This weekend marked the start of the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. I watched a variety of events and, like the rest of the country, I was in awe of the many young athletes competing their hearts out. The positive energy and sheer desire to win was evident in every competitor—as was the heartbreaking…
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This article is the last in a three-part series about using visualization to achieve your goals. Last time, I mentioned that, during our waking hours, we deal with approximately 8 million bits of information. Our brains filter out the information they’re not aware we need. When we practice visualization by vividly picturing our goals, we…
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Question: I am new to the business. Do you have any advice as to how to price items? Answer: Pricing is complex. On one hand, you want to maximize sales, but if you price items too low, you might end up doing lots of work and making very little profit. Also, if you are known…
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Quit being afraid of the future. That’s where all the good stuff lies. The road to failure is littered by organizations that feared and tried to hold back the future. Just look at Lotus 1-2-3, which owned the database and software business powering PCs in the days before Windows. Or look at Kodak, the company…
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Question: I don’t like to show item numbers to my clients. Is there a way to avoid that in QuickBooks? Answer: Yes. You can customize templates to include only the fields you want and eliminate those you don’t. (And, it is a good idea to not show item numbers on customer forms, as it makes…
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In the Rolling Stones’ famous song, they say, “You can’t always get what you want, but … you get what you need.” We all know that’s wrong. We don’t always get what we need. I believe we get what we see. Getting what you see is the practice of visualization—creating vivid pictures in your mind…
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How would your clients describe the experience of meeting with you? How do they feel as you walk out of their offices? How do they feel about your impending appointments to see them? Here’s the toughest question for you to ponder. I want you to think this through thoroughly. If you are part of a…
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A few years ago, I downloaded a free Sudoku app called Sudoku Joy. I had not played Sudoku before this app and I was not sure I would like Sudoku. In fact, I was pretty sure I would not like Sudoku. Turns out, I was wrong. I like Sudoku quite a bit, and this app…
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In my last article, I discussed the importance of using “I am” statements. Today, I would like to discuss another powerful communication tool: questions. Specifically, I want to talk about the questions you ask yourself. The fact is, we ask ourselves at least several hundred, and up to as many as several thousand, questions a…
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Question: How should I set up items for blank goods in QuickBooks? Answer: “Blank goods,” or orders that are then screen printed or embroidered by other vendors, are one of the most complex of orders in our industry. I recommend setting up a blank wearable by its item number and description only—not including color or…
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