How is your business doing lately? As an owner, you probably have a sense of how things are going, but is it right? While I have developed a great respect for an owner’s “gut feel” over my 40 years of consulting, there are many illusions and counter-intuitive aspects to business that can mislead owners. A common counter-intuitive illusion is that if sales are increasing, things … [More]
Wildhorse Grille at Talking Stick Golf Club
A new hot spot for lunch is the country club-ambience Talking Stick Golf Club in Scottsdale near the Talking Stick Resort. A bit off of the beaten path, this Southwestern-styled dining room is a great place to do business and get a great midday meal. Chef Patrick Karvis is well known in the Valley, having worked with Eddie Matney and Michael DeMaria, among others. He has … [More]
Six Tips and Tools for Saving Money This Open Enrollment Season
The temperatures are slowing starting to cool, children are back in school, and football rules the weekends once again. Fall also means it’s time for benefits open enrollment, the time of year when more than 3 million Arizonans have a chance to review their benefits provided by their employer and decide what programs to enroll in or change for the following year. When … [More]
Ask Straight Up — and Close the Deal
Most salespeople, when it comes down to it, are downright scared of being direct and to the point and telling people in no uncertain terms, “Here’s what I want!” Think about it. There’s a conspiracy that encourages people to bury their most important wants and desires. Marketing trainers use consultative selling to draw people out. Social media consultants say, “Selling … [More]
If Cash Is King, then Working Capital Is God
Working capital management is the most important management activity in emerging and mid-sized companies because of the significant financial impact that it has on the company’s well-being. While most CEOs and business owners have heard and accept that “Cash is King,” working capital is often the least understood and most poorly managed area of their companies. When working … [More]
Strategic Planning Vitalized
It’s that time of year again: strategic planning season. As annual planning and preparation tasks begin popping up on corporate calendars across the country, leaders cringe at the distraction. Given the current atmosphere of uncertainty, many executives approach planning with urgency and impatience — simply looking to get it over with — rather than approaching the process with … [More]
Social Strategizing with LinkedIn
LinkedIn was founded by Reid Hoffman in 2002 as a business-oriented social network. It differs from Twitter and Facebook because its primary use is professional networking, job searching and recruiting. Executives from all Fortune 500 companies are LinkedIn members, and more than 2 million companies have developed LinkedIn Company Pages. With more than 150 million users in more … [More]
Security and Technology: The Growing Risk of Compromised Data
There’s no disputing a company’s data is as valued as its best worker. But that “best worker” employee could be the source of data being compromised. Hunter Bennett, vice president of managed hosting of Scottsdale-based OneNeck IT Services, offers this rundown of risks that are too close to home for any business: internal breaches from employees (70 percent of security … [More]
Strengthening Your Bench
Our last article made the point that you should know what selling style you need in order to acquire the right talent for your sales team to be successful. This article will give you some interviewing tips that will reduce mis-hires and increase productivity. Going Shopping or Hunting? A good catch is a rarity. I get asked every week, “Where do I pick up a sales rep?” It … [More]
The Media Mileage of Corporate Philanthropy
Though the economy continues to endure the deeper valleys of a rollercoaster half-decade, with employment rates still sagging, real estate sales only beginning to regain a pulse and consumer spending remaining stagnant, many Arizona small businesses and corporations are nevertheless embracing philanthropic opportunities as a means of staying connected to their communities while … [More]
