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Do you know Chris Brogan? He’s one of the current gurus of social media, and has some very entertaining and interesting observations about marketing. If you’re looking for practical marketing tips to permit you some online success, you might try subscribing to his e-newsletter here.
His latest newsletter includes a story that resonates with me, “Simple Goals on Paper.” (I couldn’t find this on his website, or I’d have provided the link here.) The story starts with Chris confessing to a less-then-productive yet very “busy” day. (Not that any of US have ever had one…) Then he tells how he turned things around to help keep himself focused. Here is his process:
Step 1: I looked at my bigger goals for the remainder of 2009, and what I plan to do for the first half of 2010.
Step 2: I wrote down three things to accomplish today that would move those goals forward, and I kept them in front of me ALL DAY. I took breaks, but I never deviated from the goals in front of me. Continue reading »
written by Nancy Chorpenning
On Friday, I attended an excellent seminar on leadership offered by Jenny Whitener, Chief Executive of Bridge Consulting International and alumna of Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. Among the many fascinating learnings she shared was a simple and elegant list of what “followers most admire in their leaders.” According to Kouzes and Posner in their book The Leadership Challenge:
- Honesty
- A Sense of Looking Forward
- Inspiration
- Competence
Does this constellation seem surprising to you? Are any of them “optional” in an effective leader? What other attributes and qualities are essential in the best leaders you’ve known? Continue reading »
written by Nancy Chorpenning
\\ tags: Change Management, Leadership
Have you heard of Napoleon Hill? He was an author and lecturer in the early part of the 20th
century, influenced by such business leaders as Andrew Carnegie.
He wrote about his philosophy of achievement in a book called “Think and Grow Rich,” in 1937. Remarkably – or perhaps not – there are lessons in his observations still valid today.
“Think and Grow Rich” is available in PDF format – if you want a copy of it, drop me an email (NAPOLEON@CSuiteAdvisors.org) and I’ll send you a link to download it at no cost.
written by Nancy Chorpenning
\\ tags: business success, Napoleon Hill, philosophy of achievement
Some recent articles have included some extraordinary – yet not surprising – statistics: companies with just the strategic section of a business plan have 50% more profits and revenue than non-planning businesses. Another survey found business planning companies have 63% higher revenue growth and 100% more profit.
If that isn’t enough reason, here are a few more:
- To anticipate and prevent problems before they occur
- To successfully attract the funding you need to run your business
- To reduce anxiety from not being in control of your business
- To have an impact on your success rather than leaving it to chance
Check out this white paper if you want a place to begin. CLICK HERE
written by Nancy Chorpenning
\\ tags: business planning, Focus, Management
If you don’t have an ARC loan, you’re not alone!
The America’s Recovery Capital (ARC) Loan Program was introduced in June 2009 by the US Small Business Administration “to provide up to $35,000 in short-term relief for viable small businesses facing immediate financial hardship to help ride out the current uncertain economic times and return to profitability.” Only 2715 loans had been approved through September 15 across the nation.
Catherine Clifford, writing in CNNMoney.com, explains that big lenders are foot-dragging or opting out from participating in this lending program altogether – there is a lot of paperwork for relatively little bank profit -”only” 2 percentage points over prime from the SBA to the banks. (So much for anything resembling gratitude for the TARP money we taxpayers gave the banks!). One of the biggest shockers she uncovers is how few lenders are participating – only 400 lenders as of September. The SBA lists those lenders participating in the ARC pr0gram as of October 5 by state on their site.
Even if you do find a lender who participates, the process is taking months to get a response. Ironic, when one considers how quickly billions went to bail out Wall Street.
So good luck! But don’t count on this program to be a panacea for your business.
written by Nancy Chorpenning
\\ tags: ARC Loans, ARC progam, SBA, small business loans
