Plan Yourself Builds Earned Knowledge Read More »
Discover How Small-Batch Processing Can Help Startups Avoid Costly Rework, Improve Efficiency, and Build a Culture of Agility and Continuous Learning.
The Hidden Flaw in Assembly-Line Thinking—and What Toyota Taught Us About Efficiency Read More »
Mastering Entrepreneurship Is Less About Hole-In-Ones And More About Making Smart, Incremental Shots. Learn Why MVP Thinking Leads To Bigger Wins.
Stop Swinging for the Fences: How Entrepreneurs Win With Small, Strategic Moves Read More »
Success Requires More Than Just Serving Customers. Learn Why Both Your Business Model and Economic Model Must Work Together to Build a Thriving Company.
Business Model vs. Economic Model: Why Both Matter and How They Differ Read More »
Are You Really Running a Business or Just Working a Job You Own? Discover the Key Differences Between a Scalable Business and a Job Disguised as Entrepreneurship.
Are You a Business Owner or Just a Jobbie? How to Tell the Difference Read More »
Mastering the Understanding Pyramid Can Unlock New Business Opportunities. Learn How To Transform Raw Data Into Actionable Wisdom That Drives Real Results.
How To Use The Understanding Pyramid To Make Smarter Decisions Read More »
There are 5 things every start-up needs if it wants to be successful. The following list is presented in order of importance:
5 Things Every Start-Up Needs Read More »
Social Media Can Help Your Business—But Only if You Know Why You’re Using It. Learn How to Align Social Tools With Strategy and Stop Wasting Money.
Is Social Media Just Another Way to Separate a Business Owner from Their Money? Read More »
Humans have difficulty recognizing and reacting to experiences that are new to them. This mental state is called our “Normalcy Bias”.
Do You Suffer From a Normalcy Bias? Read More »
Take This Quick One-Question Test to Discover If You Have the Mindset of an Entrepreneur. Your First Reaction Might Reveal More About You Than You Think.
Do You Think Like an Entrepreneur? Take This One-Question Test Read More »
Most Entrepreneurs Don’t Truly Know What Drives Them—But Understanding Your Primary Motivation Could Be the Key to Long-Term Success and Satisfaction.
What’s Your Real “Why”? Discover the 4 Entrepreneurial Drivers That Shape Success Read More »
Discover How Saloons Evolved Into Speakeasies And Ultimately Helped End Prohibition. This Story Offers A Powerful Lesson In The Art Of Rebranding.
From Saloons to Speakeasies: How a Rebrand Repealed Prohibition Read More »
You’re Not Just an Employee in Your Business—You’re the Investor. Discover How Adam Smith’s Timeless Economic Insight Can Transform Your Pricing Strategy.
You Deserve More Than a Paycheck: Pricing for Entrepreneurial Return Read More »
Discover How Successful Entrepreneurs Use Unique Skills, Tools, or Knowledge to Gain a Competitive Advantage. Learn How to Identify and Leverage Your Own.
Unlocking Your Business Edge: Why Every Model Needs Special Leverage Read More »
Everyone Loves Cute Things, but Did You Know That Cuteness Can Be a Strategic Asset in Business Marketing? From Trade Shows to Sidewalk Interactions, Discover How Leveraging Adorableness Can Help You Attract More Customers, Start Conversations, and Create Lasting Impressions.
The Cuteness Factor: A Surprisingly Powerful Business Marketing Tool Read More »
Click Here to Discover How Successful Entrepreneurs Simplify Complex Decisions Using Math. Learn How Statistical Analysis Can Guide Smarter Business Choices.
Want to Make Smarter Choices? Turn Your Business Decisions into Math Problems Read More »
The 18th Amendment Taught a Timeless Lesson: When You Push an Extreme Agenda Without Room for Compromise, You Risk Losing It All. Learn How This Applies to Modern Business Strategy.
Win the Battle, Lose the War: How Extremes in Business Strategy Backfire Read More »
When You Have Nothing to Fall Back On, You Tap Into a Primal Drive to Succeed. Discover How Taking Calculated Risks Can Awaken Your Inner Entrepreneur.
Awaken Your Survival Instinct: The Mindset That Separates Winners from Wannabes Read More »
Discover Why Tapping Into the Inner Rebel of Your Customer Can Boost Your Marketing Results. Embrace the Cowboy Spirit That Defines American Identity.
The Psychology of Rebellion: Why Lawless Marketing Works in America Read More »
Politicians routinely tweak the tax code to gain financial support from lobbyists and win favor with voters. But what if you, as an entrepreneur, could take advantage of those same strategies? Learn how staying politically aware could unlock real financial benefits for your business.
How Politicians Use Tax Breaks To Win Votes—And How You Can Benefit Read More »
Money Alone Won’t Fuel Your Motivation—But What It Can Buy Just Might. Discover Why Entrepreneurs Must Focus on Outcomes, Not Income, to Stay Inspired.
Why Chasing Money Isn’t Enough: Focus on What It Buys Instead Read More »
Avoid the Costly Mistake of Building a Perfect Product Too Early. Discover How Early Testing Helps You Learn What Users Want Before Committing to Development.
Ride the Wave, Don’t Build the Ocean: The Power of Starting Small Read More »
Focus On What You Want, Not What You Fear. In Business and Life, Where You Direct Your Thoughts Determines Your Outcome. Learn How to Harness This Power.
The Surprising Truth About Positive Thinking (And Why It Works) Read More »
Great Ideas Often Come From Unexpected Places. Learn How Industry Crossovers—From Vacuum Cleaners to Velcro—Can Help You Solve Stubborn Business Problems.
How Borrowing Ideas from Other Industries Sparks Breakthrough Innovation Read More »
Starting a Business Is Exciting, but Profitability Doesn’t Happen Overnight. Some Ventures Break Even Fast, Others Take Years—Some Never Get There at All. Before Diving In, You Need a Clear Plan and Financial Runway to Make It Through the Ups and Downs.
Do You Know The Path to Profitability? Read More »
Are Your Efforts Moving the Needle or Just Keeping You Busy? Discover How Focusing on the Wrong Targets Can Sabotage Your Success Without You Realizing It.
How Targeting the Wrong Problem Hurts Your Business Read More »
“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by the dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who
Inspirational Quote Teddy Roosevelt Read More »
Rethinking Your Everyday Assumptions—Like Why We Paint by Numbers Instead of Letters—Can Unlock More Efficient, Creative, and Profitable Ways to Operate. This Post Explores How Testing Long-Held Beliefs Can Lead to Breakthroughs in Both Business and Life.
Think You’re Marketing to the “Average” Customer? That Person Doesn’t Exist. the Concept of “Average” Is a Mathematical Illusion. in the Real World—And Especially in Marketing—It Can Lead You Far Astray. Discover Why Targeting the Typical or Median Customer Is a Smarter, More Profitable Move.
Discover Why Emotion Drives Customer Decisions and How Logical Justifications Follow. Learn How to Spark Desire in Your Audience Before Talking Features.
The Power of Emotion: Why You Should Always Sell the Sizzle, Not the Steak Read More »
Understanding how taxes work is crucial to keeping more of what you earn. Discover how business owners use pre-tax dollars to their advantage and why you should, too.
Why Smart Entrepreneurs Pay Less in Taxes Than Employees—Legally Read More »
Are You Running Your Business Blindfolded? Without Measuring Results and Tracking Feedback, You’re Guessing Instead of Growing. Learn How Feedback Loops Can Help You Make Smarter, Data-Driven Decisions That Lead to Real Success.
Why Most Entrepreneurs Fail Without Feedback—And How to Fix It Read More »
