Scooters Coffee franchisee, Tracy Bouwens, shared with our network about her transition from being a stay-at-home mom to owning her first Scooters store. She hired a new employee, gave her a Scooters uniform, and instructed her to start work on Monday. On Monday, the employee arrived but wasn’t wearing her uniform. Tracy considered possible reasons for her disobedience and overlooked ...
If you ever doubt the power of words, watch a few of President Ronald Reagan’s speeches. Reagan’s charm in front of a camera, in part, made him a great President. He had a way of telling stories with the right amount of truth and humor to rally people to follow him. Columnist, Peggy Noonan, who worked for President Reagan, claims ...
If you’ve ever led a team of people, you’ve likely experienced times when one person dominates the conversation. Because they’re talking instead of listening, these workers usually don’t fully understand the breadth or depth of the issues being discussed. The wisdom that the others in the group can bring to the issue is often drowned out by incessant talk of ...
One challenge small businesses face, who are forced to compete against larger businesses, is a lack of resources. Large companies can hire more people and invest in technology that may be hard for smaller businesses to come by. This disadvantage requires that a small business needs to be even more selective in hiring the right people who fit the role ...
Recently, I was invited to attend a Legacy Letter Workshop that helps people like me leave a hope-filled letter for our children. There may also be a business application possible. Baby Boomers are now transitioning businesses and leadership roles to the next generation. We have insight, wisdom, and experiences to pass on to our successors that may be welcomed ...
In the book of Revelation, Jesus gave performance reviews to seven churches. As I studied the seven letters, I believe I’ve discovered a roadmap for performance reviews. In this series, we’ll cover four sections Jesus used; Strengths, Areas for Improvement, Corrections Needed, and finally words of Hope and Encouragement. Let’s begin with Strengths. Five of the seven letters begin with, ...
Hindsight can be a humbling critic. At year end there are typically some economists and political futurists who reflect on how well their predictions for the year faired. I admire those who are willing to admit when their predictions fall short. Many business leaders also speak publicly about their beliefs on the future of their industry or their business. When ...
Our small group at church was discussing a bible study developed by our senior pastor. In this study, the pastor shared openly of some of his personal struggles. Several in my small group expressed their appreciation for our pastor’s transparency. His vulnerability led to our group members sharing more openly about their own struggles. Transparency in leadership is a powerful ...
In the movie, “The Boys in the Boat,” the University of Washington junior varsity rowing team was struggling. Their coach was perplexed as to why his team was straining to live up to their potential. As the coach pondered each team member’s value to the team, he wondered if some of them needed to be replaced. But the boat maker ...
A challenging decision for any entrepreneur is knowing if, and when, to close a business. One consideration often overlooked is comparing your future opportunities to your current situation. Tim started a technology business that wasn’t meeting original expectations. When Tim considered his talents, resources, and other business opportunities and contrasted them with his current business and its diminished prospects, ...
Equipping Others to Do Work Differently
