The Freestyle Entrepreneur

Creating a marketing plan is a pain,  reminiscent of an annoying school assignment.  That’s why most business owners will do just about anything to avoid the task of putting one together.  However, those who do are  glad they did.  Your marketing plan is your treasure map, with X marketing the spot where customers, sales and [...]

When I was young(er), I saw business dealings as winner-take-all propositions.  I wanted the whole pie!  Then I learned that the best way to get what you want is to help others get what they want.  Rather than battling it out with competitors in a bunkhouse brawl in which everybody came out bloodied, I now [...]

 Do vacations terrify you?  Are you convinced that the second you walk out the door, the place will fall apart?  You’re not alone.  Many SBOs feel that way.  And the truth is that if you just take off for two weeks without any prior planning, it probably will.  So, here it is – winter in Wisconsin.  [...]

The best part about being in business is that there are no guarantees.  It’s not a pony ride at an amusement park; it’s an extreme adventure without a safety net.    I still get the biggest thrill in the world when I land a new contract…and just about die from despair when I lose an [...]

 Mort, an accountant, stomps the snow off his boots after a day of skiing in Colorado, stokes the fire, pours a cup of coffee and settles down at the kitchen table to work on tax returns for his clients back on Long Island. John, a business writer living in the Caribbean, punches a button and [...]

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.  [...]

Honesty pays.  It’s as simple as that.  Unless you’re in business to make a one-shot killing and then plan to take the money and run, honesty will always be the best policy.  Business owners who fail to play straight — whether it is with their employees, their suppliers or their customers — eventually undermine the [...]

In case you’ve been on another planet, there is a hot ‘n heavy horse race of an election battle heating up this year. As a business owner, you probably have your own views on who is the best (or least worst) candidate. I operate under the assumption that politics and business do not mix. So, [...]