Small Business Simplifier
Helping You Work More Productively, Profitably and Enjoyably
One of the things I love most about Christmastime is that good things appear in my mailbox. In addition to the usual assortment of bills and ads, I get letters and Christmas cards from friends, family and associates all around the world. I don’t know about you, but there’s something special about getting a card …
Public speaking. Two little words that have the power to strike unspeakable fear into the hearts of the bravest of souls. I’m not sure what it is about presenting to a group, giving a speech or leading a workshop that is so fear inspiring, but there it is. Actually, I took an informal poll among …
Leadership may come with some privileges. It definitely comes with responsibilities. However, leadership does not automatically endow us with all the skills needed to become a great leader. We have all experienced inspiring leaders. Ones who motivate us and want us to do and to be better and help us to achieve our potential. And …
Like it or not, we live in a digital age. For most of us, at least a portion of our lives happens in the digital sphere. So much of business—and of life—is conducted via the internet today. Unless you only connect with people you have already met “in real life,” as they say, it is …
How will you wish your customers a happy holiday this year? Have you thought about it—or are holiday cards just an old-fashioned holdover from the last century? You can send an e-greeting for the holidays. It’s as simple as sending out your weekly or monthly newsletter. They don’t require much time, effort or expense to …
If you own a home business, it is vital for you to solidify your customer base to the best of your ability. This means taking the time to learn more about your clients and see what you can do to improve your communication with them for the long-term. Ask Questions One of the most important …
We’ve all had those days. You need to write an article or a blog post or a social media post, but nothing’s coming. Writer’s block, the bane of every writer’s existence, rears its ugly head. The creativity faucet is turned off and isn’t budging. How do you write when you just don’t feel inspired and …
I don’t consider myself one of the pioneers of the internet. I’ve used computers since college. We switched from typewriters to Mac Plus during my first year of journalism school. I belonged to a number of email chat groups longer ago than you want to know. I built my first website in the early 2000’s …
Have you ever given a presentation, tried to explain what you do, or taught a class, only to have it fall flat? Being sure you are understood, whether in a conversation or presentation, is critical to its success. It can seem a big challenge, but it really doesn’t have to be. If you follow these …
I remember a story from my childhood of a woman who loved to gossip. Her words caused much damage to her neighbors, but eventually she realized the error of her ways and she went to the village priest to ask forgiveness and how she could make amends. The priest gave the woman a bag of …
