It’s almost amusing that we’ve reached a point in society where people are so dependent on their phones and computers that they have to book retreats designed solely to take a Digital Detox. These simple steps will help you unplug with confidence.

Posted: Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Meetings are essential to the collaborative process but we all know how easy it is for frequent meetings to become unproductive, overpopulated and exhausting. Meetings are crucial, yes, but it’s all in how you conduct them. For those clients who insist on weekly meetings, here are a few things to consider before your next get together.

Posted: Thursday, December 3, 2015

In today’s modern workplace, automation has become the key to impacting performance, minimizing risk and driving sustainable business processes. Automation makes working more efficient and can help the organization save time and money.

Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Regardless of whether you’re a startup or an established organization, every company has a common aspiration to continuously innovate. Whether it’s a disruptive technology, a new product or improvements on an existing one, there is a certain fear and doubt that comes before launching something new. As entrepreneurs and businesspeople alike, we strive to get everything right the first time. As a consequence, our innovations can cause costly delays or false assumptions. That’s why some businesses choose to launch their product before it’s perfect—in beta mode.

Posted: Friday, November 20, 2015

When we refer to “mission-critical processes,” we typically describe the essential services required to go about your day-to-day operations. If a particular operation cannot be interrupted without affecting production, it is considered mission-critical.

Posted: Thursday, November 12, 2015

As they break into owning a business, many business owners dream of the day where their brand will become a household name, known coast to coast and potentially across the globe. If developed effectively, with the right concept, franchising can be a very lucrative opportunity that doesn’t require as much start-up cost as taking the company-owned-and-operated route. However, if this is the route you wish to take, there are several steps that need to be taken before taking the final plunge.

Posted: Thursday, November 5, 2015

The Balanced Scorecard concept has been around for many years as a way to help turn strategy into measurable action. The Balanced Scorecard starts from the company’s overall vision and then breaks down and defines the critical success factors that attribute to that vision. These are typically broken into four perspectives: customer, financial, processes and innovation.

Posted: Thursday, October 29, 2015

In recent years, with the economy gaining traction, growing companies have started to realize that people are a company’s greatest asset. However, managers have become so focused on recruiting new talent that they fail to assess what will happen once their new employees arrive for their first day.

Posted: Thursday, October 22, 2015

When a business is about to implement an important change or enter a growth period or major transition, they often look to strategy consulting firms for support. Although strategy isn’t the only factor that leads to successful implementation, it is considered one of the most important when it comes to potential for growth or profitability.

Posted: Thursday, October 15, 2015

My biggest pet peeve is someone tells me “Sorry, I don’t have time.” We all have the same 24 hours in each day. Is my time less important than yours? In actuality, I have just learned how to effectively manage my time based on my priorities.

Posted: Monday, October 12, 2015

In 1952, Raymond Kroc was a 52-year-old milkshake machine salesman in San Bernardino, California. Walking along his route one day, he noticed a hamburger stand. It was then that a new industry was created from a single restaurant.

Posted: Thursday, October 1, 2015

There isn’t a single company who has never had an unsatisfied customer, but what turns a good company into a great company is how they respond to these complaints. It might be hard to see when you’re getting negative feedback, but consumer complaints can actually be an advantage.

Posted: Monday, September 21, 2015

Before I founded All Systems Grow, I observed the strategic coach Dan Sullivan. Dan is most known for teaching like-minded individuals how to become better entrepreneurs and works with organizations from over 60 different industries.

Posted: Monday, September 14, 2015

Your WHY is what motivates you to get up each morning. Without it, it can be difficult to find meaning in your day and satisfaction with your life.

Posted: Monday, August 31, 2015

Aristotle said it best, “Choice – not chance, determines your destiny.” We make this choice every day, beginning with your morning routine. We all have them - no matter how long or short they may be, you have a ritual of preparing for the day’s events. How do you start your mornings? We’ve heard of that “morning routine” that successful people swear on. Wake up early, don’t check emails, write, get a good breakfast, exercise, repeat. How does this lead to excellence? By creating discipline – making small choices each day that eventually amount to big choices.

Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2015

I’ve had clients on opposite ends of the spectrum and I’ve always found this quote to be true. The ones who would manage every process, from where their customers came from to how many people used their offer, were able to set goals and achieve those goals – so that they could set more goals. Those who couldn’t manage it, couldn’t improve. Where do you start when there’s no focus?

Posted: Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Sometimes the only way to fix your problems is to view them differently.

Whether you are an employee, a president, an entrepreneur or even unemployed we are all faced with struggles consistently. Thomas Edison said it best - “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” There are several different emotions that come into play when you are faced with a struggle or challenge that you’re not sure how to navigate through. Excitement for the challenge is usually not one of them. I’m hoping after I walk you through a few steps in how to address a struggle, you will begin to teach yourself to view struggles with motivation rather than defeat. 1. Liberate yourself View your challenges as changes, opportunities ...

