8 Reasons Why Setting Up a Meeting Is a Must

Most business meetings "should" have been an email.  If the company is large and has more stakeholders, the slower and heavier the processes become. This eventually leads to more meetings with less work being done.  A 2012 study shows that companies that held unproductive meetings lost an average of $250,000 annually. The study's findings suggest that companies can improve their bottom line by improving the quality of their meetings. This includes clearly defining the purpose of the meeting, setting an agenda, and ensuring that everyone has a chance to participate. Companies should also be aware of the signs of dysfunctional meeting… Continue Reading

Why Clients Shouldn’t Ask for Discounts and How Companies Should Handle Negotiations

Haggling for a lower price is so common that it could even get very challenging to tell the truth from the usual bargain. However, it should rarely be the problem of the salesman, business owner, or entrepreneur. Most of the time, it is the prospect’s problem. In this article, we are going to discuss the reasons why you should not ask for discounts as a customer and how you should handle price negotiations as a company. The graph above by HubSpot shows that there is a dramatic disconnect between the needs of the customers and what most sales reps tend… Continue Reading

6 Ways to Hire and Manage Remote Workers for Business Advantage

The shift towards remote work has gained momentum, particularly after the COVID-19 outbreak. A FlexJobs survey reveals that 65% of participants prefer to work remotely full-time after the pandemic, while 31% are inclined towards a blend of office and remote working. While remote work presents certain challenges in business operation, many have thrived with its incorporation. Look at the case of Cisco. Back in 2009, Cisco released their telecommuting study results declaring $277M in annual savings for the company. Here are some key metrics outlined in their press release: The average Cisco employee now telecommutes 2.0 days per week. 60… Continue Reading

8 Things Entrepreneurs Need to Know About Running a Business and Landing Customers

We live in the most entrepreneurial era since the inception of humankind. Starting a new business endeavor gets more prominent thanks to mass media, startup accelerators, venture funds, and digital opportunities to launch quickly. But as a business advisor having consulted over 400 businesses, I constantly deal with the disconnect between reality and expectations. The dynamics of the global economy require strong leadership and pivoting quickly - between the hiring waves of strong investment environments and hardcore recessions bringing millions of businesses on their knees. The premise of "being your own boss" is a tempting solution to giving entrepreneurship a… Continue Reading

How to Establish and Solidify the Technical Leadership in Your Company

I receive a good chunk of emails and messages from people in my network asking for general technical advice (infrastructure, architecture, picking the right platform or vendor, etc.) And many of them openly disclose they have spoken with 5–10 people and brainstormed over the different answers they get. Asking for a hundred different opinions may get confusing, though. I wouldn’t advise you to ask an open-ended question on Quora, Stack Overflow, social media, email blasts, personal networks, friends, and recommendations. Prepare that into multiple phases – half a dozen generic, high-end answers, sift through them, narrow down your options, iterate… Continue Reading

11 Traits Of A Great Manager And Top Tips To Develop Them

There are good managers. And then, there are great ones. According to The Predictive Index, nearly 30% of employees believe their managers fail at team-building skills, and a portion of them suck at handling feedback, delegation, and time management. Managers who are successful in their respective fields leading large teams need to bounce between daily activities with various team members and then to the global responsibilities of the organization. Having consulted over 400 companies as a business advisor, I've worked with any combination of management and leadership teams - veteran and new ones, external and trained bottom up, brought in… Continue Reading

Acquiring Digital Properties: Why, What, and Where to Buy

Today, we are discussing how to acquire digital properties: WHY, WHAT, and WHERE to buy.  I have been buying digital real estate such as agency websites, SaaS platforms, e-commerce applications, content publishing websites over the past 11 years. Some sites are well-established and successful while others are starter apps I integrate into my portfolio or bundle into existing solutions. Buying digital properties has definitely been one of the endeavors that I have been enjoying quite a lot. My Experience Buying Digital Businesses Some of the acquisition deals have turned into great business opportunities or just tangible investments that have led… Continue Reading

Top 10 Business Advisor Skills Your Company Can Benefit From

Gaining experience is not a solo adventure; learning from the best is a shortcut many people underuse. There are over 800 thousand management consultants in the US alone. While large enterprises can leverage the services of titans like Deloitte, McKinsey, KPMG, Accenture, Bain & Company, SMEs operate with different budgets compared to the average size of a US government contract exceeding $4.5M. At any stage of your journey, you face strategic obstacles with multiple ways out. Gauging the right path forward is an expensive exercise that could easily turn into a powerhouse working with the right business advisor. Some of… Continue Reading

10 Practical Risk Management Techniques

Successful business founders, executives, and managers employ different approaches when it comes to risk management. Whether dealing with financial volatility, market competition, or internal organizational challenges, managing risk effectively is crucial for long-term success. Only 23% of CEOs believe they have comprehensive information about the risks in their business even if 92% of them agree that having such information is highly critical to the success of their venture. On Shark Tank’s season 7, Robert Herjavec said that “Great entrepreneurs live in paranoia”. While I do agree with the sentiment, the risk management course I took back in the day was… Continue Reading

Brand Building vs Silent Building: Choosing the Right Strategy for Your Business

In the dynamic landscape of e-commerce, the debate between brand building and silent building has ignited discussions across various platforms. As I engaged in conversations on four different podcasts this week, one central question emerged: why are many dropshippers hesitant to embrace brand building and showcase their stores? The apprehension often stems from a fear of imitation and resistance at scale. However, let's delve into the essence of both strategies to better understand their implications. The Power of Brand Building Brand Building is an artful process that involves crafting a distinct identity for your business through deliberate actions and targeted… Continue Reading