An Apology with Humor
It happens all the time- we goof up in our businesses. I’m late getting copy to someone for a promotion, you’re late getting your newsletter out, a client languishes because you haven’t returned a phone call. There’s no need to fall on your sword in abject humiliation, begging forgiveness. Sometimes, you can just have fun […]
How to Keep Mistakes with Clients from Turning Cancerous
Don’t you hate it when a client emails you: “You know, I feel really ignored. Why haven’t you responded to my last email?” Or how about: “This class isn’t working for me. I’m in a completely different place with my situation from the other participants, and you aren’t following me at all.” And of course: […]
Is It Okay to Cancel If No One Responds?
You’ve planned the class. You’ve marketed it like all git-out. The early-bird deadline has come and gone. You’re five days out, and you’ve got 3 people registered. The big question: Do you cancel? Some will tell you it’s a business decision. If the people registered don’t cover your costs, you should cut and run and […]
When Your Business Gets Beyond "Start-Up’
As surprising as it is inevitable, your business will eventually find itself beyond the ‘start-up’ phase. You’ll have gotten the knack of marketing, creating offers and products, and you’ll have a steady flow of customers and clients and cash. And more. And more. And the momentum begins to build on itself. You used to be […]
Limits to the Online Conversation
I’m relatively new to the conversational style of blogging, and it’s been very alluring to me- meeting folks, connecting, engaging in conversation. However, one frustration that has cropped up for me is that I do love connecting at a deeper level, if possible. And, when we’re talking about some of my favorite subjects, like marketing […]
How "Playing Big" Can Kill Your Business
There are certain messages that can be very alluring. Messages like: “Live without limits.” “Play big!” “Go to the Next Level.” If you’ve been listening to messages like that, and you’re frustrated, or scared, or stuck, then please let them go. Kind of like the schoolyard bully. “What, are you too chicken to play big? […]
Learning to Be Self-Employed When the Boss Is a Tyrant
You commute to work in your slippers. You can take a nap whenever you like. You set your hours, your work schedule, everything. You’ve done it– you’ve finally reached that nirvana called ‘self-employment.’ So why are you so often exhausted and uncreative? You work too long and too hard. You don’t take those naps, except […]
Why Vacations Just Don't Work
When you’re exhausted from working, overwhelmed, burnt-out, little visions come visiting. Visions of distant beaches, cabin hide-aways, foreign adventures. Vacation-land. And so, off you go, on vacation. And, when you come back, by noon on Monday you’re as exhausted as you were when you left. Did you take the wrong vacation? Or is there something […]
Why Dreaming Big Can Keep You Small
I remember when I was in another business, and as part of my support network we were dreaming up vision statements. I don’t exactly remember what I came up with, but something that included words like “huge,” “global,” “number one,” “best-known.” It was fun to dream that big for a little while. But… we’re only […]
Why Less Passion Is Better for Business
I just googled ‘Passion in Business’ and came up with 82,900,000 hits. And, according to the first several pages of hits, everyone says that you must have passion to succeed in business. ‘Fuel your passion’ is the watchword. Why this quest for passion? Of course, passion can feel wonderful, but do you really need it […]