Why Strategy is Important in Camping… and in Marketing

Marketing gets a lot of attention, and with good reason: It’s the art and science of attracting people to buy from you.

Without a way to reach new customers, you’ll end up running out of money… and shutting the doors to your business.

But there is one thing a lot of business owners get wrong.

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What to Do If Your “Year In Review” is a Disappointment

Some years, things go really well.

And some years, they do not.

If you’ve experienced a lot of difficulties in your business, you may be tempted to see it as a massive failure:

“What a crummy year! It was so terrible. I can hardly wait for it to be over.”

“The new year can’t come soon enough.”

Even you were not able to meet your strategic business objectives this year, I encourage you to consider the positives that happened, rather than speeding past it.

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6 Versions of the 3 P’s as seen on CNBC’s “The Profit” with Marcus Lemonis

One of my favorite TV shows is “The Profit,” a CNBC production starring multi-millionaire entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis.

CNBC The Profit, The Profit with Marcus Lemonis, Marcus Lemonis, The Profit TV show
CNBC The Profit with Marcus Lemonis

In each episode, Marcus evaluates a small business and decides whether to invest in its growth. The main tool he uses to make business decisions is called the “3 P’s of Business Success”: People, Process, and Product.

3 Ps, 3 P's, People Product Process, Product People Process, Marcus Lemonis, The Profit, CNBC's The Profit, CNBC, strategic risk
Marcus Lemonis – People Process Profit

I was curious about who first developed this concept. Was it Mr. Lemonis?

It turns out this concept has its origins in Lean (a systematic processing method used to eliminate waste). After doing some research, I discovered 5 additional versions that can add depth to your understanding of how to run a successful business.

In this post, you will see each of the six examples and illustrations, along with ideas on how to increase your level of business risk intelligence.

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Company Culture FAQs Part 1 of 5

What’s the purpose of reviewing your company culture?

Does social media impact a company’s culture?

I answer these questions—and much more—in my Live Facebook Video. Check out the recorded video here, or read the transcript below (including bonus content!)

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Why I Hate MLMs: My Story [Video]

Of the 10 kinds of business modelsMulti-Level Marketing (MLM) is one of the most predatory.

MLMs can cause people to get sucked into a system over which they have no control, power, or decision-making ability. Someone who joins an MLM is a contractor (also called a “consultant” or “distributor”) who agree to sell products or services. She or he is totally at the mercy of the parent company; they don’t have any say if things change.

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The Ultimate Strategic Planning Framework Tool: A Detailed Review

Your strategic plan doesn’t belong in a cabinet like a set of fine china. In my last post, I talked about the many benefits of using a Strategic Planning Framework:

  • a clear vision for the future
  • foresee vulnerabilities and dangers
  • identify areas of healthy growth
  • effectively get control of your company

This simple tool answers 3 important questions:

  1. Why are we doing this?
  2. What is required?
  3. How will we do it?

Within these questions are a variety of areas that should be included in your strategic planning process. Let’s look at each of them in more detail.

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How Do I Make a Super SWOT Diagram? Using Real Examples [Video]

A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool to identify and fix vulnerabilities in your organization. It allows you to review your company’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Read How Do I Make a SWOT Diagram? to get an overview.

When used properly, the SWOT provides insights about root causes that might be causing negative outcomes. However, it is often treated like a once-and-done process, without any further analysis.

You can get the most out of a basic SWOT Diagram by going deeper, using what I call the Super SWOT.

Watch the video, or read more below:

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How Do I Make a SWOT Diagram? [Video]

The SWOT analysis is a simple tool to identify and fix vulnerabilities in an organization.

When used properly, it provides insights about root causes that might be causing negative outcomes. However, the SWOT is often used as a once-and-done tool without additional analysis and follow-up.

Watch the video, or read more below.

Continue reading “How Do I Make a SWOT Diagram? [Video]”