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Glenn Ebersole Articles

Written by: Glenn Ebersole

“Strategic Alliances and Their Powerful Benefits” - Click To Read Article
A strategic alliance is a partnership, a collaborative agreement and/or a relationship between two or more companies or organizations formed to pursue a set of agreed upon goals while remaining independent companies or organizations. Strategic alliances exist in a variety of shapes and sizes and include a wide range of scopes of cooperation levels. Strategic alliances usually are most effective when the entities involved have complementary strengths. Based upon more than 35 years of experience, here are what I consider to be twelve (12) of the most clear and powerful benefits of developing and working with strategic alliances.

“Strategic Business Tips When Firing Someone From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
One of the most uncomfortable actions in business is the termination of an employee. When an employee is terminated, there is pain for each party involved. Many people postpone the inevitable termination and this only increases the pain and frustration. Your strategic thinking business coach has some tips on how to terminate someone properly so both parties get through the process.

“A Major Communication Tip For Successful Strategic Planning – Provide Definitions of Major Strategic Planning Terms As You Begin” - Click To Read Article
One of the key elements in any endeavor is clear communications. This is especially true when doing strategic planning. So, my major communication tip to ensure more successful strategic planning efforts is to first provide basic definitions of major terms used in the strategic planning process. Having written definitions to hand out to all participants at the start of the process will help ensure that everyone knows the meaning of the terms being used throughout the strategic planning process facilitates this. Here are the definitions of major strategic planning terms that have served me well in all of my strategic planning efforts over more than 25 years.

Ten Strategic Steps to Achieving Personal Success – From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach wants you to be successful in your business life and in your personal life. And I am committed to continuously strive to provide sound strategic advice and coaching to help people succeed. With that in mind, I developed the following ten strategic steps to achieving success and wanted to share those with you.

Preparing For Sustainable Growth in Your Company or Organization - Click To Read Article
As a business owner or senior manager, you are in business to grow your business and then sustain that growth. Companies and organizations try to avoid uncontrolled or unmanaged growth, but realize there are many pitfalls that cause growth to disappear.

The PR Doctor’s Advice For Television Appearances - Click To Read Article
The opportunity for a television appearance has great value if you are prepared for the opportunity. Business owners and key management people need to be prepared for new opportunities for television appearances on an ever-increasing number of TV programs and Internet podcasts that focus on business. And when you do get the call for the appearance, you want to make sure you will look good on camera.

“Strategic Business Tips On How To Achieve Civility In Today’s Workplace, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Today’s workplace is very dynamic, sometimes very stressful, and too often not very civil. We certainly observe the lack of civility in the workplace with people calling each other names, engaging in personal attacks on each other, exhibiting rude and disruptive behaviors and the lack of respect for one another or ignorance of how behaviors affect others. I believe there is a real desire for the restoration of civility in the workplace. Your strategic thinking business coach offers some tips on how to achieve civility in today’s workplace.

Ten Strategic Actions To Improve Sales Staff Productivity - Click To Read Article
How effective is your sales staff? Are they a high performance team, a mediocre performance team or a woefully “underachieving” and blatantly poor performance team? If you have mediocre, underachieving or poor sales people, what are you doing to change that? If your sales staff is not effective, not performing to its potential and is in need of improved performance, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten (10) strategic actions to take to change that.

How To Strategically Use The News To Identify Create New Business Opportunities - Click To Read Article
Fortunately I am a very avid reader and follower of “the news.” I pay special attention to the business sections of various media and look for trends, and opportunities within the articles that are printed there. I have made a commitment to stay abreast of business news and can tell you that this has been a key strategy for my marketing efforts over the years. You may say to me, “So What?” Well I can tell you that business opportunities for consultants and others are out there if you know how to identify them. I also know that most consultants do not use the news because they never used some strategic thinking to connect the events in the news to potential business. I am saying to you that once you know what to look for in the news, the opportunities will become apparent. And then those opportunities must be acted upon.

“A Strategic Action Plan For Recession Resistant Marketing” - Click To Read Article
As the U.S. and the global economies move up and down, there is always some talk that arises about concern of a worldwide recession. Let’s acknowledge that we are sometimes over-run by pessimists. When the pessimists start talking up a recession, people start to worry, get scared and begin to develop contingency plans. So what would a strategic thinking professional do to make his or her business recession resistant? There is one thing that must be crystal clear – you must never stop marketing! If you stop marketing, your business will fail. Using a strategic thinking and business coach approach, here is my recommended strategic action plan for recession resistant marketing.

Ten Tips For Writing Successful Business Proposals From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
There comes a time for businesses when they must submit successful business proposals to gain clients, projects, interviews, potential development rights, etc. And for many businesses, successful business proposals are mandatory for their survival. How many of your proposals get accepted and how many get rejected? Or don’t you keep track of the outcomes? It is interesting to note that most successful businesses have more of their proposals rejected than accepted. Your strategic thinking business coach endorses strategic thinking in the preparation of all business proposals. Here are ten (10) tips from your strategic thinking business coach for writing successful business proposals.

5 Deadly Decisions in Business and How to Avoid Them - Click To Read Article
Think about this for a moment - Thousands and thousands of business decisions are made every day. Many of those business decisions can be and are deadly! And think how very difficult it is to avoid making some of those deadly decisions. Here are five examples of some of the most common deadly business decisions.

Who Is In Your Circle of Influence What Does That Say About You - Click To Read Article
We have heard that old saying, “You are judged by the company you keep.” That saying is important in our business life and our personal life. Who you associate with will say as much about you, your ethics, your integrity, your honesty, your core values, your beliefs, your passion and your future intentions as your actual personal behavior does. And as a business owner or business leader, you are being observed every minute of every day. Colleagues, clients, vendors, suppliers, et al are all scrutinizing, watching, listening to those people you influence. Therefore, this is a serious matter for consideration when you decide who will be in your circle of influence. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach challenges you to stop and look around you. Who do you see? Who is there? Who is in your circle of influence?

“Ten Important Ingredients For Your Strategic Marketing Plan, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Strategic thinking is very important in developing an effective marketing plan for your business. You need to think about a compelling Unique Selling Proposition (USP); an effective positioning statement; and a strategic integrated marketing communications approach. Writing a Strategic Marketing Plan is about understanding the needs and desires of your customers and clients, and showing them how your product and/or service will satisfy the needs of your customers and clients and solve their problems. Based upon more that 35 years of experience, and using a strategic thinking approach, here are Ten (10) Important Ingredients For Strategic Marketing Plans.

Twelve Strategic "Grow Goals" To Grow Your Business According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Any time is a good time to think about how to grow your business. The last month of your calendar year or fiscal year is a very good time to think about and plan for the growth of your business. Companies need to think strategically about the coming year and what "grow goals" they should establish to grow your business. For the purpose of this article, I am going to presume that you are near the end of your fiscal year or your calendar year and are ready to plan for the growth of your business in the coming year. And with that in mind, I want to share twelve (12) strategic "grow goals" to grow your business in the year ahead.

Strategic Tips For Effective Testimonials According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Testimonials can be very powerful, especially when they are strategically sought from well respected and satisfied clients. Testimonials are much more powerful than advertisements since they are basically unpaid third party endorsements of your company or organization. There are three major reasons why your business should seek and use testimonials. + to build strong bonds of trust + to improve the credibility of your company + to demonstrate your success There are 2 types of testimonials, the solicited and the unsolicited. The unsolicited testimonials come to you without any effort on your part. The client takes the initiative and contacts you directly with their testimonial. Solicited testimonials are the result of a conscious effort by you to pursue them.

“Powerful Communication Tips For Managers and Supervisors, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Recently I read about a study conducted in 2001, which included approximately 20,000 exit interviews. A major finding in the study was that poor communications skills of supervisors were a leading factor in poor supervisory behavior, which caused people to leave their jobs. And I believe there is plenty of evidence today that there are many people who have been promoted into management and supervisory positions without the proper communications skills and therefore are causing this dysfunctional behavior to continue in many workplaces. Okay coach, what do you prescribe to take care of these poor communication skills of managers and supervisors? Well, your strategic thinking business coach wants to share thirteen (13) powerful communication tips for them, as well as others in the workplace. Here they are:

Dealing With Stress In The Small Business Workplace, Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
It is certainly no secret that stress is a fact of daily life ad is especially true in the small business workplace. And what makes it worse is most small business owners must face the challenges alone or with little or no support systems. A strategic thinking small business owner knows that he or she must be very aware of their own level of stress, as well as the stress levels of their employees because of the potential negative impacts. How extensive is this stress in the small business workplace? CareerBuilder.com found in a 2006 study of 2,500 American workers that 77% of the workers felt burned out at their jobs. The reduction of stress in the small business workplace is a very important goal. Here are some tips on how to deal with stress in a proactive way, according to your strategic thinking business coach.

Eight Essential Qualities of Passionate, Powerful and Proven Leaders, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
The term leader is used and dare I say misused quite often in our society today. Leaders are mentioned in the context of community; family; business; church, local, state and federal government; an organization; or some other institution or group. But how many of those mentioned as leaders really possess the essential qualities of a passionate, powerful and proven leader? In order to determine the answer to that question, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes one needs to define the term leader by listing the attributes or qualities necessary to earn the title of leader. Here is a list of eight essential qualities that I believe define a passionate, powerful and proven leader.

Importance of Public Relations and Crisis Management Planning to Your Business - Click To Read Article
Are public relations and crisis management planning important to your business? The answer is simple and direct. Public relations and crisis management planning are not only important to your business, they are both CRUCIAL to your business, regardless of your type of business. A general public relations program is important to your business to: complement advertising; provide research capabilities for marketing efforts; provide capabilities for special events to increase company & industry visibility; monitor governmental organizations; to communicate the state-of-the-industry to the public, including views on legislation, regulations, economic conditions, and other factors and events impacting your business; and to communicate with past and existing clients.

20 Questions To Ask When Developing Your Business Strategies According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
When you are ready to begin building your business plan and your business strategies, it is very helpful to ask yourself a series of thought-provoking questions to help develop the most strategic and most successful business plan for your business. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed the following list of twenty (20) questions for you to ask regarding each of the segments of your business plan: marketing, finance, operations, etc.

Critical Skills Needed To Be A Strategic Thinker, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Strategic thinking is a process that defines the manner in which people think about, assess, view, and create the future for themselves and others. Strategic thinking is an extremely effective and valuable tool. One can apply strategic thinking to arrive at decisions that can be related to your work or personal life. Strategic thinking involves developing an entire set of critical skills. What are those critical skills? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following list of critical skills that the best strategic thinkers possess and use every day.

“Crisis Management Planning – What’s Happening Where We Work?” - Click To Read Article
Crises continue to be in our newspaper headlines and the lead stories on radio and television broadcasts. And crises continue to affect businesses in many forms and continue to occur without notice. But what’s happening where we work in response to this continuing trend of crises? Are businesses preparing for crises by developing crisis management plans? Do you know if your company has a crisis management plan or a business disaster recovery plan? Do they have a crisis communication plan? The American Management Association did a survey in August & September 2005 and what that survey revealed is summarized below.

“Ten Most Significant Risks and Costs of Unethical Behavior in Business, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
The business world has been shocked and rocked by major corporate scandals involving unethical behavior. The real “poster” companies of ethics violations include: Enron, Tyco International, WorldCom, Global Crossing and Adelphia. The risks and costs associated with these examples of unethical behavior are astronomical in dollars, but also extremely high in other non-quantified costs and risks. These other significant risks and costs from unethical behavior include:

20 Tips For Leaving Effective Efficient Voicemail Messages From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Strategic thinking applies to all that we do in business. Our business communications are one area where there is always room to be more strategic and therefore be more effective. Take a moment and think about some of the voicemail messages you receive each day. How many of them are effective? How many of them are efficient and contain the information and/or questions you really need to respond? How many of them are rambling and incoherent? And how many of them are downright annoying and a waste of your time? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has some tips to share that will help you leave more effective and efficient voicemail messages and become a more strategic business communicator. Those tips include:

“Twelve Strategic Thinking Steps For Effective Change Management In Your Career, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
It is not very easy to manage a career change and in my business coaching practice, I have worked with people who have switched careers successfully in their 50s, 60s and above. And as I thought about this, I tried to think of some of the key steps they took to make this successful change. And one of the underlying common denominators with each of them was the use of a strategic thinking approach to managing change. So, with that being said, what would be the twelve (12) strategic thinking steps to follow for effectively managing the change in your career? In my opinion, the twelve (12) strategic steps are:

“Twelve Major Benefits For Being Well Organized, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Recently I have been coaching more and more clients on organizational skills because they now understand the importance of being well organized. Let me ask you, “Have you ever paused long enough to ask yourself how you could benefit from being better organized?” There are many benefits for being well organized and I have selected twelve (12) major benefits to share with you. These twelve (12) major benefits are:

10 Most Compelling Reasons To Hire A Coach, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Many people still may be wondering why they should consider hiring a coach. They are searching for compelling reasons to hire a coach. In the reality of the world of business today there are many real examples of compelling reasons to hire a coach. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has thought about some of the most compelling reasons people have given him for why they hired a coach and lists 10 of those most compelling reasons below.

“Ten Tips For Making Effective Calls To Your Prospects, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Competition in business today is keen and those in business need to seek a competitive edge whenever possible. A strategic approach to making calls to your prospects is one area to gain a competitive advantage. With that in mind, I chose to use some strategic thinking skills to develop a list of ten top tips for making effective calls to your business prospects. Those top ten tips are:

Ten Tips For Managing Stress of New Beginnings, New Opportunities, New Intentions and New Goals For The New Year - Click To Read Article
The new year resets the calendar and it is a good time to view the start of a new year as a time of new beginnings, new opportunities, new intentions, and new goals and to develop a strategic action plan to use each of those new things. Too many times, we focus on the stress and the fear of new beginnings or change. One of my biggest recommendations to you for stress relief is to choose an attitude and mindset that looks at all challenges, issues and problems as OPPORTUNITIES wearing various disguises. Another major method of addressing stress is to take a look at just how busy we are on a daily basis. So, if we agree that stress is something that is almost impossible to avoid, here are ten (10) tips from your strategic thinking business coach on how to manage the stress of change.

Ten Symptoms Of A Business Relationship Problem According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Successful business owners and managers do not take anything for granted and do not take anything at face value. Very successful business owners and managers are trained to look beyond the obvious in search of the real issues and the root causes of those issues. Looking at the health of your business relationships with your clients and customers requires this type of investigation. It is difficult to know if a client or customer loves you and your work or if they are ready to kick you out the door real soon. Sometimes the communications with your clients and customers about your relationship are subtle, while other times they are loud and clear. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten (10) symptoms to look for that may mean you have a business relationship problem developing.

“How to Overcome Public Speaking Fears – Ten Strategic Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
When it comes to public speaking, do you welcome the opportunity or do you run for cover? Do you accept each chance presented or do you make up a long list of reasons to be excused from the task? If you answered NO to these questions, it is important for you to read this because public speaking presents some very positive development opportunities for you and there are things you can do to overcome your fears of public speaking. So what can you do if you do fear public speaking? Here are ten (10) strategic tips to overcome that fear and make public speaking easy.

“Powerful Business Etiquette Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Have you observed social gaffes and just plain inappropriate behavior at business meetings? Have you ever seen someone make a fool of themselves in a business meeting? Do you feel comfortable in knowing what to do as proper business etiquette in a business meeting? It is very important to know proper business etiquette because it is very critical to your image and the relationship building process. In my business career and in particular, during my business coaching endeavors, I have learned some very powerful tips to help avoid mistakes in business etiquette that are so easy to make. Your strategic thinking business coach wants to share ten (10) of my favorites. Here they are:

Powerful Strategic Networking Questions From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Networking is an important and absolutely critical activity for business marketers and sales people. People who have the ability to network strategically will always enjoy a competitive advantage in business. Are you comfortable in a networking role? Are you striving to be the best you can be when it comes to networking? What is one major thing you can do to ensure you will be successful at networking? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes the number one thing you should become is a master at asking questions. There is so much power in the ability to ask the right questions and Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed a list of ten (10) powerful strategic networking questions for you to use in any business or social setting to open valuable conversation.

More On Business Manners From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Business manners are essential to build relationships in today’s business world. People, who present themselves very favorably, will maximize their business potential. I must tell you that I remain very passionate about business manners and believe very strongly in the results that follow the use of good business manners. In my own efforts for continuous improvement in business manners, I recently did some research that resulted in me finding a great resource - a quiz to establish your Business Etiquette Quotient. he quiz was developed by Lydia Ramsey, a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author.

“Building An Environment of Ethical Behavior. Ten Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach ” - Click To Read Article
Business ethics has become and has remained a popular news topic in today’s world thanks to Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, Adelphia, et al. We have read and heard about the “waiving of the ethics code or standard” and where compromises were made to ethical standards for business advantages. And now we hear about zero tolerance for unethical behavior. It now seems as though the pendulum is swinging strongly in the direction of zero tolerance for unethical behavior based upon the reactions to ethics misconduct cases across the corporate landscape. Good business leaders have ethics, character and integrity. You have to create an environment in your business that allows everyone to operate in an ethical manner. Here are ten (10) tips from your strategic thinking business coach on how to build an environment of ethical behavior.

How To Identify Your Marketing Barriers, Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you have a strategic marketing plan and process? Are you satisfied with your marketing results? Have you taken time to review your marketing program and determine what barriers are preventing the achievement of a successful marketing program? I believe I know the answers to these questions from too many businesses today. I too often hear a resounding NO to each of the questions. So, let’s engage in a strategic thinking approach to identifying the barriers to your marketing success. And let’s seek an insightful identification of the barriers by asking some questions. What questions might you ask to define your marketing barriers? Here are ten (10) questions your strategic thinking business coach suggests you can use to help identify the barriers that stand between you and a successful marketing program.

“Top Twelve FAILING TO DO Items That Will Undermine Your Business Success, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Failing to do what needs to be done in your business will certainly undermine your business success. There are some proven things you must do to be successful in business. If you ignore these proven things by failing to take necessary action, you will be undermining your business success. Based upon some strategic thinking and more than 35 years of professional business experience, especially those years as a strategic thinking business coach, here is my list of twelve FAILING TO DO items that will undermine your business success.

Critical Qualities To Achieve Credibility, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Achieving or earning credibility is something all of us need to strive for in business and in our personal life. Achieving credibility means gaining the ability to be recognized for one’s capabilities and knowledge. In today’s business world, credibility is a critical attribute for everyone. There are a number of qualities that need to be mastered in order to achieve credibility. Here are twelve (12) of those critical qualities, according to your strategic thinking business coach.

“Thirteen Thoughtful, Tried and True Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs” - Click To Read Article
Do you know any successful entrepreneurs? What do you believe are the characteristics that are common among the successful men and women who start and succeed in their own businesses? Here are thirteen thoughtful, tried and true characteristics that I believe define the successful entrepreneur.

“Handling Customer Complaints With Class – Using Customer Complaints as a Successful Marketing Strategy” - Click To Read Article
If you currently do not view customer complaints as a valuable opportunity, you are ignoring a very effective strategic tool for success. In more than 35 years of professional experience in marketing, I can assure you that the effective handling of complaints and a good service recovery strategy are very valuable marketing opportunities. The sad news here is that many businesses simply do not accept this and squander many opportunities to grow their business. I wanted to share with you what I would suggest you do to handle complaints with class. Here are 10 things to do to manage complaints in a classy manner.

How To Be An Assertive Marketer Advice From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Many business people, especially entrepreneurs, have a real aversion to marketing. They are very concerned that they will be viewed negatively as salespeople and most negatively viewed as a stereotypical used car salesman, who is less than honest and makes promises that are too good to be true! What often happens is that a very passive marketing approach is taken and it simply does not work. It is very important to realize that assertive marketing does not mean you are annoying, loud or deceitful. Assertive marketing does mean you are demonstrating determination, enthusiasm and initiative. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach provides the following advice as to ten (10) ways you can be an assertive marketer.

“The Importance and Awesome Power of Project Management in Today’s Business Environment” - Click To Read Article
Why is project management important and what awesome power exists with project management in today’s business environment? The first reasons that come to my mind about why project management is important (based upon more than 35 years of my personal project management experience), are tighter budgets, diminishing resources, more and more time constraints, and competition to improve the ways we do business. The awesome power of project management makes it possible to focus on priorities, track and measure performance, overcome challenges and problems, become flexible enough to adapt to change and achieve higher performance and a higher probability of success in each project.

“How To Strategically Develop Your Referral Network. Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Positive word-of-mouth endorsements, referrals and testimonials are extremely effective and powerful means to help grow your business. And in my experience it seems that solid strategic referrals are the most powerful. Therefore it would behoove you to include the development of a powerful referral network as one of the key elements of you strategic marketing plan. Your strategic thinking business coach heartily endorses developing a strong referral network and offers the following ten (10) tips on how to do that. The ten (10) tips are:

Strategic Thinking What Does It Really Mean - Click To Read Article
Recently I was working with a client’s management team and we were having a discussion about thinking. And as the discussion ensued I thought to myself that we think a lot, but we very seldom think about how we think. As a strategic thinking and business coach I do think quite a lot about how we think and especially how people in business think or shall I say how they “don’t think!” In today’s economy with the global competitive pressures faced by business each day, it seems to me that there needs to be a great deal more emphasis on strategic thinking. And in my view, strategic thinking should no longer be limited to or encouraged of those in planning. I believe that strategic thinking is now necessary for everyone.

Twelve Tips For Home Builders For More Strategic Marketing From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
All businesses need to use strategic thinking & planning in all aspects of their business, especially in their marketing efforts. In working with custom home builders as a business coach, I discovered only a few of them ever recognized the value of being strategic thinkers & planners and had limited themselves to low levels of success. Fortunately, after they opened their minds to being more strategic, their outlook changed and they started putting some tips on strategic marketing to good use. One of the most vivid and remarkable examples was one custom home builder that went from one of their worst years in business to a record setting best year in business after committing to a strategic marketing approach. From that experience, your strategic thinking business coach offers 12 tips for more effective strategic marketing.

