Happy Holidays and setting business goals for 2020
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A VERY HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!! SETTING BUSINESS GOALS FOR 2020: A WORKSHEET LOOKING BACK: Typically this time of year lends itself to a ‘winding down’ period as businesses and individuals turn their focus to ‘wrapping’ things up for the year (gifts AS WELL AS…outstanding business commitments); it is a […]
Making a difference
On the 9th of October, I had the privilege of addressing a group of some 20 immigrant business startups. This event, like so many others held for newcomers to Canada, was held by ‘Job Skills’, Markham. ‘Job Skills’ coaches, prepares and connects newcomers to job and business opportunities I acknowledge, with thanks, that this two […]
The Benefits of an Advisory Board
Are you making the right decisions for your business? Are you on the most profitable path? What are your best options for success? What are your negative choices? Being in business can be lonely and exhausting. This is where a board of advisers not only becomes helpful but may be an essential part of the […]
Return on Marketing and Advertising
Return on Marketing and Advertising In this tough competitive time and media saturated marketplace coupled with savvy consumers, companies are looking at ways to maximize the return on their advertising dollar. In recent newsletters, we discussed percentage of budget to be spent on advertising as well as where to advertise. So you have decided on […]
The 3 C’s of Opportunity
The 3 C’s of Opportunity in Business It is easy to visualize your passion as being a huge asset to your business. In many instances it is. However, it is essential that you realize your passion has to correlate with market needs. So many business fail to do this and end up disillusioned that being a ‘genius’ […]
What is SWOT Analysis?
SWOT ANALYSIS: ANALYZING YOUR BUSINESS – July 2019 ASE Newsletter What is a SWOT Analysis? SWOT is a simple strategic planning technique that can help you identify what your business is doing well, what it needs to improve upon, where it needs to grow, and what could be its undoing. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, […]
Employee engagement strategy – The fierce conversation
An Employee Engagement Strategy: The Fierce Conversation – ASE June 2019 Newsletter The following is a tried and true format in dealing with a difficult employee situation. The strategy, developed by Susan Scott author of ‘Fierce Conversations’, is to maintain a good employer/employee relationship [or any relationship for that matter] and is based on an […]
More Effective Meetings
Meetings are a useful way to achieve better communications, problem solving and reach common consensus. For businesses, meetings are unavoidable. Meetings however often fail in their goals. ‘In many meeting more gets said than done.’ Furthermore, meetings are also a big time hog and often become a function of formed habits and expectations. In such cases, […]
MANAGING YOUR COMPANY’S GROSS MARGIN – ASE April 2019 Newsletter
PRICING MANAGEMENT Managing your company’s pricing process is vital to the success of your business. Declining gross margins generally indicate pricing problems and may lead to the ultimate failure of your company. The success of any business depends on several key factors including achieving consistent gross margin targets. How gross margin is adversely impacted by […]
Exit Strategy for small business (from ASE March Newsletter)
Planning an Exit Strategy for Your Small Business