If you’re a commercial electrical contractor, you’re likely always on the lookout for ways to improve your business, boost your bottom line, and stay ahead of the competition. One excellent…
The commercial construction industry is facing many challenges in 2023, and electrical contractors are no exception. From labor shortages to changing codes and regulations, there are many issues that commercial…
When I was about 12 or 13, I saved a little boy who was drowning. I didn’t really think too much about it at the time. When it happened, it…
Systems are like recipes. If you follow a recipe, you get a predictable outcome, something you can count on. If you have a recipe for a chocolate cake and you…
What is a System? A system is a series of steps or processes working together to produce a predictable and expected output. Think about a car. The fuel system is…
Business owners can learn a lot from truck drivers. Driving a big 18-wheeler comes with its own special challenges. The biggest challenge is probably the other drivers they are forced…
I’m sure you are all familiar with the grieving process. That 5-stage process – Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance – is necessary for our psyche to deal with the changes…
Use the Business Priority Pyramid (BPP) to Move Your Business Forward Discover the critical issue you need to fix next What is the next problem you must address or opportunity…
Happy New Year! When you hear someone say “2020” what do you think? If you’re like most people, you think of eyesight. Or rather, hindsight and the old saying “hindsight…
When have you ever heard a business coach tell you to STOP trying to grow your business? It’s counter-intuitive, it goes against the grain of everything you’ve probably ever read….
Are you having problems with your employees? Do you struggle with getting employees to follow directions? Do you have employees who don’t show up for work on time, leave early,…
To be an effective leader, you must be an effective communicator. Because, when you think about it, LEADERSHIP is COMMUNICATION. Leadership is communication. As a small business professional, you must…
Team building is important when it comes to managing people. People are simply more willing to work together when the atmosphere encourages it. For many organizations, teamwork is necessary for the…
It’s so easy to let your mind get preoccupied and lose track of your goals and dreams. The world is full of distractions; more so than ever before, and they…
You’ve probably heard about the “Law of Attraction” that is covered in popular books by Esther and Jerry Hicks. Many people claim that the law of attraction has its roots…
My wife and I went hang gliding one beautiful weekend in May. Years ago, we stopped giving each other “things” as gifts because things get lost, things get broken. Things…
Contingency Plans Contingency plans are essentially your “Plan B” or what you will do when Plan A fails or is no longer an option. Contingency planning is part of a…
Expect the Unexpected Continuity in business is critical. If you’re in business for yourself – if you are the boss, then you have to be prepared; more so than mere…
I am a private pilot. I’ve had my license since 2008. I don’t fly as much as I’d like (it is a rather expensive hobby) but when I do fly,…
You’ve probably all heard the song “Carry On Wayward Son” by the group KANSAS. Based on the opening lyrics, some people assume that the song is based on the Icarus…
So… I’ve got some good news and I’ve got some bad news. First, the bad news: Like it or not, you are responsible for your life. Your life is your own…
During casual first meetings with people, the subject of careers often comes up. When people find out that I am a coach, there is invariably one person who challenges the…
We’ve all worked with or managed that person. You know the one I’m talking about; we usually referred to them as the BMW: the person who is always bitching, moaning,…
In a previous post, I spoke about my quest, a personal journey based on the ideals of Chivalry and Becoming a Chivalrous Leader. Continuing that theme, I want to talk…
“We Don’t Need Change Management.” Boy… if I had a dime for every time I’ve heard THAT phrase. Many business leaders think that having a project plan that includes a change…
In my conversations with business owners, I often ask “What are the main issues or pain points that keep you up at night? What are the things in your business…
To be a successful entrepreneur you are going to have to learn to deal with – and learn from – failure. There is no way around that fact. Thomas Edison tried…
One mistake new entrepreneurs make… getting involved in a business idea that doesn’t match their passion. They come up with an idea to make or sell some item that they…
People Hate Change This is the first in a series of blog posts dispelling the myths that surround change. You’ve probably heard them before and it’s likely that you heard them…
Everyone has their pet peeves; I have several. The one that really annoys me is tentativeness and people who are tentative. We encounter tentative people all around us: driving in…
What is Chivalry or being a “chivalrous leader”? First, there are many misconceptions when you mention the word Chivalry. People immediately picture knights in armor, immersed in bloody battle, pillaging…
These are challenging times. All businesses struggle; large or small. The markets are fluctuating, customer loyalty can change at the speed of a mouse-click, and the constant pressure to innovate…
As a Leader, knowing how to communicate with your employees is crucial. Part of that is knowing the currency by which the employee is motivated. By now, you’re aware of or…
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough. I’ve had enough rudeness, incivility, lack of respect, lack of accountability. I’ve experienced this kind of behavior all too often,…
Everyone needs a mentor, someone to “show them the ropes” and help them to gain the valuable skills that come with experience. I’ve had many mentors throughout my career,…
It’s not enough just to know where you’re going (though that’s critical). You must also know how you plan to get there. As you may already know, I’m a…
Some people claim that they are a victim of circumstances. They would have succeeded if only…. they would have won the person’s heart if only… they would have arrived…
Hello 2016! I’m not big on making new year’s resolutions. If you’re honest with yourself, the topic of your resolution is more than likely something that you SHOULD have been doing…
Most of you may not remember the ABC television series “MacGyver” that aired between 1985 and 1992. Richard Dean Anderson played a secret agent that used his resourcefulness and knowledge…
Okay, so this is one of my pet-peeves: People who schedule meetings just for the sake of scheduling meetings. There are times when a meeting is necessary and there are…
You are a leader, but how exactly are you leading? What example are you setting for your followers? When I was growing up, my mom used to tell us…
I spotted this image online and had to laugh. Can you relate? This used to be me. Most mornings I would wake up and be just fine; give me a cup…
Noted as one of the greatest United States presidents, Abraham Lincoln’s early life may not have reflected his potential greatness. He failed in business. He lost elections to the…
It’s lonely being the contrarian, but I disagree with most of the published and accepted works dealing with self-esteem. There are a lot of misconceptions about what self-esteem is, where…
As a coach, I encourage my clients to write out their goals “as if.” By that I mean, write the goals as if they are true today. Don’t talk about…
Every decision we make, every minute of every day of our lives, makes us who we are. Read that sentence again, slowly. Let it sink in. That is a profoundly…