“Working A Room – The Top Ten Tips, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
“WOW!” That is just one word that comes to mind when I walk into a business function room and there are many people I already know, but many more people whom I have never met. And I envision the many new opportunities that exist in that room for contacts and connections, and maybe even some new friends. And as a strategic thinking business coach I also know that WOW is the last word some of you will think of when facing this situation. The words might be “OH NO!” So I decided to write this article to address both reactions. So what are the ten top tips on working a room? My research and personal experiences lead me to the following ten tips:

Strategies to Win Back a Client or Customers Loyalty - Click To Read Article
The response to my June, 2005 presentation on marketing to The Small Business Group of The Lancaster Chamber included requests for more information on “reaching back” to former clients and customers. So to follow-up on that request I researched some additional information on strategies to use to win back clients and customers.

“Why Business Coaching? Why Me? And Why Now?” - Click To Read Article
Business coaching is now being used in more and more businesses and organizations. There is a growing body of research that is indicating some evidence that supports business coaching and its positive results. Benefits are being realized by individuals and by the companies using business coaches. Some of the major benefits are being seen in financial performance, development and retention of executives and in internal communications. So- why business coaching, why me and why now?

The Strategic Importance of Trust In Business, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
In the world of business today, trust is more important than ever, especially when it comes to your relationships with your clients, customers, employees, and all stakeholders in your business. But what do we mean by “trust.” Webster’s dictionary defines trust as the “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.” Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes that trust is right at the foundation of the survival and success of any business. Without trust there can be no sustainable business. Trust is a strategically critical issue in any type of relationship because a relationship without trust is not really a relationship at all. There are several levels of trust and I have chosen five (5) to present in this article.?

Time Management Tips - Click To Read Article
Recently I was doing some research on time management for a client and I discovered a very good resource and wanted to pass it along to all of you. Her name is Carol Halsey and her website address is: www.pilestofiles.com I was so impressed with Carol because she gives not 10 tips, but 29 tips. Now that is a bargain!

“The Top Ten Reasons Strategic Planning Meetings Fail, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Strategic planning is an awesome and powerful process that sometimes gets a bad rap because of some bad experiences people have had when engaging in some form of strategic planning meetings. Many times the combination of personal agendas, absence of open minds, and preconceived judgments about the strategic planning process can turn strategic planning meetings into real disasters. And frankly, there are many reasons why so many strategic planning meetings are unsuccessful. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed a list of the top 10 reasons why strategic planning meetings fail. And the Top 10 Reasons are:

Eleven Strategic Steps To Success, According Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Are you the best you can be? Are you realizing the degree of success that you want? Do you know what you really need to do to achieve your ultimate level of success? I will presume that there are a lot of NO answers to my questions and that you will have an open mind while reading these articles. Your strategic thinking business coach offers eleven (11) strategic steps for you to follow to achieve your ultimate level of success.

Motivational and Inspirational Quotes That Guide Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach on Visions and Dreams - Click To Read Article
Owning and being in business can be a tremendous joy and an enormous amount of work. There are times when one can become overwhelmed with the day-to-day activities and lose sight of the big picture, the dream, and the vision. One always needs to be strategically focused on the vision, the mission and the goals of the business and be reminded to work “on the business” and not just “in the business” as Michael Gerber would tell us. But how does one do that? I love quotations and recently found a dozen quotes that I have used to help motivate and inspire me to keep focusing on the vision and the dream. Here are the dozen quotes that help guide your strategic thinking business coach.

How To Know If You Are A Strategic Marketing Communicator, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Competition in the business world requires sound strategic thinking and planning. And one application of those strategic tools is in business marketing communications. And Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes that strategic thinking and planning need to be done before developing or recreating any marketing communication. For example, it is important that you take time to think about what role your marketing communication will play and how it will help you achieve your strategic marketing goal(s). If you think and plan your marketing communications in a strategic manner, you will be able to make a more educated, more informed, and strategic decision about each of your marketing communication tools.

“A Business Coach’s Top Ten Tactics for Marketing Professional Services” - Click To Read Article
Marketing professional services is a real and difficult challenge. The challenges of marketing professional services are different from those of marketing products. Two major reasons for the differences are that clients cannot see or touch professional services before they buy them and the professional services are often produced and consumed simultaneously. And another reason is that marketing professional services is split among marketing, sales, professional and management staff instead of a dedicated marketing and sales force. Based upon my research and my own professional experience, I developed a Top Ten Tactics for marketing professional services. My top ten tactics for marketing professional services are:

“The Top Ten Public Relations Errors That Are Hazardous To The Health Of Your Media Relations” - Click To Read Article
Developing and maintaining strong healthy media relations and positive media coverage is a real challenge. Today we have a very competitive and a 24/7 information overload news environment. Your “PR Doctor” and other professionals must adapt to the increasing importance of electronic communications and related technologies to remain professional and competitive. And strategic thinking and processes to manage PR programs and campaigns have become essential. If we use a “preventative medicine” approach to healthy media relations, we need to identify the top 10 public relations errors we want to avoid. Here are your “PR Doctor’s” top 10 public relations errors to avoid.

“The Power of Questions” - Click To Read Article
As a business coach and a multi-disciplinary consulting professional, I totally believe that questions have awesome power. Since 1982 when I started my professional consulting practices, I have used the power of questions. Questions have the potential to be one of the most effective communication tools available.

A Strategically Structured Outline For Business Succession Planning From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One major question I ask business owners is: “Do you have a succession plan or exit strategy for your business?” I also ask employees: “Do you know if a succession plan or exit strategy exists in your company or organization?” My experience has more than 90% telling me they have no succession plan or exit strategy. Succession planning is a critical factor for the long-term success of any business. Leadership transitions in business affect the entire organization’s continuity, employee retention, client retention and returns on investment. It is essential to create and implement a process that creates visibility, accountability and greater integration of all facets of the business. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed a strategically structured succession plan outlnine and shares it in this article.

“Seven Reasons Why You Need A Strategic Planning Facilitator, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
A professional facilitator brings an independent and open-minded perspective to your strategic planning process. He or she will keep the discussion focused, keep the process on track, and will encourage team members to act as equals in the process. Some organizations choose to “go it alone” and attempt to conduct the strategic planning process entirely “in house.” In my own personal and professional experiences over more than 35 years, I have always witnessed better outcomes of the strategic planning process when an outside professional facilitator is brought in. In fact, many of my clients come to me AFTER they have tried and failed at doing the process themselves. Here are seven reasons why it is recommended that you hire an outside facilitator.

Major Benefits of Using An Outside Facilitator - Click To Read Article
Are you and your team, task force, committee, or any other working group struggling with issues and divergent viewpoints? Do you attend meetings that take up hours of your time but do not produce actionable plans at the conclusion of the meetings? I believe a majority of you answered YES to both questions. So what is my advice to you? My advice is to use an outside facilitator!

“Eight Key Characteristics For A Strategic Planning Facilitator, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Selecting a professional strategic planning facilitator is very important. Facilitation of your strategic planning process involves working with groups of people and requires that the facilitator be tuned in at all times to what is happening. The facilitator also must be able to suspend or change the direction of the process when necessary. An experienced professional facilitator used in your strategic planning process will greatly increase the probability of a successful process and strategic plan and will also enable the participants to leave with positive feelings, a stronger cohesiveness, a sense of accomplishment and a stronger team. In selecting a professional facilitator, your strategic thinking business coach suggests that you look for the following key characteristics.

“Strategic Business Entertaining Ideas From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach ” - Click To Read Article
Business entertaining is expensive and time-consuming and warrants being very strategic and goal oriented beyond what the goals are for business breakfasts and lunches. It is good to know that one of the main purposes of the business entertaining is to make people feel good and to have a good time. It is critical to consider whether the event will emphasize and underline your business mission in a subtle professional way and if your guests will have an enjoyable time and come away with a better understanding of your company, its goals and its core values. Your strategic thinking business coach has some suggestions for different types of events that might fulfill your strategic business entertaining goals.

Ten Top Tips For A Healthy Business To Start The New Year From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
The beginning of a new year is a great time to get a checkup on the fitness and health of your business as strategic preparation for the year ahead. Business owners and their management team have the opportunity to perform an annual “checkup” on every aspect of their business, get rid of the "unhealthy" behaviors and performances and address the “unhealthy” things in their businesses, and start with a fitness plan to ensure a prosperous new year. Here are ten top tips to ensure a healthy start to the new year from your strategic thinking business coach.

“BUSINESS ETHICS MUST BE PRESENTED, PRESERVED AND PROMOTED” - Click To Read Article
Business ethics are an almost daily topic in the news, in business schools, in the workplace and in our homes. I pay close attention to business ethics and what is written about them in my daily life as a strategic thinking, planning and business coach. I am still astounded at the remarks of major corporations a few years ago when they said they “waived or suspended” the ethics code or requirements. I am still at a total loss at how anyone can “suspend or waive” ethics. While I may not be able to explain the suspension or waiving of ethics, I do hope to provide some solid advice on what business and other organizations need to do today to present, preserve and promote ethics in their organizations. Here are action items I would recommend:

Effective Lead Generation Tactics From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
A key element of a strategic marketing plan is the generation of qualified leads. No matter what type of business you have, there is the need to generate quality leads. The challenge for many businesses owners (and especially small business owners) is that they are unaware of how to generate those quality leads for their businesses that will result in clients and customers. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes that generating quality leads involves the use or a combination of art and science and that it requires strategic thinking. There are many different ways or tactics that can be used to generate quality leads for your business. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following list of twenty (20) effective lead generation tactics that businesses can use to generate quality leads in an effective manner.

TEN MVP (MOST VALUABLE PERSONAL) TRAITS OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENUERS - Click To Read Article
Since beginning my own entrepreneurial ventures in 1982, I have observed much and learned much about what is behind the success of entrepreneurs. I have selected a number of those traits and call them Ten MVP, or Most Valuable Personal, traits of successful entrepreneurs. The selected traits shown below reflect my opinion from personal observation and are not listed in priority order.

“Seven Strategic Actions To Deal With Change And Uncertainty In Business And Life From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Dealing with and handling change and uncertainty is one of the major challenges each of us faces in today’s world. And we face it in our business and personal lives. It can be said that change and uncertainty arrive together and that most people find it much more difficult to manage and endure ambiguity and waiting than to deal with changes as they happen. And, in my opinion, on thing is certain – each of us will face some type of change and uncertainty at multiple times during our life. So, what are some strategic actions we can take to deal with this change and uncertainty? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach researched this question and developed seven (7) strategic actions to recommend dealing with change and uncertainty in business and life. The seven (7) strategic actions are:

“Seven Strategic Tips For Selling Professional Services Brand, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Selling professional services presents many challenges and problems with closing a deal with a prospect and/or client. The term “closing” has an inherent seller-orientation and it can be interpreted as putting your needs ahead of the client’s needs. And that is never a desired interpretation for those who sell professional services. The “closing” model also presents some conflicts between the belief that buying is driven by rational decision-making, rather than emotion. What is important is to have the buyer of professional services feel comfortable about a rational decision they have to make. Instead of the “closing” concept, which presumes a transactional, seller-centered, rational model of buying decisions, let’s look at a model centered on trust in the seller. Here are some tips to accomplish that. Here are tips

“The Top Ten Benefits Of An E-Newsletter, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Much research has been done to indicate the benefits of e-newsletters. Obviously it is more cost effective to grow your business by increasing revenue and referrals from existing clients than in pursuing new clients. And a subscriber list of your business relationships is on very valuable asset for your business. So what are the top ten benefits of an e-newsletter for your company? As a strategic thinking business coach, I would list the following as the top ten benefits of e-newsletters.

“Keys to Getting Past The Gate-Keeper In Business” - Click To Read Article
Savvy business people understand that one of the critical factors in developing a successful business and successful business relationship is getting past the “gate-keeper” that stands between you and the key decision maker you want to reach. They also know that they could have award winning marketing materials and very compelling messages, but they are all totally ineffective if they cannot reach the right decision maker. And all the efforts to develop those materials and messages will be wasted. Understanding the “gate-keeper” system that a business employs is very strategic information for you and your business. And you need to use some strategic thinking to make sure that you have developed an effective way to get past the “gate-keeper” of your key decision maker.

“Twelve Strategic Ways To Improve And Maintain Strong Healthy Client Relationships, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
How would you describe the current health of your client relationships? Extremely healthy and fit? Just okay or average? Poor health? Critically ill? On life support? When was the last time your client relationships and your client relationship program had a review? Could you and your company benefit from improvements in your existing client relationships? These are critical questions in today’s world of business. For the purpose of this article, I am going to presume that most readers will admit to stating they could benefit from improved client relationships. And with that in mind, I want to share twelve (12) strategic ways to improve and maintain strong healthy client relationships, according to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach.

“Ten More Benefits From Strategic Planning, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach Ten More Benefits From Strategic Planning, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Strategy is about making choices and your strategic thinking business coach always wants to guide you in the making of the most educated, informed and strategic choices in your business. Today’s businesses need a process to guide them in successfully developing and implementing strategies for growth and solutions to business issues, needs and problems. Strategic planning is the process that all businesses need. Strategic planning will save you time, get you and your management team focused, and provide a road map to reach your business and personal visions. In any business activity, one looks for benefits. This is especially true in the case of strategic planning. Here are ten (10) more benefits from strategic planning, according to your strategic thinking business coach.

“Failure Breeds Success – If You Learn From Each Failure” - Click To Read Article
Many readers of this article may ask how failure breeds success? Others will ask, “Doesn’t failure breed more failure, a sense of loss, or a loser mentality?” And I welcome the inquiry and the chance to respond because I believe there is more to learn in our failures than in our successes. In my opinion, there is a lesson to learn in each failure we experience.

“Strategic Thinking Applied to Making Winning Presentations to Investors” - Click To Read Article
As a business coach I find that business people always seem very interested and eager for advice on how to make winning presentations. And recently there has been an increased interest in seeking advice for making winning presentations to investors for their business. They want to know how best to prepare that winning presentation to a prospective investor. Applying strategic thinking to this request, here are ten actions I recommend to anyone desiring to make a winning presentation to investor(s).

“Ten Strategic Actions To Ensure That You Reach Your Goals, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
So many people decide to set goals for an upcoming new year only to have that new year pass by without the goals being met. Personal goals are set and then ignored after the first month. Goals at work are set and then set aside after a few months. Frustration in pursuing goals are causing efforts to be abandoned. What can be done to ensure that you will reach the goals you set? If we apply some strategic thinking to our setting and pursuit of goals, the probability of success will greatly increase. And your strategic thinking business coach wants to share ten (10) strategic actions to take to ensure that you reach your goals. Those ten (10) strategic actions are:

Ten Top Tips To Achieve Work and Personal Life Balance - From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
In today’s fast paced, hectic, challenging and sometimes crazy world, it is so easy to be consumed by our work and to neglect -or worse – forget our personal life. As a strategic thinking business coach, this topic is standard fare for my work with clients. Many times, the balance of work and personal life becomes a high priority coachable goal. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten top tips, from a personal and a business coaching perspective on how to achieve balance in your work and personal life.

Ten Strategic Tips on How To Achieve High Visibility In Your Target Market From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach strongly emphasizes the importance of achieving high visibility and establishing yourself and your business in your targeted networks. Gaining high visibility and a positive, trusted position will ultimately enable you to build quality relationships with more people in your niche markets and result in an increased number of prospects. The people who achieve this high visibility exhibit certain characteristics and behaviors. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers five (5) DO's and five (5) DONT'S to make up the following ten (10) strategic tips on how to achieve high visibility in your target market.

“Your Business Coach’s Top Ten Tips on How to Demonstrate Respect Where You Work and While You Work There” - Click To Read Article
Every one of us needs respect. And this is true at home and at work. In most, if not all, of the focus groups I have facilitated over the past fifteen years, the lack of respect is identified as a critical issue in the workplace. We know when we have respect and we know when we don’t have respect. Whenever I hear the word respect, I am always connected to Aretha Franklin singing, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T Find out what it means to me” People in today’s workplace are literally crying out for respect for who they are, for what they do and for what value they bring to the organization. So how do we and how can we demonstrate respect where we work and while we work there? There are some simple and very powerful actions to demonstrate respect. Here is a top ten (10) list of tips from your business coach on how to demonstrate respect.

Got Business Challenges, Issues, Opportunities? - Then Get Strategic Thinking Business Coaching - Click To Read Article
Looking at today’s businesses, the business owner and their management team, I see many challenges, issues and opportunities they face every day. In fact, I help the owners and their management teams deal with business challenges, issues and opportunities, as a strategic thinking business coach. Let’s see if you are dealing with any of these challenges, issues or opportunities by answering twelve questions. If you answer YES to any or many of the questions, there is very good news for you. Strategic thinking business coaching can and does help entrepreneurs, and business owner and their management teams meet challenges, resolve issues and take advantage of opportunities. Strategic thinking business coaching is a very powerful tool that will help you:

How To Hone Your Strategic Thinking Skills To Plan For The New Business Year, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Strategic thinking is always important. The initiation of planning for the new business year is an especially important time for strategic thinking. In businesses where strategic thinking, planning and actions drive the company, the business owners and management team need to hone their strategic thinking skills to begin the planning for the new business year. Here are ten (10) recommended ways to hone your strategic thinking skills, according to your strategic thinking business coach.

How To Improve Your Own Time Management Through Seven Strategic Questions, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Time is such a precious commodity and it is highly valued by strategic thinkers. Strategic thinking people want to get the most benefit out of their time and they have discovered that a great way to do just that is to develop the ability to ask yourself the strategic questions at the right time. And the beauty of this technique is that you only need to invest no more than sixty seconds to ask those questions before you begin any specific activity, task or assignment. The skill of asking the right questions must be acquired and as time goes by you will improve your ability to ask the real strategic questions. It is important to learn how to ask questions and one tip is to have your questions begin with the word “what.” Here is a list of seven strategic questions to ask.

How To Show Appreciation To Your Clients Without Breaking Your Budget - Click To Read Article
Let's face it, we know that our clients and customers like to feel appreciated by us. Yet, too often, we neglect to seize an opportunity to show appreciation to our clients and customers. And how many times do we use the excuse that we do not have money in our budget to do something special for them? What a non-strategic thinking and short-sighted view that thinking presents. What about the life time value of our clients and customers? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach is letting you know that you do not have to spend a significant amount of money to show appreciation to your clients and customers and see a good return on your investment from increased satisfaction and loyalty. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten (10) positive and proactive actions to do show that appreciation without significant costs.

The Strategic Use of Handouts At Seminars, Workshops and Other Venues, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Being a presenter at seminars, workshops and other venues is an awesome opportunity to make strategic use of handouts. Every attendee at a seminar, workshop or other venue should depart with at least one document that describes your business services and/or products. These documents would include your handouts and business cards. Your handouts are one of your prime strategic marketing tools and it is imperative to make maximum use of them when you have the opportunity. You should never make a presentation without giving out at least one handout. These handouts should always be something the attendees want to keep. The more people keep your handouts, the better chance you have of converting them to clients and customers. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following tips to maximize the use of your handouts.

Ten Strategic Actions For Commercially Marketing New Technology - Click To Read Article
The development of successful strategic marketing programs to commercially market new technology is a challenge. It requires the incorporation of good strategic thinking and Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten (10) strategic actions for you to take to develop a successful strategic marketing program for the commercial marketing of your new technology.

Do You Know What You Say Before You Utter One Word? The Importance of Your Body Language - Click To Read Article
Think about all the face-to-face encounters you have each day, week, month and year. Then think about how the success of these encounters all begins the instant someone sees you. Do you realize that one of the first things people notice about you is your aura or that distinctive atmosphere that surrounds you? You create that aura and you are responsible for what it says about you and whom it attracts. Why is this important? Look at the article title – Do You Know What You Say Before You Utter One Word? Well, let me remind you that 55% of your personal message is conveyed by your body language, 38% by the tone of your voice and 7% by your words. This should tell us that sensitivity to and an understanding of body language are very important to us. Here are a few things to remember about body language.

“Your Strategic Thinking Coach Shares Six Smart Marketing Strategies For Professional Service Firms” - Click To Read Article
Over the past 35 years, I have observed many professional service firms struggle with their marketing efforts. Time after time I would witness a firm spending large sums of money doing the wrong type of marketing to the wrong market segment with the wrong marketing message and with the wrong marketer. And to see failed after failed attempt at marketing. On the other hand, I also got to see some very smart marketing done for the right reasons, to the right markets, with the right message and with the right marketer with very solid results. The very successful professionals think strategically and use some smart marketing strategies. Here are six smart marketing strategies for professional service firms from your strategic thinking coach.

Strategic Business Greeting Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you realize that you only have about 5 seconds to make a positive first impression? And do you understand that the way you approach and greet someone will have a lasting impression on him or her and may set the direction for your future relationship with him or her? Well I hope you answered YES to both questions and are open to some business greeting tips from your strategic thinking business coach. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following tips on how to gain a strategic advantage when greeting people in a business environment.

Business Coaching Tips For Effective Supervision From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
In today’s workplace there are daily examples of dysfunctional and ineffective supervision. Many people in supervisory roles have not been given the necessary training to be effective supervisors. Here are ten (10) tips from your strategic thinking coach to share with the supervisors in your businesses and organizations.

“Ten Top Benefits of Strategic Thinking and Planning For Business and Not For Profit Organizations” - Click To Read Article
“What are the real benefits of strategic thinking and planning for business for a not for profit organization?” This is one of the most frequently asked questions I have encountered in more than 30 years of work in strategic planning endeavors. In preparing to write this article I reflected on those years of experience and chose what I believe to be ten top benefits of strategic thinking and planning.

Do You Want To Become A Rainmaker - Click To Read Article
During my 35 year career, I have had the privilege of being referred to as a "Rainmaker" in several news articles and stories during interviews with some of my clients. I take that as a very kind compliment. Some may ask, what is a "Rainmaker?" The American Indian tradition would say that the Rainmaker used magical powers to bring rain to nourish crops to feed the people of the tribe. Today, the most common and simplistic definition I can offer would be this: A "Rainmaker" is a person who brings the most revenue into a company or organization and the revenue or money is the rain. Today's "Rainmaker" makes things happen, generates the most new customers, new business and takes the art of the doing business to new levels.

Identifying Poor & Pathetic Leadership Styles and Related Impacts - Click To Read Article
There seems to be a real deficit in good leadership and a large surplus of poor and pathetic leadership in many businesses today. One can easily find example after example of poor and pathetic leadership and the resulting impacts on employees, in particular, and the health of the business, in general. So what are these poor and pathetic styles of leadership? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers a list of ten (10) styles of poor and pathetic leadership.

