By robertschum on December 16, 2008
Time is money. We hear that phrase constantly. Those words are a lie! Time is NOT money. Time is far more valuable than money. If you run out of money (and who does not?), you can find a way to get more. Not so with time. We each have the same 24 hours and when [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on December 10, 2008
Oh, cried Chicken Little, the sky is falling. I must go tell the king. I saw it with my eyes, I heard it with my ears, and a bit of it fell on my head, said Chicken Little. That old fable is being resurrected daily in this day of bail-outs and corporate chop busting. As [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on December 2, 2008
We hear a lot these days about think tanks. Ever consider one for your own business? No business is too small to benefit from having its own sounding board . . . call it an Advisory Board, a Mastermind Group or a Success Team. Call it whatever you wish but understand that this concept can [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on November 27, 2008
Holidays and the end of the year_combined with an economic recession_offer some revenue possibilities to smaller business owners and managers that may not be immediately apparent. Let us consider advertising first. The deluge of mega store pre-printed ad circulars and broadcast commercials – replete with HUGE never-before-seen price reductions – are already being stuffed inside [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on November 21, 2008
It is interesting to note that in every down economy, some small businesses lose money and fade from our awareness screen and others seem to prosper and coin money. Small business owners need to live by different rules during tough times than they do in boom times. When the economy sours, every small business scrambles [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on November 21, 2008
Who knew? Who saw all of this coming? Not very many and quite a few depending on whom you listen to and what day of the week you hear it! One thing always remains constant in small business: you need to generate revenue greater than your expenses to remain in business. Elementary you say? Not [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on November 18, 2008
Vague does not work in plumbing ads or any other advertising. Since he is so much in the news of late, let us use JOE THE PLUMBER to build an example and show the difference between vague selling pointS that rarely get noticed or acted upon and a tangible message that gets attention and is [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on October 30, 2008
People do not pay attention to advertising. They only pay attention to whatever interests them. If someone perceives a benefit in your advertisement, you might connect with them . . . get them to act. No benefit, no action. Seems simple. The facts say otherwise. The reality most often missed in advertising is the fact [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on October 8, 2008
Deadlines are everywhere for everyone. High school papers due. Tax cut-off dates. Registering for an election by closing date. Business reports to the home office by whatever day and time they set. When someone finally goes out on their own, it can be tempting to abandon deadlines and do your own thing for once in [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
By robertschum on October 7, 2008
Bad marketing is worse than no marketing at all. On top of that, it is incredibly expensive! What exactly is bad marketing? Here are six common marketing blunders that need to be avoided and eliminated: 1. Impatience ranks at the top of the list. Hard-working, well-meaning business owners often sabotage their own marketing efforts when [...]
Posted in Develop Your Skill
