We often associate scaling up of a business with increased efficiency and the ability to do things faster. After all, the pace of business has certainly increased over the past few years. But as I recently wrote, too much speed ...read more

Problems of Past Success Paths To Determine Future Success

The business landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years. Disruptive forces in the marketplace are the new norm. Some “tried-and-true” methods no longer bring the results they once did.  What brought you past success won’t bring you future success.

You Can’t Get There from Here

It’s a little bit like trying ...read more

Transforming Your Business Isn’t a New Year’s Resolution

New Year’s resolutions. We love them and hate them. Every year, millions of people pledge to transform their way of life—whether it’s to lose weight, be fit, manage their money better or pick up a new skill. While I don’t have the data to prove it, I suspect that the failure rate of personal ...read more

How Can You Avoid the Trap of Deadly Business Meetings?

Too many times, business leaders do nothing but talk while their businesses crumble underneath them. It’s not that they don’t care about business—or that they don’t want to make changes that will propel them forward. It’s that their meetings are all talk and no action. On top of that, they ...read more

What to Do if Your Business Has Outgrown Your Abilities

As a business coach who helps growing businesses scale up to new levels, I spend a lot of time with business owners, presidents, or CEOs. There are times when these leaders come to me out of a sense of alarm because they feel like they are getting in over their heads and their business is outgrowing ...read more

Should You Speed Up or Slow Down to Scale Your Business?

There is a common misconception among leaders who are trying to scale up their businesses. It’s often assumed that if you plan to get bigger, you immediately have to do things faster. And while speed—especially in areas such as production and cash ...read more

Business Plans Are Important but They’re Not Sacred

I’m guessing that you’re already convinced of the need for good planning in order to drive your business forward. You’ve seen all the memes and encouraging slogans such as: “Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail,” ...read more

Why The Timing of Hiring Is Crucial

As an executive business coach, I talk to business owners and leaders regularly about the importance of hiring the right people for the right position.  That’s an absolute must for any company ...read more

Is Your Business Communication Show or Substance?

Great communication is essential if you’re trying to scale up your company. Change (transformation) is a big part of the process, and that means that the lines of communication have to be wide open to ensure that everyone is on the same page. But real communication isn’t just about technology.

Beware of the Wizard of Oz Approach to Communication

In ...read more

Are You Coaching or Telling Your Employees What To Do?

One thing that I repeatedly impress on clients as an executive business coach is the importance of great leadership. I’m a firm believer that if you want to grow your company by 10x you also have to grow your leadership by 10x. ...read more

Complications of Growing Your Business And Cash Flow

Scale Up or Grow Out of Business?

As a business coach, I’m frequently approached by CEOs or business owners who are looking to scale up their companies. They want to grow, and they know that they are going to have to change the way they operate in order to achieve their goals. One thing they share in common is that they look ...read more

Use Accountability To Avoid Finger Pointing

When you’re involved in a growing company that’s scaling up and headed to new levels of business, it’s pretty heady stuff. As you’re scaling and exploring new ways of doing business, it’s easy to get people excited and involved. Everybody wants to lend a hand. But what happens when something ...read more

Is Landing a Huge Account the Right Way to Scale Up?

It’s no secret that scaling companies need to scale up their sales. You’ve heard before that nothing chews up cash faster than a growing, scaling company.  It’s no wonder that growing companies ...read more

Transformation of Your Business Never Stops

Many of us are familiar with the story of Sisyphus, the king of Corinth, who was condemned to eternally pushing a boulder up a hill—only to watch it roll back down. Sometimes scaling up your business feels that way. You work on transforming your business—only to have to do it all over again. There’s ...read more

Poor Communication Can Kill Your Ability to Scale Up

Most business leaders understand (to some degree) the importance of keeping the lines of communication open with employees. Your communication needs to be clear and transparent. That’s true whether it’s key leadership ...read more

Why Ignoring Business or Personal Constraints Can Cripple Your Business

Businesses are built on opportunity. If you own or lead a business, you probably are convinced that there are additional opportunities that your company can take advantage of. So why aren’t more companies ...read more

Money in the Bank Isn’t the Same as Solid Business Financials

I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard a client say, “I don’t have a cash problem; I have money in my bank account!” One of the challenges I face as a business coach is helping leaders understand that money in the bank isn’t the same thing as having solid business financials.

Cash Requirements for a Scaling Business Are Different

If ...read more

Execution: The Pursuit of Perfection In Business

Is the Pursuit of Perfection a Bad Thing?

For years, Lexus has identified their brand with the tagline: “The relentless pursuit of perfection.” It’s been a tremendous tagline that captures the automaker’s commitment to quality. Potential purchasers know that when they buy a Lexus the makers ...read more

Building A Strong Business Strategy to Avoid Ostrich Thinking 

Businesses have been known to “bury their heads in the sand” when facing threats or challenges. It’s sometimes referred to as “ostrich thinking,” and it doesn’t help a company to grow. So, what are the keys to eliminating ostrich thinking?

Debunking a Myth

First of all, I’m afraid I have to debunk a popular ...read more

Hiring The Right Person For The Right Position

As a business coach, I’m often asked to help clients think through their hiring practices. The importance of hiring the right people for the right position is a drum I beat regularly. It’s ...read more