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Glossary
Starting a Business in Niagara
Larry Bitner articles
Heather Carter articles
Karen Martin articles
Rena Posteraro articles
Steve Stunt articles
John Young articles |
Competition: you can't be successful without it
Imagine a world without competition. All you would have
to do is show up each day and your business would
prosper. Or would it? While many people think of
competition as the enemy, I see it as a primary
motivator for small business owners. If you position
yourself properly, competition can make you stronger
than ever!
More... |
Creating an action plan to help ensure success
The difference between a
goal and a dream is the critical “plan of action” you
execute to ensure that the goal is achieved. So many of
us casually refer to our personal and professional goals
without a well thought-out strategy to turn them from
perpetual dreams into reality.
More... |
Don’t let your comfort zone become your danger zone
The desire to feel comfortable is human. But in
business, as in other areas of life, the achievement of
comfort in what we do and how we perform has a down
side. It can reduce our motivation levels and make us
less focused, with disastrous results.
More... |
Finding security in self-employment
For many people,
self-employment may look like bungee jumping. The
freedom and adrenalin rush are definite attractions, but
the lack of hand-holds and solid ground once you’re in
free-fall can be scary. Bungee jumping is definitely
not a team sport. But with the right planning and
coaching, self-employment can be a low-risk,
high-excitement career choice for even the most
cautious, grounded individual.
More... |
For quick response to a changing market, think focus
groups
“The only constant is
change”, the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus said,
and I’m sure we’d all agree with him. As a small
business owner, your ability to identify and react to
changing market conditions is critical. It will directly
impact the degree of success you achieve.
More... |
Improve your decision-making success with S.W.O.T.
One of the things that
enticed me to start my own consulting business ten years
ago was the opportunity
to control my own destiny and to make decisions that
would directly impact my success.
More... |
Increase productivity & profits through goal-setting and
planning
As small business
owners, we often get caught up in the day-to-day pursuit
of generating cash flow and meeting deadlines. In the
short term this focus makes sense, but the success of
your business also relies
on your ability to establish and achieve long-term
goals. Keeping one eye on the future will ensure that
your business maintains momentum and stands the test of
time.
More... |
It’s a business!
How do new business
owners position themselves to be successful?
So often, we hear that it takes long hours and hard
work. Although it’s true that a strong work ethic is
admirable in business, this quality alone does not
guarantee success in today’s competitive marketplace.
More... |
Mapping your success through your vision & mission
statements
One of the wonderful
things about being self-employed is that you have a
choice―a say in the direction that your business and
your career takes. Clearly-defined Vision Statements and
Mission Statements enable you to identify the difference
between choices that will lead you towards your
destination (your Vision) and choices that will
distance you from it. We face these choices each day,
and Vision and Mission Statements will help you map out
the best route to take to successfully realize your
goals.
More... |
Problem-solving attitude essential to business success
During the years I
worked as an employee, my responsibilities were well
defined. I knew exactly what I had to do when. I worked
“within the moment.”
More... |
Rising to the challenge of doing the right thing
Some years ago I was a
business manager responsible for, among other things,
establishing a budget, meeting sales objectives and
generating profit for my company.
More... |
Sell the benefits and beef up your sales
I make it
a point to ask new clients this question: “When you
first thought about going into business, did you see
yourself in the role of a salesperson?”
More... |
Selling yourself, continuously
Life provides us with a series
of opportunities which, if handled correctly, will positively
impact our success, both personally and professionally. Many of
these opportunities involve meeting new people who can shape
your destiny. You may be applying for a job, selling a product
or service, hiring a key person for your organization or just
networking and socializing. The success of each opportunity is
directly related to your preparation and presentation. It comes
down to your ability to sell yourself and make a strong first
impression.
More... |
Show up or step up? Help your employees to get it right!
Owning and operating a
business on your own can be tough. There’s a lot to do,
and only one person—you—to do it!
More... |
Success, with a little help from my friends
Running your own
business can be a big undertaking. In fact, the prospect
of doing it all single-handedly is a big reason many
people avoid self-employment. “So many
responsibilities, so many hats to wear, I just don’t
think I am up to the challenge!”
More... |
Taking that first big step in developing a business idea
Sure, you’ve thought
of being self-employed—the freedom from bosses and
management; the chance to live up to and, dare I say it,
exceed, your potential; the glory of doing it all
yourself. You even have an idea... kind of. But how do
you grab this dream and make it a reality? The key is to
develop a solid business idea and surround yourself with
catalysts and support to grow your idea until it has the
momentum to carry you to success. As a Counsellor at the
Business Develop Centre at Niagara College, I have the
opportunity to see those ideas develop into viable
businesses every day. Keep in mind that a great business
idea is no guarantee of success, but your chances
increase when you take the time to research and develop
your idea thoroughly. More... |
Team-Building For a Competitive Advantage
Whether a business has
several employees or several hundred, the
challenge for any employer is to position them to work
together efficiently and productively. The “team”
concept can provide any business with a valuable
competitive advantage, yet it is often under-utilized
outside the area of sports. More... |
The Delicate Balance Between Success and Failure
Prospective business
owners come to the Niagara College Business Development
Centre with wonderful, marketable skills that evolve
around a particular product, service or industry. They
come with years of experience, unique talents and
valuable contacts that they will be able to take
advantage of in their new business venture. More... |
What’s in a (business) name?
One of the major
decisions that we all make as new business owners is the
name we select to represent ourselves to the world. Is
there a formula or exact science to apply in order to
come up with the perfect name? No—and when we look at
successful companies like Nike, General Motors, Apple
Computers, etc. their success has been due, not so much
to the originality of their names, as to their
commitment to marketing and branding their names, along
with the consistency and quality of their products and
service.
More... |
Win/win approach benefits both sides in negotiations
Every aspect of
operating a business comes with choices. Whether you are
negotiating a lease, a sale, or any other business
arrangement, you have the option to take what the other
party offers, to turn down the deal or to work towards
negotiating better terms.
More... |
