A business leader like you spends the majority of their time negotiating. This includes Convincing customers that your offering will solve their problems Encouraging staff to supply that offering in the best possible way Ensuring contracts are fair to all parties Persuading investors your company offers the desired return Influencing regulators to support your vision It… Read more »
Strategy
Answers to your Top Advisory Board Questions
High-quality, independent advice can have a significant positive impact on a business, yet Business Development Bank of Canada’s 2014 study of Canadian small and medium sized businesses found that 76% have neither an Advisory Board nor a Board of Directors. A Board is an excellent way to get ahead of your competitors. Here are answers to… Read more »
Vision Statements: Don’t Make These Mistakes
Your company’s strategy can be encapsulated in its vision, mission, purpose, and values. Could there be anything more important than the ability to clearly communicate to your clients, your staff, your suppliers and your future employees the answers to questions about why you exist, where you are going, and how you conduct yourself? Unfortunately, most… Read more »
Issues Meetings: Fix Problems Once and Forever
Playing the Problem Whack A Mole Game in your company? Don’t let the little critters win. Warren Buffet famously said about investing: “it’s simple, but it isn’t easy.” He was referring to the emotion that comes into play when people make investment decisions. When making decisions in your business, a myriad of reasons can get… Read more »
Introducing Bellrock
They said we were crazy to launch a small business consultancy in Vancouver when we had: No relationships No local track record No start-up capital But, we weren’t worried. After all, it was autumn 2008: It was the middle of the greatest economic meltdown in 70 years The Olympics were coming and no one would… Read more »
Buying a Business
There are two major determinants of whether you will make money on a business acquisition:
a) The purchase price and financing.
b) The integration.
Creative Market Segmentation
I’m in the market for a house. We relocated to Vancouver a couple of years ago and decided to rent until we were more established in the new city. But with two small children and two growing start-up businesses, it’s time to put down some more permanent roots. Now that we’re looking at buying, I find myself closely analyzing the options for contractors and interior designers.
Business Planning
A client asked me this week, “What are the top five things you would recommend we do differently to really improve our business?” Not that this year was bad¸ but they knew they were capable of so much more.