Business futurist, award-winning author, speaker and columnist
Negotiating is a process of communication between two or more parties to reach an agreement on future behavior – like when you’re purchasing a small business, leasing an office, hiring an employee, selling a product, or trying to get a two-year-old to take one more bite of peas.
Let’s look at the two key words in that definition: process and communication. [Continue Reading]
Parental love is a paradox, simultaneously delivering the expectation of safe harbor with the consequences of discipline. As the father of an adult daughter and son, plus the grandfather of four knucklehead boys (Hurricane, Tornado, Crash, and Train Wreck), I’ve learned some things about this paradox.
All the hours logged as Dad and Poppy have often caused me to contemplate how different are the roles of mother and father, especially in the overt demonstration of parental love. And it’s fascinating how the manifestation of this love differs between mother and father – biologically, emotionally, and experientially. [Continue Reading]
– Earth, Stardate 8511 (The Age of the Seller)
Once upon a time, in a galaxy that today must seem far, far away, sellers controlled all information about their products, services, and innovations. Consequently, customers learned what they needed to know from salespeople, who traveled far and wide dispensing information to, and collecting sales from, grateful and beholden customers.
If one had observed such a meeting, the customer would have nodded his head in wonderment as the salesperson revealed the virtual magic that was his product.
And in this land, the Force – control and availability of information – was with the seller.
– Earth, Stardate 10920 (The Age of the Customer) [Continue Reading]
In my reading over the years, I’ve consistently been drawn to autobiographies of people who took great risks and found greater success. Of course, you can’t go wrong reading about the great intellects and leaders like Washington, Lincoln, Churchill, etc. But my favorite autobiographies have been those who are/were alive during my life because I could identify with the issues they were up against.
Contemplating why I’ve been drawn to this genre, eventually I realized it wasn’t because I was in awe of their celebrity, riches, or other success markers. It was because in every honest autobiography there is a heaping helping of examples of how that person failed. Modern failures. [Continue Reading]
This is my traditional Memorial Day column with a post-pandemic component, which we’ll get to in a minute. But first …
Reasonable people disagree on the exact origins of what is now called Memorial Day. But most accept that the practice of decorating the graves of Americans who died defending their country began in earnest by women of the South during and following the Civil War.
On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, National Commander of the Army of the Republic, was the first to make Memorial Day official. With General Order No. 11, he stated in part that “the 30th day of May, 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country.”
Since then, [Continue Reading]
Could you use a vacation this summer? You know – like for an entire week.
Well, according to our most recent online poll, over two-thirds of respondents allowed that they’re going to take a vacation for at least a week. Pretty sure this is close to a record on this topic, and it’s probably some kind of a pandemic-in-the-rearview-mirror reaction.
It must be said that, for small business owners, a vacation isn’t just for the rest and relaxation. Most of us realize time away gives any leader a better perspective upon returning. This brings us to what for entrepreneurs may be a better question: Could your business use a vacation from you? Of course, it could. Your absence will reveal organizational weaknesses that need attention, as well as strengths you may have overlooked.
Regardless of your motivations, here are four ideas to help you consider taking more time off. [Continue Reading]