Nearly ten years ago, the DIRECTV “Settler” commercials gained significant popularity on television. These ads motivated me to write this article about the challenges of settling in business. Although the commercials are now a decade old, I still notice many small business owners who are “settling” far too frequently. Check out the commercials at the Read more about Are You a Settler?[…]
In Reset, Dan Heath offers a fresh and insightful perspective on how individuals and businesses can navigate significant transitions and difficult challenges. Whether you’re dealing with a stagnating business, feeling burnt out, or simply yearning for a fresh start, this book provides a road map for meaningful transformation. Heath’s central thesis is that people often feel Read more about BOOK REVIEW: Reset[…]
In 10X Is Easier Than 2X, Dan Sullivan, renowned coach to entrepreneurs, teams up with organizational psychologist Dr. Benjamin Hardy to challenge conventional growth strategies. This isn’t your typical business book about scaling—it’s a mindset shift that encourages you to rethink how you approach success, time, and effort. The book’s central idea is deceptively simple: Read more about Book Review: 10X Is Easier Than 2X[…]
This is the time of year when we make New Year’s resolutions for ourselves. The most popular include weight loss, exercise, and being nicer to our in-laws. Twenty years ago, I first published this article. I think it’s as relevant today as it was in 2006. What about your business? Have you made any New Read more about New Year’s Resolutions[…]
“Stop trying to motivate your employees,” I told Ryan as we settled down at our table at Chick-fil-A. Ryan is the general manager of a fast-growing small business in Atlanta. A week earlier, he contacted me to ask for help motivating his underperforming employees. “Nothing seems to be working,” he said in a frustrated tone. Read more about Stop Trying to Motivate Your Employees[…]
When my youngest son was in elementary school he was asked by his teacher what his dad did for a living and his response was, “he goes to a lot of meetings”. It was actually a very accurate answer. This past year, I have facilitated almost 100 different meetings with groups of five to 25 Read more about Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in Your 2025 Meetings[…]
Halloween has always been one of my favorite times of the year. I can remember as a kid dressing up 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 myself from time to time. As a small business owner, Read more about Five Scariest Moments for a CEO[…]
Each of my Vistage Advancing Leader groups is currently reading Good to Great by best-selling author Jim Collins. I have also gone back and re-read the book, and it is a classic. See below for my review of the book in March 2002. Ever wonder how good companies transition into great companies? Jim Collins, author of Read more about Book Review: Good to Great[…]
It’s football season, and there’s no better time to consider your small business’s fundamentals, the “blocking and tackling”. I wrote this article over 20 years ago and am pleased to share it with you again. My dad used to love the old Green Bay Packers. Coach Vince Lombardi was an icon in his mind. The Read more about Blocking and Tackling in the Game of Business[…]
In Stories That Stick, Kindra Hall delivers a masterclass on the art of storytelling, proving this timeless technique is a crucial tool for modern business success. Hall, a renowned storytelling expert, lays out a clear and actionable framework for using stories to captivate and persuade. The book is structured around four types of stories: Value, Read more about Book Review: “Stories That Stick”[…]