Category: Execution

Binders Don’t Make Employees Safe

I am all for employee safety, but paperwork in a binder doesn’t cushion any accident.  This story may be an example about how worker’s comp is broken.  I am not an expert on worker’s comp nor do I want to spend lots of time figuring… Continue reading

Like Warren Buffett, Best Investment Philosophy Balances Discipline with Flexibility

Warren Buffett is famous for his discipline in his early investing success.  Now, I think he is demonstrating his flexibility (some are critical of his recent flexibility) in investment philosophy.  Both are important skills for business owners and managers to master and to know when… Continue reading

Family Business Role Models: Blumkin Family of Berkshire Hathaway

Heroes have been a topic several times in talks by Warren Buffet.  “Pick your heroes carefully,” he said one time, “as it will have a big impact on who you become.”  Another time he said, “Tell me who someone’s heroes are, and I will have… Continue reading

Should CEO’s, Business Owners, Founders Focus Inside or Outside?

Founders, CEO’s, and business owners need to be skilled at knowing how to balance many competing ideas, priorities, initiatives, and more.  We explored this idea in the post the Art of Balance that listed 20 continuums that founders, CEO’s, and business owners must balance constantly. How much to focus… Continue reading

Five Forces by Michael Porter — Fundamentals Through Graphics

Five Forces of Competition The five forces of competition concept is one of the most influential in modern business.  It was developed by Michael Porter of the Harvard Business School.  Like all good frameworks, it takes something complicated and provides a simple, shorthand method to… Continue reading

Art of Balance — the Key to Business & Management Success

Balance is key to success, particularly for business owners and leaders who think about an entire organization.  This means: a) the ability to decide where and when to focus on multiple continuums, b) the ability to execute those decisions, and c) the ability to know when to reassess (a… Continue reading

Business Management So You Can Surf

I love the story that the founder of Patagonia, Yvon Choinard, built Patagonia in a way that he could leave at any moment to surf.  He said that surfing was the best thing that ever happened to him because it motivated him to create systems… Continue reading

Best Mobile Scheduling App From Appointment Plus

Manage your Appointment Schedule with an excellent Mobile Scheduling App Appointment Plus, a portfolio company of my investment partnership, released their latest native appointment scheduling apps for iPhone, iPad and Android and they are awesome.  The apps enable organizations to manage their customer appointment schedules… Continue reading

Learning Business Lessons: Business as a Dojo Space

Business Lessons Life and business lessons can be gleaned from all directions when managing and owning a business.  This idea was captured for me when a long-time employee of the National Holistic Institute said, “NHI is everybody’s dojo — or a space where we learn… Continue reading

Keep Pedaling When You Most Want to Coast

When cycling to the top of a big hill, it is tempting to coast down the other side.  However, I have found that in business it is important to keep pedaling when you most feel like coasting.  It is often those investments made in a… Continue reading