The key difference between big businesses and small businesses is that big businesses are driven by timely accountability. Big businesses have boards of directors/advisers to whom management needs to report. If you want to maximize your results, you need to be accountable. Most small-business owners started their businesses because they wanted independence. I get it.…
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How Much Can I Charge a Customer for Using a Credit Card?
Answer: The safe and easy answer is “nothing.” Some states prohibit surcharges for credit card use, period. Some states permit it but with some complicated qualifiers, like no surcharge on debit cards, surcharge limited to what you actually paid and other such language buried in your merchant service agreement. The regulations are too many, making…
Read MoreWhat Opportunities Are You Missing?
I am writing this piece on a business trip like I’ve never taken before. In the past, I’ve traveled a bit, presenting education sessions at trade shows and regional associations. I’ve attended amazing conferences, like the PPAI North American Leadership Conference. This year, I’m attending the ASI Power Summit. The relationships that are nurtured and…
Read MoreGet Real
How do you make yourself matter to your customers? How did selling today become such a “soft” touch? How did things like liking, loving, trusting and focusing on the mission become more important than prospecting, qualifying, looking at features and benefits, and closing, closing, closing?
Read MoreSecurity Is Sexy
Security always has been considered anything but sexy. Money rarely flows to security projects since most executives pay little mind to security. Instead, sales and marketing receive the majority of the investment.
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