Create Your Own Luck in 2011

On December 22, 2010, in Strategy & Planning, by AndyM

You may have heard this statement before — “luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”  Profound.  These six words offer incredible clarity about a complex question — “how can we create luck in our businesses?”  Like many, I use this time of the year to reflect on how things have gone over the past year and make new, bigger plans for [...]

The Beauty of a One Page Plan

On December 10, 2009, in Strategy & Planning, by AndyM

“If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter” is a quotation from T.S. Eliot.  I agree that it is hard to boil down big ideas and concepts into brief statements.  But the process is so valuable.  Not only that, the output is exponentially more valuable the shorter it gets. You can’t [...]

A Simple But Powerful Way to Stay "On Track"

On November 30, 2009, in Maximizing ROI, Strategy & Planning, by AndyM

Isn’t funny that so many powerful tools boil down to just a few simple concepts.  I am constantly reading books on business, leadership, self-improvement and the like.  At least for me, the most profound insights are the ones that make you go “duh — why didn’t I think of that?”  It may sound backwards, but [...]

Establish Your Business Vision

On October 6, 2009, in Strategy & Planning, by AndyM

Creating a vision statement will focus your thinking and guide your decisions. Sharing it, printing it, and posting it will help you keep it at the forefront of your mind, and therefore your actions. It is important to keep in mind that a vision that leaves out your customers/clients, staff, and your own personal ambitions [...]

Four Steps to a More Successful Business

On September 29, 2009, in Strategy & Planning, by AndyM

The simple question I help my clients tackle is “How do I grow my business?”  That’s a pretty big question though, you have to admit.  It’s a big question because making a REAL change can set you on a completely different path. Don’t fall into the trap of just working harder! Any problem or challenge is [...]

"Champion" Mentality

On June 2, 2009, in Strategy & Planning, by AndyM

I was privileged to attend a leadership summit here in Danville, CA over the weekend that drew about 1,500 people from Northern California and beyond.  The event was put on by a local job-seeker networking group, but went far beyond just a “hang-in-there” message for those caught in the middle of this economic crisis.  It [...]

Create a "Destination" for Your Business

On April 28, 2009, in Strategy & Planning, by AndyM

Do you know where you are taking your business? Have you determined a destination? Let me put it this way, if you want to go on a vacation, you first have to decide where want to end up (on the slopes in Tahoe, or sipping a tasty cocktail by the beach or pool). Only after [...]