Planning To Manage Time Or Managing Time To Plan?

Isn't the year flying by? Have you done all the things you were going to do? So where did it go wrong, already? Or is just that so far the year has been busy and you will implement the changes next month. (The great thing about that sort of planning is that you are usually dead right, you will implement it next month and it has been next month for the last X years!) Or is it simply that it will be ok when you can just find the time.

Opening a Dollar Store - Cut Start-up Costs

Are you opening a dollar store? Start thinking of creative ways to help reduce the costs associated with getting started and open for business. Remember that cost reduction will be one of the continuing areas of focus for you in the future. Why not get started early?

Aligning Departments With Your Strategy

Robert Bradford discusses concrete ways you can create better alignment between your corporate strategic plan and departments, based on 20 years of experience working on hundreds of strategic plans.

Three Critical Business Plan Perspectives

Business Plans require many different perspectives. Here we discuss the three critical ones that help us to formulate a vision for the business. Without these views, our plan will be critically deficient.

Understanding Value

Robert Bradford looks at the components of value and how an understanding of value can lead to increased profitability.

Strategic Planning Must Connect Human Capital ROI to Time Management to Maximize Business Results

Strategic planning is about how you manage your human capital to maximize your business results or profits. Managing people must include time management to deliver those results. Do you know what unproductive time by your human capital is costing you? Probably not!

Strategic Planning- Document or Tool?

A strategic plan as a tool is focused on taking a realistic vision and mapping out the steps to accomplishing that vision.

New Perspectives on Tough Strategic Decisions

When the stakes are high, and you are struggling with tough strategic decisions, it may be time to look at the situation from some new perspectives.

Requirements Matrix - A Necessary Evil

A Requirements Matrix is an essential beginning to a proposal Use it!

Strategic Alliances - What, Why, How, Etc

A strategic alliance is one in which two companies join hands to market services and products for mutual benefit. Traditionally, strategic alliances are formed between companies that are not direct competitors of each other but have complementary products or services that are marketed to the same target audience. There are three primary types of strategic alliances - joint ventures, minority equity investments, and direct cooperation.

Strategic Planning - What Does Your Company Mean?

Last week I had an interesting discussion with a director of Mary Kay, one of the most successful companies in the cosmetics industry. She wanted to know why it would be important for her sales reps to understand strategy.

Differentiation - Smart Marketing Strategies for the Solo Entrepreneur

Are you ever frustrated or hesitant when you talk to prospective customers because you can’t readily explain why they should come to you rather than go to your competitors? Sure, you might have your 30-second elevator speech, but then they ask you that dreaded question, “So what makes you different?” Then, all those self-doubts creep in, and you just aren’t sure what to say. Differentiation can boost confidence--yours in yourself and that prospective customer’s confidence in you!

Top 3 Strategies to Boost Your Perceived Value

Three ways to boost your perceived value are: deliver unexpected value, ensure your client's success and toot your own horn. Learn steps in how to do all three and keep clients coming back.