Archive for the ‘Business & Finance’ Category
Contributed by: David Coffman
Analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of a business is a well-established tool that is widely used by academics, consultants, and advisors. Although it is a simple concept, business owners often struggle when trying to use it because it is so broad. It is difficult to determine where to start, what questions to ask, and where to focus. The obvious problems get attention while many other important issues get overlooked. SWOT analysis is a great tool, but Continue Reading
Contributed by: Frank A. Natoli, Esq
Original works of authorship, such as poems, novels, musical compositions or other written or artistic pieces and even websites, may be copyrighted by their creators. A piece that is copyrighted provides certain rights to the owner of the copyright including the right to reproduce the work, the right to create derivatives of the work and the right to publicly perform the work.
The principles of copyrighting seem straightforward. However, each year numerous lawsuits are brought in the United States federal courts claiming copyright infringement. Continue Reading
Contributed by: Darren LaCroix
The following happened when I was in Orlando a few days ago. It bugged me so much I had to write about it.
So there I was, along with Dave, standing in the front of an almost empty meeting room. Dave had heard me speak to a group of managerial accountants in Boston. It went over so well, he invited me to present to a group of 425 college accounting students. He knew my abilities and trusted my judgment.
So there we were, along with the AV guys, setting up the room Continue Reading
Contributed by: John Locke
As I got on the plane to Helsinki, I wondered if I had been duped. I was flying blind–I didn’t know where I was staying, whether anybody would be there when I arrived, or if I would end up sitting in a hotel room by myself for three days. But when the well-known founder of a billion dollar company invited me to his home to help my business, I figured I’d better get on that plane.
It started with a simple email. Michael “Monty” Widenius Continue Reading
Contributed by: Gary W. Patterson
“I need to visit our top ten customers. If you know who they are, please let me know.” Does this sound familiar? When was the last time you asked finance and operations about your top customers? This article recommends five questions you should ask to obtain critical information on key customers that will not only help to improve the quality of your business decisions, but just as important, your company’s profitability. Before you go out on the road, be sure you have the facts on your key accounts. Continue Reading
Contributed by: Jim Rohrbach
I’ve been in the coaching game full time since the end of 1992. I’ve coached hundreds of people over the years and am even working with leaders to help them go from being “managers” to coaches. I’ve gotten a lot of questions about what it takes to be a coach, so let me lay out what I think are the essential elements:
The love of helping others succeed. It’s no accident that I listed this first. Continue Reading
Contributed by: Ben Bradley
It seems every week we talk to another professional services shop trying to kick-start their marketing and sales process. We sit down with the founder and ask the same question: “how are you different from all the other firms out there?”
When we ask that question, we get the same answer: we have a global delivery model, we are client centric, we put people first, we are domain experts and/or we really understand our clients.
With those credentials, you are beautiful and unique, just like everyone else. Continue Reading
Contributed by: TJ Wisner
Associations are really in the teambuilding business!
Most of my research over the years has been in the area of effective teams. In the past three years I have worked with several associations and have concluded that the elements of success for building highly effective teams are the same for highly effective associations. In order to have a high performing team or association, a strong sense of belonging must exist.
Like teams, associations must focus on this sense of belonging to enhance overall effectiveness and in the case of associations, membership value. Three key elements need to exist in order to facilitate a greater sense of belonging: Continue Reading
Contributed by: Jim Rohrbach
I’ve been seeing Bruce Springsteen since 1974 and caught his latest knockout performance with The E Street Band this past month here in Chicago. Some of you have seen the man in concert and have marveled at the energy he puts out night after night — almost 60, he’s shown why he’s earned the nickname “The Boss.” What secrets of success can you learn from the music of this legendary rocker?
Continue Reading
Contributed by: TJ Wisner
All too often, companies waste their hard earned profits on team building efforts that result in little, or no, improvement in performance. If the only results the leadership wants to see are to have fun and spend some cash, then that is perfectly fine. However, if the leadership desires highly effective teams, then they will need to follow the recipe for teamwork. Continue Reading