Every entrepreneur is an explorer, a seeker of freedom, self-expression and mastery of their craft in the service of others. Adventure summons you. Your journey to distant lands unfolds along byways both well-trodden and uncharted. Try as you might to step aside from the path of your calling, your eyes forever turn back to your true path with …
Improvement versus Innovation When Transforming Your Business
How can you tell if you should just go after improvements, or if you should go after true innovation when transforming your business? Susan M. Grotevant of the University of Minnesota says, "Old organizations, like old people can become set in their ways." We tiptoe around innovation because it means getting rid of sacred cows, those projects, …
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Are Thieves Stealing Your Website Text?
Last week, I promised you a story about a thief. There are some extraordinarily lazy people out there who would rather steal the carefully-crafted text from your site and put it on their own, rather than do the work on describing their own services and products. Think it doesn't happen or won't happen to you? Think again. Back in 2004, I wrote …
The Best Advice I’ve Gotten So Far
What’s Your True, Deep Mission?
Does your business have a mission? I don't mean a Mission Statement. I mean a deep, true purpose for being in existence. I've come up with this one for me and my business: There are 21 million solo entrepreneurs in the USA, but only 9% make over $100,000. My mission is to change that 9% to 10%. What's your guiding light in your business? …
Drop That Sacred Cow
Do you have services or products that you love, but your customers are unwilling to pay for? Are some of your offerings no longer profitable but you find yourself resistant to removing them from your website? In business we call these "sacred cows," the untouchables that are exempt from questioning. Often you are emotionally attached to them …