Posts by Mike Hill

I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable. – Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower Early in my career, I was assigned a position to manage projects, which was a great experience for me. What I love about project management is that it mimics running a business. It includes sales, operations, marketing,…

Don’t compromise quality for speed. When it comes to hiring, we often make compromises and thus decisions we regret. A stable workforce is always less expensive than high turnover. Patrick Lencioni says, “Engaged, enthusiastic, and loyal employees are pivotal drivers of growth and health in any organization.” As business leaders, we need to ask ourselves…

When we think of innovation, new product development is what first comes to mind. But sometimes innovation can come through simple changes. I got a call from a business acquaintance whose profitability had begun to slip. As a result, their equipment and facilities became dated and began to fail. After my assessment, I made several…

There is no shame in being a start-up or small business. Every large business was once small. But just because you are small, you don’t have to appear that way to your customers. Business owners often believe that projecting a large image is expensive, and fortunately that’s not true. Remember, your desire is to create…

We all have a brand. What’s yours? The dictionary defines brand this way: “kind, grade, or make, as indicated by a stamp, trademark, or the like”. A brand is most often represented by a logo, but it is far more than a logo. Whether we like it or not, brands or logos evoke an emotional…

I was so proud when I joined Ernst & Young. On my first day, they handed me a box of cards giving me the title of Senior Consultant. I remember thinking, senior to what? I had graduated from college just a few years earlier and didn’t feel senior to anyone. Fortunately, working for this prestigious,…

The number one reason businesses fail is lack of sufficient capital to continue to grow and improve. Business leaders often plan financially for the obvious: inventory, staff, and rent. But their downfall is insufficient capital to cover a negative cash flow; this reserve is vital to keep afloat until your business is profitable. Sufficient funds…

Are you at a crossroad in your career journey? Maybe you are considering changing jobs, purchasing a business, or even starting one. Now is a good time to examine your goals. Whatever your plans, consider your future and ask yourself these questions: • Will you still enjoy this choice in 20 years? • What are…

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. Albert Einstein Self-Awareness For all of us, life has its sentinel moments – those moments when something touches us so profoundly it changes our trajectory. For me, one of those events occurred when I was 15. It was a beautiful Spring Day, and…