Creating Hot Zones – Turning Technology into Cash Flow
Technology drives our economy. An explosion of new technologies has given rise to endless new market opportunities. The challenge is linking technological development with the world of buyers, customers, and competitive markets. Often new technology is pushed on to marketing and sales departments to create a demand for the new product or service. Managers of […]
Defining is Your First Step to Acquiring Dream Clients
Defining your target market and identifying your ideal client are pivotal steps for any business aiming for success. It’s crucial to understand that targeting “everyone” is not feasible; focusing on a niche allows smaller businesses to stand tall against larger competitors. Being overly general, like targeting “anyone interested in my services,” dilutes your marketing efforts. […]
It Started with an Idea
Napoleon Hill’s maxim – “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” The story I am about to share is true and an example of how a single idea in one man’s head created a world-class event. Last fall I visited my parents who live outside of Regina, Saskatchewan for the […]
Freedom? More Like a Business Ball-and-Chain: How to Escape Your Own Trap
Ah, the sweet siren song of self-employment! The freedom to set your hours, pick your clients, and rake in limitless cash. Sounds dreamy, right? Until you realize your “freedom” comes with a 24/7 work schedule, dealing with that one client who drives you bananas and barely scraping by after expenses. Suddenly, you’re not a boss—you’re […]
Keep that Sales Pipeline Full
Networking and diligent follow-up are indispensable elements of successful business strategies, mainly where personal connections, and referrals, such as real estate, are paramount. Referrals, especially those from individuals who know, like, and trust you, stand as your most promising prospects. New realtors often secure initial sales through friends and relatives, underscoring the power of well-nurtured […]
Ideas Are a Dime a Dozen
When I was running the Innovations Project, I had the opportunity to speak to various business groups, inventors, and economic development organizations. My opening line in my presentation was, “Ideas are a dime a dozen – people who put them into action are worth millions.” At Innovations, we looked at thousands of inventions, product ideas, […]
Ethics as a Competitive Business Strategy
In the years I have built and managed businesses, I have given little thought to ethics or considered ethics a business strategy. Of course, I understood that honesty and integrity were necessary, and businesses that did not operate with those qualities almost always did not survive over the long term. When I took over the […]
Learning When to Hold ‘em and When to Fold ‘em
Emotion is a funny thing when it comes to business. Emotion can drive an entrepreneur to overcome tremendous obstacles and succeed, and it can cause bone-headed decisions leading to failure. Generally speaking, business decisions are much better when made without emotion. Successfully playing poker is an excellent example of decision-making without emotion. Winning or losing […]
Leave Politics at the Door and Avoid Turning Networking into a Debate Club
Elections are popping up everywhere—US Presidential, provincial in BC and New Brunswick, and maybe even a Canadian federal election! It’s hard not to get pulled into the political buzz, especially at business events. But trust me, discussing politics at a networking event is like bringing a porcupine to a balloon party—not the best idea. First […]
Why People Buy Stuff (Unconsciously)
Marketing isn’t just about pretty pictures and snazzy slogans—it’s about cracking the code of human behavior. Lucky for us, Nancy Harhut’s Using Behavioral Science in Marketing spills the beans on how people make decisions (spoiler: it’s not with logic). According to Nancy, most of us are on autopilot, relying on mental shortcuts called heuristics. These […]