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I Believe

General

May 17, 2020

I believe in GOALS, not moving goal posts—what better way to destroy ones mindset than to move goals after they have been achieved. Some in power, making decisions have conveyed they will not open their economy until we have... [read more]

Where is Congress?

General

April 23, 2020

Why are most congressional representatives not in Washington, DC working to help the American people who voted for them to do just that, especially when facing the reality of the virus and the free falling economy? After... [read more]

Parkland

General

February 23, 2018

The recent tragedy in Parkland, FL hits close to home for me. I lived just South of the school for 10 years and watched Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School being built. It was literally within a couple of miles from my... [read more]

Alexandria

General

June 15, 2017

George Washington called it his hometown. Robert E. Lee spent his boyhood years there. Gerald Ford lived there when he was Vice President. Remember the Titans is a movie based on a local High School. Joe Namath played his... [read more]

November 22, 1963 vs. November 22, 2016

General

November 21, 2016

53 years ago this week, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. The country was shocked and it led to the awakening of a generation to the harsh, cruel realities of the world. In fact, after that fateful day,... [read more]

Have a Blast While You Last!

General

September 26, 2016

Have a Blast While YOU Last has been my mantra, my slogan, what I preach for the last few years. This saying has been the cornerstone of the Time Management classes I teach, almost every quarter, and it is featured as part... [read more]

Research on Grants for Women Business Owners

Business

September 7, 2016

“Funding is critical to a business,” states business coach Mike McConchie. Mike did some research to see if he could find information/websites that may be able to provide grants or other funding opportunities for Women Owned... [read more]

Congratulations to the Best of the Best Winners!

General

October 12, 2015

Congratulations to all the winners of the Best of the Best as determined by the Wake Forest Weekly for 2015! A special congratulations goes out to the following businesses that were either 1st, 2nd, or 3rd in their... [read more]

HATE—Why is there so much hate in the world?

General

September 11, 2015

As I sit here on the 14th anniversary of 9/11, a day that changed the lives of all Americans forever, I have been thinking of why is there so much hate in the world? This morning on the news, I heard of security alerts and... [read more]

Technology Challenged!

General

August 19, 2015

Have you ever had a day when all your technology seems to fail you and you are afraid to try something else, get on another device, or just want to say screw it and go watch television. I have those days occasionally and... [read more]

Jobs and Small Business and Statistics

Business

July 14, 2015

According to the 2015 Cox Business Sentiment Survey, 63% of all consumers shopped small businesses at least three times a week. How powerful is that? Almost 2/3 of the consumers out there shopping spend money several times a... [read more]

Remember the True Meaning

General

July 7, 2015

I attended a beautiful ceremony on Memorial Day, conducted by one of the local municipalities. This is the first time in many years that I have participated in an event honoring those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our... [read more]

Happy 239th Birthday to the United States of America!

General

July 3, 2015

This being the weekend we celebrate the 239th birthday of our Nation, I wanted to convey some of my thoughts on our Country. I love the 4th of July. Growing up it was one of my favorite holidays—maybe my favorite. The... [read more]

The Marvels of Modern Medical Technology

General

April 14, 2015

I think we all realize Medical Technology has come a long way over the years and decades. But until you really engage in it, you really do not understand how far it has come. Growing up in the ’50s and ’60s we were taught... [read more]

What is your business batting average

Business

April 7, 2015

Since baseball season starts this week, I am re-posting a blog I wrote several years ago that still applies, concerning the relationship between baseball and business. Enjoy. I love baseball. I love business. And there is an... [read more]

What did you do in the great snows of 2015?

Coaching

March 24, 2015

Gravity—by definition is a natural phenomenon by which all physical bodies attract each other. On Earth, gravity gives weight to physical objects employing a downward force to keep them grounded. The fact is, as we learned... [read more]

Scary Statistics

Coaching

March 6, 2015

I ran across some statistics the other day that were disturbing, appalling, and just scary. Unfortunately I do not know the initial source of the stats, but they were printed in the Raleigh News and Observer on Saturday,... [read more]

Good Customer Service Does Exist

Business

February 23, 2015

Two weeks ago I wrote about several horrifying customer service experiences. At the end of the blog, I conveyed that I was going to set my reticular activating system to attract good customer service. The very next day, I... [read more]

Incompetence or Apathy

General

February 9, 2015

Incompetence or Apathy is a question that has surrounded my dealings over the past couple of weeks with businesses in several different industries. Or maybe it is just a “failure to communicate” or a failure to execute.... [read more]

Remembering Mr. Cub

General

January 26, 2015

Those that know me understand that I am a huge baseball fan. So today, instead of blogging about business, my ideas and beliefs I am devoting this time to remember Ernie Banks, who died Friday. All too often the past few... [read more]

Have a Blast While You Last!

General

January 14, 2015

Many years ago I heard the statement—Have a Blast While You Last! I thought it was catchy and made sense because you only go around once in life and you really do need to enjoy it. You need to think about the abundance that... [read more]

Are You Ready?

Business

January 6, 2015

America goes back to work this week after two weeks of Holidays, family, friends, and travel. Not everyone took the past 10 days to two weeks off, however a significant amount did and a major amount of the rest scaled back... [read more]

It was the best of times.

