Entrepreneurs need to engage both their intellect and intuition when making a decision
You may be aware of recent research pegging the average number of decisions an adult makes every day at 35,000. As a small business leader and entrepreneur, you can be certain your number is even higher. Running a business means facing a barrage of decisions every day – and sometimes all night. “Every hour of…
As the global economy continues its historic shift from raw materials and manufacturing to knowledge-based, a company's valuation is completely taken up by IP
Intellectual property, or IP, is often underestimated or misunderstood – at least in the world of entrepreneurs. How you manage your IP can make or break your venture. IP is 'creation of the mind' and includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, industrial design and trade secrets. Every business is based on an idea, from ground-breaking research that…
Cutting corners on insurance and legal agreements is a risk that could undermine all your potential success
Starting, running and growing a small business involves a lot of “bootstrapping”: digging into your own resources, financial and otherwise, to get things done. But there are legal matters many entrepreneurs either make poor decisions about or avoid altogether. Insurance “If I had one thing that surprises me, it is the avoidance of insurance,” says…
A clear, concise purpose can give you an edge over your competitors
Personal development programs like Tony Robbins, Landmark, or Context International, to name but a few, all ask participants to ponder simple questions like, “Why am I here?”, and “What is really important to me?”. Questions like these are designed to help individuals define “why” they exist, to bring “purpose” to life. Identifying “purpose” has an…
Many of the best ideas are the result of “happy accidents” rather than the result of a methodical and structured innovation process
For many would-be entrepreneurs, the only thing standing between them and a booming business is an idea. What product or service? What market? What niche? And, what problem is the idea going to solve? It’s the million-dollar question, but only half the equation. What about aligning the idea with the skills, knowledge, passion and character…
Four areas you need to tackle to get your business running smoothly in the digital world, and on the path to better profit and efficiency
If you’re not using technology to look after your business’s money, you’re wasting time, spending too much on bookkeeping and probably missing some customers. Imagine if your bookkeeping was already organized. Then it wouldn’t be a big job when it comes time to file taxes or produce reports. There are four areas you need to tackle to successfully go paperless: Cloud-based storage…
Follow these steps to be sure you're creating content that resonates with your audience, and reflects your brand values and personality
Your brand content is the emotional connection that converts a consumer into a customer. With more than 80 per cent of consumers researching – and shopping – online (Retailing Today, 2014), thinking strategically about how your content positions and reflects your brand personality is key. What is content? Content is the the new advertising. In the heady…
Once negative culture takes root, it's like an invasive weed in your garden; it takes a complete overhaul to return it to health
The best way to create a winning culture in your business is at the beginning. It’s easy to overlook or ignore culture when you’re in the startup phase, because there’s just so much other stuff to worry about. Creating culture is not easy by any stretch. It’s complex, often misunderstood and easy to get wrong. Culture…
Increased productivity leads to a stronger competitive position, higher profits and better quality
Paying attention to productivity leads to better profits in one-third of the Canadian small and medium-sized companies that measure their overall productivity index. Seems like a slam-dunk, doesn’t it? But a 2016 survey of more than 1,500 Canadian entrepreneurs by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) showed that less than half of Canada’s small and…
There are unmistakable signs that it is the right time to move on, with more than a few steps to get the transition right
It’s one of the most important decisions you will make. And one of the most difficult. Is it time for you to exit stage left and say goodbye to your business? There are a few unmistakable signs that it is indeed the right time – for you and the business – to move on. You A…