Business Owner Resources

By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/29/2008

What is one of the most over-rated abilities of a business owner?  Technical expertise.  That's right, the ability to do the technical work of the business...paint a bedroom, repair a toilet, move a household, care for the elderly, write an insurance policy, clean a home or office, remodel a room, etc.  Why is having the talent to do such technical tasks not that special?  Because millions of people can do those same technical tasks...some even better than you!  Being a successful and satisfied business...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/25/2008

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours.  May you have a blessed, relaxing and enjoyable time with your family and friends. 

While Christmas is definitely NOT about the presents, this business coaching blog will be.  As a business coach, I learn a great deal from my kids.  They teach me much about life, business, and how to keep things simple.  For example, every year, around October and November, my two kids become goal-seeking machines. I'm certain yours do too.  My kids become very explicit about what they would like to find under the Christmas tree from their parents and Santa. They do a wonderful job of expressing, both in their spoken and written words, exactly what they desire and hope for.  Trust me, there is a real level of specificity in their goals.  They even clip out newspaper ads with the exact present they want (manufacturer, model, color, size, etc.) so they can show us or they take us to specific websites on our home computer so we can truly experience their "wish list". ...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/22/2008

Today's business coaching blog is dedicated to the dreadful disease of micro-management...that all too common condition where a business owner mistakenly thinks he/she needs to do everything in a business.  That disease may not kill you but it will surely exhaust you on a perpetual basis and have you become a prisoner to your business.  As your virtual business coach, I am here to say that doesn't need to be the case and there is a cure.

Some quick Growth Coach reminders...as a strategic business...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/18/2008

My 10-year old son Matthew and I love going to the zoo together.  A recent visit inspired this business coaching blog.  You see, Matthew loves taking pictures of the largest animals...the polar bears, lions, gorillas, giraffes, and yes, the elephants.  You can't ignore, deny or dismiss these massive and beautiful animals.  However, that's exactly what business owners very often do.  They don't see the big elephant standing right next to them! 

As a business owner, what is the one BIG THING...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/15/2008

Your business is where it is, how it is, and what it is today because of your former knowledge, mindsets, strategies, and habits.  What got you to where you are today is NOT SUFFICIENT to keep you there or to get you to where you want to be.  For your business to keep on growing, you must keep on growing.  That is the price you must pay.  To earn more, you must learn more. The only way for your company to continue to expand is for you as the business leader to continue to expand your knowledge, mindsets...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/11/2008

Recently, I've watched some of my favorite college basketball teams struggle horribly from the free-throw line.  I'm talking about entire teams shooting far less than 60% from the foul line.  Why?  Nobody is even guarding the shooter.  The basket is wide open and the shooter has no less than 10 years of experience shooting thousands upon thousands of free throws during countless practices and games.  Free throws should be an easy part of the game.  Then why do they struggle so?

The same reason...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/8/2008

The world of a business owner can get pretty cloudy, confusing, and complex in less than a year or two.  Initially, the business is usually small enough so that the owner can handle most of the transactions and challenges and feel in control.  Unfortunately, most owners get trapped in the technical trenches of their business and never evolve to higher levels of leadership. 

As the business grows, so does the level of complexity and the number of customers, transactions, employees, issues and...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/4/2008

For business owners to have greater success and balance in their external world, they have to master their internal world first.  At The Growth Coach, we teach clients that business success has much more to do with the mindset, skillsets and habits of the owner (the inner game) and less to do with business mechanics and tactics (outer game).  Typically, fundamental business practices are in place, just not between the ears of the owner.  That is where our business coaches focus most of their time...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 12/1/2008

This business coaching blog is a continuation of the The Inner Game of Business blog from November 13th.  You can review that blog at http://www.thegrowthcoach.com/Resources/tabid/214/EntryID/71/Default.aspx 

Besides having a bias for action, successful business owners share another common but rare trait...self understanding.  That's right, they know who they are and what they are.  They know their visions,...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 11/27/2008

The Growth Coach wishes every one of our business coaching blog readers a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.  I hope each of you is surrounded by family, friends, good food, and relaxing and fun times. For this business coach, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays.  There are no presents involved and it's very simple... a time to slow down, reflect, count your blessings, and give thanks.  And, I almost forgot, eat more than you should! During today's crazy economic times, more than...

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