Thinking about buying a business? It can be a thrilling time. The search, the hunt, the negotiation, the possibilities, the hopes and dreams, the potential that a prospective business has… Buying a business means that you and the seller both need to get really cozy with each other. This can be uncomfortable, to say the…
He just wanted some rocks. One of my favorite examples of profit through vertical integration in a small business is about a hardscape installation company I did some work for. They built patios, walkways, planters and so on out of stone and brick, mostly serving suburban homes. It started out as a side hustle for…
Your brain is valuable. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it when you’re in the trenches of daily business, but you have knowledge that other people would love to have. Think about yourself just 5 years ago. What lessons have you learned? What mistakes have you made that you “won’t make again”? There are people who…
Water under the bridge… Fly fishing a river is one of the most meditative physical activities I have ever done. The breeze through the hills, the bubbling river running over cobblestones, the sound of the distant waterfall. It’s incredibly peaceful. Even with all of the details. (Watch the trees on your back cast. Mind the…
You have a relationship that matters. Think about the relationship that your brand has with its audience. They are living their life, and then they interact with your brand and then go back to living their life – what happens immediately before and after that interaction? Take for instance a car dealership: someone needs a…
Not so dumb anymore. Dumb and Dumber is a comedy classic, but Jeff Daniels has another comedy that’s probably more authentically Jeff Daniels than any other role. And that’s coming from a guy who could nearly quote Dumb and Dumber from opening scene to closing credits. I use the word “authentically” because it was written,…
Silver bullets are a common trope in “Fright” lore. One shot can take out a vampire, a werewolf, or a witch instantly on contact. Poof – vaporized. Thus, the term “silver bullet” has been used as a term for one simple solution to a complex problem. There have been a few actual “silver bullet” discoveries and…
I love camping. Waking up in the great outdoors with fresh air and songbirds, getting the fire going, cooking in the open air, and of course enjoying a mug of hot coffee while the sun rises. When you are camping, you realize that what we actually need in this life isn’t very much. Some basic…
Branding is powerful. You can’t ask a preschooler if they want celery, raisins, and peanut butter for a snack. I guarantee that your answer will be “hard pass” (or the 4 year old’s equivalent phrase, probably just “NO”). But when you put the peanut butter in the channel of the celery, and line up the raisins…
When I was in Middle School, I had a couple of game-changing moments thanks to a couple of teachers who were extra hard on me. At least, in the moment that’s what it felt like. Now, looking back, they were just calling me to my potential like any good teacher, coach, parent, or mentor should.…