Demonstrating Effective Leadership By Learning How To Walk The Talk One Step At A Time - Click To Read Article
In businesses and organizations today we hear a repeated complaint that leaders say they want change and continuous improvement, but their actions speak louder than their words. If a leader wants to create real changes in a company’s values, culture and/or employee behavior, they must commit to learn how to “walk the talk.” Here are some tips from your strategic thinking business coach to illustrate how to “Walk The Talk” one step at a time.

How to Build Successful Strategic Alliances - Click To Read Article
First of all, what is a strategic alliance? A strategic alliance is a partnership, a collaborative agreement and/or a relationship between two or more companies or organizations formed to pursue a set of agreed upon goals while remaining independent companies or organizations. Strategic alliances exist in a variety of shapes and sizes and include a wide range of scopes of cooperation levels. Strategic alliances usually are most effective when the entities involved have complementary strengths. In another article I wrote entitled “Strategic Alliances And Their Powerful Benefits,” I listed twelve (12) clear and powerful benefits of strategic alliances. Now, in this article I suggest how to build successful strategic alliances. Here are the ten (10) suggested actions to take to build successful strategic alliances.

How To Brand Your Business Using Ten Action Items - Click To Read Article
In the world we know today, business is becoming more and more competitive. And, small business is the fastest-growing segment of business in most parts of the world. The competitors we face are no longer just the businesses in our own community. The competition now comes from businesses in other communities, in other states, countries and possibly from somewhere halfway around the world. One of the most valuable assets a business, service, product or individual can own is their brand, their reputation. Recognition and value of your business, service, product and yourself determines marketing potential. So, branding must be an integral part of building your business. You need to have customers & clients remember your name, service, product so they can easily refer you to others and so you can build loyalty for repeat transactions.

How To Recognize Your Ideal Client, Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you know how to recognize your ideal client? Do you have know the characteristics of your ideal client? Have you selected criteria to decide whether you will do business with someone or not? The honest answer to these questions from too many of you will be NO! And the sad truth of this is that too many businesses try to be all things to all people and believe that anyone that breathes or has a credit card is a prospect. This approach is definitely not strategic. I suggest a more strategic approach. Define your ideal client. One of my favorite mentors – Michael Gerber, who says, "The foundation of your marketing strategy is an insightful understanding of your customers. It's a "three-legged stool" - who they are, where they are and how they think and behave;" Here are some questions to ask to define your ideal client.

“How to Transform Your Time Spent in Business Meetings From Time Wasted to Time Well Spent” - Click To Read Article
How many of you reading this article has suffered through very dull, inefficient, and unwarranted business meetings that wasted your valuable time? And how many of you wished it was possible to transform the wasted time into time well spent? If you answered YES, please pay attention to the dozen tips I am sharing with you on how to transform time wasted into time well spent in your business meetings.

How To Strategically Plan For A Successful Media Conference, Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
A majority of information sent to the media today is through media releases. Another very powerful delivery method is the media conference, where your company spokesperson makes important and newsworthy announcements. Please note the words “important” and “newsworthy.” Media conferences provide a great platform to reach multiple reporters at the same time and give wide prominence to your story. It also is critical to remember that there are challenges and risks in planning and conducting media conferences and it is extremely important to strategically plan them. Here are some tips from your strategic thinking business coach to help ensure your media conference will be successful.

How To Strategically Develop Your Ideal Client Profile, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you use strategic thinking in your marketing efforts? Do you strategically develop a profile of the clients and customers you want to do business with before you start contacting prospects and clients? My experience indicates that the strategic development of an ideal client profile and the development of a most desired client list is woefully underutilized and therefore a great deal of energy, time, talent and money is being wasted in marketing efforts. An deal client profile used as a “filter” to evaluate prospects, instead of thinking everyone is a prospect and chasing too many non-productive leads, will also help you design your marketing message, contact method, call to action and follow-up strategies.

“Insights To Become More Client-Focused, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
We hear many companies and individuals claim that they are client-focused. And we hear that clients will leave if we do not focus on their needs and if we are not providing better services and products than others. If we pause for a moment and think about this, could it be that the client-focused concept we often hear about is almost always about the benefits to the provider of the services and products? Do you really want to serve our clients with the best service for their benefit or for your benefit? Let’s look at his with the aid of some strategic thinking. Here are ten (10) insights from Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach to assist you in becoming more client-focused, based upon the definitions above.

Networking Tips for Introverts or How to Break The Ice Without Fear of Falling Through - Click To Read Article
Do you “freeze up” when you are in a room full of people with some great networking opportunities? Are you timid, shy, and bashful around people at business and social gatherings? If you admitted that this description fits you, please understand that you are not alone. Introverts are one group of people that are really affected by this freeze up. Mention “networking” to introverts and the introverts may freeze up and become the “ice” they need to “break” in networking. What can be done to address this situation? I thought about this and developed some tips I would give to introverts on networking. Here are my six tips on networking for introverts to prevent “freeze-up”:

More Business Coaching Strategic Planning Success Stories - Click To Read Article
It is a real great feeling to be able to share additional affirmations of success in someone's life or business. This month, In the spirit of continuing to celebrate success and sharing positive stories of success in what we do, I want to talk about Darek Potter and Harbor Engineering, Inc.

Mobile Manners – Cell Phone Etiquette Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Cell phones are all around us every day and they produce numerous experiences of obnoxious behaviors. And to make matters worse, there is an onslaught of new ways to use our cell phones. The annoying behaviors range from annoying ring tones interrupting movies, meetings, and other places to people talking loudly on their cell phones in meetings and public places. So where are the boundaries, the guidelines and the etiquette for cell phone use? Here are ten (10) positive etiquette rules for cell phone users.

“Media Tips From Your PR Doctor For Effective Electronic Media Interviews” - Click To Read Article
Have you ever been interviewed by the electronic media. Have you ever declined an interview because you felt totally fearful and uneasy on TV or radio? Have you been interviewed and then wished you would have had the benefit of some tips to prepare for and deliver a more effective interview? Well, I want to offer you another set of tips or as I like to call it – another prescription from your PR Doctor – to use for your next interview opportunity.

Major Characteristics of A Strategic Thinker, According To Your Strategic Thinking Coach - Click To Read Article
Let’s begin with a definition of strategic thinking so we are all on the same page before reading the article. Strategic thinking is the way people think about, assess, view and create the future for themselves and others. It is much more than responding and reacting to both day-to-day and long-term problems, opportunities and new realities. It is proactive, not reactive and focuses on creating a better future and adding value. Strategic thinking always involves change and imagining the results we can achieve in the future. So what makes a strategic thinker? What are some of the major characteristics of a strategic thinker? Here are eight (8) major characteristics of strategic thinkers from my perspective as a strategic thinking business coach.

“Reaping Rewards From An Effective Referral System” - Click To Read Article
Let me pose a question to you that could really impact the growth of your business. Do you routinely and systematically ask for referrals? And if you do ask, do you enjoy doing it? Do you feel uncomfortable and nervous about asking for referrals? If you were totally honest, your answers would show that there are probably quite a few of you that dislike, or dare I say hate, asking for referrals. What can you do to overcome this disdain for asking for referrals? How can you get rid of that feeling that you do not want to impose on others?

Reading Body Language Is A Strategic Skill In Business Dealings, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
It is essential in today’s world of business to be able to read body language. It is a strategic skill that can give you a real advantage in negotiating and in other business dealings. I strongly believe this because of my personal and professional experiences for more than 35 years and because of what modern communication science has to say about body language. According to Albert Mehrabian, in “Psychology Today” (1968) referring to a personal spoken message – “…… of the total message, 7% is conveyed by words; 38% by the vocal tones, and 55% by facial and body expressions.” In my opinion, this alone confirms the importance of being able to read body language as a strategic skill. So, what are some of the basics of reading body language? Very practical Summaries of positive & negative gestures are provided from Max Wideman.

Proven Principles for Profitability In Your Business - Click To Read Article
How profitable is your business? Are you truly developing and running a profitable business? Is your business organized to grow as a profitable business? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has some principles to share with the business owners and managers who either could not answer the questions or had a negative response. These proven principles for profitability in your business include:

"Powerful Strategies For Meeting And Greeting People, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Every day in every businessperson’s life, there are many meetings and greetings. And many of those are an initial contact were you want to ensure you make a strong positive first impression. Still others present great opportunities to enhance existing relationships. So if we think strategically, what simple strategies can we use to ensure successful meetings and greetings? The ten simplest and most effective strategies for meeting and greeting people that I have discovered and used are:

Powerful Negotiation Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Each day we face some opportunity for negotiation. Let’s face it, negotiation is a part of our every day life and dare I say that almost everything is negotiable? So being able to acquire powerful negotiation skills so you can negotiate effectively and successfully can make a big difference in your outcomes. The use of strategic thinking is a natural fit in negotiations and is critical to successful outcomes. One of the first things you must realize to become a powerful negotiator is that negotiation is a skill and that this skill must be mastered in order to get almost any deal you want with less effort than you could imagine. To help you acquire the skills of a powerful negotiator, here are twelve (12) powerful negotiation tips from your strategic thinking business coach.

“Non-Disclosure/Confidentiality Agreements – Don’t Hire Anyone Without Signing One” - Click To Read Article
Are you worried that your employees or outside contract workers have access to confidential information about your business that could do potential harm to your business if employees or contracted workers use it for their own gain or disclose it to your competitors? If you are not worried or concerned in the business world we live in today, then I suggest you become concerned now, not later! Technology and business information have continued to expand exponentially in today’s business environment. Employees and contract workers are more likely to be exposed to a significant amount of proprietary information and therein lays a potential threat to your business.

Nine Commitments That Will Emphasize Business Ethics and Company Core Values Are Extremely Crucial To Your Business - Click To Read Article
In the last few years, business ethics and company core values are among the most critical discussions I facilitate during strategic planning and business coaching endeavors. This is partly due to he tremendous negative reaction to corporate ethics scandals. My encouragement to clients is to go “public” with their core values and ethical standards so it becomes known what the company stands for and how the leaders will conduct business. So, you may ask how would a business go about establishing and emphasizing a set of core values and ethical standards? Based upon my personal and professional experiences and research, I would recommend making the following nine commitments:

Strategic Thinking To Develop A Successful Employee Retention Strategy According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Look around you in today’s business world. It is no secret that it is becoming more difficult to recruit and retain skilled employees. In fact, one could say that select businesses and industries are desperate or becoming desperate to find people with the needed skills and attitudes. Okay – what about your business? Have you anticipated and responded to the challenge of employee retention? Or are you like too many businesses that do not focus on employee retention until turnover increases. The successful businesses today have a formalized employee retention program as part of their business strategy. They take a proactive approach to prevent unnecessary employee turnover. Your strategic thinking business coach suggests that you use some strategic thinking to develop a successful employee retention strategy.

Strategic Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach To Improve Personal Communications - Click To Read Article
Personal conversations are one of the most common aspects of our human conversations. Personal conversations are an essential facet in almost every one of our relationships. And one might say that the quality of those relationships is dependent upon our abilities to verbally communicate. Have you ever had any training to help you develop your personal conversational skills? Have you ever wished that you could be a better conversationalist? Do you realize that personal communication skills are one of the most powerful and strategic assets you can possess? People with effective communication skills have a real strategic advantage for business and social success. Your strategic thinking business coach has the following strategic tips to improved personal communications.

Strategic Thinking Planning for Nonprofit Organizations - Click To Read Article
"Glenn Ebersole did an excellent job with leading our Board of Directors through strategic planning and development. We're moving forward to accomplish our vision...Glenn got us moving in the right direction. I highly recommend him." Dan Krug Executive Director, Kenbrook Is strategic thinking and strategic planning important for nonprofit organizations? Or is it just for those "for profit" organizations? Let's think about this for a moment. Do you wonder where your nonprofit organization will be in 5 or 10 years? Do you believe your organization is equipped to continue successfully in the future? Can you imagine how your organization will be impacted by regulatory changes, reduced revenues, fewer human resources, increased membership demands and on and on and on?

“Strategic Marketing Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Using strategic thinking in developing your marketing plan means you understand the needs and desires of your clients and customers, and you show them how your product/service satisfies those needs. You must know: what value your product or service offers & what benefits it provides; what differentiates you & your product/service from the competition; who are your stakeholders, which may include: your suppliers, your bank, your subcontractors or vendors, your associates, your staff, your clients or customers, and of course the general public; where your clients & customers are located geographically; and what are the most effective distribution channels to deliver your product or service? Your strategic thinking business coach provides the following ten (10) strategic marketing tips to use in developing your strategic marketing plan.

Strategic Marketing Tips For Tough Market Conditions, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
The stock market in the U.S. has been on real wild ride since the credit crunch and the housing market collapses in various parts of the United States. It is still unclear when and how the stock market may stabilize, but it is certain that changes in our economy will be affecting our businesses. And Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach wants to alert you that unless your marketing helps you stand out from the competition, selling your products and services is going to get harder in the next few years. And that means you need to focus on developing a strategic marketing plan. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed a list of strategic marketing tips that will help you retain and attract new clients in tough market conditions.

Strategic Commitments To Build Trust With Clients According to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Today many small business owners are accountable only to themselves. And guess what? That means they are really accountable to no one. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach strongly believes that accountability is a non-negotiable business and personal trait. We look around today at what is happening in the workplace and observe one example after another where no one is stepping up to be accountable and where no one is being held accountable for their actions. Whatever happened to accountability? How can an individual or a business be trusted if there is no accountability? Who will be a leader ad take responsibility when things go awry and corrective actions must be taken? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach suggests that there are ten (10) strategic commitments to make to build trust with your clients through accountability.

Strategic Actions For Learning How To Think Strategically, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
What is strategic thinking? What does that term mean? My research into definitions brought me to the following thoughts. Strategic thinking is a process that defines the manner in which people think about, assess, view, and create the future for themselves and others. It is more about creating tomorrow than responding to both day-to-day as well as long-term problems, opportunities, and new realities. It is proactive rather than reactive. Fortunately, it also can be applied on any day at any time and is responsive to the new realities and the accelerated rate of change of today and tomorrow’s world. Strategic thinking always involves change, and many times that means profound personal change. Here are nine actions to learn how to think strategically.

“Six Strategic Steps To Improve Your Emails, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
The number of business emails we send and receive continues to grow at an amazing pace. And from my personal experience, more and more of my clients that prefer email communications as a preferred communications mode. Email can be a very effective and efficient means of communicating. However, how many of the emails we send and receive can we honestly say are effective and efficient? And what can we do to improve our email communication? Looking at those questions, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach developed a short list of six (6) strategic steps to take to improve your email communications.

“Seven More Reasons Why You Need Business Coaching - From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
The ending of a calendar year is always a good time to reflect upon your business, what was accomplished, what was not accomplished, what went right, what went wrong, where can improvements be made, and so on. With business coaching, you would have a guide to lead you through those questions and more and then coach you in developing goals and an action plan to reach those goals in the year ahead. Business coaching brings great value to business and here are seven (7) more reasons why you need business coaching, from the perspective of a strategic thinking business coach.

“Seven Simple Strategies To Increase Your Visibility In The Media From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Do you ever notice or even pay attention to how many times your competition appears in the media? Did you ever wonder how or why the same professionals are interviewed as experts in the media? Do you realize the positive impacts that can result from your visibility in the media? Well, if you have noticed and do realize the potential benefits of media attention, what have you done about it? If you want to increase your visibility in the media, then you must commit to implementing some simple strategies to do so. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following seven (7) simple strategies to gain media attention and visibility.

“The Awesome Power of TO-DO Lists, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
The power of TO-DO lists can be truly awesome when used properly. Personally, I have witnessed and realized the awesome power for more than 35 years in my professional career. Are you using TO-DO lists in your professional and personal life? Do you know the power of TO-DO lists? I can imagine there are many readers who have not used these lists or have tried to use them and not used them properly. Based upon my experience and observations, here are ten (10) powers gained through the use of TO-DO lists.

Ten Top Tips For Staff Inspiration From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you have a happy and highly inspired staff in your business? Have you made a commitment to create an enjoyable and productive environment at work? If you answered NO to either of these questions, then it is time to wake up and learn some tips about how to inspire your workforce and to keep them happy. If you want to attract and retain valuable employees, then you must recognize the need to make your place of business a better, more enjoyable place to work. So what can business owners and their management teams do to keep the staff motivated and happy and achieve a better and more enjoyable place to work? Here are ten (10) top tips from your strategic thinking business coach to help you.

“Ten Tips For Nonverbal Communications From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach ” - Click To Read Article
Good communication skills are critical skills for anyone wanting to advance in their professional career. Good communication skills also can help you in your personal life. Although we know that verbal and written communication skills are important, research has shown that nonverbal behaviors make up a large percentage of our daily interpersonal communication. In fact, the research shows that 7% of our personal messages are conveyed by words; 38% by tone of voice and 55% by facial expressions and body language. That is why it is so important to become skilled at nonverbal communications. Your strategic thinking business coach offers ten (10) tips for nonverbal communication or body language to help you learn to read the nonverbal signals of other people and enhance your own communication skills.

“Ten Strategic Marketing Actions To Ensure Success In Your New Year, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
The beginning of a new calendar or fiscal year is a great time to use those good intentions we have about new beginnings and jump-start our marketing efforts. So, using a strategic thinking approach, here are ten (10) strategic marketing actions to ensure success in your new year.

Ten Survival Strategy Tips For Hostile or Sensitive Interviews From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Have you ever been interviewed by the media in a hostile or sensitive situation? Did you feel prepared to handle that interview? Do you ever notice or even pay attention to how many times people are embarrassed or made to look foolish or ignorant during tough interviews? Do you realize the positive impacts that can result from a superb performance in those hostile interviews? Well, if you have noticed and do realize the potential benefits of strong interview performance, what have you done about it? If you want to increase your preparedness when being interviewed on very sensitive subjects, then you might be open to some advice to help you in your future experiences. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following ten (10) survival strategy tips on handling sensitive and hostile interviews.

Ten Strategic Tips For Seminar Presenters To Gain Maximum Benefits, According to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Presenting seminars and workshops is a great strategic marketing tool and Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach strongly recommends the use of this tool. An effective presentation will build your credibility; increase your value in the market, provide an opportunity to further qualify prospects and possibly convert prospects to clients and customers. One of the most important times for the presenter, beyond the preparation time and the actual delivery time, is the day of the presentation and the opportunity that exists that day. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following ten strategic tips, to seminar presenters to gain maximum benefits from their efforts.

Ten Most Admired Characteristics of Successful Business Coaches, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you know what some of the most admired characteristics are of successful business coaches? Recently I was interviewed for an article on business coaching and was asked what I believed to be the most admired characteristics of successful business coaches. Here are the ten (10) characteristics that I shared with the interviewer in response to their question.

“Ten Effective Ideas For Maintaining TOMA (Top Of Mind Awareness) With Your Clients” - Click To Read Article
So you have clients and you want to keep and continually serve them. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach wants to remind you that it is always in your best interest to maintain TOMA (Top Of Mind Awareness) with your clients if you want to keep them. It has been my experience that satisfied clients usually welcome frequent contact (let’s say once a month) from businesses that have delivered superior, value added service in the recent past. I have also found that the frequent communications will reinforce the bond you have with your client, renew or refresh their positive feelings about you and keep you and your company “on their mind.” Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach recommends ten effective ideas for maintaining TOMA with your clients.

Ten Deadly Succession Planning Mistakes To Avoid, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach strongly recommends that all business owners (especially small business owners) develop succession plans. And to develop them now, rather than later. Succession planning is very important to the long-term success of any business. Leadership transitions in business affect the entire organization’s continuity, employee retention, client retention and returns on investment. It is essential to create and implement a process that creates visibility, accountability and greater integration of all facets of the business. Too often, mistakes are made in succession planning efforts. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following list of ten (10) deadly succession planning mistakes that small businesses make and that you should avoid. The ten (10) deadly mistakes are:

Ten Commitments to Ethics and Personal Conduct For Business Coaches – From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Business coaching remains a rapidly growing profession and one of the impacts of this rapid growth is more scrutiny of the profession. There have been some predictions that business coaching and other forms of coaching will experience increased criticism. This criticism may come in many different forms and today’s professional business coach needs to be able to recognize the criticism and the opportunity or opportunities that result from that criticism. One of the areas of criticism revolves around ethics and personal conduct and it is essential that these two items receive the highest priority in the business coach’s practice. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following Ten Commitments to Ethics and Personal Conduct to help turn the criticism into compliments.

Ten Common Characteristics Of Successful Business People According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
It seems that some business people always seem to be prosperous and successful and are able to easily attract clients and more revenue? While other business people seem to struggle constantly and despite their hard work and sincere efforts, they do not prosper and are not successful. Did you ever wonder about why this is true? Could it be an attitude or mindset? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach recalls from several past books, seminars and workshops that the attitude or mindset one has toward his or her business plays a very critical role in the level of success in that business. So how can we describe this mindset, which is an intangible thing? Some positive characteristics we see in those we consider to be prosperous and successful may help develop a mental image of the mindset. Here are ten (10) characteristics.

The Difference Between Strategic Tactical and Why Business Owners Need To Know The Difference According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Has anyone ever told you that you need to become more strategic and less tactical in your business? Do you know the differentce between strategic and tactical? Are you confused about what is strategic and what is tactical? Based upon observations of business owners and their management teams for the past three decades, I believe there are many confused, misinformed, and/or uneducated people on the differentiation of strategic and tactical. So, let your strategic thinking business coach offer some assistance to eliminate the confusion and correctly inform and educate the reader in this matter.

The Dangerous Consequences of Micromanaging Your Business According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One of the most dangerous and damaging practices of business owners is MICROMANAGING their business. And this practice is entirely too prevalent in today’s business world and it wastes valuable resources of time, talent and financial assets. It is particularly prevalent in entrepreneurial businesses. The first commitment a business owner must make is to stop acting like an employee and start thinking and acting like a CEO. A transition is necessary for the business owner to think and behave more strategically and less tactically in their role as owner. The business owner must stop micromanaging and delegate. The business owner must start reducing the amount of time they spend involved in the daily transactions of their business.

The Critical Importance of Business Ethics For Effective Leadership, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
How important are business ethics to being an effective leader? According to the American Management Association, it is an important characteristic of effective leaders today. In a survey of 462 executives who were asked, “What characteristics are needed to be an effective leader today?” 56% ranked ethical behavior as an important characteristic, followed by sound judgment (51%) and being adaptable/flexible (47%). However, with all due respect to the AMA survey, I strongly believe it is much more than “important,” it is a “critical, essential and non-negotiable” characteristic of an effective leader. Strong business ethics is a pillar of my strategic planning and strategic thinking business coaching efforts and clients are encouraged to develop core values and guiding principles and publish them.

