We’re all looking for it: success; successful relationships, a successful life, a success career. Success is the prize, the Holy Grail, the goal we’re all striving to reach. But, it’s hard to attain. Success is cryptic, difficult to understand, and even harder to achieve. We can’t help but wonder why more of us can’t break through; why it seems only …

In business, most people try to play their cards close to the vest: working hard to keep their secrets hidden; never sharing the valuable information that they’ve learned with a public that’s eager to know. Like a selfish magician, they show us the trick but refuse to let us in on the secret. But great magicians are different. They’re not …

Many business owners become frustrated by the fact that, when starting a business, their products are not very good. This stress can prove to be so overpowering that we never really get started, because we can’t come up with something that meets our high standards. Let’s take a second to stop and think about this problem. We want to have …

There’s been a lot of noise lately about AI computing and the thought that it’s going to take over all our jobs. The storyline is that, eventually, human workers will be unnecessary. The reality is that there will always be certain jobs, like being a home inspector, for example, that do not lend themselves to AI. That does not mean, …

There are two kinds of business owners. The first kind knows the rules, knows what they’re supposed to be doing, knows how to do it, and does it consistently, the same way every time. The second kind of business owner has an extensive understanding of their industry, and uses that knowledge to increase the value they offer to their clients, …

All too often, we say that “it’s our job.” If it’s a job, the customer gets what they get. We expect the underpaid, overworked fast-food server to mail it in. It is what it is. But, if we’re a small business owner, it’s not just “our job.” (Or at least it shouldn’t be.) It should be “our profession,” and that …

It can be hard for a small business owner to make the jump: to acquire an new skill. Quite often, this new discipline comes with a big up-front cost. All that reading takes up valuable time. We’ve got to pay a lot to take that class. The equipment is really expensive. I just can’t swing it right now. Thinking in …

Obviously, it doesn’t need to be said, but the internet has changed everything. Businesses used to aggressively push their products on us, and we ran to get them before someone else did. Now, we (the consumers) hold all the power, as we can search an almost limitless number of merchants, looking for what it is we want. If we’re still …

We’re all trying to get the word out about our business. Cards, brochures, vehicle wraps, can koozies, and yard signs: evidence of our self-promotion is everywhere. But are we really doing any good, promoting and interrupting at every turn? While there is certainly something to be said for keeping your name in front of potential customers, shameless promotion, interrupting people …

We used to call someone smart if they were well versed in their industry, but now, everyone has all the information they need in the palm of their hand. We used to look up to people who could answer our every question, but now, the answer we’re looking for is just a few clicks away. We used to revere those …