The Freestyle Entrepreneur

If it’s the little things that count, here’s one big little thing:
I’ve noticed that, of the many successful business people I’ve met over the years, perhaps half of them keep a little notebook in their shirt pockets.  Tell them something of interest or when they think of a potentially good idea, and they pull out [...]

It’s a great time to hire!   If you are weathering the recession in pretty good shape, this may be the best time in decades to bring on board quality talent.  With millions of folks out of work — and sometimes the best and the brightest are being let go — you can skim off the cream [...]

“You know what you should do?”  When I hear that question – which the asker is going to answer, whether I like it or not — I cringe and start looking for the exit.  That’s because the person so eager to offer advice almost invariably hasn’t a clue about what I do, need or want. 
 
This is not [...]

Need an interest-free loan to help out your business?  According to Nate Kok, Assistant Vice President, at Hometown Bank in Appleton, Wisconsin, the SBA has just finalized the America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) Loan Program.
Whether you are pro or con on all the bailout ideas coming out of Washington, this seems to be a pretty interesting deal.  If your business [...]

Data security problems keep multiplying.  According to Paula Biewer, Fond du Lac, an independent associate with Prepaid Legal Fees,  “In 2005, the website at www.privacyrights.org listed six pages of security problems.  Today,” she explained to me, “it has over 100 pages, and ID theft is the number one complaint.”
The two biggest culprits, especially with small [...]

 Here are four ways you can cut your 2008 taxes:

Push December billings into January, as long as your clients/customers have no objections.  This moves what would be 2008 income into 2009.  If you are cash shy, borrow on your line of credit and repay the loan in January.  Imagine you would normally receive $10,000 in December.  If you are [...]

 
Let’s call it like it is:  Tough times ahead!  No, I’m not a doom-and-gloomer.  Far from it.  I am an optimist.  Besides, I truly love the challenge of tough times.  They seem to bring out all the best business instincts in me.  
 
All I’m saying is that it pays to be ready … mentally ready.  I know some [...]

These aren’t shaping up to be get-fat-rich-and-happy times for small business owners.  With the economy losing altitude fast, many of us are tightening our belts, cutting back and hoping this doesn’t turn into a full-blown depression.   
In the meantime, a breed of so-called “customers,” better described as predators, is on the prowl.  These folks are more [...]

 
It’s early in the downturn, and I’m already seeing some companies — mostly the new kids on the block — going under.  It’s a shame.  How can you guarantee you won’t be next?  You can’t.  There are no guarantees in business!  But there is one thing you can do — work like a dog.
 
That’s my [...]

BECOME MASTER OF YOUR SCHEDULE IN 2009
 [The following article first appeared in the October edition of Corporate Report Wisconsin]
 
As a business owner, your work is never done.  There is always another figure to check, prospect to call, problem to solve.  If you are not careful, you will end up working seven days a week.  So, [...]

Stop shaking your head about the uncertain economy.  We’re all in the same boat.  The goal is to make darn sure that, no matter what happens, you are still afloat when the turnaround comes around.
 
Remember, some people made money in the Great Depression.  That’s because they refused to take a sky-is-falling attitude.
 
What to do:

Look for [...]

There’s only one thing worse than tough, rotton, lousy times.  That’s uncertain times.  Our economy could be nose-diving into the sea … or it could be on the verge of pulling out and soaring back up into the wild blue yonder. 
 
What to do:

Don’t over-react.  Instead, take the time to assess your business situation.  If we [...]

No, that’s not an original thought — time is money – but it is right on the money!  We all have the same 24 hours each day.  But why is it that some of us cover miles and miles of productive terrain each day, while others barely get their shoelaces tied, so to speak? 
 
Here are some [...]

Shoot The Negative People (Or is that being too negative?)
I’ve walked out of meetings when some train-stopper started saying, “yeah…but!” 
These clowns can kill innovation, cause more problems than they solve, bring a mood of excitement to a screeching halt.
What to do:  Stop them dead in their tracks.  Send them out of the room.  [...]

I got swapping motivational business stories yesterday with a new business associate.  We talked about Steven Covey and W. Clement Stone and other biz authors we had both read, so we had terrific issues in common, almost like we had been referred by mutual friends.  
We also both laughed at how we had come roaring out [...]

Why is it that great leaders have great teams while lousy non-leaders tend to have lousy teams?  Look at the approach to hiring.
 
Great leaders are not afraid of being upstaged by an employee.  On the contrary, truly great leaders are always looking for their own replacement … because they know they still have higher places [...]

According to Biz Guru Guy Kawasaki, a PowerPoint sales presentation should have 10 slides, last no more than 20 minutes and contain no font smaller than 30 points.

I know how to achieve success.  It’s really simple:  Goals, focus, attention to the details and determination.
 
It seems to me that where many of us fall down is at that yeah-but point.  We want to take a simple, proven formula for success and round off the corners, adjust it, compromise it, very often because “I [...]

We all sell something, and we always sell all the time.
When we smile, we sell a relationship.  When we short-change a customer or client, we sell doubt and distrust.  When we fail to persuade prospects to buy our product, we have sold them on our lack of ability to meet their need. 
The bottom line:  Every [...]

Have a written job description before you hire an employee.  This helps both you and the candidate properly define responsibilities.  Also, have current employees write their own job descriptions.  You may both learn a lot.

While networking helps you meet people you need to know, it is relationships that make business both profitable and personally rewarding. How to stay in regular contact with your business friends: Schedule regular meetings and/or telephone calls with key professional friends either monthly or quarterly. 
The best part:  No agenda.  Just chat and catch up. 
The bonus:  [...]