"The Business of Business Manners at Meetings" - Click To Read Article
In addition to a lack of business ethics today, there is also a lack of business manners. I have chosen to focus on business manners at meetings for this article. Business manners are essential to build relationships in today’s business world. People, who present themselves very favorably, will maximize their business potential. I must tell you that I am very passionate about business manners and believe very strongly in the results that follow the use of good business manners.

Twelve Tips For Strategic Business Communications According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Have you ever thought about the millions, no lets make that billions, of communications that take place each day in the world of business? We have e-mail, IMs, cell phones, PDAs, iphones, direct face-to-face communications in meetings, and on and on and on. Communication is taking up more and more of our time as we conduct business. So, having said that, let me ask you if you believe we really are using our time and communication strategically? And are we really thinking strategically about the most effective forms of communication for each specific situation? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes you gain a significant strategic advantage in your business when you think more and act more strategically with your business communications. Here are twelve (12) tips for strategic communications in your business.

“Twelve Essential Characteristics of MVP (Most Valuable Performing) Leaders” - Click To Read Article
We often hear some people referred to as leaders. And sometimes they are called great leaders. What makes a leader or great leader? What are the essential characteristics of those leaders that are the most valuable performers? I did some research and also did some recollecting of my own experiences with some great leaders and developed what I believe to be the 12 essential characteristics of MVP leaders.

“Twelve Causes For Small Business Failures, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
The failure rate for small business is the subject of much discussion. Frankly speaking, there are many myths and half-truths about small business failure rates due to the absence of solid reliable statistical evidence. According to the SBA (Small Business Administration) Office of Advocacy at www.sba.gov/advo and found that two thirds of new employer establishments survive at least 2 years and 44% survive at least 4 years. Based upon my research and personal observations as a strategic thinking business coach, here are 12 causes for small business failures.

Twelve Strategic Leadership Actions To Fire Up Your Employees During Change - Click To Read Article
Many people and their companies they work for fear and resist change. Some literally detest any change. It is very important to realize that with the application of some solid strategic thinking, change can be a catalyst to energize and fire up your employees. One needs to recognize that change has the ability to open doors, hears and minds that otherwise may remain closed and/or locked forever. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach is a change agent and has learned many lessons from coaching through change. After reviewing those lessons learned from the business coaching experience, here are twelve (12) strategic leadership actions recommended to fire up your employees during change.

Tips To Deal With Unhappy Clients, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
How many of you have ever had to deal with an unhappy client or customer? What did you do? Did you feel prepared to deal with the unhappy client or customer? Yes, sooner or later, in every business there appears the unhappy client or customer. They are dissatisfied with your service or product. The issue of dissatisfaction may be real or only a perception, but if it is perceived it is believed and there is a problem. Ah, but Your Strategic Thinking Coach wants you to realize that a problem also means an OPPORTUNITY! The criticism from the client or customer is very valuable and the mindset of your company and your employees is critical to recovering and correcting the situation. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has some tips tips to help you strategically respond to criticism from unhappy clients.

“Tips On Effective Business Presentations From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
What are the real keys to effective business presentations? Many presenters believe they must be entertaining, witty, and authoritative and use all sorts of technical bells and whistles in Power Point presentations or other medium. However, there is some evidence that contradicts and states that audiences really have five basic requirements for business presentations. And those basic requirements are: a focus on a single relevant message; support of the message with convincing evidence; organized presentation of information in comprehendible amounts; clear and enthusiastic articulation; and a limited number of visuals. There are many tips for creating and delivering effective business presentations. Here are ten (10) tips your strategic thinking business coach has chosen to share with you.

“Thirteen Tried and True Ways to Increase Revenue From Your Existing Customers” - Click To Read Article
Are you overlooking one of the biggest sources of increased revenues for your business by not focusing a targeted marketing effort on your existing customers? Experience has proven that your existing customers are the most effective and efficient source of more revenue since you already have an existing relationship with them. Increased sales can come through them via an increase in the total number of purchases, higher frequency of purchases and higher dollar value of each purchase. Here are thirteen (13) of what I consider to be “tried and true” ways to gain more revenue from your existing customers.

Thirteen Tips For Entrepreneurs When Making Oral Presentations to Investors - Click To Read Article
Let’s say that as an entrepreneur you have decided you need to seek investors for your business venture and you now have the opportunity to make oral presentations to potential investors. In order to capitalize on your opportunity, you want to and need to make the most effective presentation possible. Here are 13 tips for making effective presentations to investors from my perspective as a business coach:

“Thirteen Strategic & Cost Effective Ideas to Increase Your Business Revenue and Profits” - Click To Read Article
Growing your business is a continuous effort and goal. Business owners and managers need to think and plan more strategically to grow their businesses. Here are thirteen simple and strategic ideas that will help increase sale and profits, but will not strain or demolish your budget.

“Thirteen Strategic, Creative and Inexpensive Ideas to Create Awareness For Your Business” - Click To Read Article
Business owners and managers want to create awareness of their business. And many times they want to (or have to) create that awareness with a very small or no budget. This presents a challenge so one needs to apply some strategic thinking to do this. Employing some strategic thinking, here are 13 strategic, creative and inexpensive ways to inform your existing and prospective customers and clients know who you are, what you do, and what core values you exemplify in your business.

Thirteen Proven Lead Generation Tools For Service Businesses From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Is your lead generation tool kit well stocked or almost empty? Or are your lead generation tools rusty and no longer work? What lead generation tools are you using? And are the tools you are using producing results? So many people over so many years have told me that they just cannot grow their service business. After listening to them complain, I ask what and how many lead generation tools they are using? They tell me that they advertised in the Yellow Pages and mailed some letters as their lead generation efforts. Wow, and they are complaining that they do not get enough leads. Reflecting on what have been successful tools for me in the past, your Strategic Thinking Business Coach identified thirteen (13) proven lead generation tools to apply to your service business. And here they are in no priority order.

The Value and Benefits of Strategic Thinking - Click To Read Article
Strategic thinking plays an enormous role in professional work and is part of the branding of my multi-disciplinary consultancy. ”A Strategic Thinking Consultancy” appears directly underneath the logo for The Renaissance Group ™ and my newsletter name is “Glenn’s Guiding Lines Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Coach.” It is a reality in business today that strategic thinking and the execution of strategic planning are some of the most difficult tasks for business leaders. Although it is easier to be tactical or task oriented, the business leader must be strategic or risk becoming very shortsighted. Therefore a clear understanding of the value and the benefits of strategic thinking are very important. Here are lists of my thoughts on the value and the benefit of strategic thinking.

“The Top Ten Traits Of A MVP (Most Valued Professional) Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
We know that there are many business coaches out there in the marketplace. But what sets the high performance, or what I call the MVP (Most Valued Professional) Business Coach, apart from the good or average business coach? From my personal research and experiences, I believe that these MVP business coaches have a top ten set of traits that really distinguishes them from the average business coach. In my opinion, the top ten traits of a MVP Business Coach are:

The Top Ten Essential Requirements To Be A Great Strategic Thinker, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Strategic thinking is essential to improving your business performance. And in order to raise the bar of performance in your business from where you are now to where you want to be will require a level of strategic thinking that is in perfect harmony with our vision for the business. Strategic Thinking will create a structured and progressive path forward to your vision. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes there are ten (10) essential requirements to become a great strategic thinker. Those ten (10) include:

The Strategic Use of Powerful Words, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach strongly believes that it is important to convey your ideas in a strategic manner by capturing the attention of the reader or listener you are addressing. The power of words is not always forefront in our minds when we communicate and Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach wants to remind you about the awesome power of words. Some of the most persuasive words in the English language are: you, easy, health, money, new, love, discover, power, save, result, safety, and guarantee. Using active and lively verbs with the above words can further enhance the power of each of the words. Here is a partial list of active and lively verbs to add even more power to those words.

“Your Strategic Thinking Coach’s List of Ten Key Components of Effective Strategic Alliances” - Click To Read Article
A strategic alliance is a partnership, a collaborative agreement and/or a relationship between two or more companies or organizations formed to pursue a set of agreed upon goals while remaining independent companies or organizations. Strategic alliances exist in a variety of shapes and sizes and include a wide range of scopes of cooperation levels. Strategic alliances usually are most effective when the entities involved have complementary strengths. What makes a strategic alliance effective? What are the key components of effective strategic alliances? Your Strategic Thinking Coach researched this and came up with ten (10) key components of effective strategic alliances. Here is my list of ten (10) key components of an effective strategic alliance.

“Your Strategic Thinking Coach’s Top Ten Positive Impacts From Coaching” - Click To Read Article
There has been a tremendous growth of interest in coaching during the past ten years and coaching has evolved into a culture in many successful companies and organizations. I believe that in today’s business world, individuals and businesses need to view coaching as a dynamic and strategic organizational culture that has great potential for positive impacts for individuals and their businesses. And you may ask why do I believe this is true? I truly believe that the potential of positive impacts from coaching is awesome. And having said that, here is Your Strategic Thinking Coach’s selection of the Top Ten positive impacts from coaching.

“Your Strategic Thinking Coach’s Ten Questions To Diagnose Fear Of Marketing” - Click To Read Article
Whenever I hear complaints about not attracting enough new business, I start asking many questions. As a strategic thinking business coach I need to ask those who complain many questions to find out if there is a fear of marketing that is preventing the growth of their business. In order to determine if this fear exists, I developed ten (10) questions to ask them. The ten questions are:

Your PR Doctors Ten Top Reasons That Tell Yout Its Time to Hire a Publicist or Public Relations Firm - Click To Read Article
Today’s businesses and business professionals wonder how they can possibly know if they need to hire a publicist or a public relations firm. Obviously there are many factors to consider when making this decision. To provide some guidance to businesses, here are ten top reasons that provide confirmation you need to hire a publicist or PR firm.

“Your PR Doctor’s Prescription For Healthy Local Media Relations” - Click To Read Article
Local media are often overlooked and undervalued resources when companies and organizations develop public relations plans. “Your PR Doctor” believes that local media can be a strategic element in an Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) plan, based upon more than 35 years of success with local media. Believing that, here is a prescription for healthy local media relations from “Your PR Doctor.”

What I Learned From Coach Vince Lombardi That Guides Me in My Business - Click To Read Article
As a youth, I started playing organized, supervised football through the Boy’s Club in Elizabethtown, PA. I went on to play football at the junior high, junior varsity, varsity, collegiate levels and beyond for a total of about 18 years. During those years, I became totally impressed with a football coach named Vince Lombardi and his principles. And to this day, I try to use what I learned from Coach Lombardi in my business coaching practice and my personal life. Coach Lombardi believed that running a football team was no different than running any other kind of organization or business. Reflecting on the Maraniss book, other reading and personal experiences, I selected 10 key character traits & 2 quotes from Coach Lombardi for each trait to represent the lesson learned from each character item.

“Got Resistance To Change? Then Get Strategic Thinking Business Coaching!” - Click To Read Article
We live in a rapidly changing world and individuals, businesses and other organizations are struggling to adapt to and keep up with that rapid change. And I believe it is fair to say that the attempts to adapt to change are not working or not working very well in many cases. Why is that? The major reason is resistance to adapting to change that basically lies within individuals. So, if this is the case, what can be done? How can we convert the energy being used in resisting and convert that energy to grab the opportunities that lie within change? One major response to the question of converting that energy is how we look at change. So, if you have resistance to change, what can a strategic thinking business coach advise you to do? Here are eleven (11) coaching tips to help you deal with resistance to change.

“Essential Habits and Principles for Great Leadership” - Click To Read Article
You have probably heard it said that many people are born leaders. However, the ability to lead is an art and requires learning a powerful set of skills and principles and then honing those skills and practicing those principles to the highest level. The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said this about great leadership, “Leadership rests not only upon ability, not only upon capacity; having the capacity to lead is not enough. The leader must be willing to use it. His leadership is then based on truth and character.” So, what are some of the essential habits and principles that will help you and your clients grow into great leaders?

Eight Powerful Strategies To Retain Clients, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you practice strategic thinking in your marketing efforts? Do you develop client-retention strategies, in addition to strategies to gain new clients? If you answered NO to these questions, you may want to rethink the way you are doing your marketing. My experience indicates that a strategic approach to client retention is underutilized and therefore a great deal of energy, time, talent and money is being wasted in marketing efforts seeking new clients and ignoring or giving “second rate” efforts to retaining existing clients. A major goal for businesses needs to be the retention of long-term clients, or “clients for life.” This is one of the most powerful strategies for business growth. Your strategic thinking business coach offers eight powerful strategies for client-retention.

Effective Business Communication Tips - Click To Read Article
Do you consider yourself to be an effective business communicator? Have you honed your skills when communicating via E-mail and voice-mail messaging, in addition to the more traditional formal business writings? Could you use a little help improving the effectiveness of your business communications in each of these forms? Regardless of how you responded to my questions, I am going to say that I believe each of us can always use some help in improving the effectiveness of our business communications. And I want to assist you and guide you in finding ways to do just that.

Deadly Phrases In Business That Can Kill Success and Some Antidotes From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Did you ever stop and think about some of the words and phrases you use in your business communications everyday? And did you ever pause and truly think about what message you are conveying with your words and phrases. In today’s conversations, there are many words and phrases spoken without any real sensitivity to the “real message” they convey to the hearer. Many of these seem quite innocent and are probably thought to be inconsequential. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes you would be at a strategic advantage in your business communications if you understand that there are some words and phrases that should be avoided. Here is a list of ten (10) phrases and Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach antidote to the deadly phrase.

Crisis Communications Planning or What To Do Before During Or After It Hits The Fan - Click To Read Article
Do you have a crisis management or crisis communications plan for your business or organization? Do you believe your business or organization is too small to need a crisis communications plan? Or do you believe that crises only happen to others? If you are like the majority of businesses and organizations today, especially small to medium sized ones, you answered NO to the first question and probably YES to the second question. And I hope you answered NO to the third question. Well, I cannot emphasize too strongly that no matter how big or small you are, every organization should have a crisis management and crisis communications plan. So what should you do? The answer: develop a crisis management plan in 2 parts.

Creating An Environment of Trust Support and Teamwork in Your Business - Click To Read Article
One cannot hear or read about any success story without a reference to teamwork, trust and support. I believe that teamwork, trust and support are paramount to every business success. And I also know that most business owners and managers agree that they are still struggling to achieve a respectable level of trust, support and teamwork in their businesses. Our business and personal lives are full of challenges and we have become more and more dependent upon a long list of people to help us function effectively and efficiently. And oh how frustrated we become when these people that we depend upon do not “keep their word.” On a personal note, this is one of my pet peeves.

“BEST WAYS TO IDENTIFY YOUR IDEAL CLIENTS & CUSTOMERS” - Click To Read Article
All businesses today should know who their ideal clients and customers are. IDo you know who your ideal clients are? Have you ever taken time to truly identify your ideal clients and what they are like? I suspect a majority of readers of this article answered NO to these questions. Too many business owners and managers cannot identify their ideal clients and customers and as a consequence they continue to “chase” any prospect and sell to everyone. By doing this, they work harder, not smarter, waste valuable time & resources, and they fail to grow their business. Worse yet, too many business owners and managers find it absolutely impossible to “walk away” from any prospect even when they know the prospect is not the right fit for their business.

An 8-Step Strategic Marketing Approach For New Business From Former Clients - Click To Read Article
How much of your marketing effort is dedicated to marketing and obtaining new clients or customers? Are you devoting your entire marketing effort to find new clients? Or are you using some strategic thinking and developing a strategy to get back in touch with former clients to gain new business from them? It has always intrigued me in my business coaching and business consulting practices that so many businesses give very little effort to or totally ignore past clients and customers that are no longer active. Former clients and customers can be the best source of new business for you. With this in mind, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following 8 strategic steps to gain new business from your former clients and customers by building an effective contact program.

“A Strategic View of Changing Customer Complaints Into Customer Compliments, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
When someone complains about their experience with your business, how do you view those complaints? How do you handle complaints? Do you encourage people to complain if they are not satisfied with your product or service? Do you have any type of procedure to handle complaints? Do you have any idea of the value of complaints? Did you know that 70% of dissatisfied customers will return if their complaint is resolved favorably? Did you know that 95% of dissatisfied customers will return if you resolve their complaint on the spot? Complaining customers are really a treasure. Remember, it takes six (6) times more effort to attract new customers than to retain existing customers. I developed a short list of action items that I believe will turn your complaints into compliments. These action items are:

A Strategic Look At Dos and Donts of Board Meeting Minutes From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you serve on a board of directors and experience significant inaccuracies and inconsistencies in board minutes? Do you know that board minutes are really a very important resource to governing boards? Minutes of board meetings provide evidence that a board has exercised care in decision-making. The minutes also substantiate that a board is operating in accordance with its Bylaws and other documents and rules. Although there is recognition that board minutes are important, many organizations continue to have inadequate records of board meetings. Your strategic thinking business coach offers a list of the DO’s and DON’Ts of board meeting minutes.

9 Questions To Ask To Determine If You Are Demolishing Trust In Your Business - Click To Read Article
In today’s competitive business world, trust is critical for a successful business and for successful relationships. I firmly believe that trust is the main ingredient in making any relationship work. Without trust in a relationship, a prospect will never become a valued client. And without lasting trust, a client will leave. So I ask you – are you demolishing trust in your business or organization? Here are nine (9) questions to ask to determine if you are demolishing trust in your business.

12 Strategic Questions To Ask Before Starting New Marketing Activity, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
The planning and implementation of strategic marketing requires some solid strategic thinking. One strategic thinking tool to use in preparing for any new marketing activity is a checklist or a list of questions to ask yourself before you begin any new marketing activity. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach strongly emphasizes the importance of planning and to asking questions about your endeavors before you begin. Here are twelve (12) strategic questions that Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach suggests you ask yourself before initiating your marketing efforts.

10 Strategic Steps To Take To Achieve Your Business Vision, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Highly successful businesses today have developed visions for their organizations and have the vision integrated throughout the company. However, far too many businesses, even some that may be considered successful, have no clear vision and no real plan for the future of the company. There are some people that have a great fear of strategic planning and of developing a clearly defined vision. And sometimes the fear stems from the lack of knowledge of strategic planning and/or confidence that the people and the organization can actually succeed in developing and implementing a sound strategic plan. This fear and the lack of confidence can be minimized by following strategic steps I have used and that my clients have used through strategic thinking business coaching. Here are 10 recommended strategic steps to follow.

Ten More Important “Lessons Learned” For Leaders, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Building upon another article I wrote on important lessons learned for leaders, I thought about additional important “lessons learned” for leaders that could be shared. The potential reward and return on efforts related to the strategic action to identify the “lessons learned” from our experiences merits additional thought. I found another great quote to share to confirm the value and importance of the “lessons learned” approach. The following is a quote from John Keats. “Don't be discouraged by a failure. It can be a positive experience. Failure is, in a sense, the highway to success, inasmuch as every discovery of what is false leads us to seek earnestly after what is true, and every fresh experience points out some form of error which we shall afterwards carefully avoid. Here are 10 more important "lessons learned" for leaders.

Your Estate Does Matter - Click To Read Article
In my business coaching and strategic thinking and planning consulting work, I have found too often that the owners and managers of small to medium size businesses frequently fail to do adequate estate planning and lack suitable estate planning documents. The lack of effective planning can result in costly probate proceedings or unnecessary estate taxes. Therefore, my real mission with this article is to try to convince you that “your estate does matter!” and you need to make sure you have committed to take the needed action to get your estate planning in order now. I believe it is fair to say that business owners and managers do not intentionally plan to neglect this type of planning.

“Your PR Doctor’s Tips for Getting Media Attention on Radio” - Click To Read Article
One of your “PR Doctor’s” favorite public relations elements in an integrated marketing communications plan is talk radio. Talk radio provides opportunities for profit and non-profit organizations to gain extended exposure in an interview format. And there are many opportunities that exist in communities around the United States to capitalize on this media offering. And many times these radio stations are very eager to find new people to interview about new and interesting subjects. So, let’s see what type of advice your PR Doctor has for you to gain media attention on radio. Here are 10 tips for getting your company or organization’s message on radio.

“Your Strategic Tool Kit of Commitments For Success During Radical Change, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
WOW! What a great time to be alive and to witness the accelerating change and increased complexity in our global world of work. The economy is shifting to a new economy and a new age where jobs are becoming “virtual” and we are conducting business in ways not even dreamed of a few years ago. The economy is moving rapidly toward services and knowledge work. We are experiencing rapid change and the old ways of managing and doing business are not going to work. A strategic thinker knows that change brings opportunities. Strategic thinkers will choose to identify astounding opportunities, more job freedom and more personal growth. And that is why I am so excited about these changes. I have chosen a set of ten (10) strategic commitments as a strategic tool kit to recommend to you. The ten (10) strategic commitments are:

Year End Strategic Planning - To Plan or Not to Plan - That is the Question" - Click To Read Article
Reflecting recently with very fond memories of my educational path in life, I thought of my commencement speech entitled: "To Be or Not To Be Involved - That is the Question." Well, this made me think that perhaps the end of each and every year is the right time to start thinking about a similar question - "To Plan or Not to Plan." You may have considered strategic planning in the past and seemed to always come up with some valid reasons for delaying the initiation of strategic planning. And you may be thinking as you read this that you have some valid reasons for delaying the initiation of strategic planning again. However, please permit me to share a note of caution about delaying your decision.

Why I Love to Hear From Clients and Why You Should Too - Click To Read Article
I love to hear from my clients (and my business associates, friends, et al) because I value their feedback. One of my favorite questions is a simple one, but one that yields great value to me. I love to ask, “What do you think?” about any number of items and then listen carefully to the response. Over the 35 years in my professional life, I am still amazed at how many businesses and individuals will tell me that they know what their customers think & want. Yet, when I challenge them and inquire if they actually asked their clients or customers, they say NO very often. Not asking for, not encouraging and not valuing feedback is a huge mistake. No matter what business or organization you are in; getting feedback from your customers & clients is a critical success factor.

Why Small Business Fail - Click To Read Article
Michael Gerber, author of the mega-best sellers "The E-Myth" and "The E-Myth Revisited," is one of the people I admire and respect and who has had a significant impact on me and my businesses. Although I have listened many times to Gerber's audio tape about the E-Myth, I always come away learning more. In addition, I have read a booklet by Michael Gerber entitled: "Why Most Small Businesses Fail and What You Can Do About It."

