Why Small Businesses Fail to Grow – Change Is in Your Control

                                      November-December, 2019               Volume 15 -- Issue 92   Sometimes just knowing what you need to have or do to expand and grow your business isn’t enough.   Not knowing how to make necessary changes, when and where to begin can become major barriers.  It is like running into a very thick, high, wide wall.  You are stopped dead in your tracks.  You want to get back on your path to success beyond that wall, but [...]

By |2021-11-22T05:47:46-05:00November 20th, 2019|Growth, Newsletter, Strategy, Success|

Trends and Changes Can Help or Hurt Your Small Business

  'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter May - June 2018            Volume 15 - Issue 83   Being aware of what is happening around you – and your small business – on a regular basis is critical to your success.  Far too many small businesses get blindsided by changes coming their way.  They may not be paying attention or fail to ‘read the tea leaves’ correctly.  Or, they may have a smug feeling of invincibility, believing nothing can take them down.  Those who fall into one or more of these categories, soon find themselves out of business.  Remember:  [...]

By |2019-01-27T01:01:02-05:00May 25th, 2018|Strategic Management, Trends|

Influences on Small Businesses for 2017: Competition & Customer Behaviors

'Designing Strategies' eNewsletter July - August, 2017               Volume 14     Issue 78   Any small business owner or manager who has been operating over the past ten years has experienced big time changes coming at them.  It is no secret that changes and external  influences on small businesses are a constant we need to prepare for.   Any not willing to do necessary zig-zagging required to change strategies or pivot on a dime may well be gone now.  We have been facing more than a few significant external changes, trying to stay afloat.  [...]

Strategies for Change: Be Alert, Be Aware, Be Strategic

The world as we know it is coming to an end!  Sounds an awful lot like the childhood story, Chicken Little, doesn’t it?  Remember that story about Henny-Penny running around the barn yard telling everyone the sky is falling after some innocent thing fell on her head?  Definitely not a good strategy for dealing with change.  Unlike every other day, something new and different happened - something changed.  Strategies for change should be top of mind for every small business owner who is passionate about the success of their firm. Notice the key words in that first sentence are "...as [...]

By |2017-08-16T15:39:58-04:00June 20th, 2017|Strategic Management, Strategy, Trends|

Your Unique Definition of Success – The Foundation of Your Small Business

'Designing Strategies' e-Newsletter Volume 14               Issue 77   Success – what does it mean?  From a quick Google search, Success is defined as either:  the accomplishment of an aim or purpose, or the attainment of popularity or profit.  Ask any small business owner or entrepreneur what they want to get from their start-up enterprise and odds are, they will respond with:  "Success.” or "I want to be successful."  Sounds about right, doesn't it? In reality, those answers are simply not enough.  What does success mean to you, as an individual, small business owner? [...]

By |2017-11-20T16:21:24-05:00June 2nd, 2017|Newsletter, Strategy, Strategy|

Strategy and Strategic Planning – Critical Processes for Growth & Success

Most successful small businesses owe their growth and success in large part to use of strategy and strategic planning.  This is accomplished through a combination of strategic thinking, planning and management.  Adopting a strategic approach to business operations clearly defines the direction a firm needs to take to achieve leadership's vision of success. So, exactly what is this concept called Strategic Planning?  It is an organized system that begins with envisioning the firm as it will be when it is all grown up. That Vision of your company in its long-term ideal state is further defined in terms of its [...]

By |2018-06-04T02:30:27-04:00January 28th, 2016|Strategic Management, Strategic Planning, Strategy|

Marketing: Most People Don’t Know You or Like You – Yet

Is there ever a tipping point when you’ve saturated the market and you no longer need marketing or advertising for your company, its products and services? According to Christopher Ramey, president of The Home Trust International, the answer is no. “The more you’re seen where you’re not expected to be seen, the more you indelibly imprint your brand on your best prospects’ minds.”   Think about some of the big corporate names that have made millions - even billions - selling their products:  Nike, Coca-Cola, Ford.  They certainly have not stopped marketing to put their names in front of consumers. At the [...]

By |2016-12-27T18:24:54-05:00January 8th, 2016|Branding, Marketing, Strategy|

Raise Your Fees – Today!

Every small business owner operating under a consulting business model of one type or another - interior designers, architects, accountants, website developers, coaches and others - either wants or needs to make more money. The problem is, if they are still operating in a solo capacity, they seldom have any time open in their schedule to take on more customers.  With little time to work on their company because they spend so much time working in their company, important things like figuring out how to make more money gets pushed to a back burner.  Hmmm, maybe it's time to raise your fees. They [...]

By |2016-12-27T18:50:25-05:00May 28th, 2015|Pricing Strategy, Strategy|

Focused Planning for Success: 5 Important Steps

  Focused planning is a key component for every successful business. Business planning, strategic planning, marketing plans and  short term project plans count.  Even succession planning and retirement planning are important.  In whatever format,  all  focused plans include clear direction to a company’s efforts to succeed. Those who regularly read our 'Designing Strategies' newsletter and blog know that I am an avid believer in planning for success.  I am convinced that the planning process is the most important thing business leaders and managers can do to assure achieving their unique vision of success.   Here are five important steps that need [...]

By |2016-12-27T19:08:29-05:00November 27th, 2014|Business Planning, Market Planning, Strategic Planning, Strategy|

Strategic Planning: 7 Reasons Your Small Business Plan Might Fail

  'Designing Strategies' Newsletter     November – December 2013                                 Volume 10 – Issue 56   This is the time of year when businesses of all sizes and types focus on developing strategies for the coming year. Year-end reviews take place to determine how successful - or unsuccessful - their strategic planning for the current year was. Analysis comes into play to identify which goals and objectives were successfully achieved, on budget and on schedule. Consideration is given to whether those goals and objectives provided desired results. It is time to determine what didn't work as expected.  Decisions are made about what [...]

By |2017-01-08T02:00:47-05:00November 15th, 2013|Newsletter, Strategic Planning, Strategy|
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