Hi Reader, What if constraints weren’t barriers, but tools for innovation? Think of NASA designing rocket boosters – they used gravity constraints to reach escape velocity. Or Apple asking, “What if a computer could fit in your pocket?” They used size and mobility as key constraints. Your business has constraints too (so does your life): time, budget, energy, etc. Instead of seeing them as problems, embrace them. Constraints force focus and spark creative solutions. For example, if you only...
16 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Customers rarely decide to buy something on a whim – they go through a process. Understanding this process can help you build better sales and marketing strategies. The 5 stages of the Purchase Decision Process are: Problem Recognition: What’s their pain point? Information Search: How are they looking for solutions? Evaluation of Alternatives: What makes you stand out? Purchase Decision: How easy is it to choose you? Post-Purchase Behavior: Do they feel good about their choice?...
23 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Running a small business means balancing short-term demands with long-term goals. When things get busy, it’s tempting to focus only on today’s work. But here’s the thing: tomorrow won’t take care of itself. Your long-term goals need attention now. History shows us the power of preparation. Before the D-Day invasion of WWII, Allied forces spent months planning logistics, assembling resources, and rehearsing. That groundwork paid off when it mattered most. Similarly, small steps you...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, Starting and growing a business can be a lonely experience. Often, the work involves moving forward without a map or a compass, so it’s pretty easy to get lost. That’s why community makes entrepreneurship better — because when you hit a roadblock or get turned around, at least you won’t be alone. And, if you're lucky, you'll have friends to remind you: you're not as lost as you think. Here are 2 more reasons why you need community: Reason 01: You Need Perspective Whether it’s...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, It’s not enough to dream big for your business – you’ve got to execute. Start with these key questions: What is it going to take to run your business effectively? What processes and routines are needed to execute your vision? How do those processes work together to support your short-term goals? Here are three areas I've focused on with friends and clients as they've built their businesses: The Fundamentals: Streamline everyday tasks. If you’re reinventing the wheel every time you...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, When you calculate all of the costs associated with running your business, it can add up quickly. For your business to grow, you need to find ways to increase profitability – and doing so at the unit level can significantly improve the overall financial health of your business. This article is focused on how to lower business expenses, so you can protect your profit on every sale and generate enough to sustain your business with confidence. Plus, a primer on essentialism (hence the...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, The business lifecycle charts the predictable pattern of how a business evolves over time. Each stage comes with its own challenges and opportunities. Most local entrepreneurs operate without this context, blaming themselves when they get stuck. Context, however, helps us understand the story we’re in. In short, to understand why you’re struggling, it helps to know where that struggle comes from. It’s not you. It’s the nature of bringing an idea to life. Here’s a quick overview of...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, If you’re learning, growing, and stretching your comfort zone, at some point, you’re going to fail or make a mistake. Think back to the first time you rode a bike as a kid or learned to ski or tried some other activity. You probably fell down a bunch of times before getting the hang of it. That’s just part of the learning process — we learn from every attempt, even the ones that fail. You might tell your kids the same thing — the problem though is that as adults we forget this...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, How do you create something that truly resonates with your customers? Think like a designer. Design thinking blends three key elements: Feasibility: what’s possible? Desirability: what do people want? Viability: what’s sustainable? The sweet spot is where these elements overlap. For example, let’s say your ideal customer/client (see last week's email) is a busy parent. You might design a meal delivery service. Feasibility might mean figuring out logistics to deliver meals...
2 months ago • 1 min read