Business Tips by Chris Reich
Tips from growing a business to dealing with disputesWhy Success Cannot Be Copied
You have heard that no two snowflakes are exactly alike. It's true.In fact, no two of anything are exactly alike. No two cars, made in the same factory by the same people under the tightest quality standards are exactly alike. Cars are complicated. What about, say,...
Build a B-29, It Is Easier Than Starting a Business
Toward the end of World War II the Soviets saw a need for bombers equal to those of the United States. While they had their own design, it hadn't proved very reliable so they asked the U.S. for some B-29s. The U.S. declined. But on three occasions B-29s made emergency...
An “Idea” Is Not a Business
NOTE: This does not apply to those who continue to work on developing their idea.I frequently get calls from people who tell me they have a business plan and need my help to make it happen. After the formalities of Non Disclosure Agreements we schedule a meeting....
Rant Friday #1
I need to get this off my chest."ish" time is not real time and has no place in business. It is wrong to make an appointment or schedule a phone call for 4ish. I do not like waiting by the phone, unable to start anything else while I wait until 4:30 for a call that...
How to Build a Cycle of Achievement
Does Fun Undermine Management?
I think we lack fun in the workplace. People in general are not happy at work. Discipline is important but don’t overdo it.
Sign of a Big Problem
One of my central themes is "I know your business could be doing better." How can I know that? There is a common symptom that indicates a lot of room for improvement at any business. Once I see this symptom, I know the business could be doing a lot better. What is...
Start The Year With This
Getting rid of unneeded junk can serve you as much as getting something new. Use the rest of this week to clean up email accounts (archive important stuff), delete old files, remove programs you never use and clean up your physical office. You'll be amazed at...
Sometimes Simply Not Jamming Things Up Is Enough
QWERTYThat is the standard layout of the most commonly used keyboard. Look at your keyboard. The first letters across the top row are QWERTY.I would bet that you think you know why this layout was chosen as a the standard. Grouping of commonly used letters? (Like "t"...
Business Self-Destruction
I just do not understand it. Nearly every business I visit seems to have a weird, self-destructive, gene at work. No to be overly blunt, but I see really stupid behavior at most businesses. When suggestions are gently placed on the table to correct these destructive...
Productivity Tip!
I'll be brief.Use your people to their best ability and not to the title you've made up for them.If you have a problem solver, let them solve problems. If you have an artist, let them contribute design. If you have a strong organizer, let them organize.To hell with...
MARKETING!
I will scream this message until some people start to get it.Marketing is NOT advertising. Marketing is not a website and Google ads.Marketing IS is complete strategy to sell goods and services in the marketplace. A complete strategy. Got that?Marketing will not move...
What Is Wrong?
Tell me, what's wrong with this message?Our product will save you money! In fact, it will pay for itself in savings in just 14 months! Financing available.Why wouldn't people line up to get this wonder product? People are wise to promotion. Can a product save me a ton...
How to Kill Morale
"I just don't care."If I had a dime for every time I've heard that this year, I'd be able to take the rest of this year off!Why are so many talented employees telling me they don't care about their work?Because they can't care. If they did, the stress would eat a hole...
Business Rule Number 1 Is…
Rant.Why, if I must join a membership program for my hotel, airline, car rental, super market, pharmacy and ALL the other nonsense loyalty programs, why must they have insanely weird usernames that cannot be changed to something we can remember?!...
A Way Out
When you must get tough with your talent, be it from their fault or not (pay cuts due to business slow down), give the road map back to good standing or you destroy morale.These are indeed hard times. Most entities are suffering budget cuts. Management looks at poor...
Tragedy of the Commons
The term "The Tragedy of the Commons" refers to a dilemma of limited resource sharing. It's very important to our heavily populated world and crucially important to your business during an economic downturn.When many people have access to a limited resource without...
Are We Having Fun?
Has it stopped being fun at work? When that happens it is a lot more serious than managers/owners realize. It's a dangerous condition that leads to lower production, morale issues, quality issues, customer issues and a talent drain.So, you still don't care if it's fun...