Many business owners are struggling to survive. These grants could help
With the changes in the economy, many business owners are struggling to get a foothold on what they need to do to ensure their business is stable now and into the future. As a business coach, I’ve seen some tremendous transformations when businesses have had the opportunity to hire outside help to guide them towards…
Don't stumble on the road to success
Mike and James had a big plan to sell more of their widgets. The widgets they built were wonderful. They had numerous testimonials that these widgets changed people's lives. Mike wanted to grow this aspect of their business and James agreed. They came up with a plan, built the brochures and sales materials, started down…
When we slow down, look for options and are creative in our thinking, we save money, time and energy
It was my lucky day when Emile told me he had some roadkill in his freezer that he would trade for a couple cases of beer. Not so lucky for the cow that had been hit by the semi on the highway, I guess. Emile told me he had lots of steaks in the boxes…
The cost of monitoring for passports is something that small businesses neither want nor can afford
Requiring vaccine passports is bad news for small businesses that have already faced the brunt of COVID-19 restrictions and lockdowns. This new requirement that people wishing to be served at establishments like gyms, restaurants, bars, airlines, tourist attractions and concerts must give proof of vaccination is a troubling development for businesses are already struggling. The…
Those who can adapt will thrive
I recently facilitated a meeting of a group of more than 100 retailers. Seventy per cent of them were either fearful or concerned about the future of their stores. And so they should be. Retailing is changing – you would have to be blind not to see that. When I started in retailing in the…
Finding a leader who’s not burnt out by COVID-related uncertainty is like finding a unicorn
If you’re in a leadership position and feeling burned out, you’re not alone. It seems weekly leaders tell me they’re fatigued, exhausted or burned out. I’m not surprised. In fact, as we prepare for the seemingly endless next waves of COVID-19, finding a leader who’s not tired of the uncertainty is like finding a unicorn…
It’s time to take the plunge
Christopher O’Byrne stood on the edge of the cliff, looked down, considered jumping and then stepped back. He repeated the process over and over. He would walk away and then back. His mind told him to jump, but his body just wouldn’t do it. Christopher knew he couldn’t take the internal dialogue or the taunts…
The invigorating power, money and control involved in running a business can cause evil decisions
In early 2000, I had to fire my wife from our startup business. The business was struggling and my wife was involved in running one of the departments part-time, between looking after our kids and working as a counsellor. Sales in the department and the store as a whole weren’t going as expected and we…
But it takes courage to ask for help
“I told myself I wouldn’t cry,” said the woman on the other end of the phone as I asked her about her business. Patiently I waited for her to dry her eyes and compose herself. She went on to tell me how this year has been tough, and now she is struggling to stay afloat.…
Selling a business is no easy walk in the park – there’s considerable hard work to prepare your business for new ownership
After a couple of years of pandemic stress, business owners are pondering their next steps. You might be an owner who has decided perhaps you’ve benefited from the crisis, had some great years and are ready to move on. Maybe you’ve realized you don’t want to deal with the stress of lockdowns and crisis management…