Monthly Archives: December 2011

How To Set A Goal

This is a time of the year when there is a lot of focus on what we don’t have.  How else does one make a wish list without thinking about what we’d like but don’t own?  Wishful thinking is a good thing as long as it’s grounded in reality.  I mean, your kid may want you to buy them a functioning light saber along with a robot opponent with which to joust, but light sabers don’t exist, at least not of the sort that the kid might see in the Star Wars movie.  May the force be with you as you explain that.

It’s a point we business folks need to keep in mind as well – both with respect to our wants as well as to our fears. Continue reading

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Filed under Helpful Hints, Reality checks

Both Sides – Now!

Today’s screed isn’t about Joni Mitchell or her song from the late ’60’s. It’s about being an effective businessperson. I was going to write “negotiator” but as I’m thinking about it, this is really applicable to all areas of business – sales, relationships with other members of the team, – pretty much everything. As an aside, I think it’s one of the factors behind the gridlock in our political system but we don’t do that stuff in this space so just file that away. Quite simply, if you want to get to agreements on things, there’s one ability you must have and that’s our topic. Continue reading

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Filed under Helpful Hints

Their Negatives Aren’t My Positives

Over the course of the past college football season, I’ve become a Brady Hoke fan.  Oh sure, I’ve rooted for the Michigan Wolverines for many years but Coach Hoke has impressed me not just with the wins.

ANN ARBOR, MI - SEPTEMBER 03:  Head coach Brad...

Image by Getty Images

Something he said was quoted in a recent issue of Sports Illustrated and it was such a great business point I wanted to share it.  Of course, Coach Hoke didn’t think about it that way but we sure can. Continue reading

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Filed under Helpful Hints