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How can I start fresh at my new job?

One piece of advice I give most new employees on the way in and people who are leaving on the way out is to “take advantage of the fresh start”.  Nobody in your new role will know any of your “bad habits” or the things that plagued you at your last job.  When changing jobs, Read more about How can I start fresh at my new job?[…]

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How do I make my first hour more productive?

Effective time management is one of the most important aspects of a small business owner’s potential success.  Ensuring that not only many things get done, but the right things get done first is critical.  One way to improve your daily effectiveness is by making the most of the first hour of the day.  While all Read more about How do I make my first hour more productive?[…]

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Is it really smart to use a smart watch?

Starting with the Pebble and evolving to the latest version of the Apple Watch, smart watches have gained more and more functionality for their owners.  Weather, apps, texting and now even making calls can be done right through the watch.  The question is though, just because we can, should we? Many of these features have Read more about Is it really smart to use a smart watch?[…]

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When does transparency become humiliation?

Radical transparency in the workplace is good right?  You should let people know what you are thinking in real time and give them honest feedback about their performance and behaviors.  Every management and leadership class touches upon this in some way.  However, when can this good practice turn bad? To begin, there are many ways Read more about When does transparency become humiliation?[…]

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As a leader, should I focus on yesterday or tomorrow?

This is a question which has plagued managers and leaders forever.  After a crisis, should they spend their time figuring out what went wrong or what to do next? The challenge is that the answer is a little bit of both.  It is important to understand what happened yesterday and to NEVER forget the lessons Read more about As a leader, should I focus on yesterday or tomorrow?[…]

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How do I build better relationships with my ears?

One of the first things your parents likely taught you is to “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.  I’ll expand upon that and say that you should “listen to others as you would like to have others listen to you”.  And I am not talking about hearing, relating, interjecting, or Read more about How do I build better relationships with my ears?[…]

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How much does it cost me every time I lose an employee?

Employee turnover can be painful, especially in a small business.  The disruption to the basic flow of operations and distraction to other employees can immobilize a business if the person who was let go or decide to leave was a key employee or well liked by their peers.  Don’t get me wrong, some people just Read more about How much does it cost me every time I lose an employee?[…]

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How do I differentiate my business from the competition?

This age old question will persist forever as new businesses, and therefore new competition,ares created every day.  Regardless of how innovative your idea is today, by tomorrow 30 “me too” companies could pop up doing the same thing, maybe for less money since they didn’t have to “invent” it.  Of course if you have some Read more about How do I differentiate my business from the competition?[…]

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How does company culture play into defending and recovering from cyber attacks?

Defense in depth using multiple layers of security technology is critical in protecting your organization from cyber attacks.  That’s a given.  However many CEOs and business owners still have trouble understanding how company culture can play just as big a role in your cyber survival.  The common belief in most organizations is that they will Read more about How does company culture play into defending and recovering from cyber attacks?[…]

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How does technology drive culture?

Technology in business has been a given for may decades however over the years it has transformed from being an unwanted evil to a necessity for survival.  One challenge is that human willingness to accept and adapt to change is greatly outpaced by innovation in technology.  This can either drive an innovative and open culture Read more about How does technology drive culture?[…]