Offering small business advice — one tip at a time.
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Your Giant, Gleaming Sword of Fire(d)
Didn’t know you had one of those in your manager’s tool kit, did you? Here’s what it is, and how to wield it properly. Spoiler alert: Your employees don’t love it.
Latest
Will you pay for my haircuts from now on? Here’s what to do with unusual employee requests
At some point, an employee is going to come to you and ask for something that will stop you short. Here are some examples of employee requests and how to handle them.
Picture Yourself As a Visionary – Here’s How to Do It
Want to become a visionary leader? Read advice, visionary leadership examples, and true stories of how to build a team that will follow you.
Picture Yourself As a Visionary – Here’s How to Do It
Want to become a visionary leader? Read advice, visionary leadership examples, and true stories of how to build a team that will follow you.
Favorites

Sales and Marketing, Part 1: How to Create a Marketing Plan
What’s the difference between sales and marketing? A lot. Here’s a look at the definition of marketing vs. sales, with examples.
Sales and Marketing, Part 1: How to Create a Marketing Plan
What’s the difference between sales and marketing? A lot. Here’s a look at the definition of marketing vs. sales, with examples.
Sales and Marketing, Part 1: How to Create a Marketing Plan
What’s the difference between sales and marketing? A lot. Here’s a look at the definition of marketing vs. sales, with examples.

The Power of the Awkward Conversation
Scott Simon, founder of Voicebox Karaoke, has some profound words about the power that comes with taking a deep breath and having that uncomfortable conversation.
The Power of the Awkward Conversation
Scott Simon, founder of Voicebox Karaoke, has some profound words about the power that comes with taking a deep breath and having that uncomfortable conversation.
The Power of the Awkward Conversation
Scott Simon, founder of Voicebox Karaoke, has some profound words about the power that comes with taking a deep breath and having that uncomfortable conversation.

Mediation Series, Part 1: Defining and Diagnosing Employee Disputes
If you’re a manager, the unpleasant job of mediating employee disputes will likely fall to you. Here’s a look at what they are, how they happen, and how you can make them right.
Mediation Series, Part 1: Defining and Diagnosing Employee Disputes
If you’re a manager, the unpleasant job of mediating employee disputes will likely fall to you. Here’s a look at what they are, how they happen, and how you can make them right.
Mediation Series, Part 1: Defining and Diagnosing Employee Disputes
If you’re a manager, the unpleasant job of mediating employee disputes will likely fall to you. Here’s a look at what they are, how they happen, and how you can make them right.
Recommendations
You’ll Lose More Customers If You Don’t Raise Prices
If you need to raise prices, it’s important to do it the right way. Here’s a guide for how to do it, with examples.
How to Raise Prices Like a Boss: A Step-by-Step Guide
If you need to raise prices, it’s important to do it the right way. Here’s a guide for how to do it, with examples.
Finance & Accounting
ELI5: Balance sheets and how to make them suck less, Part 2
Balance sheets include assets, liabilities, depreciation, profit, loss, and a lot of other complicated financial terms. This article breaks it down for small business owners.
ELI5: All about balance sheets and how to make them suck less, Part 1
Balance sheets are an essential tool for monitoring the health of your business, but they’re also one of the most confounding. Here’s how to use them to your best advantage.
Will you pay for my haircuts from now on? Here’s what to do with unusual employee requests
At some point, an employee is going to come to you and ask for something that will stop you short. Here are some examples of employee requests and how to handle them.
Want to get useful feedback from your employees? Here’s how to do it.
What is psychological safety, and why should you care? Creating it will make sure your employees feel included, valued, respected, and heard. Then, they will do something crazy — tell you the truth.
Say What? For Small Business Owners, Comments Matter More Than Clicks
Talin Koutnouyan, a marketing strategy and analytics expert and small-business consultant, shares advice for marketing your small business.
My Autism Brain at Work: Thinking About Thinking
As we age, we tend to cling to familiar ways of thinking and answering questions, unable to see other pathways available. Using “forcing functions” is one way to push ourselves out of default thinking.