The new year is well underway, and the economy is booming. But millions of Americans are still anxious about their professional future. Job security has become a dark punchline or an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp.” The only real constant in business today is the constant threat of people being downsized, right-sized or capsized, as corporations…

I’ve been reflecting on Alabama’s win over Georgia in the college football national championship game, and I’m still marveling at how they did it. They were missing several injured stars and had fallen into a deep hole on the scoreboard. Further, Tua Tagovailoa, their freshman quarterback with no experience in any meaningful games during the…

Running a business is, in so many ways, a purely psychological exercise. Yes, a superior product or service is beyond important to a successful company, and experience and intelligence also help. Talented employees and proven systems matter, too. (Caffeine doesn’t hurt either!) But keeping a business going is also mental, and it’s important to feel…

When you’re running a business with a partner, solving disagreements can be particularly vexing. But when you’re married and running a company, it’s even more challenging. After all, it makes it difficult to go home, decompress and complain to your husband or wife about your business partner. And your business partner may not feel he…

If you want to own a business, you’d be surprised what you can learn from your high-school self. I remember it like it was yesterday. I was far from a model student, but I stood there in shock when I read my senior superlative in the yearbook: “Least Likely to Succeed.” Looking back at it,…

We all feel stuck in our jobs once in a while. As a career transitions coach, I realize not everybody is at the point in their life where they’re ready to talk to a professional. So, if you are considering a new career and want something better in life, here’s some advice you might find…

I have to laugh when people say that they would never quit their job and start a business of their own. “It’s too risky,” they tell me. This comes after they tell me that they’re in a dead-end career and have a desire to find a better way. It’s amusing to hear that because I…

If you’ve ever been to a trade show or industry conference, you may have walked away thinking that it was a decent experience. It had exactly the type of information you needed. But at the same time, it would be nice if you could accomplish the same thing without spending a fortune and having to…

Many people dream of starting their own businesses, and a lot of people follow those dreams through franchising. It’s a business model that people love, and for good reason. When you invest in a franchise, you’re investing in a proven business model. But before you invest in a franchise, you need to get to know…

Many businesses don’t start off as family businesses. They become family businesses about the time the parent is thinking of retiring. Then, instead of selling the company to a stranger, he or she sells or hands over ownership to the kids, and with a second generation at the helm, you have a family business. Franchised…

Not everybody wants to be their own boss. It’s a lot of responsibility, for starters. But for some people, it’s a yearning. It’s something they have to do because they have always had an entrepreneurial itch. I know, having met many of those people as the founder of an alternative career coaching franchise. I routinely…

Think of running a business like driving a car. No instructor would suggest that you keep your eyes on the road behind you instead of straight ahead at the road in front of you. However, instructors do suggest you look back over your shoulder when you’re changing lanes, for instance. There could be something in your…

Once upon a time, if you wanted to buy a franchise, you might have found an ad in the paper, like the one that appeared in a 1949 New York Times issue, which I recently found while combing through some online library newspaper archives. “Do you have $10,000 to $20,000 to invest?” the headline blared…

It probably isn’t on your calendar, but it should be. The President has declared May 1-7 as National Small Business Week, stated, “For generations, small businesses across America have shaped and embodied our Nation’s entrepreneurial spirit and driven our economy forward. It’s a bigger deal than you might think. This has been going on for over fifty…

You hear a lot about the importance of culture in the workplace, for good reason. If you have a dysfunctional culture that prizes profits over people, for instance, you might find yourself with headlines like the long-gone Enron or the embattled Wells Fargo. The wrong culture can destroy a company, and the right one can…

Let’s assume that we all agree that mentorship is a good thing. In the workplace (paywall), mentorship is considered extremely valuable, particularly for young adults just starting out, to get ahead. But established CEOs and high-level executives often also have — and benefit from — mentors. Even legendary investor Warren Buffett has talked about the benefits of mentorship…

Have you ever asked yourself whether you’re really doing what you want to be doing with your life during your working hours? After all, we spend a pretty good chunk of our lives earning a living, but apparently, many of us don’t do a very good job of it. Many Americans are working longer in their…

  I have an idea that may sound crazy at first, or even on the second go-around, but it’s a concept that may grow on you. Here it is: Instead of paying for your kid to go to college, you could use the money to help your son or daughter start a business. To some…

  Many business owners go to industry and trade conferences — but every once in a while, you may end up hosting one. After all, there are a lot of reasons to organize a conference. Maybe you want to be considered one of the big players in your industry or a thought leader. You might…

Market research is a valuable tool in the arsenal of any businessperson. It’s an excellent way to learn more about your industry, discover things you hadn’t considered about your own business, dive into current trends and get an idea of what the future might hold. Your company might be interested in conducting market research studies…

When working alone or from a home office, the appearance of a workspace may not be as important. But if you have even just one employee, and especially if you want to attract top-flight talent, you really need an office that you can envision the best and brightest working in. If you are thinking that…

Hiring a new team member is easy. Hiring a great team member is something entirely different. When unemployment was low, people could be selective about where they wanted to work. Even as unemployment skyrockets, especially due to the COVID-19 crisis, it’s still not all that simple. Somebody you’re considering may be enthusiastic not because they love…

When COVID-19 quickly spread across the United States in March, our daily routines changed almost overnight. While adapting to stay-at-home orders, many individuals have been using the additional time around the house in productive ways, such as catching up on reading, tackling repair projects or learning a new skill. This should also be a time…

The last couple of months have certainly been challenging for everyone, but if there is a bright spot in the business world, it may be found in the self-sufficiency offered through franchising. For much of my adult life, I’ve argued that franchising is one of the best vehicles for individuals to achieve their income, lifestyle,…