When I looked at my business transformations over the past five years, I quickly came to one daring insight: when I tried to copy other people's business model, I got mediocre results. When I stepped outside of my own comfort zone (as well as what my industry says businesses "should" look like) and created my own business model, business …
Feeling Like Your Business Needs to Change?
Something's in the air! Everywhere I turn recently, I keep running into seasoned business owners who tell me stories about how they are changing their business model, reinventing the way they do business, modifying the products/services they offer, and shifting who their target audience is. Some say they're feeling restless: that they know …
Releasing Judgment and Asking For Help
A colleague sent me this email last year, and I wanted to share it with you, because it affects all small business owners: "I've purchased some of your material and taken a course on masterminding and still haven't moved forward with creating a mastermind group. I've recognized that part of my problem is moving past my desire for …
Following Your Soul, as a Business Owner
How do you know what your life purpose is, and the purpose of your business? How do you know if this is what your soul wants you to do? I'm a firm believer in "try something" even if we're not sure that it's the right thing. Let me tell you a story: On Christmas Eve 1999, I was home from work wrapping presents and watching the …
Are Gasoline Prices Eating Into Your Profits?
With the surge in gasoline prices lately, self employed people are wondering how these higher prices will effect their bottom line. Certainly you'll pay more at the pump, and if you do a lot of road travel as part of your business, this can really add up. In addition, the cost of your supplies may increase as trucking companies and shippers also …
Want to Become a Small Business Consultant?
People ask me all the time, "How do I become a small business consultant?" and "How do I grow my existing small business coaching firm?" I've created a checklist of 18 steps I think are essential if you want to be a coach/consultant/mentor for solo entrepreneurs and micro business owners. I've been a small business coach-consultant for 17 years …