There’s a great line in Alice in Wonderland when the Queen says, “Sometimes I think of 6 impossible things before breakfast.” I think you’ll agree that this has to be creativity at its best! As a small business owner this is an ideal you really need to strive for … but how on earth can
Have you invented the next big thing? Built a better mousetrap? If you invent or discover a new and useful “process, machine, manufacture, or composition thereof” you can apply for a federal patent to protect your invention from being used by others without your permission. Do you remember the first video arcade game, Pong? Invented
“Excellence is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.” The above anonymous quote was displayed prominently in an office, where, oddly enough, it seemed to attract very little attention. In any case, it has made enough of
Capable leadership is one of the most important traits of a successful business owner, manager or executive. However, different circumstances call for different management styles. This article discusses four basic types: Directive, Participative, Laissez-faire and Adaptive. Directive: This is the perhaps the oldest form and is relatively autocratic. Someone using a directive style tells people
In the past several years, business coaching has gone beyond a luxury reserved for Corporate America’s executives to an invaluable tool for small business owners. Yet many small business owners are still unclear on the difference between a business coach and a business consultant. The difference is as simple as the old expression “give a
For many Manufacturing, Trades and Tech Companies labor is the single largest expense item in their operation. Labor costs are often the difference between profit and loss and the quality of life the business owner will enjoy. Here we talk about some ways to reduce labor costs. First, it is absolutely imperative that
Nothing ever stays the same. On the one hand we despise change yet on the other we don’t want to stagnate and become boring. Yet our habits keep us locked into a course of action day after day, year after year. The way we think, the way we behave, the way we experience things, the
Here’s an interesting notion: Do you realize that there are mistakes you can make at various stages of your business’ growth that can be slowly killing it for months or even years if you don’t watch for them? Well, these mistakes do exist, and they are not just reserved for the rookie companies. Many working
You probably know the myth of innovation as a sudden flash of insight that comes from nowhere. We read about that “aha” moment, or that light bulb turning on in the mind of some inventor or innovator, and this is true to an extent. Einstein really did get flashes of insight while shaving in the
What Are Impulse Buys? We most commonly associate impulse buying in the traditional retail setting. Typically, impulse items are those small pieces of merchandise that crowd the retail sales check out area and aisle ways. They include candy bars, batteries, magazines, salty snacks, cold soda pops and other beverages, and other assorted items. These
