A company’s culture has a powerful impact on its performance. Culture is the glue that binds an organization together. Competitors can have the same product but they can’t have the same culture because that’s what makes each company unique. Companies who invest in their employees by helping them to understand what the organization’s values are and why they do what they do it – will always stand out. Employees who buy into an organization’s core values will be more engaged and more productive. That’s what that creates winning cultures in successful organizations. As ..read more

You and your friend decided that you should start a business together, how cool!!  Maybe you and our spouse concluded, after the last couple of bad jobs and long commutes, “how much fun would it be to work together, start a business and spend more quality time together?”  Hmmm-a match made in heaven or hell? You may have just signed up for a ride on a slippery slope.  By the way, you are not alone. Many businesses get started and succeed this way but many also end this way. Consider this a spoiler alert to those of you considering this option, if you just fell into a partnershi ..read more

  Some find it at the ballet or museums…others at festivals and events. But we’re not talking about those cultures here. We’re talking about the kind that can help you build your business, attract the right employees, and sell and retain to new customers. Simply put, as a business owner your beliefs about your business, life, and society all guide your way of thinking as you form and grow your company. Just as the way you treat (or mistreat) your partner, kids, or other family members a certain way and that sets the tone in your home, the way you treat your team, colleagues ..read more

In my work with businesses, most don’t take the time, at the start of their biz, to define their core values…even less actually create a business plan. Today, we’ll focus on Core Values. Why? I find this happens mostly for two reasons. #1 Many companies didn’t recognize “why” identifying their biz core values was important [or so many other pressing issues seemed more important]. Core Values don’t appear to be an “ROI” return on investment of time and energy. #2 Companies don’t know how to go through the process of identifying them. It can get very tenuous – especially in family owned busines ..read more

Core Values can set the foundation for your organization’s culture Core Values drive your mission [WHY you do what you do] and vision for your business Core Values can guide difficult decisions by being your compass and determine priorities Core Values help you to attract the customers who are a “good fit” for your business Core Values help you to attract, hire and retain the right people and put them in the right seats Core Values can connect employees to your mission and vision to increase productivity Core Values provide clarity for your marketing message Core Values help you differentiate ..read more

You come to a fork in the road, just not sure which way turn and you stand there just stuck in indecision.  We’ve all been there…sometimes it’s a small decision like do we really want to do go to a movie or stay in–or a really big one, like do I leave my relationship, eliminate a toxic friend who’s negativity is way out of hand and you feel crappy every time you spend 5 minutes with her. You waffle, “yes” that’s it, I’m done with her and then “no” I can’t, what will everyone else think, etc. and the word FEAR shows up and you feel trapped “damned if I do, damned if I don’t”. So when this ..read more

Life gets hectic, we’re on the proverbial treadmill, and it feels stressful…like why can’t this be different? Why is just living so hard? If life feels like everything is coming at you and you’re no longer in control, would you be interested in learning about the best FREE stress buster and it only takes seconds? The answer is so obvious and simple that it’s totally overlooked, discounted and forgotten.  It’s breathing!  Before you chuckle and dismiss the idea – here’s the rationale.  The first thing we do when we enter this world is breathe and the last thing we do as we exit t ..read more

Guest Blog – Nancy Shenker Today I was doing a training for a group of high-stress workers who have a really difficult task of talking to many irate customers all day, every day. A great group of employees BUT they are way too stressed out and seriously feeling the effects of it in their lives and jobs. We all know that customer that you can’t please especially when you work in a very personal way or interact closely with them. Chances are those customers are pretty stressed out themselves from demanding j-o-b-s, disappointing lives, full of anger and frustration and they sometimes dump it on ..read more

We’ve all had that moment when we hear some unpleasant news, devastating diagnosis or faced a tough choice suddenly.  At that moment, we need to grasp a greater awareness of what just happened. We’re not sure how to deal with the situation at hand and need time to process it. So take that time and “feel” your grief or sadness. However, if you find yourself stuck and not moving on, I’d like to share something that’s worked for me and others. [add link above – here?] Recently my daughter who has dealt with a chronic illness for 11 years, was told that she could no longer put off a serious s ..read more

We chose to be happy or not.  It is a choice and we can make that choice every moment, every hour and every day.  Pleasure is sometimes mistaken for joy/happiness but there is a difference. Pleasure is short lived—happiness is lasting. How do we get happy? How can we learn to make the choice for happiness over “unhappy” or even worse yet—feeling empty—neither happy or unhappy? When we think of “happy”, often times the Pharrell Williams song “Happy” comes to my mind – I can’t help but feel happy when I  listen to it but that might not be an option for most of us every day, all d ..read more