Viscosity. That was the word used in every motor oil TV commercial in the 1980s and 90s. You don’t really see Valvoline, Pennzoil, Quaker State, STP, Castrol, or Mobil 1 commercials like you used to. I suppose only the few and the proud change their oil these days, so there’s no use advertising to the…
Time to get trashy. The Pandemic really forced innovation. For many businesses, it was a struggle just to survive. In my town, local bars and restaurants were definitely in that camp. One hospital group farmed out their employees for lawn care and trashcan cleaning, just to keep them employed. It gave them something to do,…
It’s worth it. Your friends and family can get the best version of you when you’re not chronically stressed about the health of your business. This doesn’t end with profit, but it does begin with profit. Building margin in your business is the most useful lever you can pull in order to bring your best…
Before you cut your expenses… You should be wary of a human psychological response called “Loss Aversion.” To put it simply: most people feel more strongly about losing $100 than they do about gaining $100. A 1979 study titled “Prospect Theory: An Analysis of Decision under Risk” is credited by Columbia University as “the most…
That’s so metal 🤘 I once helped a company that sells pre-engineered buildings grow their brand in a commodity market, allowing them to raise their prices. When it comes right down to it, metal buildings are metal buildings. They all use the same materials, often from the same exact suppliers; they are designed pretty much…
Growing ain’t easy. It takes a lot of inertia to grow a business. In real day-to-day terms: that means you spend your time, your attention, and your money. Once you have figured out a business that works pretty well in your area, one move to grow (and become more profitable) is to run the same…
There’s always “the one” metric. If you’re wondering about your cardiac health, they’re always going to start with blood pressure. Blood pressure isn’t everything… there are EKG’s, heart rate, two different kinds of cholesterol levels to measure, hemoglobin, complete blood count, and a whole panel of tests that can be run to discover how your…
Are you ready for wild growth? Growth by acquiring or forming other companies can be a great way to see immediate growth, if it’s planned and executed well. This is “big risk, big reward” territory. In terms of trails, it’s the skinny little goat trail with a thousand-foot drop and loose rocks, but at the…
You have more assets than you realize. When you think of your business assets, what comes to mind? Typically you’ll think of vehicles, your brand, reputation, inventory, FF&E (furniture fixtures and equipment, in banker speak), maybe even your team. But what about the tools you can’t touch, feel, or smell? If you have a tool…
I have had some of my brightest ideas on the open road. Whether road tripping, cycling, or running – there’s something about chasing that white line that puts my mind into creative mode, I suppose. There are better and worse ways to use physical activity to free your mind. For example: jogging in a busy city…