Hiring Smart
Hiring Smart Lessons from The Art of War This morning, I was reading the “Waging War” chapter of The Art of War, and one line stood out to me: “Those unable to understand the dangers inherent in employing troops are equally unable to understand the advantageous ways of doing so.” It made me think about […]
Stop Getting Stuck
Stop Getting Stuck How to Keep Your Business Moving Forward This morning, while reading The Art of War, I came across this passage: “Victory is the main object in war. If this is long delayed, weapons are blunted and morale depressed.” It made me think about how often this happens in small businesses. As owners, […]
Plan Like a Pro: Lessons in Strategy and Leadership for Small Businesses
Plan Like a Pro Strategy and Leadership for Small Business: Lessons from The Art of War This morning, as I was reading The Art of War, I came across this passage: “Li Ching of the Tang proposed ten plans to be used against Hsiao Hsieh, and the entire responsibility of commanding the armies was entrusted […]
When the Unexpected Happens: How to Handle Big Challenges in Your Small Business
When the Unexpected Happens Lessons from The Art of War I’ve been rereading The Art of War by Sun Tzu this year, and this morning, this passage jumped out at me: “When the thunderclap comes, there is no time to cover the ears.” At first, I thought, “That’s a great metaphor for a surprise attack.” […]
Extraordinary Speed: The Power of Moving Fast
Extraordinary Speed Lessons from The Art of War This morning, I was reading The Art of War, and one quote stood out: “What is of the greatest importance in war is extraordinary speed; one cannot afford to neglect opportunity.” It’s a simple idea, but it has profound implications for small business. Acting quickly and decisively […]
Win Big by Starting Small
Win Big by Starting Small Lessons from The Art of War When Big Bets Go Wrong Years ago, when I was running a home health agency, I made what I thought was a game-changing decision. I invested more than $250,000 in a Honeywell® telehealth solution. I was convinced it would revolutionize patient care and drive […]
Competing Strategically as a Small Business: Where They Are Strong, Avoid Them
Competing Strategically as a Small Business Where They Are Strong, Avoid Them: Lessons from The Art of War Competing Strategically to Maximize Your Strengths Imagine you’re the proud owner of a small-town bakery, the kind with twinkling string lights, freshly baked cinnamon rolls wafting through the air, and your holiday sugar cookies in the shape […]
Building Trust and Loyalty: Moral Influence for Small Business Owners
Building Trust and Loyalty: Moral Influence for Small Business Owners Leadership in small business goes far beyond strategy and execution—it’s about trust, loyalty, and the personal connections you create with your team and customers. Have you ever struggled to get your team fully on board with a new project (or an old one, for that […]
5 Leadership Skills for Small Business Owners
5 Leadership Skills for Small Business Owners (Lessons from The Art of War) Leadership in small business is deeply personal. It’s about more than setting goals or managing projects—it’s about the trust, loyalty, and respect you build with your team and customers. Unlike in a large corporation, your leadership is visible every day, and your […]
Elevating Your Coaching Business: Practical Wisdom from Donald Miller and Mike Michalowicz
Donald Miller and Mike Michalowicz recently had an insightful conversation about the value of coaching and how coaches can effectively grow their businesses. Mike, a successful coach himself who now trains and certifies business coaches in his methodologies and frameworks, shared his journey from small business owner to respected industry leader, offering valuable perspectives for […]
Habits and Practices to Grow Your Business
Over the weekend, I was thinking about a coaching client of mine who’s skillfully juggling the demands of growing their business while still making time for life’s treasures – family vacations, gym sessions, and those small moments that truly matter. This led me to consider the broader picture: the habits and practices that not only […]
Navigating Business Terrain: Lessons from Hiking in the Mountains
Hiking in the mountains isn’t just a hobby for me; it’s a passion that mirrors my passion for business building. The two activities, in my mind, are deeply interconnected. Imagine the journey of a novice hiker: it’s mostly about taking one careful step after another, with most of your focus on not tripping over the […]
