(This is a guest post from my friend and long-time small business expert Karyn Greenstreet. Karyn has been teaching people how to start and run mastermind groups since 1994) Mastermind groups are everywhere! The popularity of mastermind groups is growing as people just like you are finding the success they want through brainstorming with others, creating goals, holding each other accountable, … [Read more...]

There is one homework assignment that I know will send every client into a tailspin: writing their About Page. An About Page is a necessary part of every professional website. In addition to offering rock-solid products or services, your prospective customers also want to know that they can trust your ability to deliver. It is also the source of tremendous emotional consternation, since it … [Read more...]

I was all excited to tell my friend and lawyer Kyle Durand that I was finally exercising on a regular basis, taking early morning walks in the neighborhood. "That's so cool!" he said. Then I asked "So, what are you doing for fun these days?" "Oh, I am preparing to run the 350 mile Iditarod trail in Alaska in the middle of winter." You read that right, not "go on a sled pulled by dogs," but … [Read more...]

Do you ever look at your daily agenda and feel a sense of dread? There are so many things to do every day. Big projects and small projects. Business tasks and personal tasks. Meetings, emails and action items. The more you check off, the more that seem to pop up the next day, or week. You can feel, if you don't pay close attention, that you are just going through the motions of life, on an … [Read more...]

With the exception of a few weirdos like me, most people dread going to networking events. What should you say? What if you don't know anyone in the room and you feel awkward? What if you don't make a single productive business connection, and you waste hours of your time? There is no way to be 100% sure that a business networking event will be a good use of your time. Here are three ways … [Read more...]

I have been working on a module about values and ethics for The New Consulting School, and remembered I had done an interview with my friend Greg Hartle about this subject. He has founded and sold multiple companies, and brings a tremendous depth of perspective in the area of ethics. In the conversation, I asked him how we translate general values like "Fairness" or "Honesty" into specific, … [Read more...]

A few years ago, I started working with a new client who was frustrated about progress in her business. "I am doing all of these activities! Blogging, attending networking events, tweaking my opt-ins on my website, and posting on social media. I am still not making any money!" So I asked her for the URL of her website. I pulled it up, and saw that there was no "Services" or "Work with Us" … [Read more...]

We sure do know how to spot something that bugs us in business. "Can you believe that hokey pitch from the stage? Blech!" "OMG, I am so tired of seeing this affiliate promotion go around again!" "I am so sick of seeing the same faces plastered on every "most creative people in business" list!" "That networking event was so boring!" "Their customer service was terrible!  It took them 3 … [Read more...]

The other day when I was doing a podcast interview about Body of Work with Tom Capone of the New York City Distance Learning Association (NYDLA), I realized an important consequence of counseling people to be continually improving, creating and building new skills in their career: You need to consistently and continually update the story you tell about your body of work. And if you don't, then … [Read more...]

Photo by Niba DelCastillo It is a new year, and we sure have some work to do! I wanted to lay out my big vision for my business this year, so that you are crystal clear what I stand for and the many ways we can collaborate, connect and support small businesses everywhere (including yours!). Here is my brief video update, complete with new turquoise hair highlights. #bold2017  We … [Read more...]