I didn’t create these ten ways and I don’t remember where I came across them. However, they’re worth noting and remembering, regardless of whether you’re running a public or private company. 1. Do not manage earnings or provide earnings guidance. 2. Make strategic decisions that maximize expected value, even at the expense of lowering near-term [...]

A few simple rules for the workplace environment worth noting: • Communicate incessantly • Appreciate consistently • Train constantly • Provide meaningful work • Create and encourage implementing benefits Original writing date: February 23, 2007

There’s nothing easier than to challenge through engagement. However, the minute you confuse engagement with manipulation, acquiescence follows. Engagement is not acquiescence. Engagement is based on consent, not manipulation. Original writing date: May 15, 2006

Leadership, by definition, is transformational. It has to transform the present into the future. That can only be done when the leader has a clear vision of what the future holds. Original writing date: May 5, 2005 If someone were to ask me what are the primary qualities within which to live life, I would [...]

We had our annual training day today. I was introducing the concept of franchising into our discussion, as I charted out the path for 2007. In the process, I found myself articulating that the process of entrepreneurship is not to a large extent about vision. I don’t necessarily have a problem with the concept of [...]

1. Go big 2. Consistent earnings 3. No debtors 4. Management in place 5. A simple business formula 6. The right price Original writing date: May 8, 2006

Pay attention to the horizon, but always look in the rearview mirror. Every adult drives a car. And there are some fundamental rules of driving that car we all take for granted. No driver would think of driving, for example, without looking up over their dashboards (I call that “viewing the horizon”), checking the rearview [...]

The concept of “empowerment initiatives” and a “free market opportunity society.” The issue is to promote ownership of assets and the wherewithal to be able to create those assets. Original writing date: April 18, 2005

As I was thinking about a message to bring in the New Year, I happened to remember an article I came across a couple weeks ago in USA Today. It indicated that ADD has reached epidemic proportions in this country. Something like 1 million new school age children are diagnosed with ADD annually. The medical [...]

My sense of it is that the concept of celebration, regardless of whether it’s in art, music, wine, women, or whatever is cardinal to everything we do. As a matter of fact, it is even cardinal to business in life itself. Original writing date: December 20, 2004 The concept of social entrepreneurs: entrepreneurs who use [...]