It Starts at the Top

by | Sep 3, 2007 | Business

Yes, it does start at the top.   Big trees die from the top down. Interesting. Businesses die the same way. When growth and creativity stop at the top, the organization begins to die. Management will not usually recognize this. At the first sign of things...

Does Your Business Have a Secret?

by | Sep 2, 2007 | Business

What’s the secret?   When I was a kid (15) I worked at a dumpy fast-food place. We had one of those old drink machines with a big glass dome forever bathed in flowing orange drink. It looked nice. Very enticing on a hot Fresno day.   Only if you...

Unremarkable City

by | Aug 29, 2007 | Business

About a month ago I wrote an entry  about a remarkable dentist. He installed a beautiful fountain in front of his office distinguishing it from the awful, cookie-cutter buildings of Union City, California. God, this whole town looks like a Staples. You...

WHERE Do You Put Your Message?

by | Aug 28, 2007 | Business

I have the opportunity to spend this week with clients in San Francisco. The drive, though tedious, is one of my great pleasures. I love to spend 7 hours trapped in the car with an audio book on my I-Pod. I stop at nearly all the rest stops and think. Yes, think....

Putting on the Gloves

by | Aug 26, 2007 | Business

It’s now 2007. We know how disease is spread. Unless you live in a cave you also know food servers are among the lowest paid workers in the labor force.   That said, do you really want a 17 year old kid putting your next burger together with his bare hands?...

Bad Sales Training

by | Aug 24, 2007 | Business

I spoke with my mortgage company yesterday.   As usual, they tried to sell me insurance. They are always trying to sell me insurance. Sometimes, the tactics they use border on unethical. Sometimes they cross the border.   This time, the GreenTree...