Posted: Tuesday, July 28, 2015

A strategic plan cannot be successful without proper execution When I first explain to a client the proper way to conduct strategic planning, I often revert back to the example of Eastman Kodak. During a greater part of the 20th century, Kodak held the dominant position in photography. In 1976, they had a 90% market share. However, if they had a strategic plan in place, it was not executed properly. By the late 1990s, Eastman Kodak had lost 75% of their market value due to their inability to strategically plan for the rise in digital photography. In 2012, they filed for bankruptcy. How can you avoid this happening to you? Not just through strategic planning, but through proper execution. ASG’s mantra is such: “Strategy without an executable plan is destined for ...

Posted: Thursday, July 23, 2015

Understanding how simplicity is just complexity, resolved Complexity is one of the biggest issues facing businesses today. It’s slowing them down, affecting their profits and tarnishing employee morale. I believe that we, as a society, tend to make things more complicated than they need to be, especially in business. The great Albert Einstein said it best “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” Simplicity is an art, an art that is necessary to express and grow your business. Apple is the prime example of achieving simplicity with a technology that could very easily be viewed as too complex. Yet, they were able to articulate their products in a way that now has 60+ year olds fully utilizing iPhones with the simple wave of a ...

Posted: Wednesday, July 8, 2015

An idea can only take your business so far if it is not scalable

I was watching a Shark Tank episode the other day on a subscription based service geared towards children. The concept seemed like a great idea and opportunity, yet Kevin O’Leary would not give them a deal. He believed they weren’t going to be able to keep up with demand and fulfill their orders at the pace they were going. In order for their business to be scalable, they would need much more money than they were anticipating in order to have a sustainable business. The episode started me thinking about the importance of preparation for scaling a business.

Having a growing business sounds like a problem every business owner would like to have. That is, until you realize you may not be able to ...

Posted: Wednesday, July 1, 2015

How to avoid hitting a business plateau.

You want your business to be a rousing success, and even though you might start off strong, chances are you will soon come to a plateau. This is a problem for many business owners. They don’t know how to grow their business, and they simply continue doing the same things they’ve been doing while hoping for new results. Having a great product and engaged team members is only one piece of the puzzle.

Those new and better results won’t come if you are stagnant or in chaos. You need to learn how to truly develop your business the right way – to be scalable. Namely, you need to cultivate systems and processes for your particular business – these processes are the keys to your company’s success. ...

Posted: Thursday, June 25, 2015

Avoid the business development rut by following these simple steps

Starting your own business is a huge venture filled with excitement and a fair bit of trepidation. Many people decide that they want to start small, working from their home or out of the garage. They are turning a hobby or passion into a company that pays real money and brings them a level of satisfaction that nothing else seems to provide. However, there will come a time when you realize that your business is stuck in second gear. Sure, you have your own business, but it's not growing.

Here are 4 ways to get your business out of the garage.

1. Sustainable Processes and Systems

The processes and systems are some of the most important elements for any business that hopes to ...

Posted: Friday, June 19, 2015

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com



I was at an outdoor concert in Miami and noticed, no, was mesmerized, by the beer vendor. He had a wheel barrow full of ice cold beer, wine, and water (his products). He was dressed in an outfit that stood out. He had a light on hat and a string of lights around his neck. He was "singing" his offerings of beer, wine, and water and he had a steady stream of patrons - either running up to him or sending cash down the aisle to him.

He went up and down EVERY aisle - over and over again - offering a consistent and clear message, with his unique selling proposition being his attitude. And, he was grateful...for every sale!

I noticed him because of his attitude and work ethic. Neither the heat nor the crowds ...

Posted: Thursday, February 5, 2015

I’m sitting here watching the FSU v Oregon game and, while I am quite sickened at the 45 (Oregon) to 20 (FSU) score, I am struck by Oregon’s ability to see opportunities (over and over again) and just continue to be in the right place at the right time to capitalize on them (foresight).

Seizing an Opportunity

The Oregon players are consistently within an arm’s reach of a fumble or a bumble – so they are capitalizing on the big errors and the tiny ones - those that would be potentially harmless against another defense. It is as if they are watching the game unfold in slow motion, or even setting it to “pause”, and then moving their players into strategic positions to take advantage of the opportunity.

Capitalizing on ...

Posted: Friday, January 2, 2015

Are you operating a Hobby or a Business? You decide…

I often ask business owners: Are you operating a hobby or a business? First, they look at me like I’m an idiot (I’m not offended, because I expect it) and then they reply: A business, of course.

The question first comes about when business owners complain about not making enough money, going backwards, or being “stuck” and I ask to see their financials. And they hand me a hand-written sheet of paper or an Excel spreadsheet that they’ve manually input with their sales and expenses.

Or, I ask about what their plans are for 2015 and they say something about growing by 20% - but there is no plan on HOW they will grow (strategy) or WHAT they need to do (tasks) or ...

Posted: Monday, December 22, 2014