When Curt Richardson started OtterBox in 1998, he didn’t have a college degree. But that didn’t stop him from building a business that generated $1B in revenue in 2019. Hear how he did it in this inspiring interview on NPR’s How I Built This, with Guy Raz.
If you’ve followed along in this series, you’ve (hopefully) started the work of organizing your inbox and your physical environment in a way that allows you to focus on your priorities as a business owner. In this piece, we’ll home in on your most valuable resource—time.
To grow your business, you need a dedicated physical space to do the strategic work of growing it—a place for dreaming, thinking and planning. And many business owners don’t have that. Instead, they work from a mobile location, share a space with employees, or have a desk that’s more of a dump zone than a place ...
As the owner-operator of your business, you’re often the first point of contact for anyone trying to connect with any part of your company. So no doubt your inbox is a constant distraction—even a point of overwhelm. And no matter how diligent you are about managing your email, messages can still build up quickly. ...
Whether you’re exasperated by inconsistent sales, poor employee performance or your own role in the business, all frustrations can be solved with the right systems. Our free guide will help you build the systemic solutions you need.
“I’m overwhelmed.” It’s a phrase we hear often and from everyone, from parents to business owners. There’s always so much to do, so many details to track and deadlines to manage. Nobody wants to feel overwhelmed—but in today's busy world, what can you do about it?
So, you’ve noticed a lack of clarity and consistency in how projects are managed in your business and taken the essential step of implementing a project management system. Congratulations! Project management systems—and the tools used to execute them—are crucial to ensuring every project you take on in your busine...
In this final article on systems development, I want to address the question we get most from our clients when it comes to building systems in their business: where do I begin? In this article, I’ll provide a blueprint for the most important, foundational systems in your business—and the ideal order in which to bu...
Last week I covered how an operations manual can save your business (and your life), much like the operations manual on Apollo 13 saved Jim Lovell’s life. This week, I want to take you on a journey into systems strategy: Reality dictates you will be building systems while working in your existing business. We call...
During the last long-haul flight I was on, I re-watched Apollo 13 (the one with Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell). Perhaps not the best choice as I was hurtling through the sky at 500 mph in a tin-can myself, but there’s something to be said for the thrill. If you haven’t seen the film, it's based on real-life events and i...
This week, I want to share a concept that will help you turn your current business frustrations into operational systems. It’s one small step for you and your team—but it will be one giant leap for your business. There were some days as a business owner when I felt completely consumed by my business. The only thin...
In my first article in this series on systems, I introduced the idea that as the owner and entrepreneur in your business, you're also the systems engineer. In this second article, I propose that when building better designed systems solutions to solve frustrations, it’s common to start in the wrong place.
Without documentation, “great systems” are only rough ideas about the way you do things in your business. And all your tasks, functions, processes and procedures—the way that you and your staff habitually do everything—are nothing more than good intentions.
Moving your business forward takes more than day-to-day productivity—it takes visionary goal-setting with solid quarterly plans. Our new guide helps you identify your top priorities for 2020 and build your timeline for the year.
To find and retain high-performing employees, you need to develop a management system that gives structure to their roles. Take our quiz to discover how you can grow your management skills to increase employee success.
You started your business to help you achieve a more fulfilling life—but is your business actually getting in the way of that goal? Take our quiz to find out.