By Daniel M. Murphy on
5/12/2008
Odds are that you have a toxic and unhealthy relationship with your business -- a real love-hate relationship. If so, my professional coaching advice is to consider a divorce from your business or at the very least, ask for a separation.
As a business coach for over 16 years, this is just a little of my tough-love advice. I want you, and all entrepreneurs for ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
5/8/2008
My son has two gecko lizards. They eat crickets voraciously. Interestingly, for the lizards to grow, they need to shed their old skin. Unless they get rid of the old, they don't have sufficient room to grow. That got me thinking.
As business owners, shouldn't we go through a periodic shedding and rebirth process? Shouldn't we unload some of the old ways of thinking and behaving and adopt so ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
5/5/2008
Why do we business owners torture ourselves? Because we often measure our results against perfection. With that measuring stick, there can be nothing but disappointment. Are we crazy?
Here's a perfect analogy. Matthew, my 9-year old son, pitched two very good innings of baseball a few weeks ago. He faced eight batters, struck out 6, walked no one and gave up zero runs. Our other pitchers pe ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
5/1/2008
My kids are growing like weeds, Kelsey at age 13 and Matthew at age 9. They are constantly outgrowing their clothes and shoes. In fact, my wife took Kelsey gym-shoe shopping the other day. Kelsey liked the $90 shoes, my wife convinced Kelsey to like the $40 shoes or learn to appreciate going bare-foot.
Upon hearing this, it reminded me about the hundreds of business owners I have coached and counseled over the years who outgrew their busin ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
4/28/2008
Not only have I been blessed to coach entrepreneurs to have greater success and balance since 1992, but also to coach my kids' various sports teams the last eight years -- soccer, softball, basketball and baseball. Currently, I am helping to coach my son Matthew's baseball team. This is a group of 2nd and 3rd graders, ages 8 and 9. Thankfully, it is a team of good kids ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
4/24/2008
Our house is surrounded by hundreds of trees. Thousands of leaves are attracted to my roof and gutters every fall. When the rains come, the gutters clog and water cascades off my roof like a waterfall. One year the waterfall filled up a window well and then pored into my basement. Ever since and twice a year, I religiously get out my ladder, climb up on my roof, try not to fall and kill myself, and& ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
4/21/2008
Let me guess, at times you feel overworked and overwhelmed. You are wearing multiple hats and functioning in multiple roles for your company. Sadly, many business owners can not see the reality of that situation. They consider this normal. While it may be normal for the first year or so, you should not be adding hats each and every year; you should be removing hats. Eventually, the only role you should have is to be the ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
4/17/2008
I just got back from Disney World with the family. On the back of the hotel door, there was a red dot that signified "you are here." It showed our room in relation to the fire exits. It struck me -- business owners are red dots too but many of them do not know where they are or how to move efficiently and effectively to the exit (selling their business). With an ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
4/14/2008
When beginning a business, always start with the end in mind. The reason you start a business is to some day sell the business. That's how substantial wealth is created. Even if you have owned a business for years, you should gradually be getting it ready to be sold. It is never too soon or too late to position your business to be sold.
To eventually sell your company for a fortune, your ultimate goal is to become the least ...
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By Daniel M. Murphy on
4/10/2008
Can you handle the truth? Here it comes -- your business is where it is and what it is because of YOU. Good, bad and ugly, you are responsible for the business -- all of it. Please own up to that. The only way your business and life will improve is if YOU improve as an owner and leader -- your thinking, mindset, assumptions, habits, strategies, etc. Please put your ego on hold and face reality. This is not about being right or w ...
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