Running a Marathon

For the past few months I’ve been training for my first half marathon and on April 3^rd all that work will be worth it when I (hopefully) cross the finish line!  Marathon training is a lot like what it takes to be successful in business.   You might be thinking that’s quite a “stretch” but hear me out!

Business lessons from American Idol

I have to admit that watching American Idol is a guilty pleasure of mine.   I can justify this (in part) by noting that there are a lot of good lessons from Idol that can be applied to business. 

Going Green

Spring is here (finally) and Earth Day will be celebrated this month which makes this a good time to think about “greening” your business.  Being green is not only good for the environment – it’s good for business.  It can save your business money and more and more customers are seeking out businesses that are “green”.   You can decide just how “green” you want your business to be.   You can do a little or a lot depending on what works for you.  

Easter Candy Favorites

You know it’s Easter when the stores are filled with chocolate bunnies and Peeps.   When it comes to what’s in our Easter baskets – we all have our favorites!   One of mine are Cadbury Crème Filled eggs.  This is the only time of year I allow myself to indulge in these delicious chocolate and sugar delights.   They bring back fond memories as a child living in England and discovering them for the very first time.

Time to Write that Business Plan

It’s time to remind you to write a business plan!  I know, I know – you’ve seen this movie before.   But if you’re still one of the many business owners or “wanna be” business owners who have not written one – this is your friendly reminder to do so!

To Fear or Not to Fear

Fear is both good and bad for us.   Without fear we’d all be dead!   Fear helps keep us and those we love safe from harm.  It keeps us from taking stupid risks.  But fear can prevent us taking risks that can be good for us.  Too often we get in our own way of accomplishing great things because we fear the worst. 

What Zappos can teach us

A company that really gets it when it comes to customer service is zappos.com.  They consistently rate high in customer service surveys and personally – I’m a fan!   I like them because they offer products I can’t find locally with free and speedy shipping  - plus returns and exchanges are never a hassle.  But what I especially like about Zappos is their sense of humor!