BLUF Your Way to Success
A better way to make your point quickly is to simplify it and clarify at the end.
Peer Advisory Groups Focused on Manufacturing & Related Industries
Manufacturing drives our economy and is fueld by small, privately held businesses. Leaders can benefit from Peer Advisory Councils with focus on their industry.
Do You Know Your Customer?
So, what did this customer want? Did anyone ever ask what she was wanting to accomplish? Was she looking for a drill motor? Or a drill? Or a screw? Nope, she just wanted . . .
If you’re bored, it’s time to get a board
After years of building your business, often from scratch, you’ve reached a point of satisfaction with the lifestyle the business is providing. BUT. For any business, growth is an imperative. If you ever hope to transfer the wealth of your business onto your personal account of net worth, you may well have some serious business …
SuperBowl LVII Business Lessons
A week has gone by since SuperBowl LVII ended. The world did not end. The world did not change because of the sports extravaganza. Some are still talking about the unique commercials—others are . . .
Peer Into The Future
January is a good time to look to the future. It starts in the first week with the big CES show in Las Vegas where concept vehicles, prototypes of all sorts, and advanced ind advanced ideas for technology are…
Leadership REQUIRES Meetings
Who likes meetings? I’d guess a majority of people don’t. That’s likely due to them being so poorly run and called for the wrong reasons. Yet, leadership REQUIRES meetings. Leaders get things done by…
Go Together
Ever had to wait for someone? But then, the reason for the wait turned out to be some preparatory activity the other person did that ends up making things more convenient or saving the day? If so, you…
Marketing & Sales Explained (by an Engineer)
Let’s be clear. Marketing & Sales Ain’t Easy! Over the years I’ve come to appreciate that we are all in sales of some sort. I would not be married for 45 years and counting if I did not…
Tick-Tock not TikTok
Supply Chain Pendulum Swings—You may have heard the phrase, “Those who fail to study history are doomed to repeat it.” Another one is “Everything old is new again”
Build Your Team
No matter what size your business, you need a team of people to help you. If you are a public corporation, you’ve got a fiduciary board, a strong management team, lots of people inside the…
Success Planning Beats All
That leaves us with Succession Planning. Normally that implies having someone to succeed you in business. In the corporate world, you won’t be able to be promoted unless you develop someone to…
FORD Ahead
No, I’m not sending out a warning that a Ford brand vehicle is up ahead. Normally the term is “forge ahead” meaning to move forward, slowly and steadily. Certainly that is something you want to do when…
All Ashore That’s Going Ashore
What’s the right solution for your company? Is it INSOURCE, NEARSOURCE, OUTSOURCE, RIGHTSOURCE? It’s a good time to search out new suppliers, friends, and partners. It reminds me…
Don’t Go It Alone
Don’t go it alone. Don’t try to grow it alone. You can’t and shouldn’t. . . . There’s another group you should consider talking with. That’s a group of peers that own businesses, don’t compete with…
What’s That You Say?
One generation has always had trouble understanding the next generation. Learning to bridge the communication gap is challenging for generations, races, nationalities, genders, political leanings…
CHARGE Ahead. CHARGE it.
Today’s blog is brought to you by the word, “CHARGE.” Those of us that grew up with Sesame Street or watched it as adults with our young children will recognize the opening to various segments. I was…
Is Your Smartphone Today’s Crystal Ball?
Can you see into the FUTURE? Are you up-to-date on TODAY? Have you studied the PAST to avoid repeating mistakes? A successful business owner and leader needs to do all three time and again. We cannot hide our heads in the sand ignoring all that has happened, is happening, and will happen without us making …
Innovation Impacts Updates
Wow! How much time, effort, and stress have YOU experienced in the last week due to the constant, almost continuous, innovation that requires you to update or upgrade something? Here are a few of the things I’ve experienced in the last week that have caused me to pull out a few more hairs, shout expletive …
Pandemic OUT—Productivity Back IN
My faith in innovation, improving sustainability for our planet, and manufacturing remains strong with such applications of recyclable, corrugated paper board.
Let’s Innovate the Innovation Icon
For decades now, a new idea, an innovation, has been represented by a light bulb, as if Thomas Edison was the only person to have a good idea. For some time now, I’ve been searching for something more “modern” to represent an innovative new idea.
What IS Manufacturing?
Why do we care what manufacturing is? We care because it is a major contributor to the wealth, health, and prosperity of people and nations. . . . As with any statistic, it is important to understand…
SWAT the SWOT and Make a KISS
Take a flyswatter and swat the standard SWOT analysis. Instead, do a SWAT for Special Weapons Accelerating Tactics and throw in some love with a KISS.
Family Matters and Happy Holidays
While spending time with my family in Branson, Missouri for Thanksgiving, I found myself gaining insights into family family businesses, business families, enterprising families, and family legacy.
Get Ready to Partee
My lovely wife, Susan, and I wish you much happiness, joy, and gratitude for the blessing you have this holiday season. Since 1990, we have been creating our own greeting for family, friends, and colleagues.
Are You a Service or Manufacturing Business?
According to the Shopify Business Encyclopedia, “Manufacturing refers to a large-scale production of goods that converts raw materials, parts, and components into finished merchandise using manual labor and/or machines.
Is Judgement Day Coming? Here Comes DA Judge!
I fully expect we are going to see lots more court cases in the near future. It will involve the election, evictions, insurance coverage, OSHA violations, PPP forgiveness, civil unrest, business dissolution, partnership…
Get Over It!
My last trip on a plane, like many people, was just short of 6 months ago. From the forecasts I’ve seen from airline industry analysts, it’s likely to be quite some time before people are willing to regularly get…
It’s Time to Hit
YOUR business deals with risk. My wife shared an article with me regarding a 2008 Airbus A320 plane that had its computers experience ten things going wrong at the same time, taking inappropriate…
Are You for Thee or Them?
I suggest the golden rule still holds. Our parents quickly learn that we are different and God knows we are different. We want to be treated as individuals, so the golden rule recognizes that others also want to be treated as the individuals they are.
