https://completemarkets.com/Article/article-post/385/The-%E2%80%98I%E2%80%99m-Not-A-Computer-Person%E2%80%99-Agency-Owner/
... all, automation meant doing everything twice: once for the computer and then again using the old methods because we didn't trust computers. Thankfully, those days are gone and only a true dinosaur' doesn't appreciate the improved productivity of computer usage. THE JOB DESCRIPTION Before we castigate recalcitrant business owners, let's look at the job description of an owner. I believe it can be summed up fairly easily: Provide the vision upon which the future of a company will be built. Create a nurturing, motivational, and empowering environment for staff Present the philosophical framework to serve the clientele. Generate a fair return on investment for the company. Although this might seem oversimplified, these four categories cover just about everything a true leader must do. To use a metaphorical example, the executives of a national bakery can run the company without ever having baked a loaf of bread — as long as they understand the process and are keenly aware and sensitive to both employees and customers. The conundrum, in the case of our friend's partner, is that technology is an essential component for every facet of the owner's job description. THE VISION Businesses are building the future technological block by technological block. Forget the retail side of Internet commerce; think in terms of communication, information resources, and back-end supply chain. Some pundits say that Jack Welch of General Electric blew his chance to retire with a bang when the Honeywell merger fell through. I disagree. Welch has already given GE the most valuable farewell gift possible: an introduction to the Internet. Initially blind to the possibilities of the Internet, gentle ...
https://completemarkets.com/Article/article-post/387/The-Role-Of-An-Owner-Is-It-About-You-%E2%80%94-Or-Them/
... methods because we didn't trust the computer. Those days have thankfully changed and only a true "dinosaur" doesn't appreciate the productivity benefits of computer usage. THE JOB DESCRIPTION Before we castigate the recalcitrant business owner described in my opening correspondence, let's look at the job description of an owner. I believe that it can be summed up fairly easily: Create the great vision on which the future of a company will be built. Provide a nurturing, motivational and empowering environment for staff. Develop the philosophical framework to serve the clientele. Generate a fair return on investment for the company. Although this might seem a bit over-simplified, these four steps cover just about everything that a true leader must do without getting into the daily minutia. To use a metaphorical example, the CEO of a national bakery can run the company without ever having baked a loaf of bread — as long as they understand the process and are keenly aware and sensitive to both their employees and their customers. The conundrum, in the case of our friend's partner, is that technology is an essential component for every facet of this job description. STEP ONE: THE VISION The future is being built block by technological block. Forget the retail side of Internet commerce; think in terms of communication, information resources, and back-end supply chain. Some pundits say that Jack Welch of General Electric blew his chance to retire with a bang when the deal to merge with Honeywell fell through. I disagree. Welch had already given GE the most valuable farewell gift possible: An introduction to the Internet. Although he was initially ...
https://completemarkets.com/Article/article-post/852/16-Ways-To-Keep-A-Business-Alive-As-Commerce-Goes-Online/
...personal experiences with banks, bakeries, doctors' offices, restaurants, elec...
https://completemarkets.com/Article/article-post/2566/Overcoming-Short-Term-Thinking-Developing-a-Pipeline-Mentality/
... you know solves customer problems. Some producers are reluctant to share their knowledge, fearing that prospects will take what they want and never bother to buy. While there's always a chance of this happening, it's worth it to demonstrate a company's expertise. The best way for prospects to become aligned with your company is to allow them to discover the depths of your experience and the extent of your knowledge. This is the added value that makes a significant difference. Find ways to help customers to be more successful. If the partnering concept has any value, it's in helping prospects and customers meet business challenges. Just selling them the right product or service isn't nearly enough to build a lasting bond. Almost any vendor can do that. Going beyond the expected is today's challenge. A supplier of bakery mixes and fillings discovered that its customers needed help in developing marketing strategies and tactics for retailing their products. At that point, management realized that superior, innovative products were not enough; their customers were looking to them for ways to sell more. Meeting this need led to selling more mixes and fillings. Demonstrate leadership. While caution is often prudent, it's leadership that captures the attention of prospects. Circuit City, for example, has pulled the plug on competitors because of its marketplace assertiveness. On a smaller scale, a Chinese restaurant opens in near-saturated Chinese food market and captures customers with an innovative approach: an open kitchen where customers can watch the food being prepared, and a dining atmosphere that seems different from the average Chinese restaurant. Customers sense something new, different and comfortable-and ...