Five Scariest Moments for a Small Business CEO

Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of the year. I can remember as a kid dressing up in a costume and trying my hardest to scare people as we walked our neighborhood gathering treats. It was fun to frighten others and also to feel frightened from time-to-time as we encountered scary-looking creatures Read more about Five Scariest Moments for a Small Business CEO[…]

Founding Vistage, the Changing Role of CEOs, and great BBQ with Bud Carter

Radio disk jockey turned business owner and Vistage Founder, Bud Carter has had a successful and colorful career. Arriving in Atlanta during the 80s, Bud was the owner and general manager of a corporate outplacement company. He was also the founder of Vistage Georgia (known then as TEC) and became the first Vistage Chair in Read more about Founding Vistage, the Changing Role of CEOs, and great BBQ with Bud Carter[…]

Is Your Company the Cosbys or the Red Sox?

I first published this article over five years ago. It quickly became one of the most popular articles I have ever written and one of my personal favorites as well.  Enjoy! Your organizational culture has a dramatic impact on your success as a small business. Most new businesses start off with a family-like culture. Everyone Read more about Is Your Company the Cosbys or the Red Sox?[…]

Today’s Small Business Marketing Mistakes

Let’s face it. Marketing is hard. Great marketing takes time, focus, dedication, money, and a cohesive strategy. You have to know your audience insanely well and have the right team in place that can execute, move quickly, and think creatively. To complicate the process even more, great marketing doesn’t have a specific, one-size-fits-all formula. It’s Read more about Today’s Small Business Marketing Mistakes[…]

Three Questions You Must Ask Before You Fire Your Next Employee

In my executive coaching practice, one of the most frequent questions I encounter is, “Tim, do you think I should fire ________?” It is typically an employee who is either not performing (a cheerleader), has a bad attitude (a terrorist), or both (deadwood). My best response to that question is to propose the following three (3) questions: Read more about Three Questions You Must Ask Before You Fire Your Next Employee[…]

Three Reasons to Host a Tribal Meeting

On May 17, I am hosting the 5th annual Small Business Matters Conference. This is a tribal meeting. Marketing guru Seth Godin suggests in his best-selling book Tribes that we are all the chief of our own “Tribe”. My tribe includes past Vistage members, GrowSmart graduates, colleagues, and friends. Who are the members of your tribe? Read more about Three Reasons to Host a Tribal Meeting[…]