The StrengthsFinder assessment is one of the most useful tools I have ever found.
If you’re not familiar with it, you can read all about it in my previous article, How to Apply the StrengthsFinder Assessment.
Today, I want to explain how this tool is especially useful for business owners.
Continue reading “8 Reasons to Take the StrengthsFinder Assessment if You’re a Business Owner”
This is the 4th of a five-part Facebook Live series on topics related to business development and strategic planning.
Many of my clients are independent healthcare practice owners who have trouble growing their business in a healthy way. I find that practitioners often struggle to attract patients who fit their philosophy and goals. Not every customer is Ideal; some potential customers can actually take value away from your business.
The best way to attract the right customers—those who are interested in your services and eager to pay for the value you provide—is to focus on a Niche area. This is a specific set of services or products that meets the needs of your Ideal Customers and solves their unique problems.
Watch my Facebook Live video, where I discuss ways to increase the effectiveness of your business, and how to stand out in the marketplace. Or read a transcript (including bonus content!) below.
Another year has come to a close.
It’s time to reflect on how 2018 went.
And that can feel… like getting your teeth drilled at the dentist’s office.
I’ll admit, as much as I believe in how great the Year In Review process is, that doesn’t make it entirely pleasant to actually experience. But the benefits make this sometimes painful process worthwhile.
You’re invited to read my analysis of what happened—good and bad—for my business in 2018.
Some years, things go really well.
And some years, they do not.
If you’ve experienced a lot of difficulties in your business, you may be tempted to see it as a massive failure:
“What a crummy year! It was so terrible. I can hardly wait for it to be over.”
“The new year can’t come soon enough.”
Even you were not able to meet your strategic business objectives this year, I encourage you to consider the positives that happened, rather than speeding past it.
Continue reading “What to Do If Your “Year In Review” is a Disappointment”
I am always on the lookout for tools that can help us dig deeper and get clarity about decision making.
Recently, I tried a simple art project that turned out to be a the perfect blend of creative expression and self-reflection. In this post, you’ll hear how this tool can help you develop a strategy for business or professional growth.
Continue reading “What I Learned from Creating a Word Art Self-Portrait”
This is the second post in a series about Frequently Asked Questions on the topic of Company Culture.
I will explain why it’s important, and provide some examples of companies with a good and bad culture.
Watch the recorded video here, or keep reading for bonus-filled content.
As much as we try, there are some things that come naturally and some things that don’t.
One of those “love-it-or-hate-it” activities is business planning, also known as strategic planning. The whole point of doing this is to define your organization’s:
I abbreviate Vision, Mission, Values, Objectives, and Measures with the acronym VMVOM.
Conducting a “year in review” process is incredibly helpful.
But it can also be excruciating, because looking back at the good & bad of the past year forces us to confront uncomfortable realities. It serves as a window to evaluate goals, examine priorities, and identify where we’ll focus our energy in the coming year.
In this post, you will hear how my Year In Review has strengthened me as a business owner. I’ll share what happened for me professionally in 2017, what worked and what didn’t, and some lessons learned.
My great-grandmother, like most women in the early 1900s, had two sets of dishes. One was a plain set for everyday family meals, and the other was a very fancy set that she only brought out on special occasions. Each plate, cup, and saucer was decorated with a design of delicate pink roses, curled ivy, and a beautiful gold inlay that encircled the scalloped edges.
She left the set to my grandmother, who then passed it on to my mother, who quickly discovered that fine china with gold detail is no match for the power of a modern dishwasher. The inconvenience of hand-washing every single item (and the risk of chipping or breaking the dishes) was too great. So those heirloom dinner dishes were hidden away in a china cabinet and only emerged on rare occasions.
As a strategic risk expert, I believe many leaders treat their strategic plan like a set of fine china. They know their plan is important; they invest time and money to create it. The final plan is detailed, logical, and beautiful.
Continue reading “The Ultimate Strategic Planning Framework Tool: Introduction”
The following is my perspective on owning a business, experiencing trauma, and bringing my failures to light.
I used to hate the idea of sharing details about my personal life or business publicly, mostly because it’s not fun to get rejected by strangers. As an entrepreneur, my business and personal decisions are intertwined; so negative feedback about my company can feel like a personal attack.
Sometimes, it seems like everyone else is succeeding while you’re the only one struggling. But the truth is, we all face challenges of some sort. Most of us just don’t like to talk about it. Because being transparent is scary.
Continue reading “Why #MeToo Inspired Me to Be Transparent and Share My Failures”
