You hear it all the time in the business world: “We need to focus on our KPIs!” But what exactly are these three little letters, why do they matter, and when do they become essential for your business plan? What exactly is a KPI? Think of it like the dashboard in your car. When you’reContinue reading “What the heck are KPIs”
Tag Archives: planning
The recipe rumble
One of the things I’m doing more often now that I’m older is baking. Sometimes it’s easy. Sometimes it’s a little more challenging. I recently tried to follow a recipe I found online for gourmet cookies. It looked easy enough—just a few steps, a nice photo, and a promise of “foolproof results.” I pulled itContinue reading “The recipe rumble”
Process check time
‘Congratulations, someone has placed an order on your online store.’ As a new small business owner, you love to receive this type of message — you’ve made a sale! Driving visitors to your website is not an easy task and takes time and patience while you promote, promote, promote. This means, every visitor is anContinue reading “Process check time”
Invest like you mean it
I recently returned a label maker I had intended to use for printing shipping labels. Unfortunately, the print quality was subpar—the text was difficult to read. Using poor-quality labels put my shipments at risk of being delayed or lost, which not only affects delivery but also damages my brand’s reputation. Late or missing packages leadContinue reading “Invest like you mean it”
New business. New adventure.
As I wrap up another day of meetings and planning, I’m reminded that building a business takes perseverance and time. Every call and every meeting is another step forward and a learning experience. Starting and growing a business is a challenging journey; one that requires you to stay positive. You have a plan and you’llContinue reading “New business. New adventure.”
Risk and reward
Over the holidays, I decided to drive north to enjoy a few days with family. Living in Canada, weather in December can be unpredictable and I just happened to pick the snowiest day of the season to make the trip. I had a decision to make. Should I make the three-hour drive up a busyContinue reading “Risk and reward”
What’s in a partnership
Building a strong and lasting partnership, whether in business or personal life, requires a foundation of trust, communication and mutual respect. Here are five key elements I believe make a successful partnership. 1. Clear communication Clear and concise communication prevents misunderstandings. It’s important to express ideas and expectations clearly. Active listening is also important. HavingContinue reading “What’s in a partnership”
Starting a business? Major move!
Almost a year ago, I took the first step into a new business venture. Working with my business partner, we bounced around ideas that eventually evolved into what we hope will be a new and exciting product in the market. The creative process was a fun one. Once we had a concept for a productContinue reading “Starting a business? Major move!”
Stay positive
Warning. This little rant may include food for thought. I’ve written about the importance of customer service and keeping in touch with your customers in previous blogs. It’s a big important part of your brand. As a small business owner, I’ve experienced a few customer service disappointments this past week that are really getting meContinue reading “Stay positive”
Adaptation beats translation
One of the first things I learned as a young communications specialist was that translation alone is not enough. You need to adapt the messaging… not just the words. In my work, English was the primary language and French was a requirement by law for a large segment of customers. To do this, we reliedContinue reading “Adaptation beats translation”
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