Category: Business
Just because it’s big, doesn’t mean you have to fill the cup
by
On a recent trip to San Diego, I went to McDonald’s to have lunch. If you follow me on Twitter, this may surprise you, because you know I work out five days a week, ride my bike to work, plus go for 100-kilometer rides at least once a week. And if you know me, you
Two Rules for Effective Meetings
by
I talked recently about how much a meeting costs. So you know, I don’t really love meetings. At times they are needed though, and here are my two rules for scheduling a meeting. 1. A meeting must produce something. If you must book a meeting, there should be something that comes out of it. I
Choosing Clients Shouldn’t be a Popularity Contest
by
Do you remember back sometime — typically grade school — when you figured out that members of the opposite sex (or maybe same sex) were desirable? One day you woke up and those ‘cooties’ seemed like something you might want to have if it meant you got to spend time with that girl/boy. For me,
From Start to Finish: The Guide to Your Freelance Business
by
So you want to go freelance? That’s awesome — but it’s a lot of work. As you consider this shift in the way you do work, I’ve got some questions for you. What should you be doing in the months prior to going freelance? What about the first month you’re running your own business? Do
How does your manager affect performance?
by
Is it good to have a manager that is generally positive or generally negative? Do you really think your manager’s outlook can affect your performance? What about the ‘tough’ manager versus a manager who gives more positive ratings? Is it possible that an ‘awesome’ employee from company A could become a mediocre or poor employee
Would I want to…
by
Yesterday I talked about making a quick buck and how it’s not the way to be a good long-term business owner. Unfortunately, many businesses allow deceptive practices to creep into their interactions with clients. For example, what may start as a monthly support package for clients may turn into a minimal amount of service charged
Is that quick buck worth it?
by
No, my bank account is not full. There’s plenty of room in there, and really I could add an infinite amount of bits which equal money. But I won’t lie or deceive people just to get those extra bits into my account. It’s not worth it. If you use those tactics just to get more
Get Project Updates the Right Way
by
I once worked at a company where the staff spent two mornings a week in a meeting to ‘update’ the manager/owner. We went around in a circle of 7 or 8 and simply told the manager where we were on our projects. There was very little discussion about any problems we might be having or
Take a Deep Breath
by
Have you ever considered how much your reaction time affects your response to a situation? Let’s take a moment today to consider this in the context of your business. Suppose you get an angry email from a client — do you reply right away or do you wait? Does your choice here affect your ultimate
Don’t Monologue
by
Have you watched The Incredibles? Remember the part where Syndrome is giving a monologue and Mr. Incredible catches him off guard? This is a common theme in superhero movies. The villain reveals his whole dastardly plan then creates some absurd way to kill the hero, who then comes up with an equally absurd way to