Why Are You Waiting to Ask For Referrals - Click To Read Article
In December, 2004 I was referred to Bill Cates by The Brooks Group. Bill Cates is the author of 2 best selling books: "Unlimited Referrals" and "Get More Referrals Now!" Bill is President of Referral Coach International and is the nation's foremost expert on how to enhance customer loyalty and increase sales through high quality referrals and word-of-mouth.

WHERE IS THE YOU (“U”) IN ACCOUNTABILITY IN TODAY’S WORLD? - Click To Read Article
Do you know where the you (“U”) is in accountability in your company or organization? Does your organization struggle with accountability as an issue in the workplace today? Is there a culture at your company that holds everyone accountable? What is accountability? A straightforward definition could be: being responsible for one’s activities, conduct and performance of responsibilities. Based upon my life experiences and my business coaching and consulting work, I can tell you that accountability, and the lack thereof, is one of the major issues in business (and life) today.

What They Now Are Teaching MBAs at BSchools According to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
In 1984 Mark McCormack wrote “What They Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School – Notes From A Street Smart Executive.” In 1989 Mark wrote “What They Still Don’t Teach You at Harvard Business School.” I thought of those 2 books when I was researching some trends in MBA education programs. I discovered that there had been some critical elements missing with the MBA education and that there are troubles with newly graduated MBAs. My research indicated that new MBA graduates have really lacked key interpersonal skills, the ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively, teambuilding skills, and an understanding and commitment to business ethics. So what is being done to address these gaps in the MBA education?

What It Takes To Be A Successful Small Business Owner, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Did you ever wonder why some small business owners are so successful and are always steadily growing their business, as compared to others who constantly struggle to manage and grow their business? In my research and in reflecting on my own business coaching experiences I have found that there are several key characteristics of successful small business owners. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following list of ten (10) key characteristics that describe the successful small business owner.

“What Is a Good Recipe For An Ad to Produce Higher Yields? A Bakers Dozen Ingredients For an Effective Ad” - Click To Read Article
What ingredients make an effective ad that produces higher yields? After thinking about this, I thought of thirteen (a bakers dozen for the non-bakers in the audience) essential ingredients for an effective high yielding ad. Here are the thirteen ingredients.

“What Color is Your Marketing and What is It Saying?” - Click To Read Article
Do you have any idea what role color plays in your marketing efforts? And if so, do you know what message your marketing efforts are conveying with the colors you use? Let me tell you that the colors you use in your marketing efforts – your brochures, business cards, letterhead, signage, office interiors, and more – play a very important role in motivating people. The colors speak loudly and clearly, so I believe it is in our best interest to learn what the colors convey in our marketing. Since colors are so important, it behooves us to learn what message they convey in our marketing efforts. Here is a brief overview to facilitate our learning some basics of the meaning of colors in our marketing.

Using Strategic Thinking To Gain Media Visibility - A Prescription For Healthy Media Visibility From Your PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
Are you getting your name, photo and the name of your business in the newspapers and professional publications? Or are you reading stories about your competition all the time? Do you have a dismal record of getting articles published? How healthy is your media visibility? It is critical to understand that the media is not in business to promote you or your business. The media’s role is to produce articles of interest to their readers. That means you need to provide interesting and relevant information to the journalists so they will want to publish your article. And I would say the most important thing to learn to know is how the media works and what the specific requirements each media has for submitting any information to them. Here is a prescription from your PR Doctor on how to gain healthy media visibility.

Tips On Dealing With Delinquent Clients and Customers From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Business owners know all too well that dealing with delinquent clients and customers is a necessary part of running his or her business. And many of those business owners are not proactive about pursuing those delinquent clients and customers. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach strongly recommends that all business owners (especially small business owners) use strategic thinking to develop a plan to actively and aggressively pursue those delinquent accounts. Collecting overdue bills while maintaining good relationships with clients and customers requires very strategic people skills. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following tips on how to deal with delinquent clients and customers.

“TOP TEN TIPS TO EFFECTIVELY WORK WITH POLICY MAKERS” - Click To Read Article
We are sometimes called on to work with policy makers in a variety of organizations we are associated with in our personal, business and volunteer lives. Working with these policy makers can be very rewarding and can be very frustrating. Since 1970 I have been working with policy makers at all levels of government, non-profits, businesses, institutions and other organizations. And from the experience of those years, I developed a list of the top 10 tips to effectively work with policy makers. I have summarized those tips below:

“Tips For Entrepreneurs In Selecting A Venture Capitalist” - Click To Read Article
As a business coach, I do get the opportunity from time to time to assist, guide and facilitate the search for venture capital and venture capital firms. Recently I have been involved in doing just that and here are some tips on what characteristics to look for when searching for venture capitalists. Characteristics of a good venture capitalist should include:

“Time: Is It Our Enemy or Our Friend? Choosing Time as A Friend, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
It is probably safe to say that many, if not most, people struggle with the management of their time. Time is priceless and we each are allotted the same 24 hours each day. However, it seems there is an eternal struggle with the clock and that we are very challenged in trying to mange out time. The sense of pressure and constant urgency at home, at work, and elsewhere in our daily lives leads to us believing that there is simply never enough time. Can we see that it is not time itself, but the use of time that presents us with our conflict? So what can we do? How can we deal with this conflict and choose time as a friend? Succinctly expressed, It would mean that we make peace with time and declare time our friend. Here are seven (7) suggestions from your strategic thinking business coach.

Tips To Help People Remember You and Your Name - From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you hear people saying they are “terrible with names” or “I simply cannot remember names?” Have you found yourself in a very embarrassing situation where someone wants to introduce you and cannot remember your name? That may be an explanation, but it is not a reason or excuse for people not to commit to being able to remember names. The ability to remember names and call people by their name when communicating with them is a very valuable asset. This skill will provide a strategic advantage in social and business settings. But, yes I remember that some of you have told me that you cannot remember names. So, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach is offering a list of tips to help people remember your name.

The Strategic Use of Powerful Words For Your Marketing - Advice From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Spoken and written words carry awesome power. The words & phrases that you use in your daily business and personal life are extremely important. Our words can add positive power and help us gain success or our words can add negative power and help reduce or prohibit success. This is especially true in marketing. Words make a huge difference in the degree of impact from your marketing communications. One of my favorite sources of insightful and powerful marketing advice is Steve Hackney of Hackney Marketing Ltd. Located in Leicester, UK. According to Steve Hackney, there are a number of “magic” and “hypnotic” words that you can use to increase the power of your marketing. Steve Hackney’s list includes the following 28 words. Steve also provides a list of what he calls “killer words” will make people lose interest or stop reading.

“The State of Customer Service or Disservice in The U.S. – Awesome, Adequate or Abysmal? “ - Click To Read Article
Many companies are touting world class, first class, and/or high quality customer service today. However, as a strategic thinking business coach, I wonder about the true state of customer service in the U.S. What is the real level of customer service being delivered – is it Awesome, Adequate or Abysmal? So, what is the “state of customer service” in the U.S.? I found a source of information to help answer that question in survey results released by Accenture, the giant consulting firm. Some highlights from the Fall, 2006 results include:

The Top Ten Myths And Realities About Business Coaching According To Your Strategic Thinking Coach - Click To Read Article
I think it is safe to say that there are many preconceived notions about business coaching. Furthermore, some of these notions really are myths rather than reality. In an attempt to provide some insight into what are the major myths about business coaching, I have developed a list of the top ten myths and respective realities that are counter to each myth.

Thirteen Strategic Actions To Achieve A Positive, Proactive and Prosperous Life - Click To Read Article
At each business coaching session or Strategic Planning Team meeting, I always ask clients to share a positive business & personal experience they have had since our last meeting. Most times my clients readily share something, but sometimes they hesitate or struggle to think of something positive to share. This experience of witnessing their hesitancy and/or their struggle with my request has been extremely eye-opening and valuable to me as a business coach. It has provided me with an opportunity to coach them on how to achieve a positive, proactive and prosperous life and to recognize the many positive things that surround them everyday, which they may be taking for granted or not recognizing. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach developed the following list of strategic actions to achieve that positive,proactive & prosperous life.

The Truth About Who Can Really Motivate A Person According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One of my executive coaching clients was talking with me about how complacent and apathetic his employees had become and how lackluster the company’s performance has been this year, compared to the potential that really exists within the staff. This led us into a discussion about whether a leader should be held accountable to, and for that matter, should the leader be expected to “motivate” others. And our discussion led us to agree that it is not the leader’s job to motivate the staff. What? Did that surprise you when you read that? I can imagine that a majority of readers of this article will be surprised. Now, what role does that leave for a leader in business regarding motivation? An effective leader must commit to some primary actions regarding motivation. Here are five (5) actions a leader must commit to do.

The Power of Asking People What They Think AND then Really Listening and Hearing What They Say - Click To Read Article
There is tremendous power in asking people what they think. If one is sincere and not only listens to, but also hears the reply. Why not amaze and delight someone today while conducting your business and ask them - "What Do You Think?" and be prepared to receive some insightful and powerful information to help you and your business.

The PR Doctor’s Prescription of Strategic Actions For A Healthy and Strong Pitch To The Media - Click To Read Article
The news media is literally inundated with pitches for media coverage every day. Unfortunately a very large percentage, some say as high as ninety (90) percent are useless form letters and from people who have done absolutely no research about the media where they have sent their pitch. Media pitches that are done with a lack of media-savvy are real irritants and can really greatly diminish your chances of getting the media attention you want. However, there are proven professional ways to improve your chances with the media by being strategic in your pitches to the media. So what are the strategic actions you can take to improve your “pitches” to the media? The PR Doctor offers the following prescription for a healthy and strong pitch to the media.

The PR Doctor’s Prescription For A Great TV Guest Appearance - Click To Read Article
One of the media opportunities that you will seek is to appear on TV as a guest of a show or to be interviewed. This article will focus on the times you are a guest on a specific show. First, it is important to note that the television news media are literally inundated with pitches for media appearances every day. So when your chance arrives you want to be prepared. So what are the strategic actions you can take to be a top TV guest? The PR Doctor offers the following prescription of strategic actions to help you achieve that goal.

“Symptoms That Confirm Your Decision To Look For A New Job, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
I have heard that people leave or fire management, not the company where they worked. And you probably have heard people say they love what they do but hate where they work. There are many things occurring in today’s workplaces that are depressing, disruptive, disturbing and dysfunctional. How can you determine when it is time to look for a new job and quit the old job? Your strategic thinking business coach believes there are several symptoms that confirm it is time to leave. Here are ten (10) of those symptoms.

The Business of Ethics and The Ethics of Business - Click To Read Article
In 2002 the corporate world in the United States was rocked with scandals. Enron, Arthur Anderson, WorldCom, Citi Group, HCA, Tyco and others were headline news in print and the lead story on the television news because of business ethics failures. This caused me to reemphasize and stress to each of my clients then and now, the importance of business ethics and to challenge each of my clients to integrate their core values into their policies, practices and decision making. And I recommend that they rededicate themselves to conducting business to the highest ethical standards.

Surviving Change The Stress It Creates - Click To Read Article
Change is the status quo. Change is everywhere. And so is stress! Some have called stress the invisible epidemic. The truth is that stress is spreading rapidly and just about everybody is feeling the effect. Acting as a change agent, I get to witness stress quite often. I see what today’s stress is like and imagine what the future will hold and what stress it has the potential to produce. Tomorrow will no doubt give us a more complex world with a faster rate of change. Therefore, it is imperative that we learn how to handle life better and improve upon how we adapt to change and the way we handle it.

Team Reconstruction in Challenging Times - Click To Read Article
Building or rebuilding successful teams in challenging times is a very difficult job. One must restore productivity and profitability in the workplace that has been hit by change. One must also deal with angry, confused, distracted, emotional, irritated, stressed, etc. employees. There is a need for a strategy to handle the pressure of this type of change and rebuilding your team(s).

“The Awesome Power of Testimonials For Marketing Your Business!” - Click To Read Article
One of the most extremely powerful marketing tools that we have in business is the testimonial. Yet many times we use the excuse of being “too busy” or “I am not comfortable asking” to not actively request testimonials from our clients and customers. Well, I want to tell you that testimonials can have a tremendous impact on people deciding whether or not to do business with you and your company. And why is that true? People feel more confident about doing business with you if they know there are other satisfied customers. Frankly, the use of testimonials is one technique that is virtually guaranteed to increase your business.

Ten Confessed Marketing Sins From Clients To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Business coaches need to be excellent listeners and hearers. During business coaching sessions, considerable time is spent with the coach asking questions and then listening to responses from those people being coached. And what business coaches hear many times are client confessions of what they have not been doing or what they have not been doing very well. Marketing is a major topic of business coaching sessions. And the discussions definitely include confessions of what clients are not dong or dong wrong in their marketing efforts. Reflecting on what confessions I have heard over many years of business coaching, here are ten of the top confessed marketing sins from clients to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach.

Ten Major Causes of Powerless Presentations According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Every day in the business world there are millions of presentations made. Unfortunately too many of those presentations are “powerless.” In fact, we may even be so bold as to say a majority of those presentations are “powerless” due to one or more of ten major causes. In the opinion of Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach, the major causes of “powerless” ineffective and non-persuasive presentations are:

Ten Powerful Principles Behind Becoming A “World-Class” Achiever, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Each year, thousands and thousands of people set goals for their business and personal endeavors. And each year there are thousands and thousands of set goals that remain incomplete and transferred from one year to the next. This means that there are thousands of people ending up with feelings of frustrations year after year. So what do “world-class” achievers do to overcome that frustration and meet the challenges of reaching their goals? A very insightful answer can come from a strategic thinking business coach that deals with setting and reaching goals by coaching people in business and their personal lives. Here are ten (10) powerful principles behind becoming a “world-class” achiever, according to your strategic thinking business coach.

“Ten Major Mistakes To Avoid In Preparing Business Plans, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
How many times have you heard about a business failure and one of the keys to that failure was lack of planning and/or a poor business plan? I was recently interviewed for a business publication story on business failures and the relationship of those failures to poor or no planning and to poor business plans. Every business should have a business plan. And the business plan must avoid several major mistakes that make a business plan a “poor” business plan. Here are ten (10) major mistakes to avoid when preparing business plans, according to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach.

“Ten Strategic Tips For An Effective Internet Marketing Strategy From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Attention business owners and marketers! Please read the next sentence very carefully to make sure you get the message. Business-to-business (B2B) Internet marketing strategy and tactics have been reinventing themselves and are changing. The B2B consumer is now more demanding when it comes to your online information. 89% of all business users & IT professionals say online content impacts their selection of vendors. This means that 89% of your new prospects will look at your website before and during their decision making process. I believe it is safe to say that the Internet is the most powerful business communication system in the world today. So, accepting that as true, here are ten (10) strategic tips for you to use to ensure an effective Internet marketing strategy for you and your business.

Ten Tips on How To Gain Outstanding Performance From Your Team Through Coaching and Mentoring - Click To Read Article
Are you witnessing outstanding performances by your employees? If not, are you providing some feedback to your employees as to their level of performance and your satisfaction with their performance? Are you doing any coaching or mentoring with your employees? Let's presume that many of you are not providing feedback, coaching and/or mentoring of any kind or are doing so at a level that is not producing positive results. You need to institute some form of an ongoing program to monitor, mentor and coach your staff on a regular basis if you want to have outstanding performance. The age-old argument that there is not enough time to mentor and coach and give feedback is dysfunctional and not acceptable. Here are 10 tips from your strategic thinking business coach to help you use coaching & mentoring to gain outstanding performance.

Ten Tips For Strategically Scheduling Your Time, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Did you truly schedule your time today in a strategic manner? Will you admit that a great amount of time is wasted in each of our days due to poor (or worse yet) no planning? Do you realize that poor scheduling can result in wasting up to 5 hours per week or 20 hours per month? Am I breaking through to you to gain your attention on making the best use of your time? The efficient use of time gives you a real strategic advantage in your business and personal life. There are many ways to make more efficient use of your time. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following ten (10) tips for you to be more strategic in scheduling your time.

“Ten Tried & True Ways To Irritate Reporters, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Do you know what really irritates reporters? Many business people are totally uneducated as to how the media works and totally unprepared to deal with the media. And every day those people do things that totally irritate reporters. To help you become aware of and then avoid these irritating behaviors, your strategic thinking business coach has listed ten (10) tried and true ways to irritate reporters.

Ten Major Reasons Why You Are Not Getting Referrals According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach strongly recommends that all business owners (especially small business owners) develop a strategic referral plan. The power of word of mouth is very strong. Prospects re relying upon the personal referral and testimonials of people they know and trust to help them make their decisions. Positive word of mouth can come in the form of a referral, a testimonial, or both. To distinguish between them, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach defines referrals as specific names of people you receive or personal introductions made on your behalf. Testimonials are written or verbal communications that convey the confidence people have in you. If you are not getting referrals, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten major reasons why that may be true.

Ten Top Cures For The Deadly Disease of Marketing Apathy In Your Business - Click To Read Article
There is a dreaded and deadly disease embedded in too many businesses today. What is it? It is called APATHY or more specifically MARKETING APATHY. It is highly contagious and has become widespread among businesses. The symptoms of this disease are: lack of interest; lack of motivation; satisfaction with the status quo; lack of passion; complacency; passiveness; lack of follow-up and follow-through; and a general disregard for marketing activities. These symptoms create a formidable barrier to the success of you and your business. If you or others in your business suffer from any of these symptoms, then Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach urges you to try one or more of the top ten cures for MARKETING APATHY immediately!

Ten Major Mistakes To Avoid In Your Web Site Design - Click To Read Article
Business web sites are very effective business tools if they are planned and designed carefully and strategically. Too many times business owners become fascinated with all the “technological gimmicks” and forget about the content and the ease of use of the visitor to the web site. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach wants to encourage all businesses with web sites to avoid some major mistakes and offers the following list of ten major mistakes to avoid in the design of your web site.

Ten Major Fears That Scare Small Businesses Away From Strategic Planning - Click To Read Article
An often offered comment to me when I speak about strategic planning to small business owners and managers is that their company or organization is too small for strategic planning. Or they will offer any number of other excuses why they do not use strategic planning for their business. In my opinion, this is a sad commentary on the thinking of these small business people. They do not realize or comprehend that their business or organization is on a pathway to the business graveyard without a strategic plan. Well, I really believe if the truth were told, the real reason they do not do strategic planning is related more to fear than anything else. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following ten major fears that drive small businesses away from strategic planning.

Ten Deadly Mistakes To Avoid In E-Commerce - Click To Read Article
The growth rate of e-commerce or shopping on the Internet has been exponential. And with the phenomenal growth, competition has become very intense and is now literally only a mouse-click away. What this means is that if you do not use some strategic thinking and planning with your e-commerce, someone else will be taking away your customers and visitors to your website. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following list of ten (10) deadly mistakes to avoid in your E-commerce efforts.

Ten Recommended Strategic Actions Needed Prior To Starting Your Professional Services Business - Click To Read Article
Every day there are multitudes of entrepreneurial spirited people who think about starting his or her own professional service business. And of that multitude, there is some lesser number that actually moves forward and starts their own business to provide professional services off various kinds. Your Strategic Business Coach has worked with numerous entrepreneurs in the startup phase of their professional services businesses and has learned some valuable lessons from those experiences. From those “lessons learned,” Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten (10) recommended strategic actions that you need to take prior to starting your professional services business.

Ten Actions To Take Strategic Advantage Of Business Slowdowns, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One of the realities of business in today’s world is that there will be times that business slow down for a variety of reasons. The traditional reaction to these slowdowns is to run some major sales, which cut prices to gain more business. I believe that by using some strategic thinking in these slowdowns, you can look at doing things that will build your business in the long term – the things you talk about doing but never do because of not having time to do them. Well, here is an opportunity to take a strategic advantage of the time you have during a slow down in business. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten (10) actions so you can gain this strategic advantage.

Ten Strategic Actions To Change Your Marketing Mindset, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Many small business people struggle with marketing their business services and products. This is particularly true with entrepreneurial business owners. They engage in traditional marketing endeavors and they simply do not work. They feel bound and captive to the traditional marketing ways. Well, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach wants you to know that there are actions you can take to get away from the “traditional marketing rut” and the “status quo” or the “me too” type marketing efforts. So, if you are interested in “breaking those chains” of traditional marketing and moving beyond the “status quo” and the “me too” attitudes of marketing, then read and implement the ten (10) strategic actions below, from Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach.

Ten Powerful Benefits From Using A Professional Outside Facilitator According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
When you plan an offsite meeting for strategic planning or other focused purposes, do you as the business owner or CEO/President run the meeting? Or do you have one of the management team members, like a vice president, run the meeting? Or do you use an “outsider” in the form of a professional certified facilitator? If you have not used an outside facilitator, you are probably missing some strategic benefits of doing that. Okay, so what are the powerful benefits of using an outside facilitator? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers a list of ten (10) of the most powerful benefits from using a professional outside facilitator for your strategic planning and other focused purpose meetings.

Ten More Compelling Reasons To Hire An Executive Coach - Click To Read Article
All of today’s true business leaders have either created change, or proactively adapted to change happening around them and their organizations. In today's fast-paced business world, executives often feel the loneliness at the top of their company. What is most important for those executives to recognize is that he or she doest not have to go it alone. In fact, more executives are turning to coaches for outside advice and help. Recently I was preparing for an executive coaching presentation to a group of business owners and senior management staff members. I had been asked to make sure I had a list of ten compelling reasons for executive coaching to pass along to the attendees. Here are the ten compelling reasons that I recalled for hiring an executive coach.

Ten Top Business Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Recently I was preparing for a strategic business coaching presentation to a group of business owners and senior management staff members. I had been asked by the host to make sure I had a list of ten top business tips to pass along to the attendees. Reflecting back over the past several years, I tried to recall what I would select as ten of those top tips. After remembering some of the most highly successful people I have worked with as a strategic thinking business coach and/or an executive coach, I thought of what they had told me were some of the most impactful tips I had shared with them. Here are the ten top business tips that I recalled as having the biggest impact on past clients.

