Great Customer Service Leads to Profit

Ask any store owner and I’ll bet they will tell you that they work hard to insure that their store provides good customer service. That’s as it should be. But here’s the problem: In today’s competitive arena good customer service is simply not enough. It is not a point of differentiation because everybody expects it and rightfully so. It seems to me that customer service has fallen to the wayside.  It’s so hard to get a phone call returned, a sales clerk to help you, a smile from a cashier.  This is one area of business operations that can easily be improved – and needs to be! Here are five ideas to elevate good to great: Make sure your entire staff knows what you expect. I know, this seems like an elementary point, but you’ll be surprised the number of stores that I work with in which the staff had …more

Teen Entrepreneurs Make Profits

Teenagers are probably my favorite type of an entrepreneur. Teenagers have a unique perspective on life and bring that into their companies. They don’t have a lot of preconceived ideas about how the business world operates, nor do they really care. The teens I know started their business when they …more

Finding New Sources of Business

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe… it can achieve.” Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich Let’s say you’ve got a successful business with a decent stream of buyers.  Everything is moving along smoothly.  Steady. The question is, how can I find more profit in this situation.   My answer is …more

Starting a Business is Today’s Challenge

Being an entrepreneur requires strength and courage. It takes a certain something to start a new project, especially one that your life could depend upon. Some people are just not cut out to work for someone else. Others are driven by a dream or idea that can’t stop thinking about. …more

Old School Business Mentor – Machiavelli

Old School Business Mentor – Machiavelli

Sometimes a  little history lesson is needed.  They don’t have to be long winded and boring.  Just a reminder that history repeats itself.  It can be simple and to the point.  I want you to think about these almost 600 year old ideas … 5 Business and Leadership Lessons from …more

Are People Born Entrepreneurs?

Becoming one of the 25 entrepreneurs on the StartupBus Miami, I instantly recognized we all have one thing in common -  our entrepreneurial spirit.  Our skills and backgrounds are very diverse, and yet we all have a passion for business success. We are willing to brainstorm new ideas, work long …more

Why is “Non-Profit” a Dirty Word?

I was at a networking event discussing startup ideas when I mentioned starting a non-profit… silence fell on the group… After a moment (or two) someone finally said in a dismissal way – “those don’t make any money, why would want to start one of those???” My goal was to …more

The Boquete Gourmet – A Case Study

The Boquete Gourmet – A Case Study

Let me tell you this story of love and business… A retired attorney named Cora moved to the beautiful village of Boquete, in Panama, Central America.  After years of running a successful law practice, this entrepreneur was looking for something “fun” to do in retirement. As we were discussing the …more

What Do You Charge Your Customers?

The prices you charge for your products (or services) greatly affects your company’s growth, and ultimately profit. Pricing impacts your image – it will lure some customers to your business and drive others away.  Pricing is inter-dependent on several factors: Your Market – not only geographically, but also product type …more