Management
Michael Mehlberg
Project Management Solution? Keep It Simple ...

Project management is among a top skill to master in any business; especially one wanting to grow.

Why?

Because without project management, business owners will unnecessarily run into common issues:

Project Management Solution? Keep It Simple Stupid
Productivity
Michael Mehlberg
Getting Derailed? Leave Room to Accommodate the ...

You often get derailed by "the unexpected.”

It’s inevitable.

You get interrupted an unexpected number of times daily. Those interruptions come at unexpected times. They each take an unexpected amount of time with which to deal.

That’s why it’s "the unexpected."

These interruptions kill your flow, destroy your focus, and force you to work on the urgent instead of the important.

So how do you deter, prevent, and deal with the problems these unexpected interruptions incur? 

Getting Derailed? Leave Room to Accommodate the Unexpected
Product Development
Michael Mehlberg
The Exact Value of Your Million Dollar Idea

I was shocked, hurt, and felt like my idea had been stolen. Though I had the idea first, Nintendo would be the star. Nintendo would make $millions. It took years before I was old enough to recognize the important lesson in this experience... 

The Exact Value of Your Million Dollar Idea
Business
Michael Mehlberg
Finding Your Value Despite the Competition

Are you second-guessing your next great idea? Are you downplaying the value you could provide to others? Are you upset that you found a competitor in the market who seems to be offering everything you want to (and seems to be finding great success doing it)?

It might be time to step back and realize a few important things.

Finding Your Value Despite the Competition
Productivity
Michael Mehlberg
On the Power and Freedom of Getting Yourself ...
On the Power and Freedom of Getting Yourself (and Your Business) Organized

Business

What Every Business Owner Needs to Know About Financial Planning with Blake Fellows

What Every Business Owner Needs to Know About Financial Planning with Blake Fellows

Many small and medium-sized business owners kick the can down the road when it comes to financial planning. That’s understandable since business owners are preoccupied with short-term responsibilities and dealing with fires that inevitably pop up daily.

Unfortunately, this leaves the business owner and his or her partners and family members exposed to tremendous risk.

What happens if conditions change and the business fails? How will the business respond if a partner falls ill? What is the business exposed to as the market fluctuates? How can the business be financially responsible while offering competitive compensation and benefits to employees?

In this interview, business finance expert Blake Fellows explains why it is essential for business owners to be proactive about setting goals, determining ranges for spending and saving, ensuring that foundational agreements are in place, and having specialized support in all aspects of financial planning

How to Use Your Customers Fears to Increase Sales

How to Use Your Customers Fears to Increase Sales

Have your past marketing efforts fallen on deaf ears? Have your previous advertisements cost you way too much for far too little gain? You’re not alone. This is a common problem nearly every small business faces.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Growing your business is hard. If you could find just one additional customer today, I know you’d call it a win.

So let’s figure out how to do that, and let’s do it quick. Let’s get to the root of the problem nearly every small business has: finding their customers, adding new customers, and ultimately growing their business.

How Much Should I Budget for an Effective Facebook Ad?

How Much Should I Budget for an Effective Facebook Ad?

Choosing a Facebook budget depends on many factors which are nearly impossible to calculate in advance. 

Successfully converting views to clicks to customers heavily depends on your ad, your messaging, and your web page. This is why I suggest starting fast and small, capturing enough data in a brief period to be able to better make this calculation.

Let me explain.

How to Budget, Design, and Advertise Your Business on Facebook

How to Budget, Design, and Advertise Your Business on Facebook

Advertising your business doesn't have to be a black art. Nor does it have to be outsourced to expensive ad companies who may not create a message that helps you grow your business. 

With a bit of introspection, minimal investment, and some tricks of the trade, you can begin creating social media ads that are effective and drive traffic, convert customers, and increase your social media presence. 

While a deep understanding of advertising requires years to master, we're providing three articles to our free members that will help you get started immediately using some tips and techniques from the pros. 

What Are Some Tips to Making Effective Facebook Ads?

What Are Some Tips to Making Effective Facebook Ads?

Facebook advertising is a big deal nowadays. 

I'm not talking about boosting your posts (don't do that). I'm talking about building a true Facebook ad -- one where you define your target market, choose your image assets, and write your full message. 

Everyone is trying to sell or convince people on Facebook. But when it comes to building an ad, well, some think of it as a dark art. 

So lets break it down.

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How to Prepare for (and Not Worry) When Your Best Employee Quits

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How to Prepare for (and Not Worry) When Your Best Employee Quits

Losing critical employees can be a huge source of concern for any business owner. Whether your star employees quit or simply go on vacation, business continuity is a must. This article reviews a simple method for maintaining your best employees’ expertise even if someone leaves your company.

In addition to removing “single points of failure” in your organization, this process can be used to onboard new hires and create a transition plan for employees moving from one set of responsibilities to another.

Your employees can feel free to go on vacation while, at the same time, be in a position to delegate their complex work to promising employees and receive different perspectives on new creative ways to solve problems.

Shame on You Carrier... And Thank You

Thank you for showing everyone a poor way to lay off 1,400 people.

Sorry, did I say lay off? I meant, "transition".

But every one of your employees knew what you really meant by "transition". This intentional misdirection seemed to be a theme of your speech.

Guess what? Your employees caught on before you delivered the punch line. That's why someone started recording the show after all.

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Buying Guide for Your Boss, Colleagues, Customers, and Staff

The Ultimate Holiday Gift Buying Guide for Your Boss, Colleagues, Customers, and Staff

It’s about this time of year when you realize, as I usually do, that you haven’t yet figured out what you are getting your colleagues for Christmas. Worse yet, your staff is about to go on vacation, and you’ve got a boss that is nearly impossible to shop for. And customers. Oh, what should you get your most loyal customers?

With this gift buying guide, we’re going to break down some overarching gift-buying principles. Principles that apply to your boss, your customers, your staff, and your colleagues. Principles that will prevent you from making an embarrassing mistake or sending the wrong impression.

With those principles in mind, we’ll give you some ideas to kick off your shopping with a dash, giving everyone you work with a token of appreciation and a bit of holiday cheer.

Is Your Business on the Ballot?

Is Your Business on the Ballot?

Today is the day... the day before elections when you realize you'll need to exercise your right as a free citizen in a representative democracy. Have you researched your candidates? Have you aligned your businesses needs with the values, record, and public statements of your choice representative?

Watch this video before you head to the ballot box.

We'll take a focused look at voting and how it applies to your business. We'll review some things to look for in a candidate that could affect your company and provide an excellent resource for researching candidates in your district.