There are some general business macro topics that affect everything, not just discrete parts of the organization. It could be economic trends, governmental regulation, the stock market, geopolitical realties, or simply looking at your business from a 30,000 foot view. This category deals with big picture issues.
Running a small business is as challenging as it is rewarding, especially when it comes to financial management. As a business advisor, I’ve observed many common errors that can jeopardize a small business’s success. Here’s a breakdown of 20 of these pitfalls and practical advice on how to steer clear of them. 1. Maintain Accurate
When you consider the revenue growth rate of small businesses, it’s important to recognize that these rates can vary significantly. This variance depends on several factors, including industry, business size, and specific business conditions. Leadership acumen also plays a big part in how fast and well you grow. From my professional experience, I’ve observed that
Failure happens. No one gets it right every time. In the journey of business, not every leader sails smoothly through the seas of success. The reality is stark yet often understated: the risk of failure is an intrinsic part of business. It’s crucial to recognize that setbacks are not always a reflection of one’s competence
Bruce Schneier
Read NYT Book ReviewView the BookLegendary cybersecurity expert and New York Times best-selling author Bruce Schneier reveals how using a hacker’s mindset can change how you think about your life and the world. A hack is any means of subverting a system’s rules in unintended ways. The tax code isn’t computer code, but a series of complex formulas. It has vulnerabilities; we […]
Read moreCharles Handy
Read Ed's ExcerptsView the BookOne of the world’s most influential living management thinkers, Charles Handy has year-after-year been listed alongside business gurus including Peter Drucker and Tom Peters in the prestigious Thinkers 50 list. His views on management — and life — have inspired and enlightened others for decades. Now, in Myself and Other More Important Matters, the bestselling author […]
Read moreKeith R. McFarland
Video Book ReviewView the BookThe vast majority of small businesses stay small—and not by choice. Only the most savvy and persistent—a tiny one tenth of one percent—break through to annual sales above $250 million. In The Breakthrough Company, Keith McFarland pinpoints how everyday companies become extraordinary, showing that luck is a negligible factor. Rather, breakthrough success turns out to be […]
Read moreFor organizations to truly innovate and grow, leaders in every role and at every organizational level must be attuned to how they are creating new value while simultaneously protecting existing value. Just as a soccer coach must simultaneously pursue both scoring and defending, leaders must constantly focus their attention on opportunities to create value — […]
Read moreMcKinsey’s latest findings on organizational health demonstrate that it remains the best predictor of value creation and a sustainable source of competitive advantage in today’s global marketplace. Organizational health refers to how effectively leaders “run the place”—that is, how they make decisions, allocate resources, operate day to day, and lead their teams with the goal […]
Read moreGrowth—in revenues and profits—is the yardstick by which the competitive fitness and health of organizations is measured. Consistent profitable growth is thus a near universal goal for leaders—and an elusive one. To achieve that goal, companies need a growth strategy that encompasses three related sets of decisions: how fast to grow, where to seek new […]
Read moreEach week, ITR Economics CEO and Chief Economist Brian Beaulieu provides an update on the Federal Reserve Board’s latest actions. Our use of factual rather than emotional inputs is key to our data-driven approach to economic forecasting. Our vigilant watch for Federal Reserve decisions is part of this approach. Catch up on ITR Economics’ latest analysis of […]
View moreSince its founding in 1963, BCG has become known for its analytical approach to problem-solving, as well as the emphasis it places on the exploration and development of new business ideas and pursuits. Notably, BCG’s founder, Bruce D. Henderson pioneered the field of corporate strategy and developed concepts like the Experience Curve and the Growth-Share […]
View moreEvery day a staggering 2.5 exabytes of data is generated making our world increasingly difficult to understand. Visual Capitalist is one of the fastest growing online publishers globally, focused on topics including markets, technology, energy and the global economy. By highlighting the bigger picture through data-driven visuals, we stay true to our mission to help cut through […]
View moreCreated by Ray Dalio this simple but not simplistic and easy to follow 30-minute, animated video answers the question, “How does the economy really work?” Based on Dalio’s practical template for understanding the economy, which he developed over the course of his career, the video breaks down economic concepts like credit, deficits and interest rates, […]
Video by Pete Scott describing the success habits he’s observed working with CEOs.
Click for hard copy Chapter One – Are You Sure? The two zones of work and friendship operate best when they don’t overlap, because the perceptions of who we are do not become confused. The truth is that we all behave differently, in a way are different people, in different circumstances. Those who claim that […]
Read more“Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to high sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.” —Peter Drucker Part Three: It Takes Vision If you ask the average employee of the typical company why the company exists, what sets it […]
Read more“Be not afraid of greatness; some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” —William Shakespeare Part One: Leadership Traits There is no such thing as passive leadership. Leaders lead! It really is that simple. Instead of shying away from a challenge, leaders embrace it. When others are […]
Read moreEd’s books on Leadership, Life and Business will elevate your knowledge and give you the confidence to apply it to your personal and professional life.