I just finished reading a book by Scott Adams, author of the Dilbert cartoon, and was browsing through the list of his best quotes, as picked by his fans. There was one recurring theme, which I think was best expressed in the quote: If you think that offering excellent reasons for your thinking will change [...]
A friend recently asked about how to develop her business, when all her prospective clients are requesting a service she does not offer. The service being requested is not, from the perspective of people who understand the industry, an assumed skill, and in this particular case, the friend does not have the skill, nor the [...]
Perhaps this issue is more relevant to those in service-based businesses, though I believe that no matter the nature of your business, this issue will resonate with you. I would be interested in hearing your feedback on this issue – as I believe that it has no right or wrong answers, merely a large set [...]
Recent discussions with one of my clients brought to light a common problem with marketing plans made by businesses without the foresight to consult with marketing companies, or companies involved in aspects of marketing. The client in question was looking for ways to promote their product, and thought of several different methods by which they [...]
A question pondered by owners of businesses is how to fit new ideas into existing businesses, or whether the new idea should be the basis for a new business. Often, the new idea arises from an existing part of a business, or is being developed using resources from the existing business. Perhaps it is only [...]
Last year, I continued my tradition of posting and reviewing my goals from the previous year, as well as inform you of my new goals. Like last year, I haven’t had a perfect batting average on my goals, but I’m okay with that. First, my goals for 2010 were accurate as of the time of [...]
It can be tempting at times for a business owner to contemplate competing based on price – that is, offering a product or service at a price lower than their competition. The net result of this is hoped to be a quick influx of customers who will take advantage of the lower price, and then [...]
When a recent posting on Facebook directed me to a page screaming free and asking for an email address, I immediately questioned the author of the post’s integrity in suggesting the link to their associates on Facebook. The page read like a marketing scam aimed solely at getting email addresses, with no indication as to [...]
Elie Kochman is the author of Advice for Small Business Owners and the founder of Optimal Upgrade Consulting. Using his experience working in the corporate world along with his exposure to the world of small businesses, he writes these articles to assist others avoiding common pitfalls of growing a business. His experience in the corporate world, building his own business, and working directly with other growing businesses has given him some perspective on the trials and pains of running a business.