The Great Value of A Strategic Business Connector According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Powerful business connectors have the ability to open up their networks to connect their clients to virtually anyone who can be helpful to start and grow a business. With the extensive and diverse network I have established over more than 30 years, I have become known as “Your Strategic Business Connector.” A strategic business connector is able to connect entrepreneurs and other business owners to the right people. That can help them establish and grow their businesses. There is great value to being associated with a strategic business connector and that value comes from the following list of strategic accesses they can provide to entrepreneurs and other business owners.

Strategic Thinking Planning Success Story - Click To Read Article
A majority of times when I ask small business owners if they have a strategic plan, a vision, a mission, etc. for their business, there is dead silence, a shuffling of feet, a distressed or puzzled look or responses like - "we are too small," "we have our plan in our heads," "no one uses those anyway," or some others that cannot be repeated here.

“Stop Resisting and Start Reaping The Rewards of Referrals” - Click To Read Article
Recently I was asked to provide some expert advice on networking for introverts and I did so in an article entitled, “Networking Tips for Introverts or How to Break The Ice Without Fear of Falling Through.” After completing the article, I thought about the similarity between the introvert’s fear of networking and the fear and resistance of business people to ask for referrals. Let’s look at how one might overcome this fear or resistance to requesting referrals.

“Succession Planning For Your Business – Better Now Than Later!” - Click To Read Article
Do you, as a business owner, have a succession plan or exit strategy for your business? Do you, as an employee, know if a succession plan or exit strategy exists in your company or organization? This subject is one of the most critical aspects of owning and managing a business, yet it is also one of the most neglected aspects. Many business owners spend years and years building and growing their business, but without giving any thought to an exit strategy. An effective and smooth exit requires very sound planning several years in advance of the actual exit from the business. The exit strategy must be part of your strategic planning process and a specific long-range goal within your strategic action plan. This type of sound planning will prepare the business for new ownership and for the owner’s financial security afterwards.

Strategic Communications Dont Just Listen LISTEN HEAR - Click To Read Article
Can you think of instances where you were talking with someone and they emphatically told you and assured you that they were listening? Then later you discovered that they may have listened, but they certainly did not hear what you said. Listening is an essential skill when relating to others and it is critical to realize that hearing the words and truly understanding and accepting the other person’s message, situation and feelings are also required to HEAR what is being said. Effective listening and hearing are strategic competencies and will provide many benefits for you and your business. Some of those benefits include:

“Strategic Elements Needed To Produce Compelling Written Sales Communications, According to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
We all receive various forms of written sales communications each week. Some of these will cause us to totally ignore the piece, others will get a few seconds of our attention and a very select few will grab and hold our attention. So what compels us to respond in these ways? After applying some strategic thinking to this question, here are ten (10) strategic elements that Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach believes produces compelling written sales communications.

Strategically Structured Succession Planning For Company Leadership According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Succession planning is very important to the long-term success of any company. Leadership transitions in business affect the entire organization’s continuity, employee retention, client retention and returns on investment. The rapidly changing demographics in the workplace, especially the aging baby boomer segment, there is a real challenge to find talent for leadership roles. Companies that are able to respond proactively with strategically developed and implemented effective leadership succession plans are in a superior position in the marketplace and global economies. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following list of recommended strategic actions to structure a leadership succession planning process.

Strategic Thinking – A Wise Business Investment, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Strategic thinking is critical to the long-term success of businesses today. Yet, there are too many businesses that fail to invest time, money and human capital into planning for the future. So many businesses are concentrating only on the day-to-day activities in their business and are failing to create or remember a vision for the future. Some businesses work diligently to create strategic plans, business plans, integrated marketing communications plans, etc. only to leave these plans dormant on some shelf. They fail to remember that these plans are living documents, which warrant follow-through, review and updates. Businesses need to commit to spend more time spent on strategy on a regular basis. Here are ten (10) tips from your strategic thinking business coach to help make the best use of time for strategic thinking.

Strategic Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach For Managing The MultiGenerational Work Force - Click To Read Article
One of the most impactful current dynamics in today’s workplace is the presence of four generations of workers at the same time, which has increased the level of challenges to manage, retain and recruit a skilled work force. These four generations of American workers are: The Veterans - born prior to World War II; The Baby Boomers - born between 1946 and 1964; The Generation Xers – born between 1965 and 1980; and The Generation Ys or Boomerangs – children of Baby Boomers, born after 1980. Each group has its own distinct characteristics, values, and work ethics, based on its generation’s life experiences. This is a huge challenge to business today to successfully integrate these diverse generations to effectively work together. Here are some strategic tips for managing a multigenerational work force.

“Strategic Business Tips On How To Deal With The Departure of Key Executive, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
One of the events that occurs in business is the departure of a key executive. This has the potential to be very disruptive and can have a significant emotional impact on employees. So how do you deal with these feelings? Your strategic thinking business coach has some tips on how to deal with the departure of a key executive.

“Strategic Benefits of Business Coaching, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach ” - Click To Read Article
There is a rapid growth of business coaching in the United States and those people who have business coaches are realizing some strategic personal and business benefits. These people are gaining an understanding of what is possible for them and their business through business coaching. These growing numbers of people that have business coaches are reaping the strategic benefits of business coaching. Some of these strategic benefits that are being realized, according to your strategic thinking business coach, include:

Strategic Tips For Contacting Prospects From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Every day presents new opportunity to contact prospects. Are you prepared to make those contacts every day? Do you have a strategic action plan in place to help ensure the most effective prospecting possible? Strategic thinking marketers have gained an understanding of what is possible for them and their business through effective prospecting. A strategic thinking marketer is always looking for new ideas and tips for becoming more effective with their prospecting efforts. A growing number of these successful strategic marketers have business coaches are reaping the benefits of prospecting tips from their business coaches. Here are some of the most effective tips regarding contacting your prospects, according to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach.

Strategies To Increase Fees Performance From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Professional service firms are still struggling when it comes to increasing their professional fees & improving their performance. Too many firms are doing business basically as outsourced labor & getting paid strictly on number of hours of billable time plus expenses. The missing ingredient is not getting paid for the “value” they are providing to the client, which should always exceed the cost of the billable time. Some readers are already saying that this billing on “value received” will not work & will not be accepted. With that being said, I will attempt to outline some strategies that I believe will enable a professional services firm to increase their professional fees and improve their performance. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following strategies:

Strategies To Position Yourself As An Authority, Expert or Valued Resource - Click To Read Article
A critical part of strategic communications and marketing is branding and positioning. Successful business people intentionally develop a plan to position and brand themselves as an “authority;” an “expert;” and/or a “valued resource” in their industry or profession. These people are the ones that appear regularly in the media after being interviewed about some industry trend, new regulation, or other event that could impact the industry. There is tremendous value in achieving the status of “authority;” “expert;” and/or “valued resource” and it does take some strategic thinking and planning to garner those designations. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers some basic strategies that can facilitate your ability to achieve this special status. The basic strategies include:

Strategic Tips To Increase The Effective Use of Your Time According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Each of us has the same amount of time each day. Yet, some people are so much more strategic and effective in the use of that time each day. People are constantly telling me how “busy” they are and I usually respond with a question, “What does busy mean?” Many people are “busy” doing tasks but are not accomplishing anything. They have not set goals or deadlines and have not focused on anything. And they waste unbelievable hours of time each day. What about you? How good a steward are you of your time each day? I imagine a number of readers, if they are really honest, will admit they could be better time managers and could certainly improve on the effective use of their time. So, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach will share some strategic tips to help you increase the effective use of your time.

Strategic Tips To Entrepreneurs When Considering Becoming A Franchisee, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Many of today’s business owners are entrepreneurs and many of those entrepreneurs are franchisees. Many of these franchisees are very pleased with their experience and results, but too many others have become victims of the dynamics and realities of franchising. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach researched the issue and found ten (10) strategic tips to share with entrepreneurs who have decided to become franchisees.

Strategic Thinking For Business Owners For Successful Retirement, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Small business owners know that running a small business requires constant attention. They tend to work “in their business” rather than work “on their business.” So, it should be no surprise that too many entrepreneurs and small business owners put their own financial planning squarely at the bottom of their “TO DO” lists. A survey conducted by Harris Interactive for ShareBuilder indicated that 47% of small business owners are not confident that they are prepared for retirement. The survey also shows that 60% of the business owners surveyed have NO PLANS to sell their business to help fund their retirement – but for other owners, such a sale can be a crucial part of a successful retirement plan. Here a list of actions to consider when developing your strategic retirement plan as a business owner.

Strategic Tips To Help Clients & Customers Remember Your Brand - Click To Read Article
Top of Mind Awareness or TOMA is a very strategic advantage for businesses and individuals. One strategic method of achieving TOMA is through branding of yourself and your business. We all recognize some brands more readily than others and part of that branding includes taglines. Examples such as “ When it absolutely positively has to be there overnight,” “Can you hear me now?” and “Got Milk? (Federal Express, Verizon and California Milk Processor Board). Let’s admit it. The moment you hear those taglines, you get a mental image of a product or service. And that is an awesome accomplishment! Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following tips to use in creating your personal and company taglines.

Strategic Elements To Confirm Its Time To Run A Short Seminar, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One key element of strategic marketing involves developing, speaking at and running your own one to two hour seminar as an effective lead generation and marketing communications tool. These short seminars provide an excellent opportunity to connect with your prospects and your clients on a one-to-one basis and to demonstrate your expertise with an insightful and interactive presentation. Unfortunately there are too many businesses & organizations promoting short seminars as educational, when there are nothing more than thinly disguised or blatant sales pitches with some not so friendly sales tactics during and after the seminar. A short seminar needs to be very strategic and very ethical in the planning and delivering of these seminars. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach suggests the following

Strategic Thinking Advice For Improved Delivery of Business Email, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you ever stop and think about the number of business emails that are sent everyday? Well, industry statistics show that in 2006, there were 6 TRILLION non-spam emails sent by business email users. And the more important question is how many of those business emails actually get delivered to the intended receiver? I did not find that answer, but I did learn that industry statistics show that 75% of daily emails are spam. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach certainly believes you need to be aware of the “state of email sending and delivering” so you can more effectively use email and increase the probability that your email does get delivered to the intended recipient. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has some advice that will help improve the deliverability of your business emails.

Strategic Questions To Ask About Your Business Writing, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Business writing is an art, in my opinion, and good business writing is learned by experience, reading what others write, formal education opportunities, and through the help of coaches, mentors, et al. When we write in our businesses, we are often composing our business communications under some time constraint and that means there is an opportunity for mistakes. Many simple mistakes are made repeatedly and they have a huge impact on the response and your client’s satisfaction. A good word of advice is to develop a list of questions or call it a checklist to use for your business writing. This will help ensure higher quality written business communications. So, with that in mind, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following list of ten (10) questions to ask yourself about your business writing endeavors.

Strategic Advice For Giving Feedback From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One of the most critical activities of a coach, mentor, supervisor or anyone that oversees the work of others is to provide feedback to let them know, in a timely and ongoing way, how they are performing. People committed to continuous improvement welcome the opportunity to discuss their strengths and areas for improvement in their performance. Feedback must encourage self-reflection& raise self-awareness. Traditionally, formal feedback is planned as part of a performance appraisal and includes an assessment of how the person is progressing toward meeting his or her goals. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has some advice for those of you that do performance reviews and also offers ten (10) tips to help you achieve a productive and powerful feedback system with people you coach, mentor and/or supervise.

Strategic Email Actions For Effective Marketing, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
The use of email marketing continues to grow and we are almost assured to receive multiple email marketing messages every day. Think about those email marketing messages you receive. Some of them are annoying, an insult to one’s intelligence, totally irrelevant to you and your business or organization, arrogant, or sometimes very offensive. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach emphasizes that one needs to be very sensitive to the use of email marketing and needs to think strategically about the who, what, when, where and why relative to marketing emails that are sent. Here are nine (9) recommended strategic actions to take to help ensure successful use of email in your marketing.

“Six Strategic Things To Remember When Requesting Referrals, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Referrals are important to most if not all businesses today. In a professional services business, such as business coaching, referrals are a major source of new clients. One of the strategic advantages of referrals is that they tend to be good quality prospects. And another strategic advantage is that they also tend to be relatively easy to convert into clients. Okay, so referrals are a major strategic method of gaining new clients. But, guess what? Only a small percentage of business people adopt referrals as a strategic approach to gaining new clients and those that do adopt the strategy will often neglect the needed commitment of time to generate referrals. There are a few strategic things to remember when requesting referrals from any of the above-mentioned sources. They are ...

Selling Tips Dealing With Difficult Prospects - Click To Read Article
A couple years ago during Small Business Week I met Bill Brooks and learned about The Brooks Group. Bill is another one of those people who I "listen to" - and more importantly "HEAR" when he speaks. In the October IMPACT Sales Bulletin from The Brooks Group, Bill authored an article which discusses "difficult prospects" and the reasons they give you such a hard time. I found the article to be "right on target" and wanted you to have the benefit of this insightful article that follows below:

“Seven Stimulating Strategies For Success in Marketing Your Business” - Click To Read Article
Recently I was researching different marketing strategies to stimulate business growth. After reading and reviewing several sources, I selected seven strategies to share with you in this article. The seven strategies are:

Seven Suggested Strategic Actions To Achieve Expert Status, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
A very effective and powerful marketing strategy is to position yourself as an expert, authority or “guru” in your field. Achieving this coveted status requires planning and following a deliberate process. These achievers are the ones we turn to seek advice and information on a specific topic. We visit their websites, and read their books and articles as sources of valuable information and answers to our problems. These experts also develop and present seminars and workshops at a wide variety of locations. They also are sought out by the media as sources for stories and are often quoted in the media. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers seven (7) suggested strategic actions to achieve expert status.

Seven Benefits Of Strategic Thinking And Planning For A New Year According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
As another new calendar or fiscal year begins, it is wise to take a good hard look ahead at where your business is heading in light of the business environment of the new year. It is also wise to develop new goals for the upcoming year in this new business environment. The way to take this proactive and positive step in your business is to use strategic thinking and planning. Looking at the start of a new year, we can acknowledge some uncertainty in the business environment and perhaps in our personal lives. Therefore, it is the perfect time to engage in strategic thinking and planning to benefit from the opportunities that are always present, especially during uncertainty. Here are seven (7) benefits of using strategic thinking and planning for a new year, according to your strategic thinking business coach.

Seven Strategic Tips On Dealing With Referrals From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Referrals can be and many times are a vital element of your marketing plan. Sometimes, and many times too often, referrals are taken for granted or they are not sought. How you deal with referrals makes a significant difference in whether you will receive repeat referrals. If the person giving you referrals has a positive and pleasant experience and it is through a process that they can trust, then you will receive more referrals in the future. There are several key elements in building up a trusting relationship with people who refer others to you. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following seven (7) strategic tips on how to establish and solidify that trust with your referrers.

Seven Strategic Tips On Marketing To Your Prospects From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One way to grow your business is to attract new clients and therefore realize increased revenue. Many businesses struggle with this on a daily basis. They are trying to attract new clients but without success or with minimal success. They are experiencing significant competition for prospect’s attention and business and are frustrated by that. One of the keys to overcoming these frustrations is to differentiate your business and uniquely position your business against the competition. So you are now asking how can differentiate and how can we be unique? The answer in its most simplistic form is to give your prospects what they are looking for from you. Your goal is to become the unique solution for your prospects.

Seven Strategic Actions In Seven Seconds To Make A Great First Impression, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Have you ever been at a business gathering and you feel ackward, ill at ease and downright uncomfortable because you are encountering many people you have not met before? And are you actually afraid of meeting someone or simply making a negative first impression? If you answered YES, you are not alone. There are many people that do have this type of fear or uneasiness. So now you ask why is this so important? It is important because we know that in a time span of about seven seconds you have already decided whether or not you like the person you have encountered and they have made that same judgment about you. The power of that first impression can be awesome and can stay in one’s mind for a long time. So what can you do in those seven seconds? Here are seven strategic actions to take for you to make a positive first impression:

Seven Strategic Actions to Deal With Stress At Work From “Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Look around you and you will see stress. People are being challenged in this new economy. Stress is a fact of daily life and it is especially true at work. And the stress is heightened because many small business owners must face these challenges essentially alone or with some minimal support system for assistance. While some people will strive on stress and will use stress to improve their performance, there are many others who fold or breakdown under the strain of stress. Here are seven strategic actions from “Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” to deal with the stress at work.

Public Relations Prescription for Healthy Media Relations from the PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
Are you frustrated in your dealings with media? Are you becoming ill because you cannot achieve positive media coverage or a single media placement? If you responded YES, then the “PR Doctor” is recommending a thorough “check-up” of your media relations skills and is writing a prescription to help you achieve healthy and successful media relations.

Reading Body Language Is A Strategic Communications Tool - Click To Read Article
Reading body language is a strategic communications tool, which can be a very powerful tool for you and your business. Effective communication involves much more than saying the right words. Your communications are conveyed through emotions and body language and these two elements play a very vital role in getting your message across. As a matter of fact, your body language may often say more than your words because it reveals a lot about what you're feeling and thinking as of the moment. Experience has shown people who are transparent can get themselves in trouble, as there are some obvious ways to determine if people are lying. Knowing how to read a person's emotions based on his or her body language and gestures is very important for effective communications and makes you more effective as a communicator, negotiator and thinker.

Raising and Renewing Business Through Referrals - Click To Read Article
We observe today’s businesses trying to regain, retain and raise customers and prospects using many different techniques. And we also observe that businesses and consumers are inundated with marketing and sales messages, which cause great skepticism. So what can we do? How can we use strategic thinking to come up with an alternative approach?

Referral Program - Click To Read Article
A well planned, implemented and managed referral program can be an excellent way to gain additional business from existing clients and to add new clients.

“Public Relations As A Strategic Tool To Integrate With Your Marketing Efforts, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Integrated marketing communications is a very effective tool. The integration of advertising, marketing and public relations is much more strategic than pursuing each of those elements separately. The old traditional use of advertising as the principal means of promotion for business is no longer effective. Public relations is often overlooked and/or under-valued as part of a strategic marketing plan. The leveraging of public relations will allow your positioning statement (market differentiator) to be integrated into an objective, third party coverage in the media. An article or feature story in targeted business media will be very effective. Public relations can be an even more powerful strategic tool in your marketing efforts using the Internet if you remember to do the following things.

Reasons Why News Releases Are Quickly Tossed Into The Trash, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Did you ever wonder why your news release never resulted in an article or story in the media to which it was sent? Or did you ever wonder if the release was ever read? Do you know why some news releases always get tossed into the wastebasket? Your strategic thinking business coach shares the following several reasons why news releases end up in the trash.

Power Marketing Advice to Grow Your Business - Click To Read Article
A strategic thinking question that today’s business owners and senior managers need to ask themselves is “How effectively do I market myself and our service, product and/or company?” And frankly, no matter what your answer is, you can always improve. This is where power marketing strategies can be very effective in helping you and your company achieve better results.

“Powerful Tips To Remember Prospect and Client Names – From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Have you ever confused someone for someone else? How often do you find yourself struggling to remember someone’s name? It is very important to remember a prospect or client’s name because it is very critical to the relationship building process. There are some very powerful tips to help you remember names and your strategic thinking business coach wants to share ten (10) of my favorites. Here they are:

Powerful Ways To Get What You Want When Working With A Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Do you have any idea about the potential that lies within you? Do you know that you have the potential to achieve your dreams, but there is something that keeps you standing on the sidelines without making a move to get on to the playing field? What are you waiting for and what is holding you back? Perhaps you need the help of a coach, a business coach, and/or a strategic thinking business coach. For this article, I am presuming you are open to coaching and therefore I am going to share some proven powerful ways you can get what you want faster and easier by working with a coach. If you want to unleash the power behind your dreams and get what you want, then take these eleven (11) actions with a coach.

Powerful Roles For Strategic Marketers According to Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
A strategic marketer or business developer knows how to get to know prospects, listens to what the prospects say, hears what the prospects say and ensures that he or she understands what the prospect is saying. In today’s competitive business world, there is a real need for true strategic marketers and business developers. Too many marketers and business developers are of an old breed and they are using tired old non-strategic approaches to prospects. These “traditionalists” also are not recognizing new characteristics of prospects. Therefore, in my opinion, a new brand of strategic marketer and business developer is needed to be successful in the marketplace today. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following perspective on these roles.

Prescription For Attorneys To Use Litigation Public Relations, From “The PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
The use of public relations in litigation is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s world. Litigation PR is defined as the management of the communication process during the course of any legal dispute or adjudicatory processing so as to affect the outcome or its impact on the client’s overall reputation. In today’s world it is more and more common to see law firms being assisted by PR consultants and counselors. “The PR Doctor” has a prescription of ten (10) tips for attorneys to assist them in influencing the outcome of the litigation, protecting their client’s reputation before and after the litigation, making a client’s viewpoint known, ensuring balanced media coverage, helping the media and the public understand complex legal issues, defusing a hostile environment and helping resolve the conflict. Here are the ten tips.

Prescription For Responding To Media Inquiries From “The PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
If someone from the media called you or showed up today and started asking you questions related to your business, would you know how to respond? Unfortunately the response to this question is often a resounding No! And being unprepared or ill-prepared to media inquiries can have serious consequences to your organization and its reputation. “The PR Doctor” strongly believes that all organizations with more than one employee should have a well-written media policy that clearly defines who within the organization may respond to media inquiries, what kinds of information can or should be released to the media, and what information must be kept confidential. “The PR Doctor” offers the following prescription for a media policy to respond to media inquiries.

Networking Tips from the Networkers Networker - Click To Read Article
One of the best compliments related to networking that I ever received was when a highly respected chief executive introduced me to speak as “The Networkers' Networker.” Networking is a very powerful marketing tool and one that can be very positive and valuable if done properly and very costly if done improperly or not at all. In thinking about what tips to share with you, I decided to think back over my own personal experiences and what has worked well for me and my clients. What I have developed is called my MVP (Most Valuable Professional) Networking Tips.

New Year New Intentions New Stress Ten New Opportunities to Manage The Stress of Change According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
The new year resets the calendar and it is a good time to look at managing the stress of a new year and the changes it will bring. A little stress is actually something positive until it elevates itself into being overwhelming. So, How can we manage the stress of change so it does not become overwhelming? Let’s look at just how busy we are on a daily basis. Look at how much we try to “cram” into a single day. Is it a surprise that many people are stressed? So, if we agree that stress is something that is almost impossible to avoid, here are ten (10) tips from your strategic thinking business coach on how to manage the stress of change.

