How To Build a Culture of Continuous Improvement
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How To Build a Culture of Continuous Improvement

BySonya Shelton

Organizations can always improve something. Nothing is ever flawless, no matter how much we wish it could be. If you accept this reality, you can help your team create an environment of continuous improvement. When we accept that flaws exist, we provide the freedom to focus on improvement. When someone makes a mistake, correct it and continue on toward your objectives. Encourage…

5 Ways To Get Your Business To Run Without You
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5 Ways To Get Your Business To Run Without You

BySonya Shelton

Some owners focus on growing their profits, while others are obsessed with sales goals. Have you ever considered making it your primary goal to set up your business so that it can thrive and grow without you? A business not dependent on its owner is the ultimate asset to own. It allows you complete control…

Have you fallen into The Mile Wide Trap?
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Have you fallen into The Mile Wide Trap?

BySonya Shelton

If your company’s revenue has stalled after a period of rapid growth, you may have fallen into The Mile Wide Trap. Consider the case of Kim (not her real name) who runs a public relations firm. Kim studied marketing at school and went on to work for a big advertising agency where she spent ten…

Why Bother Doing It the Hard Way?
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Why Bother Doing It the Hard Way?

BySonya Shelton

Whether you want to sell your business next year or a decade from now, you will have two basic options for an external sale: the financial or the strategic buyer. The Financial Buyer The financial buyer is buying the rights to your future profit stream, so the more profitable your business is expected to be,…

Six Ways to Profit From Your Vacation
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Six Ways to Profit From Your Vacation

BySonya Shelton

Summer is almost over, and many of us are getting in those last weeks of vacation before Fall. Although it may seem strange, now may be the perfect time to increase the value of your company. The most valuable businesses are the ones that can survive without their owner. A buyer will pay a premium…

How Three Moves Quadrupled the Value of this Business
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How Three Moves Quadrupled the Value of this Business

BySonya Shelton

Are you stuck trying to figure out how to create some recurring revenue for your business? You know those automatic sales will make your business more valuable and predictable, but the secret to transforming your company is to think less about what’s in it for you and more about coming up with a reason for…

3 Steps to Solve Problems More Effectively
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3 Steps to Solve Problems More Effectively

BySonya Shelton

You can tell the effectiveness of a leader by the size of the problems they tackle. More responsibility brings greater problems and bigger decisions. If the problem was easy to solve, someone else would have already solved it. As a leader, you already understand the value of solving problems. Now it’s up to you to help others solve problems more effectively….

How Executive Leaders Make Tough Decisions
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How Executive Leaders Make Tough Decisions

BySonya Shelton

Making clear decisions is a critical factor to effective leadership. However, many executives suffer from decidophobia, the fear of making tough decisions. Decisions take courage, and courage means taking intelligent risks to move the organization in the direction of the vision. It’s important to gather data and perspectives, and you can use several decision-making models to help you do it well. However,…

The Most Effective Leaders Never Stop Learning
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The Most Effective Leaders Never Stop Learning

BySonya Shelton

Great leaders are great learners. Getting feedback from others allows you to continue to learn and grow. Just like you want your team and your organization to improve, you also want to improve yourself. Ask others for feedback on a regular basis. Some leaders make the mistake of thinking they need to have all the answers. Successful leaders never stop learning —…