Blog
Time to Fire
“Oh goody! I get to fire someone today!” Rarely, if ever, have I heard someone speak these words. I think that’s mainly because we social creatures build rapport and relationships with our employees. When a company is growing and expanding, social relationships are the glue keeping the business together during day to day struggles/ adventures of expansion. When you’re shoulder to shoulder with someone, building the business, it’s hard to imagine you’ll have to fire them. Personal relationships for sure...
read moreHa! I *AM* the Master of My Email Inbox (Part 2)
I also have a ritual built around reading because I've got some pretty big projects going on. It's easier to get sucked into the unimportant and urgent (reading emails) than stick with the important and un-urgent. Know what I mean?
read moreHa! I *AM* Master of My Email Inbox (Part 1)
If you’re anything like me, you’ve got a big ass pile (BAP) of articles about of cool stuff you want to do. This BAP used to be in my email inbox and in my filing cabinet. But no more! I tell you! I’d keep emails in my inbox as if it was my “hey this is cool, remember this” location. And, I’d have my many email subscriptions to news and events websites arriving there too. Why is that a problem? Too much in there! I was deleting subscriptions without reading them AND I missed a couple of really...
read moreKiss and Run Commenting aka Meaningful Engagement
I like to engage with smart, thoughtful people. I usually do this by reading articles, newsletters, and books (either online or in physical print.) When I read, I frequently send an author a note telling them how much I enjoyed their article or book. It’s my service to the greater warm fuzzy in the world. So many of us only get bills in the mail, how nice, then, to get a note saying you’re appreciated. Recently, I shared why I chose to leave facebook. One of the unfortunate consequences of my choice is I am now unable to submit...
read moreMission Statement Schmission Statement
Here’s the dealio, people: A mission statement is only one thing. What is your company’s purpose for existing? Go on. Write the answer to it down now. Some helpful tips: The fewer the words, the better. The more clear and concise, the better. The easier your staff can grasp it and own it as “their own”, the better. Got fluffy words that are extra and provide no direction, that people don’t understand? Take them out. Ever seen the movie Crazy People with Dudley Moore? Volvos are Boxy but Good. Safe...
read moreWhy I Left Facebook
Bless their little cotton socks. Facebook is a magnificent company. They’ve grown faster than many others, are responsible for connecting millions of long lost friends, family members, and, heck, they have even supported more romance than the Love Boat itself. They have also changed the way may people interact with each other on a daily basis. Facebook is a game changer just like Wal-Mart. (Think about that for a minute…. they really are similar.) I am in awe of the company. To have that type of effect is astounding. Before...
read moreLet’s Stop ALL Crappy Meetings
Not too long ago, I sat in a meeting where we were talking about goals. It was one of your typical, run of the mill, monthly board meetings, where most of the people in the room read out-loud the report they had just emailed everyone 45 minutes earlier. (Aside: as if 45 minutes was enough time for me to read all 10 reports from these managers.) I’m all for hearing the sound of my own voice, but how many meetings have we already sat in where we are ALL thinking this same thought, “I could be doing something more productive...
read moreSwipe it all into a box: Advice for 2013
Step 1: get bankers box Step 2: place box and end of desk Step 3: pull arm back, parallel to desktop Step 4: swipe arm along desktop, pushing papers, knick-knacks, and assorted crap along desk so they fall into the box. Step 5: put lid on box. Step 6: June 1, 2013 – open box, go through it. Shred/Toss it all if you haven’t touched it. Seriously, why let the crap on your desk stop you from getting your work done. Just get it out of the way and move forward. If you need it, open the box and go get it. See the full gallery on...
read moreWomen and Million Dollar Businesses
Warning: sweeping generalizations in this post! I pull out magazine articles. Mainly because I like to take a file of reading with me on the go. Yesterday, I pulled from my To Read file this article about women in business and how so many of them never get past the million dollar mark. Everyone has a story around it. Women: Don’t set high goals for growth. Not inherent risk takers. Not hunters and gatherers. Bred to be moms, not business owners. Don’t have business relationships built because they were busy...
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