Never Just Sit There or Stand There When It Comes To Your Marketing Efforts - Click To Read Article
Will Rogers said, “Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there." This quote really reinforces the message I am sending in the article. The beginning of a new business year is a great time to look at your marketing efforts and develop an honest assessment of what has worked well and what is not working. And if you have just completed a very successful year or let’s say a record-breaking year, Congratulations! But, please reread Will Roger’s quote to remind yourself that in spite of your success in the past, you cannot just sit there or stand there and be complacent for the year ahead. And by the way – if you did not have a good year last year, the same advice applies. Your strategic thinking business coach suggests 8 actions to avoid just sitting or standing there with your marketing efforts.

Niche Marketing Fears & Reasons For Those Fears From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
There are so many businesses that are on what I would characterize as a treadmill with their marketing. They are focusing too much of their time, money and other resources on “chasing” new customers and clients with a broad “shotgun” approach. Some of the leaders of these businesses I honestly believe have never met an opportunity they did not want to “chase,” even though the opportunity represents a 0% chance for success and a 100% chance for a waste of resources. Strategic thinking applied to marketing will lead us to make a strong case for niche marketing. There are many business owners and marketing people who fear niche marketing. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers a list of ten (10) major fears of niche marketing and the reasons behind those fears.

Observations of Changing Paradigms In The Workforce From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach is constantly seeking information on new trends, new technology, new insights and new paradigms to share with clients, prospects, friends, colleagues and others. The dynamics of our workplace today is truly astounding. We look at the face of our workforce and see four generations in the workplace. And each generation has different characteristics that present strategic information on how they work, how they communicate, how they think, how they define their values system, and so on. Recently I read an article in one of my colleague’s, Dr. Ira Wolf's weekly newsletters, "The Total View Newsletter" that attracted my attention. ra was looking at the workforce in 2010 and listing the changing career paradigms we can anticipate to take place. Here is the list of paradigm shifts.

More Public Relations Advice from the PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
The reputation of a company or organization is an intangible asset, but it is an extremely important and valuable asset. Some people believe and have written that a good reputation is an organization's most priceless asset. Unfortunately businesses face inevitable crisis situations with the potential to seriously damage a good reputation. One may ask what can be done to establish a good reputation, keep that good reputation and when hit by a crisis, repair a damaged reputation? Is there a prescription out there that provides some solid advice on this subject? Well, the “PR Doctor” researched the subject and was referred to a book entitled “The 18 Immutable Laws of Corporate Reputation. Creating, Protecting and Repairing Your Most Valuable Asset,” and authored by Ronald J. Alsop.

More On Strategic Thinking - Click To Read Article
On February 20th, I returned from St. Augustine, Florida, where I attended the 7th Annual Meeting of The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) and was a featured speaker on Strategic Thinking and Planning. It became clear from the reception and comments I received after my power point presentation, that I had accomplished my goal of sensitizing the attendees to the benefits of strategic thinking and planning and getting many of them to commit to starting the strategic planning process soon after they returned home. I selected a few slides from my powerpoint and have listed the information below that I shared with them.

More on Referrals - Click To Read Article
The importance of referrals was included in one of my previous newsletters. And I mentioned how I was referred to Bill Cates, a referral coach. Bill recently wrote an article entitled "The 7 Deadly Referral Sins - Are You Making Them?" I have read this many times and find it to be a great reminder of what not to do when it comes to referrals.

More Business Coaching Tips and Results Why Hire A Coach - Click To Read Article
In today’s competitive business world, one needs to be at the “top of their game.” The pressure of business can be overwhelming. Where can business owners, senior executives, executive directors of not-for-profits and others turn to handle the pressure and be powerful performers? My recommendation is to hire a coach!

More on Strategic Planning What Do You Think - Click To Read Article
Many small businesses believe they are too small for strategic planning. Is that what you think? Do you think you do not have the time to solve problems by thinking strategically? Do you think you know how your business is growing and where it is going? Perhaps you need to stop and think again!

More on Reading Emotions Through Body Language From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach is continuously stressing the importance of effective communication. And remember, effective communication does not just mean knowing the right words to say. Emotions and body language play a very important role in transmitting your message. It is also true that body language says a lot about what you're feeling and thinking as of the moment. Knowing how to read a person's emotions based on his or her body language and gestures is a strategic communications skill. Do you know how to sense if somebody is anxious, angry, happy, surprised, or sad by observing and evaluating only his or her body movements? Here are some ways you can read emotions through your observations of a person’s body language.

More Strategic PR Advice From Your PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
Did you ever wonder why your news release never resulted in an article or story in the media to which it was sent? Or did you ever wonder if the release was ever read? Do you know why some news releases always get tossed into the wastebasket? Your strategic thinking business coach shares the following tips for your news releases that will help get them on the news desk instead of in the news wastebasket.

Manners Always Matter - Click To Read Article
Several years ago I had the good fortune to meet and become friends with Pamela Hillings of Hillings Enterprises in Pasadena, California. Pamela and her mother wrote a book entitled "Manners in a Minute," which is a practical guide for proper conduct and good manners when dining in or out. Pamela has been the official Royal Court Protocol Consultant to the Tournament of Roses Queen and Court and has been referred to as the "Miss Manners of the Internet," as she has taught "How to Have Great Business Manners" through an Internet class. And I had the privilege of being one of her guest "speakers" during the course to talk about business manners. Pamela Hillings has been my guide for business manners ever since our first contact.

Making Plans Now For A Better Business Year in 2006 Beyond - Click To Read Article
Can you believe that we will be turning the calendars to 2006 in about 6 weeks? Have you thought about how to plan for a better business year in 2006? Do you have clear goals for 2006 and a plan to achieve them? Well, right now is the time to use “strategic thinking” about 2006. Strategic thinking and planning now will help reduce or remove some uncertainty in the year ahead, minimize surprises and/or enable you to better cope with surprises, create improved team work and also make more efficient use of your time and financial resources.

Managing Your Time 20 More Tips - Click To Read Article
Every day we hear someone say, “I am so busy. I just don't have enough time to get things done!” And I imagine each of us has fallen into that same feeling from time to time. Are you a good manager of your time? Could you improve upon your use of this limited and precious item called time? If we are honest, the responses are probably “No and Yes.” As part of my business coaching and strategic thinking and planning consulting work, we do work on improving time management of individuals and of teams. We search to find more time by becoming more efficient and much more conscious about how we spend our time. Here are 20 more tips I have found to be helpful in managing one's time.

“Major Benefits of Business Coaching for Individuals and Their Companies” - Click To Read Article
Business coaching continues to grow and the benefits of business coaching to individuals and their companies are being realized and recognized. I want to share some of the major benefits I believe are being realized and have listed them below.

Lessons Learned From Strategic Marketing From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Businesses need to be strategic! There are too many businesses that fail to recognize the value of being strategic in their thinking and planning and have limited themselves to less than optimum results. Today, I want to present some thoughts about strategic marketing plans. I continue to be amazed at how many businesses have no marketing plan at all, let alone a strategic marketing plan. The truth is that the only marketing plan some businesses have is one on “the seat of their pants.” Over the many years of working with business owners, their management teams and employees, there have been many opportunities to experience and capture the “lessons learned” from heir endeavors. In this article your strategic thinking business coach wants to share some of the “lessons learned” from strategic marketing.

“Just Say NO – Loudly & Clearly – To Unethical Clients! Advice From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Have you ever been asked to do something unethical by one of your prospects or clients? Have you ever been pressured by a supervisor, manager or owner at your business to do something unethical? Have you ever observed unethical behavior by a prospect or client? In today’s business world, there are daily instances of unethical behavior occurring all around us. What a sad commentary on business and society today. Over more than 35 years in my own professional career, there have been instances where I have been approached by unethical prospects and clients and was fortunate to have had strong ethical mentors and supervisors, managers & owners that supported my actions to turn away from the unethical requests and to report them to my superiors. Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following advice.

Insight Into Incompetence of Managers & Executives, From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One of the most common topics of conversation in today’s workplace is the incompetence of managers and executives. And there does not seem to be any evidence that this subject is going away anytime soon. In addition, the managers and executives are very fearful that their subordinates will discover how really incompetent they are. And again, this fear of being “found out” is actually well founded. What is the magnitude of failure among managers and executives? According to one research study, 4 out of 10 newly promoted managers and executives fail. Think about this – that is a 40 PERCENT FAILURE RATE! Why do managers and executives fail? Based upon more than 35 years of experience and observations, your strategic thinking business coach offers a list of ten (10) top reasons for failure.

Immunizing Your Business Against Recession By Using Marketing Tools - Click To Read Article
One of the hot topics of discussion in the fall of 2005 is the concern about various types of flu and how people, especially those in high-risk categories, should get immunized. And I also note that there are some people talking about a possible recession in the world. So I thought we should look at immunizing our businesses against recession by using marketing tools.

“ Increased, Irritating, Invasive, Inconsiderate, Insensitive, Interruptions of Cell Phones and Their Users” - Click To Read Article
My personal experiences the past few weeks have provided “up close and personal” confirmation of people becoming more and more rude with their cell phones. And the personal observations are backed up by many polls, which indicate such findings as: cell phone rudeness is the #1 complaint of diners (Zagat Restaurant Survey); the most abhorred uses of cell phones (according to USA Today) are over dinner (86%), in a meeting (88%), in a movie (96%) and at a funeral (98%); and the worst cell phone habit is unnecessarily loud conversations in public places (Spovate market research). So you ask me what can be done to try to reverse the rudeness of our cell phone environment? Here are my suggestions for some simple guidelines for cell phone etiquette.

Important "Lessons Learned” For Leaders, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One strategic action that I encourage all my clients to take is to look at any undesired or unplanned outcome of their efforts with a keen eye and a mindset toward identifying the “lessons learned” from the experience. The strongest and most effective leaders have the ability to commit to identifying and acting upon those “lessons learned.” And I believe leaders take a totally different view of failures that are experienced in their businesses and in their personal lives. The following is a quote from Denis Watley that I believe provides a strong confirmation of my belief about failure. “Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.”

How to Use A Strategic Thinking Approach to Confirm That NOW is the Time For You to Engage and Benefit from a Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Many people are wondering how they can know if they truly need a business coach and if so when?. People want assurance and confirmation that they need a business coach now, not later. With that in mind, I tried to develop a strategic thinking approach to answer that question. Here are 10 questions I suggest you ask yourself to determine if NOW, that means today, not tomorrow, is the time for you to engage a business coach.

“How Valuable Are Your Ethics or What is Your Price to Compromise Your Ethics?” - Click To Read Article
Everyone in business will eventually face a real crisis of conscience at some point or points in his or her career. Before facing that critical choice, I believe most people would say it is easy to think that they will act ethically, no matter what the personal cost. However, what will you really do when you are faced with the personal cost of losing the job you love (or desperately need) and placing your family’s welfare and your own self worth in jeopardy? Is your personal respect and integrity negotiable? Do you have an ethical compass in good working order to guide you in resolving these ethical dilemmas? What will you do the next time you are faced with an ethical dilemma? Perhaps the following selected quotations about ethics in business and society can provide some guidance or at least some food for thought.

How To Use Strategic Listening to Grow Your Business, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
You have probably heard some variation of proverbs and quotes that indicate we should listen more than we talk. For example: Mark Twain said, “If we were meant to talk more than listen, we would have two mouths and one ear.” An old German proverb states, ”A man has two ears and one mouth so that he hears much and speaks little. And to follow-up on the listening more than talking, I want to add that we need to do much more than listen – we need to hear and understand. I have seen too many advertising and public relations campaigns touting the virtues of a company, organization and/or individual as a good listener. If you listen and do not hear, and if your hear and do not understand, you will not be very effective. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers thoughts on strategic listening and its impact on growing business.

“How To Strategically Develop Successful Cause-Related Marketing Programs. Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Cause-related marketing has become a part of strategic marketing plans. Cause-related marketing is an activity where businesses and charities form a partnership with each other to market an image, product or service for mutual benefit. Embracing a cause does make good business sense. A business’s genuine commitment to a worthy cause enhances a company’s image and helps build brand loyalty. Cause-related marketing is a strategic way to highlight a business’s reputation within their target market and the power to be a very positive differentiator from competitors. Using a strategic thinking approach and more than 35 years of marketing experience, your strategic thinking business coach developed a list of ten (10) tips to follow to develop successful cause-related marketing programs. Those tips are:

How To Strategically Raise Your Warm List To Your Hot List, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
How strategic are you in your marketing efforts? Are you using strategic thinking in the development of a strategic marketing plan for your business? Are you still frustrated by having too few “hot list” prospects? Too many businesses are not being very strategic in their marketing & therefore are wasting energy, time, talent and resources. I hear more and more about “warm lists” for prospects. Why not "hot lists?" Without forgetting or dismissing “warm lists,” look at how to strategically raise the “warm lists” to “hot lists.” To raise the temperature of your prospect list, consider the use of strategic thinking & planning, your ideal client profile and your “warm list” of prospects in the following method from your strategic thinking business coach to create your "hot list" of prospects.

Identifying Symptoms and Cures For The Problem of Politics In Your Business - Click To Read Article
A business savvy person already knows that “politics” is not limited to governmental organizations. Unfortunately, there is “company or corporate politics” that exist and create issues that cause problems, deteriorate a positive company culture and impede productivity. Business owners, executives and managers must be astute enough to recognize this when it happens and to be vigilant enough to address and resolve the “political” problems before they get out of control. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach Here offers some insight into identifying nine symptoms and proposed cures for resolving the “political problems” in your business or organization.

How to Prevent Foot In Mouth Disease When Dealing With The Media A Prescription From The PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
Do you feel ill or uncomfortable when dealing with the media? Do you have the habit of "sticking your foot in your mouth" during media interviews? Do you wish to hide or be excused whenever the media contacts you? Well, the PR Doctor has a simple prescription for you in the form of what to do and what not to do when dealing with the media. The prescription has been developed through many years of dealing with the local, regional, national & international media and some sage advice from many friends in the media over more than 35 years.

How to Go From Dreams Vision to Reality - Click To Read Article
Do you have a dream or vision for your business or organization? Do you have a personal dream or vision? How many dreams or visions have you had in your life that you did not act upon? How many did you pursue? And what happened? If you have a dream or vision now, do you know how to turn that dream and/or vision into reality? In my multi-disciplinary multi-faceted professional services practice, I deal with dreams and visions of clients as a facilitator, guide and coach. I love my work, especially when it involves helping people achieve their dreams and vision. I want to believe that you do have dreams and vision and so I want to share some thoughts with you about how to turn them into reality.

How to Identify The Real Leaders Out There Among Us - Click To Read Article
How can you know a real leader when you see one? What do real leaders do that define them as leaders? Many people may consider themselves leaders, but in reality do not demonstrate principles of leadership and are not leaders at all. In today’s world there are many imposters posing as leaders. In order to assist you in identifying leaders in your company or organization, I have selected seven (7) actions that I believe real leaders take that define them as “real leaders.” Those seven (7) actions are:

How to Identify and Break The Self-Destructive Habit of Complacency In Your Business - Click To Read Article
One of my favorite Will Rogers quotes is: “Even if you are on the right track, you will get run over if you just sit there.” And this is so applicable to what I am seeing in too many businesses today. In fact, it has been a major topic of conversation in the coaching of one of my major clients that is very concerned with complacency in their company. Complacency can be absolutely poisonous to businesses chances for success. Complacency is confirming that you and your business are in a rut and you have decided to stay there. Well, just as Will Rogers warns us about sitting on the right track and getting run over, if your business stays in a rut it too will remain stuck and will get run over too. If you or others in your business suffer from this habit, try one or more of the following preventions and cures immediately!

How To Know You Are Ready For Business Coaching According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Business coaching has become very prevalent in today’s business world. So, what is business coaching? One definition I like is that business coaching is a collaborative, professional relationship that assists and guides individuals, entrepreneurs, professionals, executives, and small business owners to manage and grow their business in an organized manner. The business coach can be a confidant, a strategic advisor, sounding board, creativity partner, an accountability source and a guide. A business coaching alliance is a strategic and proactive business tool that will add value and will build help build your personal and business success. Are you ready for business coaching? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following list of situations that indicate you could be ready to benefit from business coaching:

How To Know When To Fire A Client Or Customer, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One of the things business owners dread most is firing an employee. Well, there is another dread of business owners that is similar to that and it is the firing of a client or customer. The issue of firing a client or customer, or in other words ”letting go of a client or customer, is a real issue faced by all business owners. And I know from first hand experience that this is true. In my 25 years of business, I have “fired” clients and I have learned the strategic value of doing so. I have realized that not every client is the right or ideal client for me and that I have tried to become much more strategic in prospecting for and selecting my clients. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed a list of twelve (12) signals that will let you know that it is time to fire the client or customer and they are:

How To Deal With Stress Its Potential Damage To Your Business According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Stress is a fact of daily life and it is especially true in the daily life of small businesses. Small businesses experience a myriad of seemingly unending problems in dealing with employees, customers, suppliers, business partners, bankers, insurance companies and on and on and on. Many small business owners must face these challenges essentially alone or with some minimal support system for assistance. While some people will strive on stress and use stress to improve their performance, there are many others who fold or breakdown under the strain of stress. Dealing with stress is an important strategic goal for you and your business. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers ten (10) strategic steps to take to deal with stress in your business.

How To Benefit From The Awesome Power of Two Simple Words –Thank You! According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Please think about how many good deeds & intentions you witnessed or were personally involved with or impacted by in the past week. How many times did you witness someone expressing thanks or if you were directly involved, did you take a moment to express your thanks? I believe the responses to the questions would be very interesting and disappointing. Two simple words “Thank you!” have awesome power that binds and builds relationships. Yet, so many people never say thanks. A Lenox etiquette poll found that nearly 5 out of every 10 people don’t always say thanks. Writing sincere thank you notes is a very effective differentiator since it is “the exception” in today’s world. Expressing thanks has awesome power. Here are 7 tips from your strategic thinking business coach to gain that awesome power of thank you.

“How To Be More Media Savvy and Less Media Ignorant. Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
Too many people in business today are not media savvy and continue to make one mistake after the other in their dealings with the media. It is important for business people to become more media savvy and less media ignorant. There needs to be a commitment made to learn more about working with the media in a positive way. Based upon more than 35 years of experience in working with the media, your strategic thinking business coach created a list of ten (10) tips on what to avoid doing when you work with the media in order to foster more positive media relations. Here is the list of actions to avoid:

How Clear Is Your Vision For Your Business? Is It Time For A Business Vision Examination? - Click To Read Article
When was the last time you really examined your vision for your business? As the calendar year or the fiscal year draws to a close, this could present perfect timing for an examination of your vision for your business. A vision is dynamic and it requires periodic examination in order to retain your strategic focus in business. Here are ten (10) questions from your strategic thinking business coach to use to perform an annual examination of your business vision.

How Professional Service Providers Can Break Through Resistance to Requesting Referrals, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One of the most powerful strategic marketing tools is referrals. Are you resisting the opportunity to request referrals? In doing some research on this subject I learned that many, if not most, professional services providers resist because of fear. Yes, I said fear. The professional services providers are afraid they will: offend and therefore harm their relationship with a client; fail and not cultivate any new business; be perceived as a “salesman” or a “saleswoman” instead of as a professional; and be placed in a totally awkward and uncomfortable position with their clients. So, what can you do to break through and overcome this resistance? Your strategic thinking business coach has six (6) suggested “break through” strategies for you to consider.

How A Business Coach Can Help You Build Success, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
The professional services of a business coach are really very similar to that of an athletic coach. One major difference though is that business coaching is undertaken for the benefit of a business or an organization. Business coaching focuses on improving individual performance and on improving team performance. And with improved individual and team performance comes success. But how can a business coach help your build success in your business? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers a few thoughts.

How A Business Coach Can Help Entrepreneurs According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
In the United States there are over 250,000 new small businesses started each year. Entrepreneurs start many of these businesses. Many entrepreneurs and small business owners are highly skilled, very intelligent and highly motivated. They love a challenge and are willing to take risks. In my business coaching practice I have also found that the majority of the entrepreneurs that are clients have had no formal business education. In other words, they typically have had no training in running a business. And so, they start their businesses and things start to go in the wrong direction. It is not uncommon for them to experience many problems and challenges, which provide the opportunities for assistance from business coaching. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach shares how entrepreneurs can be helped by business coaching.

Got Skills & Talents Without Positive Results? Then Get The Power of Coaching To Achieve Positive Results! - Click To Read Article
Does your company or organization have great skilled and talented people, but lack the achievement of desired positive results? Do you have a feeling that you could be more efficient, productive, successful and passionate about your work? Have you wanted to change direction, but simply had no idea where to start or how to do it? If you answered YES to any of these questions, there is good news for you. The answer is the power of coaching. In preparing to write this article I looked for some quotes on the power of coaching and found several. I want to share five (5) of my favorites that I believe really illustrate the power of coaching.

Feeling Lonely At The Top? It May Be Time For An Executive Business Coach! - Click To Read Article
Have you heard or ever spoken the words, “It is lonely at the top!”? This was a much used phrase in an organization I worked with some years ago. And it really is true! Many executives and top business leaders experience that feeling and many executives arriving in a new company and/or position will often fail. Some of the most common reasons why they fail include: unclear and misunderstood expectations; failure to build strong and effective relationships with key stakeholders; failure to understand the company culture; failure to manage change; and failure to gain the confidence and commitments from the management team. Each of those failures could be addressed if the executives had the benefit of an executive business coach with thirteen (13) major characteristics that define a good executive business coach.

“End of Year Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
As we enter the month of December each year, we often wonder where the year has gone, how quickly it has passed and what we did or did not accomplish. He end of each year finds us thinking about holidays, gifts, parties and friends, as well as the closing out of another business year. The end of the year is a time to look back on the previous year and look forward to the next. And while reflecting on the past year, a strategic thinking business coach would like to suggest that you take time to remember and to give thanks for the great things that happened in your business. And to build on all of the positive things that you accomplished this past year and carry that positive momentum into next year.

"Essential Ingredients For An Effective Ad" - Click To Read Article
We are literally bombarded with advertisements every day and in many forms. Each of these advertisements is competing for our very limited attention. One can say the competition is fierce. Therefore, your ads must be well thought out and have certain key attributes or what I choose to call “ingredients.” Here are the essential ingredients I believe are necessary for an effective ad.

