Focused Strategy or Bright, Shiny Objects?

In today’s world, business owners and leaders are inundated with information from all sides:  newspapers, magazines, Internet sites, social media, blogs, white papers, news reports, e-mail marketing.  It all seems endless – distracting and terribly confusing.  Someone is constantly touting their next bright shiny object idea, in most cases guaranteed to distract you from a focused strategy that will take you and your firm where you want to be. These distractions can take many forms.  The bright, shiny object might be a new software application, promises of doubling  traffic to your website, a new marketing miracle, an expensive seminar or [...]

By |2016-12-28T01:12:46-05:00January 25th, 2012|Strategic Management, Strategic Planning|

Will Your Solutions Work If You Can’t See the Problem?

"It’s not that they can't see the solution, it's that they can’t see the problem." –G.K. Chesterton   'Scandal of Father Brown' (1935) Back in 1935, English author and essayist, G. K. Chesterton  realized that many people had more difficulty recognizing their problems and challenges than in finding solutions for them.    Decades later, many entrepreneurs and business leaders continue to have this shortcoming. Even now,  in our modern world, many startups avoid analyzing potential challenges.  What could be better than analyzing potential problems and preparing solutions to deal with them?  Makes you wonder just how far we've come during those decades, doesn't it? [...]

By |2016-12-29T00:26:25-05:00December 29th, 2011|Business Planning|

Know Your Brand and Stick To It

Every Wednesday, I anticipate receiving the 'Marketing Minute' newsletter written by Marcia Yudkin, a respected marketing expert located in Massachusetts.  Her newsletters are routinely full of quality content, are short and to the point.  A recent article, graciously shared below, carries a strong branding message that we should all pay attention to:  develop and know your brand, then stick to it.  Remember who you are and what you set out to do.  Avoid temptations to deviate from your set direction.  No matter what - do not deviate from  your brand - not even a tiny little bit.  If you know your brand, it will help [...]

By |2016-12-29T00:35:39-05:00December 9th, 2011|Branding|

Planning a Solid Growth Strategy

Snagging a huge new project is not a solid growth strategy.  In fact, it's not growth strategy at all.  A few years ago, there was a television commercial showing a business woman rushing back to her office, presentation portfolio in hand. In a voice bordering on elation, she announced their firm had been awarded 'The Contract.'  Obviously, it was a sizable project, because as she dropped into her chair, she announced: "We're going to need more phones." Certainly we all covet those big clients with bigger, more profitable projects.  What company doesn't dream of this scenario to serve as a stepping stone [...]

By |2020-01-30T17:37:41-05:00May 27th, 2011|Growth, Leadership, Strategic Planning|

Mission Statements Bring Clarity and Direction to Your Small Business

'Designing Strategies' Newsletter January - February, 2011                      Volume 8 - Issue 38   In a recent blog post, we addressed short, succinct mission statements and their importance to your business.  It would be good to expand on that topic in this issue of Designing Strategies. A mission statement is the most important part of your business and strategic planning process. Mission statements define the reason that you are in business.   Simple, right?  Without one, you have no core, no center, no defining direction. In short, you do not have a clear grasp on [...]

By |2017-01-11T12:44:18-05:00January 21st, 2011|Leadership, Newsletter, Strategic Management, Strategic Planning|

Who Needs A Strategic Plan? Your Small Business Does.

Who needs a strategic plan? Only those companies that want to clearly define where they want to go and how they can get there.  Too many organizations continue to fly by the seat of their pants, going from day to day, doing what they have to do to stay afloat and putting out fires along the way.  One business owner told me that he doesn’t even know where to begin each day when he arrives at his facility.  He doesn’t know what to do first to get through the day, get things done and still assure his company’s growth and [...]

By |2019-07-21T02:56:01-04:00October 1st, 2004|Strategic Planning|
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