All throughout the business world there are negotiations taking place each day, negotiations for better prices, better standards, better contracts and better valuations. In this regard the art of business hasn’t changed much since the days of trading 3 carrots for a head of lettuce. The winners of any negotiation are not those who necessarily get the best deal, but those who get what they set ou... [read more]

When people discuss the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur they will often discuss attributes such as motivational, inspirational and committed, what few people fail to realize is that without one, the others cannot exist. Many owners, self-proclaimed entrepreneurs and managers, will be more than happy to berate their team, blame them for low productivity when they fail to hit the high s... [read more]

Some may consider it a foolish notion to begin planning for the sale of a startup from the moment that it becomes successful, but in doing so, one can find the highest value for a business which may have reached its terminal velocity. A merger and acquisition is something which any startup CEO should be looking into, from the very moment that the business has reached success, with analytics and fi... [read more]

There is a swathe of information out there about what businesses can do to improve their chances of success. We often hear of how a company can better maneuver in the market, hire better staff and seek out new opportunities, but rarely do we see people discussing the implications of a toxic workforce, how it damages success and what can be done to remedy this. Long before the workforce begins to s... [read more]

At the very foundation of all successful entrepreneurs and CEOs are true sales people, who could sell just about everything to just about anyone. With this in mind, to follow in their footsteps and to become a success in the business world, in whatever industry and at whichever level, one must master the art of sales. If you want to find better and more improved selling practices to find the succe... [read more]

When most people consider their retirement, they will usually conjure up images of days mowing the lawn, before firing up the grill with a beer mid-afternoon, spending long trips away during off-peak hours and grabbing some valuable family time. In reality however, many are bored and restless when they retire after so many years of working, and they see their retirement not as a chance to relax an... [read more]

Where did you grow up?  I was born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark and spent my teenage years just south of the city. My family was stationed in Bangkok, Thailand, for almost two years when I was 10, (my dad was an airline pilot), where I attended an American school. I was later an exchange student with YFU during my high-school senior year in Decatur, Atlanta, Georgia and then completed my... [read more]

As far as business techniques go, there aren’t many more important than your ability to negotiate. Whether it be negotiating a sales order, a deal on a new property, a better rate with your suppliers or even a straight shoot out with a key employee over their wage structure, negotiation is the core of all businesses and you must ensure that you can do it well. In order to maximize your level of ... [read more]

Given the recent boom in entrepreneurship, it is easy to see why so many men and women around the world have looked at this as a career choice. What many seem to miss the point of however, is that while entrepreneurs may be smart thinking pioneers, they are also great leaders and to succeed in this industry, your leadership will be what is called in to question over any other aspect of your busine... [read more]

When recruiting, there are many companies who prefer to rely more heavily on the history, experience and references of a candidate, rather than their interview technique. Such an approach is easy to understand given the fact that some poor candidates can shine in an interview situation whereas a genius could struggle with a social situation which requires them to talk about themselves. Interviews ... [read more]

Build, move, improve, the three golden rules when it comes to growing your business, but is it possible to seek this growth and still manage to keep costs down? The straight answer is yes, it most certainly is possible, but you are going to need a smart plan in order to achieve this feat. The benefits of growth and balancing your costs are remarkable and could very easily be the difference betwe... [read more]

Upon assessing some of the greatest entrepreneurs of our lifetimes, there are some parallels which can be easily drawn between any of these successful men and women. Generally speaking, these forward thinkers succeed because they took a stand, they made hard decisions, they took risks and they stood by those calculated risks. Sure, there were times when hard moves didn't work out but these are the... [read more]

We admire those who can successfully lead people. And even though we may not understand all of the qualities necessary to be a great leader, what we do know is that it requires a particular set of qualities that are difficult to master. Great leaders pay a heavy price in acquiring these qualities. Often times it is trial and error, and failures mount very high during the process. Many of those ... [read more]

One of the greatest challenges for any small company is locating quality talent. Small companies must compete with large organizations who can often offer larger salaries, and better benefits packages, in addition to being a recognized name brand. Small businesses must also compete against other small companies that may be desperate or very aggressive about hiring what talent there is availabl... [read more]

Business today is fast-moving and complicated, requiring an in-depth understanding of the conditions that drives success. Gone are the days of being able to rest on your laurels, and staying on a straight line course to continuous success. Running a successful business today requires a high level of proficiency in a few interconnected skills. It is not enough to only master one of these skills,... [read more]