Tips to implementing a growth structure that is consistent with your personality and values of the company you have built
Every new business grows from the seeds of an idea. Some wither at the seedling stage, others remain as saplings, while others strive for the sky. But all growth requires the same up-front fertilization. “For any business, you have to begin with the end in mind,” says Gary Prenevost, who calls himself Canada’s leading franchise matchmaker.…
Clear away the clutter and negative energy that lies in the path of your success
Have you ever had that feeling, when talking with a potential client, that they're going to be trouble? And then you do business anyway? There are many stages for the business owner between the crazy, adrenaline- and hope-fuelled startup and business maturity. But none is as powerful as the shift between accepting any and all business and…
Here are our tips for producing meetings that matter
Meetings are a waste of time, according to a certain sentiment found particularly in the tech startup sector. Respectfully, we call that sentiment BS. Human beings function as a species because of our advanced capacity to interact – like during a meeting. Of course, for the busy small business person, it’s hard enough to squeeze in the time to…
Putting in the effort to document, implement and analyze processes results in fewer headaches, less stress and better results
You started your business with an incredible idea, some initiative, creativity and likely cash. Probably the first thing you did was put together a plan. That’s great. But did your plan envision growth, and the need for systems: the procedures, principles and processes that both describe and dictate how your business actually gets things done?…
Every growing business must, at some point, bring on help, but you need to know when the time is right
When you start building your business, long hours are expected. But no one can – or should – keep up that pace forever. It’s a drain on your personal, mental and physical health, and it will kill your business growth, too. “When I first started out, I did do everything,” says Sarah Picciotto, founder of OnPoint…
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…
Every new business grows from the seeds of an idea. Some wither at the seedling stage, others remain as saplings, while others strive for the sky. But all growth requires the same up-front fertilization. “For any business, you have to begin with the end in mind,” says Gary Prenevost, who calls himself Canada’s leading franchise matchmaker.…
