By Daniel M. Murphy on 8/27/2009

Lately, in louder and greater numbers, I have heard small business owners talking about the "good old days".  It's not surprising.  In these challenging times, many entrepreneurs feel like they are "swimming upstream and against the current."  They long for the simpler, easier, better days.  Unfortunately, many owners right now think their glory days are behind them.  That's sad.  Such a mindset is incredibly limiting and damaging.  It causes one's business vision (mental picture of an ideal future) to...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 8/20/2009

For your business to grow and improve, YOU must grow and improve.  Sorry, there's no shortcut around that fact.  If you stop growing as an owner and leader, so does your business.  For your business to get better, YOU must get better.  You must expand your business vision, knowledge, mindsets, skills, and habits.  Or, be content to stay where you are or worse yet, lose ground.  Your choice!

Please don't misinterpret the point of this business coaching blog.  It's not about the importance of...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 8/13/2009

When beginning a business, always start with the end in mind.  Eventually, you will one day want to sell your business... that's how substantial wealth is created.  Also, there is usually a time when the original founder needs to step aside and let the business evolve and grow to a much higher level.  Therefore, even if you have owned a business for years, you should gradually be getting it ready to be sold and to survive without you.  It is never too soon or too late to position your business to...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 8/6/2009

Why do we business owners torture ourselves?  Because we often measure our current results against perfection (our ideal goals).  With that measuring stick, there will be lots of disappointment.  More times than not, we will come up short and feel frustrated.  Are we crazy?  YES!  We seldom take time to enjoy the journey and gauge our incredible progress.  We tend to only look ahead and not behind to see our progress.  I am guilty of this.

Case in point.  The Growth Coach, a North American...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 7/30/2009

Small business owners and entrepreneurs continually battle against the competition, economy, finances, government regulations, employee issues, busyness, denial, distractions, and a host of other challenges.  Such COMPLEXITY is simply the "price of admission" for being a successful entrepreneur.  However, if you don't learn to manage such complexity, it will crush you and your business.

However, please don't become overwhelmed by all these issues.  In fact, all these issues are not the real...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 7/23/2009

Business coaching done right is about helping someone else (the client) to discover for themselves what needs to change in their business and life... so that they may achieve greater success and fulfillment.  Coaching empowers the client to solve their own problems and seize their own opportunities.  While a business coach will help open new doors and opportunities, it's still up to the client to walk through them.  When it's all said and done, business coaching is part science, part art...the science...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 7/16/2009

Ever notice on the back of a hotel door, there is a floor diagram with a red dot that signifies "you are here."  It's there to show you your room in relation to the fire exits.  In short, it's your exit strategy and life-saver plan.  As a business coach, that "red dot" got me thinking about the situation most small business owners find themselves in.  They don't really know where they are in relation to their own exit strategy...selling the business. As such, let's play the "red dot" game.  Visualize...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 7/9/2009

A recent Twitter (www.twitter.com/GrowthCoachCorp) entry I made sparked an idea for this business coaching blog.  I mentioned that successful entrepreneurs take 100% responsibility for their results and won't dare tolerate excuses within their company.  Is that true for you and your business?  If not, here comes some tough-love business coaching.

Can you handle the truth?  OK, here it comes...your business is where it is, how it is, and...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 7/2/2009

Let me guess, at times you feel overworked, overwhelmed and a prisoner to your business.  As an owner, your frustrations often outweigh your fun.  And lastly, you are wearing multiple hats and functioning in multiple roles for your company.  How did I do?  Did this business coach describe you accurately... at least some of the time?  If so, you need to QUIT!  No, not quit being an entrepreneur or business owner...just quit doing some of the roles and tasks you have been doing for years or ever since...

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By Daniel M. Murphy on 6/25/2009

My wife recently got a GPS (global positioning system) for her vehicle.  She and my kids do lots of driving to new destinations for volleyball and baseball tournaments.  No sense getting lost and wasting time.  And since I am directionally-challenged and no real help when it comes to driving, a GPS was a good investment.

As most of you are aware, a GPS instrument is a pretty amazing and affordable piece of technology. You always have a clear destination, specific directions to get there, and...

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