Business Strategy

Many of us wouldn’t see a connection between Business Development and the laws of nature but believe me it’s there. I was fortunate, at age 16, to begin work as a fishing guide on Lake of the Woods, the massive lake that sits on the Ontario, Minnesota border. After high school and college and a stretch with DOD I returned to the lake as the owner of an island resort. During my long association with the lake my most meaningful responsibility was that of guide and it was during my time on the water that I learned of the unique challenges faced by the commercial fishermen on the lake. Let’s...


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Do you have a winning sales philosophy? A philosophy that guides you as you and your employees pursue more work for your company? A philosophy that sets parameters on what you will and will not do to secure that next job? A philosophy that helps motivate you each and every day? I’m talking about this definition of philosophy: a: the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group Beliefs, concepts and attitudes have intrinsic value to those who hold them and exert a powerful pull on a person’s actions. I’m not talking about your company’s canned...


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Of all the terms and phrases we use in the construction industry, I think Customer Service is the most used but least well defined. A quick search of just a few architectural and construction services websites reveals a jumble of words and phrases directed towards potential clients in an effort to assure them that the customer is the center of their world and they provide excellent customer service. integrity, quality, and excellence positive performance exceed our client’s expectations satisfaction of our clients establishing long-term relationships performing above and beyond those...


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Have you ever worked with someone who was always preaching the values of Teamwork? I have. His sermons on teamwork ( and there were a lot of them ) rose to fevered pitch as he would claim personal embarrassment by the actions or lack of effort of others on….you guessed it, The Team. He would pepper each of his speeches with time worn, worthless expressions such as: “There’s no I in Team!” “We all have to pull together!” “Who’s got the ball?!” “No one is better than anyone else in this company, we‘re a Team!” Ironically this person knew only too well...


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Branding and the Service Conundrum “Do good first.  Brand good later.” I have friends who claim I peg-out their Dork-O-Meters every time I speak about this subject, but the shiny new images and catchy taglines produced (by) for some companies fascinates me. Whether by choice or necessity companies worldwide are using the cultural  shock waves generated by this recession to win market share or change their images. Surfing on this wave of change are the branding experts, adeptly manipulating the angst of nervous owners and executives. Lucas Conley, author of OBD-Obsessive Branding Disorder...


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