The Procrastinator’s Guide to Year-End Analysis
The first week of January, newspapers and magazines offer a flurry of tips on creating and sticking to New Year's Resolutions. By the first week in February, most have been tossed out the window.…
Thinning the Herd: Letting Go of Unprofitable Clients
As entrepreneurs, we’ve come to accept that being our own boss isn’t always peaches and cream. We deal with dreaded tasks and chores (bookkeeping, anyone?), and service difficult clients. With some…
Ego Check: Is Your Pride Hindering Your Success?
Food is personal. Small businesses are, too. Entrepreneurs share their passion and drive with their customers; I am continually inspired by the heart and effort that my clients commit to their…
Debt vs. Equity: What’s the Right Type of Financing for You?
As you prepare to grow your business, one of the first things you'll consider is funding. Most entrepreneurs base their decision primarily on the repayment terms: what sort of interest/return does…
Plate Theory of Time Management
I met a colleague for coffee on a recent afternoon, and she rattled off all the projects she was working on. This woman, I thought to myself, has a full plate! Her three client projects could each…
Hiring for Skills and Fit
Back in the day when I catered, I hired assistants to help wash dishes and serve. One day, my assistant Jean showed up for work with his friend Therecia. “She needs the work more than I do,” he…
10 Tips to Avoid a Cash Crisis
We’ve talked a lot about getting out of a cash crisis (The Three Rules of the Hole)… and what to do if you can’t (When to Stop Digging). With proper planning, you can avoid getting in the hole in the…
Step Back to Move Forward
“Make hay while the sun shines” is the motto of many entrepreneurs. When you are presented with the work, the opportunity to make money, you take it. It’s hard to say no to business… but sometimes it…
When to Stop Digging
How do you measure success? As an entrepreneur, you probably thought of many ways – reaching a revenue goal, customer base or profit. I discussed different ways of measuring success in an article a…
New Year’s Goals For Entrepreneurs
There are many reasons why New Year's resolutions don't work. They are things we think we “should” do and therefore don’t have the vested interest; and we try to make too many changes at once. They…