The Language Perfectionist: The Cohort Retort
From a U.S. Department of Justice news release: “The following morning, when the first employee of the day entered the bank, Smith and his cohort, armed with handguns, confronted the employee and demanded money contained in the bank’s vault.”
READ MOREE-Mail and Return Buttons
I used to make this mistake all the time — copy a “sensitive” e-mail to the wrong person. And then try to explain that I didn’t really mean what I had said in black and white. It’s so embarrassing! And so unnecessary. The last time it happened, I belittled a…
READ MOREA Perfect Way to Spend Christmas Day
As I’ve done every Christmas for several years now, I’ll be spending the day at home with my family. We’re going to have a blast, doing all the traditional things one does on Christmas. The stockings, hung by the chimney, will be opened first thing. I especially like the stocking…
READ MORETrying Times? Tie Tongues Together Today!
I see my three youngest sons every summer and at Christmas. They fly in from overseas so we can enjoy the holiday together. They are now seasoned travelers. But starting with their first trips, I’ve encouraged them to speak with strangers — on planes, in airports, and everywhere else. That’s…
READ MOREAre You Leading a Well-Balanced Life?
The last two weeks of December is when I look back at what I’ve accomplished and failed to accomplish and make plans for the coming year. I make a commitment to complete my major goals in each of four areas: 1. Health (mental and physical) 2. Wealth (business and investments)…
READ MOREWhat Are You Doing to Develop Your Up-and-Comers?
Let’s begin with an axiom: Business growth depends on new ideas that are well executed. If you are running (or involved in) what I call a Stage Two business (with more than $1 million in revenues and 40 employees), you deal with new ideas almost every day. In fact, assuming…
READ MOREDon’t Just Be Good, Be Known
Back in the day when I was just starting to work my way up the business ladder, it was my policy to give my boss more than he had a right to expect. Maybe more important, I made it a point to let him know whenever I did something good.…
READ MOREThe World’s Quickest, Easiest Performance Review
I don’t like formal performance reviews. I find them awkward and unproductive. But I do think it’s important to get and give feedback. I do that with the people who report to me by discussing their progress with them on a regular basis. I call these interactions three-question reviews. I…
READ MOREGet Out There and Make Contacts
You will accomplish your career goals much faster if you put yourself “out there.” That’s where you’ll meet prospective partners/employers/proteges/vendors. One of the best ways is to attend industry trade shows. Yes, the formal aspects of these programs — the speeches and the product presentations — are often superfluous. But…
READ MOREHow to Get Your Employees to Act More Like Owners
If you want your employees to think more like you do about your business, you should give them the same opportunities you’ve had. These include: The chance to profit when the business profits The experience of suffering when the business loses money The chance to see how the bottom line…
READ MORETime-Zone Trouble
Good sleep is essential for good health and personal productivity. But when you travel between time zones (as I often do), it is difficult to get. If jet travel knocks you out, here are some of the things I do that I’d recommend: Don’t drink alcohol on the plane. Eat…
READ MOREHow Often Should a Profit Center Manager Contact You?
Your business is going pretty well. You have 18 employees and three product lines. Each of those three profit centers is headed by a manager — Dick, Jane, and Spike. Dick is in your office five times a day and copies you on every e-mail he sends or receives. When…
READ MORE