Greetings!
We have had a very unusual winter here in Chicago, hardly any snow and temperatures above normal most of the time. It was an easy winter for everyone except the businesses that depend on snow for their revenue. The economy too seems to be benefiting most of us. It will be interesting to see if this good news continues in the future. |
| When Is The Future? |
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That might seem like a dumb question but, in terms of planning, the future is what you define it to be. We are all focused on what happens next. After all, that's the future. Yet, the decisions we make today might affect the world for decades to come. How many of the candidates for public office today are explaining how their policies will affect our future and our children's future? Most prefer to dwell on the hot issues of the past. I prefer to address the challenges of the future.
I don't know when you last got a new cell phone, but I'm willing to bet you signed a two year agreement with a substantial cancellation penalty. Have you noticed that technology is advancing so quickly that two years might be too long to commit to a particular solution? Have you looked at the breadth and depth of apps available on smart phones and tablets?
Inside the office, software companies are now moving from versions that reside on your computers to versions that reside "in the cloud". The advantage for you is that your software is always up to date. The advantage to them is that they get a monthly fee for as long as you use it. You will need to decide when that approach will be right for your business.
Hardware and software are the easy decisions. When you hire someone, are you thinking about their role in the business two years from now? Five years from now? When you sign a five year lease, is it based on how much space you will need during the term of that lease or how much space you need now?
Through both decision and indecision you will create your future. It's yours, but when? |
| Focus on Sales |
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When I asked Craig Culver what was most important in a restaurant owner he told me it's Passion and Engagement. He should know, it has made the difference in growing from just one restaurant to over 400 franchised locations.
It's the same in every business. If your prospects don't see your passion, if you can't engage them in the process, you might make sales but you won't capture customers. |
| Networking Tips |
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Networking is a numbers game. Yes, it's all about who you know, but the more people you know, the easier it is to get introduced to the people you want to know. Then you can work on who knows you. |
