Business Tips by Chris Reich
Tips from growing a business to dealing with disputesIndependence Week: Having Fun?
I always associate the week of July 4th with my own independence. It's the time I celebrate my work independence. In reality, most people didn't come to this country to escape persecution but rather to improve their economic prospects. The European countries had a...
Good Enough to Be Wrong
The great physicist, Wolfgang Pauli, was once asked to review a paper written by a student who was not well thought of by his professor. The professor wanted confirmation of his opinion of the student from Pauli.When he finished reading the paper Pauli remarked, "he's...
Are Ethics Relative?
I believe we can trace the decline in the American way of life to a decline in ethics. During times when we truly did good, we did well. Since the turn of the century we experienced a rapid decline in ethics. Government became less accountable. Big business grew more...
Business Startup Advice—Build-out
There is one item in the plans for the new business that can completely blow out the budget. Getting this wrong has put many new businesses in the hole before the doors open.From the title you know I am referring to the build-out line of the startup costs.Not to...
Some Care, Some Do Not
We all mourn the death of customer service. From out-sourcing of support to outright failure to stand behind products, many companies simply thumb their nose at unhappy customers.We feel that the internet has given us a degree of protection. Some companies are now...
What Is Entropy?
Entropy is the thing that eventually kills an old business. Even giants fall to entropy. Hostess fell to entropy!So what is it?In physics, we say that in a closed system, entropy always increases. If you add some hot water to cold water, there will be a place where...
What I Shipped This Week
If you're busy being busy you are not producing. Here's what I shipped this week:One business has blasted off after getting a couple hours of advice from TeachU (Several thousands in sales!)One business has completely turned around! After losing a huge amount of...
Continuous Improvement?
So many stale businesses have something about "continuous improvement" in their mission statements that the expression no longer has meaning. If your business talks continuous improvement, why is changed resisted? Why are new ideas met with zero enthusiasm?Why is any...
Snowflakes, Rocks and Customers
You have heard of course that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. Of the billions and billions that have fallen to earth, no snowflake has ever been exactly duplicated.That seems pretty remarkable until you think about complexity.A single snowflake is made of...
Google Analytics Matter
Google offers a 100% free service for all website owners: Google Analytics. As they say in advertising, "accept no substitutes!"One of the first questions I ask new clients is whether they have set up analytics for their website. Very few answer yes. Of those, it's...
When Is It Time to Raise Money?
I get at least 2 calls a day from people asking me to help them raise money. I always ask the same question. Are you starting a new business r is your existing business doing so well you must expand? Silence. Then, no, neither. I can't live on what the business is...
Trade Show Tip Guaranteed to Increase ROI
The goal of participating in a trade-show is to meet and connect with potential buyers. I am referring to the larger class of trade-show, not a "demo and sell" state fair event.Connecting with trade-show attendees involves an intelligent strategy. There are a lot of...
TeachU Aphorism Number 2
If it works, find out why.Sounds like a simple enough thing to do. Why don't we?When something is successful at a business, rarely is the time spent to look at why that success happened. We often make snap judgments like, "great idea! Adding the off switch really made...
Friday Fun Video
I put this in the category of 'Small Improvements" because this is an example of where making small, incremental improvements leads to a perfect product.Not only is the video interesting, but there is a lot of solid business advice about quality in every frame. Take...
Business Tip #1
If it isn't broken, break it! Why? This drives improvement. Nothing will drag a business down to the point of no return more reliably than improving a product or process that is becoming outdated. That's entropy at work! Worked with a business this week that had a...
Having Fun at Work Is Important!
I have not written enough about this subject. That shows how easily priorities get shifted when things get busy.Yes, making sure people are having fun at work should be a priority.Why?Start with the obvious. Time flies when you're having fun. This is certainly true...
Ethics
What is going on?I think the myth we are supposed to believe goes like this: When times get tough, we all pull together.I'm sure not seeing that. Yesterday I had a conversation with an executive about an employee taking a supposed false disability leave. The question...
Maybe It Will Not Work Out
I am very tired of dealing with business people facing serious consequences telling me, "it will all work out."The hell. That is a shallow, lousy excuse for not digging in and fixing what needs to be fixed even if you have no idea where to start! Just start!When...