Small Business Operations

Hours = 40 + 40

Many entrepreneurs start a venture to market and deliver a particular skill. Performing the skill is the differential needed for effective marketing but, who is going to manage the business while the performing is being done?

There's Not Much New Under the Sun

When is the last time you heard a completely new idea about how to operate a business? Uncle Max says there's not much new under the sun...

Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

If you are dependant upon one supplier there's a decided advantage to that supplier. Likewise, dependency on one customer can pose significant vulnerability. Whenever possible avoid putting all your eggs in one basket...

Prevent Problems by Treating Causes

Prevent problems by treating causes, rather than repeatedly solving the same problems. Problems are often symptoms of conditions...

Start Things the Way You Want Them to End

Whenever you begin a new association with someone who will affect your future affairs(supplier, employee etc.) it is important to start things the way you want them to end...

Be Cautious When Playing with the Big Boys

Whether you are purchasing from or selling to a large organization be extremely cautious...

Experts Are Useful, but Not Always Right

Experts are often people who have acquired a superior amount of knowledge and experience in a limited area. This tends to mislead us into thinking their superior wisdom extends beyond their areas...

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Two Minds Are Greater Than One - Use Consultants

Small business operators will take great pride in their ability to solve most problems, however swallowing your pride can be beneficial...

When You Make A Change Take Baby Steps

Everyone seems to have some resistance to change, some more than others. While implementing change it is important to avoid costly resistance...

Consult the Group of Six

How would you like to have a consulting group that is available within seconds and can render a report within minutes? And best of all, it will not cost a cent!

Add "probortunity" to Your Mindset

This new word, a blend of problem and opportunity, has been coined to remind us to view problems as opportunities...

If Your Door Plate Reads, Manager, Take Care

People will come to you with a problem simply because it says, "Manager" on your door. Your first reaction is to demonstrate how you earned that title, however many of us over-manage because the door plate says so...

Too Close to a Problem? Ask a Child for Help

Some times we become so emotionally involved with a problem that our logical faculties are hampered. The next time this happens to you, try explaining the circumstances to a child...

Prepare for the Worst - Hope for the Best

Preparing for the worst helps prevent surprises while hoping for the best gives you the confidence to succeed...

Get up Close to the Masters

How many top business leaders in your community can you chat with on a regular basis? There is a way you can watch how they operate...

SCAMPER for Quick Problem Solving

The acronym, SCAMPER, quickly recalls common solutions for solving most problems...

Examine Each Operation for Positive Revenue Flow

Routinely examine each operation for its contribution to revenue. Challenge the operation's contribution to positive revenue...

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Organize by Best Fit

Many procedures are designed for large organizations. We, in small business, often follow them unchallenged and without thinking of alternatives for a smaller operation Learning how to organize things to fit the nature and scope of your business is essential...

80% of a decision is information

Decision makers often make decisions under uncertainty. To reduce this uncertainty it is important to have as much information as possible. Uncle Max says 80% of a decision is information...

Occupy by Cubic Foot

We become conditioned to think of our workplace in terms of square foot occupancy. Remember to stop, look around, and evaluate your usage...

Decisions Made by a Group Are Suspect

Someone once said a group decision is as bad or worse than no decision. Well, not always but often enough to prompt us to view group decisions with suspicion...

Be Wary of Group Think

If your group has become very cohesive, there is a danger it can become a victim of this closeness

Think Things Through to the End

Are you aware of occasions when you wasted your time and that of others by re-visiting a task because you did not think things through to the end?

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Calculate before you call a meeting

Meeting with employees can be a costly process if you are not prepared. There are many things to consider before you decide to call a meeting...

Don't Run Up The Down Escalator

Why do it the hard way? Too often when we create something it becomes too complex. Those who have tinkered with projects in their workshop can relate to this. Planning goes a long way to prevent running up the down escalator...

Any Damn Fool Can Keep Busy

It's very tempting to erode quality and margins when your competition keeps lowering prices. Instead of matching it could be better to...

Never Confuse Movement With Action

Do you have an associate who impresses everyone with a constant flurry of activity yet you have little evidence of results?

Haste Makes Waste

Haste can make waste when actions precede sufficient thought. Sufficient thought implies a business plan, however, there is not enough time to prepare a business plan for every decision ...

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You Don't Have To Be That Good To Be Better

There are times when you become overwhelmed with the challenge of running a business. Yet, challenge is the raison d'etre for running your own business...

Earn Your MBWA

When you have an MBWA, Management By Walking Around, you'll learn more about running a small business than you could learn from an MBA degree program...

Everything Flows, Nothing Stays Still

You may think your business remains the same when you are not making changes. If we are to believe Heraclitus, this is not exactly true...

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Shrinkage Reduces Profit Margins

Maintain better control over your profit margins by controlling the little things in your inventory which accumulate into big things...

Control What Matters and When Necessary

If you think that to stay in control, every piece of information generated by the business must cross your desk, you'll ultimately become swamped with information to the point where the information is no longer manageable. Instead control what matters when it's necessary...

Who is your Devil's Advocate?

A Devil's Advocate is a person who thinks of everything that could go wrong. Being aware of everything that can go wrong can prepare you to avoid such problems...

Inventory Is The Enemy

The concept, of viewing inventory as the enemy, is good to keep in mind because there are many ways it can be adapted to a small business...

If It Ain't Broke - Upgrade It

We can be lulled into a false sense of security by following the standard maxim of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Loss of operations due to break-downs can be avoided by upgrading or doing maintenance...

Top Three Concerns of Other Managers

According to a recent survey, the top three concerns of most small business managers are: increasing revenue, customer retention and reducing expenses...

Ignorance Is Not Bliss

It is helpful to know when you are ignorant or when there's a possibility you are. Once you have that awareness there are many ways to remedy the condition...

Shift Your Attitude from Small to Big

Someone has suggested that advice on, "How to Start a Small Business" would be better if the title were: "How to Start a Big Business..."

Everything's Under Control

Do you shudder when you hear a flippant, "Everything's under control?" As well you should. It's often wise to follow the shudder with some questions...

Nothing is Important

In arithmetic we know the value of zero represents nothing and that it is as important as any other digit. So why not apply this knowledge to business operations...

Know When to Hold 'em and When to Fold 'em

We often get what appears to be conflicting advice. Some people will tell us we must persevere through adversity others advice cutting your losses. There are many techniques for evaluating different options...

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