Howdy Partner Part 2 | Peter Mehit

October 7, 2014January 22, 2015 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Becky, a consultant, was telling us about a proposal she made a few years ago. The project was big and she needed help so she partnered with company that she had worked with before. They agreed to work as one company to reduce customer concerns about managing multiple contractors. At deal time the partner broke ranks trying to make a separate agreement. The customer declined to work with either company.

Trouble in partnerships generally comes from three things: Poor due diligence by the partners, mismanaged expectations and lack of defined roles and responsibilities.

When picking another company to partner with, you need to decide if they are a good fit with you. For example, a firm that is fastidious about quality will be driven crazy by a sloppy partner. If the firms have different ideas about client relations, there can be mixed messages that cause trouble and false crisis. You’ve decided the partner firm is qualified and shares a compatible management approach, but you also want to check for a cultural fit. Are the work methods compatible? If your company likes slow, steady progress will you be able to work with one that pulls all nighters to deliver a last minute product?

Continue reading “Howdy Partner Part 2 | Peter Mehit” →

6 Small Business Financial Pitfalls | AllBusiness.com

October 7, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Many factors go into making a small business a success. Some factors, however, can be more challenging than others, especially when it involves financial management. Whether it’s securing equity capital, borrowing money, separating personal finances from business finances, or managing cash flow, there are a number of “potential landmines” that many small business owners are not adequately prepared to handle. Following are six financial pitfalls for small businesses to avoid and important tips to consider when dealing with business finances:

Being Curious Can Boost Your Memory | livescience.com

October 3, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ 1 Comment

Everyone knows it’s easier to learn about a topic you’re curious about. Now, a new study reveals what’s going on in the brain during that process, revealing that such curiosity may give a person a memory boost.

When participants in the study were feeling curious, they were better at remembering information even about unrelated topics, and brain scans showed activity in areas linked to reward and memory.

The results, detailed yesterday Oct. 2 in the journal Neuron, hint at ways to improve learning and memory in both healthy people and those with neurological disorders.

What (And What Not) to Do If You Want Your Content to ‘Go Viral’ | Adrants.com

October 2, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Oh you’ve gotta love those online college degree schools for their content marketing savvy. They’ve mastered the art of creating compelling and informative infographics that double as a promotion for the school. That’s not a slam. Just an acknowledgment.

Anyway, here’s a well thought out inforgraphic from Best Marketing Degrees on viral marketing. It’s got examples of successful virals. It’s got examples of failed virals. It’s got tips on what you can do to increase the likelihood your content will go viral and its got tips to keep you out of hot water.

Check it out below.

Sandwich Monday: The Pizza Cake | NPR.org

October 1, 2014October 3, 2014 ~ CBPS ~ 1 Comment

I generally don’t like cake, because it is too sweet, too bland in texture, and doesn’t have enough pork products. So I was excited to see this recipe pop up on Buzzfeed.

Have Trouble Concentrating? Try These Suggestions | Entrepreneur.com

October 1, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

We all know the feeling of being overwhelmed, of being beset by distractions. Too many things clamor for your attention. People are trying to reach you, by phone, email, text, Twitter, or old-fashioned yelling up the stairs. Colleagues interrupt. You need to update, check in, post, or ping. Ads jump at you from the most unlikely places. Devices buzz, ring, chirp, and vibrate.

There are steps you might consider to quiet the buzz in your brain – even if you don’t want to take up meditation. In addition to feeling calmer and more focused, you’ll probably be more efficient, too. Turns out that people aren’t very good at thinking about two things at once. One study showed that when people were interrupted to respond to email or IM, it took about 15 minutes for them to resume a serious mental task.

So consider taking steps like these, at least occasionally. They may not all work for you, but you may find a few that will help you focus.

7 Affordable Resources for Self-Employed Workers | Mashable

September 30, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Today’s career landscape is bizarre by Boomer standards: 23-year-olds are CEOs, working parents are running businesses out of their living rooms and work-from-home opportunities abound in almost every industry.

Given these recent trends in the career industry, it’s unsurprising that more and more employees are considering becoming their own boss — and many get the opportunity to do so. The “virtualization” of jobs, the influx of startup culture and the rise of the gig economy are all contributing factors to increasing opportunities for self-employed workers.

If you’re thinking about leaving behind a nine-to-five to freelance or embark on an entrepreneurial business venture, below are a few helpful resources to give you a leg up.

5 Reasons why Business Shouldn’t Use Generic Envelopes | Getentrepreneurial.com

September 30, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

How many times have you simply grabbed the nearest envelope for the posting of crucial business correspondence? Without knowing it, you could be harming the image of your business by sending important letters and documents via sub-standard, inappropriate or generic envelopes.

The first job of an envelope is to get its contents to their final destination safely. However, it also the first thing your clients and customers will see when you make contact through the mail. A neatly addressed envelope that is appropriate to the tone of its contents, and designed specifically for your business, can deliver five unexpected benefits.

Engage Your Employees Or Lose Billions | Forbes.com

September 30, 2014 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Most employers are failing to engage employees, and it’s costing billions of dollars. According to Gallup’s 2013 State of the Global Workplace survey, just 13 percent of worldwide employees say they are engaged at work. In the U.S., where engagement is at 30%, Gallup estimates that active disengagement 18% of the workforce costs the economy $450 billion to $550 billion per year.

“Engagement” is all the rage in business, but we’re failing at it, and we aren’t clear on what the word means. We’re engaging employees, engaging customers, engaging partners, engaging with social content, engaging in dialogue and engaging millennials—basically engaging everything and everywhere without results. The problem is that most employees don’t have any outlets for engagement. Thankfully, every business leader has the power to change this.