BAM
Business Accelerants Memos
Valuable Advice and Insights on Running a Business
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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 have some sales skills. I would not have sold ideas for new products if I did not have some sales skills. I would not be able to put together panels at conferences if I did not have some sales skills. I would not have clients as a consultant if I did not have some sales skills.
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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”
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Build Your Team
No matter what size your business, you need a team of people to help you.
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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 succeed you. If you own a business, that can increase the value of your company should you choose to exit. It means you have developed a good management team and they are ready to run the business. That can give you more time to yourself for other pursuits, or it can give you more money as you exit the business. But, I’d like to reframe Succession Planning because I think it’s something more. . . .
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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 fording a river or stream at the narrow and safe path. But, there is another place where you need to move slowly and steadily toward a goal. That’s when you are moving to develop trust with another person — be it your partner, your child, or a client. In that case, consider using FORD on that narrow path. I mean using the FORD method of getting to know someone, where FORD is an acronym for . . .
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All Ashore That’s Going Ashore
What’s the right solution for your company?Is it INSOURCE, NEARSOURCE, OUTSOURCE, RIGHTSOURCE?
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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 you, will keep everything confidential, are willing to learn from you and give you their best thoughts. That’s a Peer Advisory Council or PaC. It’s a pack of like minds that work with you to help all succeed.
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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. Below right is one of the oldest known figurative paintings, a depiction of an unknown bovine, discovered in the Lubang Jeriji Saléh cave and dated to be more than 40,000… Read More »What’s That You Say?
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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 particularly affected by this word in the last week thanks to fraud, opportunity, new procedures and more. Let me explain . . .
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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… Read More »Is Your Smartphone Today’s Crystal Ball?
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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… Read More »Innovation Impacts Updates
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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.
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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.
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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 the numbers and determine if you are measuring the right things in the right way. If the end goal is “wealth, health, and prosperity” then measuring the number of menial labor jobs in manufacturing is likely not the right measure
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Are You a Service or Manufacturing Business?
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Is Judgement Day Coming? Here Comes DA Judge!
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Are You Muting Others?
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Avoid Risky Transitions
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Get Over It!
Let’s face it. Things are different and they will not return to the way they were for a long time—if ever. Get Over It.
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It’s Time to Hit
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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.
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Can You STOP the Dominoes Falling?
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The NEXT STEP to Success
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Let’s Play GAMEs
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Building a Lasting Business
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Business Lessons from Super Bowl LIV
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We’re All Buying All The Time—Who’s Ready To Sell?
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