Everyone can’t afford to work with hiring agencies or pay for applications. A manager of a credit union called me into her office and said, “What am I supposed to do? We’re overloaded with work. I need more help and posting a job got me more than a hundred resumes. How am I supposed to…
Many years ago, I worked for a large corporation. They had a division that increased business in a downturn and balanced the losses of other divisions. They had a “Cash Cow.” Over time, management evolved from guys who started as bag boys in stores to a team with little experience in the business but the…
I love Baseball! I’ve loved it since I was a kid, and we could only play softball. I was a pretty good outfielder. I wasn’t too bad at bat. There’s a lot that goes into being a successful player. With all the hard work and the best intentions, a player can swing and strike or…
I can hear you already, “C’mon! what the heck does that have to do with business?” If your couch is full of pillows, where do people sit? Go for purpose, not pillows. A story I heard, years ago, was about a startup looking for a second round of funding. Their first Investor was left sitting…
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide steps for addressing critical social, economic, and environmental challenges. Here are some benefits of aligning with the SDGs: More Customers: Many customers are looking for products and services from sustainable companies. Reduced Costs: Energy-efficient processes and waste reduction can lower your operational expenses. Satisfied Employees: Employees are…
Language can be a wonderful thing. At times, it’s an imperfect communication tool. If you’ve ever been puzzled by a response to something you wrote or said, you may be happy to have these tips: How much do your employees need to know to take the correct action? A 432-page manual that included a history…
A friend said, “I’ve been working with this great coach for about a year now. We haven’t addressed my specific problems yet, but I’m learning a lot of stuff I didn’t know before.” That friend spent tens of thousands of dollars learning “a lot of stuff” and his company was still bleeding. You’re probably not…
He was all spit and polish. New suit, shirt, shoes, tie. He was the picture of the perfect employee. She sat across the table, looking at his resume, a mass of acronyms, military terms and titles, and countries she didn’t even know about. She looked up. “How many people have you killed?” Your answer, if…
We were settling into our room. I had just turned from admiring the view of the forest, commenting, “It’s amazing! There’s not a sign of a beetle kill tree anywhere. I wonder how they’ve avoided this.” An ominously large shadow dropped past the window. I turned back but didn’t see anything. I joked, “I think…