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Tools

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Tools

Tools

The typical business consultant sells business tools.  Like a hardware store sells hammers, business consultants sell business tools.

The challenge is that all too often, the consultant’s hammer is often heralded as the “cure all” for all business ailments.

Most people have the common sense to know that a hammer will not saw wood, drill holes, or router a decorative edge on a piece of wood.  It is used for driving nails.

But when it comes to business, neither the business malady nor ...

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19
AUG
0

Categories: Blog, Business Consulting, Business Development, Business Growth, Business Process, Business Startups, Management, Problem solving

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Hard Work At Work

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Hard Work At Work

Hard Work At Work

At Blue Elevator™, our collective history has put us in touch with hundreds – even thousands of individuals – and the businesses they represent.

Some might ask, “What’s the secret to success?”

And here’s the secret: there is no secret.  It’s hard work.  Working smart, yes – but also working hard.

Hard Work At Work – Illustration

So, this is why we thought we would share with you what hard work looks like.

To illustrate this point, I have the distinct honor ...

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10
JUL
0

Categories: Accelerate, Business Development, Business Growth, Startups

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Hard Work

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Hard Work

Hard Work

In one of our Membership articles, we provided our Member clients one of Blue Elevator™’s secret formulas for success in business.  Whereas we won’t spill those beans here, we do want to provide you with another secret.

It is the secret of hard work.  And that being: hard work is a limiting reagent.

I learned the concept of a limiting reagent from my high school chemistry teacher (i.e., thank you, Mrs. Connie Grosse).  I will summarize it here.  A limiting reagent ...

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18
JUN
0

Categories: Blog, Business Consulting, Business Growth, Business Startups, Leadership, Management Action Items, Startups

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Excellence As An Ideal

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Excellence As An Ideal

Excellence As An Ideal

Something’s amiss.  Sometime, in a galaxy far, far away, something changed.

As far back as I can remember, we were equipped for excellence.  The pursuit of perfection.  Excellence as an ideal.  I seemingly and simultaneously straddle two generations: The Baby Boomers and Generation X.  It depends upon who you ask.  It depends upon what chart you look up.

I was born in the summer of 1965 – my birthday often falling on the last day of the school year.

Things ...

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27
MAY
0

Categories: Blog, Leadership, Management

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Baseball and Business

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Baseball and Business

Baseball and Business

If I hit the rewind button, I am back in Little League (actually, Pony League).  And no, not my Little League years, but my son’s.  My son loved baseball.  Everything about it.  And in baseball, you get to bat.  And when you bat, you get to hit home runs – if you’re lucky.

Or is it? Luck, that is.

Hitting home runs isn’t so much about strength as it is about technique.  That is, proper hitting mechanics will trump brute ...

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25
JAN
0

Categories: Blog, Business Development, Business Growth

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The Journey of Business

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The Journey of Business

The Journey of Business

Starting and growing a business is a lot like taking a long journey on foot.  There are many parallels:

  • Every journey is different (e.g., destination).
  • And, every person who undertakes a journey is different.
  • As a result, every trek is different: the terrain, the seasons, the weather, etc.
  • Things are always changing.
  • You will encounter many challenges and obstacles along the way.
  • You can’t stay in one place too long.
  • It is impossible to carry everything you will need on your back.

On Destinations …

A ...

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9
JAN
0

Categories: Accelerate, Blog, Business Consulting, Business Development, Business Growth, Business Startups, Innovate, Replicate, Startups

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The Problem with Self Reflection

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The Problem with Self Reflection

Dedication

This article is dedicated to all present and future clients of Blue Elevator™.  Business is a tough sport.  And sparingly, there are few courageous enough to embark on the ongoing process of rigorous business advisory.  You have taken the road less traveled by.  This article is dedicated to you.

The Problem With Self Reflection

There is a problem with self reflection.  The very exercise itself is almost guaranteed to reveal an opportunity to improve.

Why the Trouble?

Reflecting back on the past several years, ...

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1
JAN
0

Categories: Accelerate, Blog, Business Consulting, Business Growth, Innovate, Leadership, Management, Management Action Items, Problem solving

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Talking About Your Competition!

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Talking About Your Competition!

Talking About Your Competition!

When you mention your competition, you advertise for them.  The more you message your competition, the more “top of mind” they become.

So, pardon the direct advisory, but stop talking about your competition!

Why Do You Do It?

It kind of makes sense when you think about it.  Business owners, organizations, etc. tend to talk about their competition in an attempt to differentiate themselves.  At face value, this makes sense.  The trouble is, they don’t do it from a position ...

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1
JAN
0

Categories: Blog, Business Consulting, Business Development, Business Growth, Innovate, Marketing

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Problem Solving in Business

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Problem Solving in Business

Problem Solving in Business

One of my first real jobs was serving as a product merchandiser for Knudsen Dairies here in Southern California.  This would be a summer job after graduating from high school before starting my freshman year as a business student at Cal State University, Fullerton.

And, since my duties would involve daily driving to any number of grocery stores, I would need a reliable vehicle to get from place to place.  And, since my high school whip was a ...

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17
DEC
1

Categories: Blog, Business Consulting, Business Process Consulting, Problem solving

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Stand Out in the Crowd

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Stand Out in the Crowd

Stand Out in the Crowd

Do you want to stand out in the crowd?

You are in the market to sell your goods or services.  There are a lot of people in your space, so to speak.  So, of course you want to stand out in the crowd!

How to Stand Out in the Crowd

There are many ways businesses try to do this, mostly via advertising:

  • SEO companies are selling you on getting you to page one on Google.
  • Facebook advertisers are wanting to boost ...
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10
DEC
1

Categories: Accelerate, Blog, Business Development, Business Growth, Innovate, Marketing

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