It can be tempting to look at successful people and think they've been luckier than everyone else. Maybe. But more likely they're just better at creating opportunities and opening doors. Here's advice from more than a dozen high-achieving executives on how to do it.
Cash is the fuel that makes a business run. It is needed to pay salaries including your own, fund marketing programs to acquire and retain new customers, invest in equipment and facilities, pay rent, supplies and many more day-to-day activities. Most financial experts recommend three to six months of operating expenses, but using this for every business in every situation is misleading.
The saying “people don’t leave jobs, they leave managers” may have some truth behind it. A 2015 Gallup Poll of 7,272 U.S. adults found that at some point in their career, one in two had left their job to get away from their manager. Only one in three people are engaged at work, and managers account for at least 70 percent of the variance in employee engagement scores.
A well-known phrase beloved by entrepreneurs everywhere says that, “Investors invest in people, not companies.” And any entrepreneur with a a long list of ideas will almost certainly appreciate that notion because it indicates that an investor will be awarding him (or her) considerable flexibility to pursue an idea that seems potentially profitable.
At a time when one-click LinkedIn endorsements are stacking up faster than rush-hour traffic, obtaining sincerely worded recommendations is a lot like pulling into the carpool lane. You have to invest upfront in planning, personal contact and collaboration, but the effort is rewarded by access to a less-crowded environment and a quicker route to building credibility and trust.
Female small business owners seeking contracts with corporate or government clients face a lot of competition. One way to get an edge is to get your company certified as a woman-owned business.