End of Year Thoughts From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach: Looking to Success in 2009 and Beyond - Click To Read Article
As we enter the month of December each year, we often wonder where the year has gone, how quickly it has passed and what we did or did not accomplish. He end of each year finds us thinking about holidays, gifts, parties and friends, as well as the closing out of another business year. The end of the year is a time to look back on the previous year and look forward to the next. And while reflecting on the past year, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach would like to suggest that you take time to remember and to give thanks for the great things that happened in your business. And to build on all of the positive things that you accomplished this past year and carry that positive momentum into next year.

“Dysfunctional Planning of Goals Facilitates Failure, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
That age old adage,” If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” may be more true in today’s business world, than at any other time. I have been truly amazed at how many clients I have that will tell me that they never had any kind of business plan, marketing plan, financial plan, strategic plan or any kind of plan, until they met me and starting working with me in a business coaching relationship. And they all shared various forms of challenges, frustrations, issues, etc. with their business. Well, honestly, in the absence of planning or in the presence of dysfunctional planning, the diagnosis is simple as to the reasons for the struggles. So, let me share why I say that dysfunctional planning of goals will facilitate failure. Here are (10) actions to facilitate failure in your business.

Do You Know Where Your Disaster Recovery Plan Is - Click To Read Article
Disasters of major magnitude are major news again after the Gulf coast region of the United States was hit by 2 major hurricanes. So it is very timely for me to ask each of you: “Do you know where your disaster recovery plan is?” “Do you even have a disaster recovery plan or crisis management plan?” “What business contingency plans do you have?” I am very concerned that in too many cases the answers would be “No” “No” and “None!” The plain hard truth is that if your business is going to continue to perform at a profitable or administratively adequate level when a crisis occurs, crisis/emergency planning is imperative. You must have a properly prepared disaster recovery plan in place and have the appropriate staff fully briefed on their responsibilities.

Do You Control Your Email or Does Your Email Control You - Click To Read Article
Recently while discussing time management issues with my business coaching clients and others, the topic of email and the amount of time we all spend dealing with business (and non-business) email at work. Those discussions gave impetus to this article. Do you ever wonder how many email boxes are in use by organizations all over the world? 100 million? 200 million? According to statistics I read in a recent article, there were an estimated 225 million email boxes in use in 2005 by organizations in the world. Did I hear someone say WOW!

“Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is - In Our Businesses Today?” - Click To Read Article
The title of this article is derived from the title of a very popular 1960s song by the band, Chicago. It is also a question that needs to be asked in our businesses today. Do you know what time it is in your business when it comes to how much time is wasted in business each year? The best answer is probably, “Time to stop wasting time!” It has been reported that the average person spends 150 hors each year looking for misplaced information. Wow, talk about a time waster! Think about the magnitude of this type of lost time when accumulated over all our businesses and organizations. What would happen if you and others in your company spent those 150 hours doing something productive? Imagine what could be achieved. Okay, let’s list a few thoughts that hopefully will stimulate your imagination to determine what you can do.

“Do You Know Where Your Succession Plan Is? And Do You Know What To Do If You Can’t Find It?” - Click To Read Article
Many business people detest thinking about succession planning, let alone actually doing succession planning. It becomes another one of those items to be done “tomorrow.” The enormous risk in putting this off is that without a succession plan in place, the continuity of the business and its future direction could be totally lost. It is important to impress upon you that succession planning is needed earlier in your life of your business, not later. Do you or don’t you have a succession plan? Is it written down somewhere so it can be found? Or is it in your mind and no one else has any idea of what your succession plan looks like or where to find it? And if you cannot find it do you know what to do? Here are my eight (8) strongest recommended actions to take if you do not have or cannot find your succession plan.

Communications Tips - Click To Read Article
"The Greatest problem in communication is the illusion that it has been accomplished." George Bernard Shaw The great quote by George Bernard Shaw confirms what I have experienced in my 35 plus year career. And in my past 23 years in my own business, I cannot think of a single instance where "communication" was not listed as a problem, challenge, frustration, irritant, etc. in the focus groups, discussion groups and other strategic planning endeavors I have conducted. Communication is a challenge. And it is an opportunity for very positive impressions if one works at doing it effectively.

Coaching Solutions For You - Click To Read Article
Let’s be honest! Do you ever feel overwhelmed, stressed, tired, stuck in the same old rut, unorganized, underappreciated, lacking direction or focus on your goals, bored with your work and/or without balance between your time working and your time spent with family and friends? Remember, I did say be honest! If you answered truthfully, you said YES and I can tell you that you have lots of company

Coaching to Success in 2006 and Beyond - Click To Read Article
2006 is well underway and each day presents opportunities for each and every one of us to be successful. But do we recognize the opportunities for success? Do we act upon the opportunities for success that are recognized? How does one become skilled in recognizing, seizing and acting upon opportunities for success? One very powerful answer: “through coaching.”

Clearing Up The Myths About Strategic Thinking and Planning - Click To Read Article
I continue to be amazed at the amount of misinformation and the number of myths that exist about strategic thinking and planning. During my entire career, I have heard business owners, senior executives and not-for-profit board members and executive directors utter “mythical” statements about strategic thinking and planning. And I have observed that these same people truly believe that these myths are reality. My purpose in writing this article is to share what I believe are the 5 biggest myths and also provide some insights into what I believe are the 5 biggest “realities” of strategic thinking and planning.

Change Is Here To Stay Thoughts From A Change Agent - Click To Read Article
"The trouble with the future is that it usually arrives before we're ready for it." Arnold H. Glasow Whenever someone refers to me as a "Change Agent," I accept it as a real compliment because that is a very accurate description of what I am. Since change is here to stay, I wanted to share some thoughts about change and some strategies on dealing with change. Change in the workplace and in our lives is inevitable. The way most people deal with change can vary from trying to ignore it; getting angry; wishful thinking and/or running away. A very positive way to deal with change is to look at change as a spawning ground for new opportunities for the business or organization.

Can Your Business Be Attractive to Investors Thoughts From A Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Is your company experiencing solid growth where you are considering looking for outside investors for your capital needs? Do you know if your business will be or can be attractive to investors? If you plan to search for equity investors, you should know that they will expect a significant return on their investment (20% to 50% is not uncommon) and many times within 5 years. These investors will look carefully at the candidate company to characteristics that include, but are not limited to: a solid and proven management team; potential company growth; solid business plan; and evidence of strategic thinking and planning in a strategic plan with vision, mission core values and short term & long term goals. If you decide to obtain equity financing, here are 5 major actions a business coach recommends.

“Business Ethics – What’s Happening Where We Work?” - Click To Read Article
The National Business Ethics Survey (NBES) provides an overview of ethics in the workplace and the 2005 version indicates that ethical misconduct is increasing. And this is after Enron, et al. The NBES included more than 3,000 American workers and their survey showed that more than half of American workers have observed at least one type of ethical misconduct in the workplace. Yet, employee reporting of the misconduct they observe is down by 10%. This is cause for alarm, in my opinion, and more businesses need to be aware of what is happening with ethics at work today.

“Business Mentoring – Add It To Business Coaching For A Powerful Combination” - Click To Read Article
In today’s competitive and challenging business world, everyone looks for an edge, an advantage over the competition. In many cases, business people look to business mentoring or business coaching to give them a competitive advantage. But, I ask the question of why choose one or the other when you can choose and use both! The combination of business mentoring and business coaching provides some very awesome power to those who use both. Business mentoring and business coaching is not the same thing and in combination provides an awesome advantage to anyone who enjoys a positive relationship with both.

Business Ethics Guidelines: An Ethical Action Test From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Each of us is ultimately responsible for our own actions. Although in today’s business world, I imagine many skeptics would take exception to that statement because there is evidence that people are not held accountable for their actions, even when they are unethical. And even more disturbing, some are even rewarded for unethical actions. Each of us makes a choice to act ethically or to act unethically. It is essential that we know what is ethical and what is unethical. But, more challenging and difficult than knowing what is ethical, is knowing what is right and then doing what is right. So what advice & guidance are available to check if the action is right before implementing a decision to act? Your strategic thinking business coach has a set of questions to provide guidance for ethical decisions & actions.

Business Growth Through Strategic Email Marketing, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Today’s businesses, regardless of their size, must realize how critical it is to engage in strategic marketing activities in order to grow and survive in our business world. Using strategic thinking in deciding which channel can offer you the best return on your marketing investment is also essential for success. A strategic marketing approach will include several different tactics that will provide a marketing system that continuously works toward customer acquisition and retention. One of the most strategic and cost effective marketing initiatives is Email marketing Strategic thinking and planning for marketing requires that goals be set. So, what might be some defined goals for each email marketing campaign you develop? Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following

Clearing Up The Myths About Seeking Advice and Help, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
How do you feel about asking for advice and for some form of help from others? Do you always resist asking, or do you resist until it is a last resort? Why do people delay making a justified and valid request for advice and help until they become desperate and in a state of panic? I continue to be amazed at the amount of misinformation and the number of myths that exist about asking for advice and help. During my entire career, I have heard business owners, senior executives and not-for-profit board members and executive directors utter “mythical” statements about seeking advice and help. And I have observed that these same people truly believe that these myths are reality. Here are the 5 biggest myths and some insights into what I believe are the 5 biggest “realities” of seeking advice and help from others.

Business Luncheon Manners Always Matter, Ten Tips From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Every business day of the year, there are business lunches taking place. And every business day there are bad business luncheon manners being displayed and observed. Inexperienced staff members to experienced business executives commit these business manner blunders because too many people forget their manners at the business luncheon table. And these business lunch manner faux pas result in a negative image of the person committing them and the company they represent. All business manners are essential to building relationships in today’s business world. People, who present themselves very favorably, will maximize their business potential. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach would like to offer the following ten (10) tips to ensure good business manners at your business luncheon meetings.

Building A Better Brand in the New Year - Click To Read Article
The new year is well underway and many of us have been using the start of the new year to review, refine and/or restart various things in our businesses. For this article I want to concentrate on writing to encourage you to seize the opportunity to look at your branding for this year.

Business Coaching - Click To Read Article
A business coach in today's business world can be a very valuable asset for business owners. And one good reason is that emotional situations in your business require unemotional business advice.

“BUILDING UP OR SELECTIVELY DEMOLISHING AN IMAGE " - Click To Read Article
Is your customer service building up a positive image for you as a builder or is it selectively demolishing your image? Do you simply talk about good customer service or do you provide and promote a daily customer service commitment? And is customer service really important to individual builders and the entire building industry? The answers are crucial to you specifically as a builder and to the building industry, in general.

“Bringing The Power of Passion Into Your Business” - Click To Read Article
Do you recognize where your passions lie in your business? What are you truly passionate about in your business? Are there additional ways that you can bring passion into your business? I believe that caring about your work and taking personal pride in whatever you do in your work are qualities that are essential to achieve. Working hard, doing one’s best and being ready to accept new challenges are what probably 80% of people do. So what makes some people stand out, way above this 80%? What is it that differentiates Steve Jobs and Lee Iacocca from others? I say it is PASSION! If you are wondering how to bring the power of passion into your business, here are a few tips to do so.

Business Coaching As A Valuable Asset For You and Your Business - Click To Read Article
The challenges facing business owners and senior mangers seem to get more complex each year. And these challenges call for additional resources and tools to deal with the challenges and to take advantage of the opportunities that lie within each challenge. One of the most valuable assets for business owners and their management team members is the strategic thinking, strategic planning and independent, unemotional and unbiased outside advice from a strategic thinking business coach. A business coach in today's business world can be a very valuable asset for business owners.

Another Client Success Story - Click To Read Article
It is always a pleasure to hear good news and to receive feedback about what you have done to positively impact someone's life or business. In continuing our tradition of celebrating success and sharing positive stories about our clients, I want to share another testimonial with you about the coaching side of our business.

“Are You Building or Demolishing Trust In Your Business?” - Click To Read Article
Do you believe that trust is important in your business? Many of you probably answered yes and in fact many experts believe trust is perhaps the most important element of an efficient, cooperative, collaborative and unified work environment. Almost every one of my client focus groups during the first stages of strategic planning will list trust and the lack thereof as a challenge, frustration and issue in their workplace. The management team wants to know how they can build trust in the workforce and how they can avoid losing it. So I ask you – are you building or demolishing trust in your business or organization? Here are five (5) questions to ask to verify if you are building trust in your business.

Achieving Swift Vision for Your Business or Organization - Click To Read Article
At first glance you may have read the headline of this article and immediately interpreted “swift” as fast, quick, hurried, rapid, etc. But, the “Swift” I am referring to is Jonathan Swift. And one of my favorite quotes related to strategic thinking and planning is from Jonathan Swift, who said, “Vision is the art of seeing things invisible.” And that very succinctly describes what I do everyday on personal and business levels and what I guide and facilitate others to do also.

“A Positive Look at Media Interviews and A Prescription for Successful Media Interviews” - Click To Read Article
As you read the headline, I can almost hear some of you asking, “How can there be anything positive about media interviews? I would rather go for a painful visit to my dentist than participate in a media interview.” Well, I want to tell you that in more than 35 years of media interviews in my professional career, I remain positive about media interviews and will share some thoughts with you. And just in case you might believe that all those media interviews were fun & friendly, I can assure you they were not. So you are wondering how to look at media interviews in a positive light and view them as an opportunity to tell your story. Here is my prescription for you.

“A Strategic Approach To Produce A Strong Professional Services Brand, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
A professional services firm, just like other types of businesses, needs to develop a strong brand and a favorable impression in the minds of prospects, clients and stakeholders in their business. In smaller professional service firms, there are limited financial resources for advertising as a primary branding vehicle. Therefore, as strategic approach is imperative to maximize the impact of available resources to rand your professional services firm. How do you influence your market in a strategic way that produces a favorable image of your firm in the minds of your prospects, clients and stakeholders? Your strategic thinking business coach recommends the following strategic approach.

“A Strategic Approach To Setting & Achieving Your Goals For The New Year, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach” - Click To Read Article
The end of the calendar year or the end of the company’s fiscal year presents an opportune time to review the performance of the past year and to develop some solid business goals for the new calendar or fiscal year. Using some strategic thinking, here are a few tips for setting and achieving your goals for the new year.

A Strategic Approach To Planning For A New Business Year – Ask Your Clients Questions - Click To Read Article
A new business year has begun and hopefully your strategic thinking and planning has been underway for some time. A strategic thinking business coach suggests that asking clients some probing questions will be very beneficial in your planning efforts for the new business year. The strategy of asking these questions is to gain insight for developing the best solutions for your clients’ problems. Asking questions will help you gain needed information from your clients; build rapport with your clients; increase the clients’ comfort level; understand the clients’ needs; and discover the clients’ concerns, frustrations and fears. What are some examples of questions you could ask your clients? Your strategic thinking business coach suggests the following:

A Strategic Look At Email Subject Lines From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
What are the first things you look at before you open your emails? What two items determine whether or not you open the email? You will most likely view the “from” email address first & then look at the “subject “ line next before deciding to open your email. The “subject” line is really the equivalent of a newspaper headline and it is a very important factor in a person’s decision of whether or not to “read on” or in the case of email, “to open.” Writing a great “subject” line or a great headline is a challenge. You only have a few seconds and only a few words to make your “subject” line compelling and urgent enough to get the reader’s attention and then “open and read on.” Your strategic thinking business coach offers the following strategic tips on writing effective “subject” lines for your emails.

A Strategic Look At Client Retention From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
One behavior I continue to see in the marketing efforts of many companies is the extraordinary expenditure of resources to “chase” new clients and customers. Companies keep thinking up new marketing ideas, increasing their networking activities, and advertising in many non-effective places with the emphasis on gaining new clients and customers. Why? Because there are still many individuals and companies that have the “we have always done it that way” mentality and believe that gaining new clients is how they grow their business. Well, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach takes exception to that thinking and believes the real strategic approach to growing your business is by client and customer retention. Here are 10 strategic actions recommended to achieve a strong ROI for client and customer retention.

A Strategic Look At Why You Should Develop A Business Exit Strategy Now! - Click To Read Article
Do you have an exit strategy for your business? I ask many prospective clients that question and find that too many do not have an exit strategy or plan; others have one that is not adequately funded or has no risk management built into the plan; or they have thought about it but never did anything about it. Michael Gerber, in his E-Myth books tells us that we create a business to sell it> Otherwise, we own a job not a business. So, I would say that whenever you create a business or something else that's interesting and useful, you create something that's worth selling. And subsequently, when you're thinking of selling a business, which is very important to you and your future well being, then it's critical to have a well-developed plan firmly in place. I have found that all strategic exit plans should identify the following:

A Strategic Thinking Approach To Making Good Decisions From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Did you ever stop and think about how many decisions you are required to make each and every day. There are probably hundreds of decisions that need to be made in your business and your personal life every day. And those decisions range from very simple to very complex. The ability to make sound decisions is critical for each of us. So, do you believe that you have the skills to make those decisions most strategically and effectively? When a crisis occurs or tough choices need to be made, the ability to make accurate judgments is critical. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following tips to engage in a strategic thinking approach for your decision making and to help you make the right decisions, no matter what the situation. ?

A Prescription From The PR Doctor For a Healthy and Effective Media Kit - Click To Read Article
Media kits are an essential part of any public relations program and it is essential that certain items are included in your media kit. The PR Doctor has developed a prescription for a healthy and effective media kit. The top ten (10) prescribed items for a healthy and effective media kit include:

A Prescription From The PR Doctor To Become Positive Headline News - Click To Read Article
Publicity is an essential ingredient in any integrated marketing communications plan. Positive public relations are very important to all businesses and require a dedicated strategic thinking effort to achieve the desired results. The impact of media coverage and positive media headlines can mean an enhancement of your company and your individual image in the communities and the markets where you do business. The PR Doctor has developed a prescription for you to use to become positive headline news. The prescription includes the following ten (10) prescribed strategic actions.

A Prescription From The PR Doctor To Prevent Unhealthy Public Relations - Click To Read Article
The public’s perceptions of the health and well being of a company can be formed by the publicity the company and its leaders receive in the media. And certainly no business or individual wants negative publicity that will taint the current “state of the business” or images of the company and its leaders. Positive public relations are very important to all businesses and require a dedicated strategic thinking effort to achieve the desired results. Yet, there are so many times and so many examples of public relations efforts being done in an unhealthy manner. The PR Doctor has developed a prescription for you to use to prevent unhealthy public relations. The prescription includes the following ten (10) prescribed strategic actions.

A Prescription From The PR Doctor For A Healthy Pursuit of Media Corrections - Click To Read Article
How many times have you heard someone complain about some inaccurate segment of a news article or radio or television story? Have you ever been upset about a news story and wanted to pick up the phone or write a letter to “demand a correction or retraction?” Do you have any idea about how to go about contacting the media when it comes to requests for corrections? The manner in which people contact the media and their demeanor can have a very strong bearing on the response they receive. Unfortunately, there are so many times when people pursue the media for corrections in an unhealthy and negative manner. The PR Doctor has developed a prescription for you to use to pursue media corrections in a healthy & positive manner. The prescription includes the following ten (10) prescribed strategic actions.

A Series of Strategic PR Tips and Prescriptions, Part 1 From The PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
How healthy are your public relations efforts and your media relations? Do you have a prescribed plan to achieve healthy publicity for your organization year in and year out? Do you have preventative measures and cures for unhealthy media relations and media coverage for your organization? Do you complain that your organization never gets the media coverage you feel you deserve? Well, if you do not have a healthy relation with the media and you are faced with some real public relations challenges, “The PR Doctor” has a series of strategic PR tips and prescriptions to help. This article is the first in a three part series of a prescription to present those strategic PR tips. Here are the first 10 strategic PR tips in the 3-part series.

A Series of Strategic PR Tips and Prescriptions, Part 2 From The PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
How healthy are your public relations efforts and your media relations? Do you have a prescribed plan to achieve healthy publicity for your organization year in and year out? Do you have preventative measures and cures for unhealthy media relations and media coverage for your organization? Do you complain that your organization never gets the media coverage you feel you deserve? Well, if you do not have a healthy relation with the media and you are faced with some real public relations challenges, “The PR Doctor” has a series of strategic PR tips and prescriptions to help. This article is the second in a three part series of a prescription to present those strategic PR tips. Here are the second 10 strategic PR tips in the 3-part series.

A Series of Strategic PR Tips and Prescriptions, Part 3 From The PR Doctor - Click To Read Article
How healthy are your public relations efforts and your media relations? Do you have a prescribed plan to achieve healthy publicity for your organization year in and year out? Do you have preventative measures and cures for unhealthy media relations and media coverage for your organization? Do you complain that your organization never gets the media coverage you feel you deserve? Well, if you do not have a healthy relation with the media and you are faced with some real public relations challenges, “The PR Doctor” has a series of strategic PR tips and prescriptions to help. This article is the second in a three part series of a prescription to present those strategic PR tips. Here are the third and final 10 strategic PR tips in the 3-part series.

20 Tips To Initiate & Inspire Innovation From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
The word innovation appears frequently in advertisements, positioning statements, branding, marketing, mission statements and is used by most businesses and organizations in some fashion or form. But the question is how many businesses and organizations really make innovation a top priority? And how many businesses and organizations are truly good at innovation? One recent AMA/HRI study found that although most organizations say that innovation is a top priority, few companies are actually good at it. So, with that in mind, Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach offers the following list of twenty (20) tips to inspire and initiate innovation for you and your business.

12 Deadly Mistakes To Avoid On Your Web Site According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
Your web site is an extremely powerful tool for your business. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach recommends that you use some strategic thinking when designing and updating your web site. Based upon personal observations, tips from associates, tips from various references, and tips from some advisors, there are some deadly mistakes one must avoid in designing and updating their web site. These mistakes can have a devastating impact on your mage with visitors to your web site. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach is not a web site designer. However, he is a guide and a facilitator for clients and their actions, which sometimes include designing and updating their web site. In order to have an effective web site, there are some deadly mistakes you want to avoid. Here are twelve (12) of them.

11 Strategic Actions To Combat and Defeat Time Wasters From Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach - Click To Read Article
There is not a day goes by when I do not hear someone tell me they do not have enough time to do what they need to do. Or some people will blatantly tell me that they are terrible time managers and waste a lot of their time (not to mention the waste of others time also). Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach recommends that you take a good look at the ways you waste time and the ways others cause a waste of your time and then develop a plan to get rid of those time wasters. In order to facilitate and guide you in this effort. Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach has developed a list of eleven (11) strategic actions to combat and defeat time wasters.





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