General

December 23, 2014

It was the best of times is how Charles Dickens started his famous novel A Tale of Two Cities. This saying reminds me of the Christmas/Holiday season in so many ways. I often reminisce about Christmas’ past. I think about... [read more]

Customer Service 101

Business

December 19, 2014

How long should a line get at a retail store before management decides to open an additional register? As we go through the Holiday season, most of us are caught up in the hustle and bustle of shopping for presents/gifts,... [read more]

Do the years seem to be getting shorter?

General

December 8, 2014

Do the years seem to be getting shorter? As I grow older, this seems to be the case, however I know it is only a mindset. Possibly because I have more balance in my life and I am constantly improving my time management, I... [read more]

Medical nightmares

General

November 11, 2014

About a year ago I asked my primary care physician how the new regulations attached to the Affordable Care Act/ Obamacare were going to impact his business. He was not sure exactly but he did feel like it was going to be... [read more]

Who has your back?

General

November 4, 2014

I was watching the Sunday morning news programs and was struck by this comment from a strategist about this election. She conveyed that most people are not happy with the Democratic or Republican parties. When it comes time... [read more]

Choices: Focus—Discipline

Business

October 29, 2014

Life is all about choices. We make numerous choices every day. When you come to a fork in the road you have to make a choice take the left fork or the right fork or stand still or go backwards. When you're pursuing any... [read more]

VACATION

General

October 21, 2014

V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N—Just like in the Connie Francis song of the 60s, the word speaks volumes to the young at heart. It brings up memories of wonderful days basking in the sun and having FUN. Yet, now we have this incredibly... [read more]

Commitment

General

October 7, 2014

How committed are you? How committed are you in all of your endeavors? Reflecting on life, sports success, government, environment, business, lifestyle, family, health etc., I am convinced that one, if not the most important... [read more]

Check it off - part 3!

Business

September 9, 2014

A few weeks ago, I communicated my beliefs about how valuable checklists are. I stated: One of the best tools for staying organized, being effective, controlling your time, and getting done what you need to do is a... [read more]

Check it off—part 2!

Business

August 26, 2014

Two weeks ago, I communicated my beliefs about how valuable checklists are. I stated: One of the best tools for staying organized, being effective, controlling your time, and getting done what you need to do is a CHECKLIST.... [read more]

Check it off!

Business

August 12, 2014

One of the best tools for staying organized, being effective, controlling your time, and getting done what you need to do is a CHECKLIST. Yet, I run into it often that many do not use checklists. Why do people not use... [read more]

Numbers

Business

July 30, 2014

How important are numbers to your business, any business? Numbers tell you many, many things: sales, profits, debt, expenses, accounts receivable, the health of your company—and many, many more things. Yet I continue to be... [read more]

Are you Majoring in the Minors?

Business

July 22, 2014

Are you Majoring in the Minors? It is one of the questions I ask in my Time Management classes. I see this focus on the minors all the time and emphasize how important it is to understand this concept. Understanding... [read more]

Happy 238th Birthday to the United States of America

General

July 8, 2014

This being the weekend we celebrate the 238th birthday of our Nation I wanted to convey some of my thoughts on our Country. What a great place to live, work, and pursue happiness! No other place offers us the opportunities... [read more]

A True Personal Day—A Day for Yourself—What a Concept!

General

July 1, 2014

To paraphrase the Four Seasons song—Oh, what a day, late June back in 2014. What a special time for me. I celebrated a milestone birthday this week. I was not overly thrilled with hitting this milestone as it made me think... [read more]

Surround yourself with those that will tell you the truth!

Business

June 24, 2014

In business it is critical to surround yourself with those that will tell you the truth, those that will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear. That is why coaches are so valuable. Listen to what Eric... [read more]

Customer Service—Round 3

Business

June 10, 2014

Over the past few weeks I have conveyed my thoughts and examples on what I believe is an appalling state of customer service in many service industries. I have addressed restaurant and retail experiences, now I will tell you... [read more]

Customer Service—Round 2

Business

June 3, 2014

Many, actually probably most, people look at and expect, when they are a customer, to be taken care of quickly, efficiently, and effectively. This can be a challenge to get, as more and more businesses continue to reduce... [read more]

When will we learn who pays our salaries and wages?

Business

May 27, 2014

Customer Service has been a hot button for as long as I can remember. Most organizations say they give the best customer service, when in fact, they do not. The reasons are that the powers that be are too often too removed... [read more]

Education and the Economy

General

May 20, 2014

I read a newspaper editorial today that states that education is tied to the economy. It amazes me that we do not automatically understand this and have to have it reinforced through the media. The article goes on to state... [read more]

The Merry Month of May

Business

May 13, 2014

Alas, it appears that the weather has finally broken from the long Winter and is catapulting us rapidly through Spring and knocking hard on the door of Summer. The Sun is shining consistently, the wind is balmy, the... [read more]

Getting All You Want Out of Life

General

May 6, 2014

How are you tracking on your quest to achieve your life’s dreams and goals – your vision of your life? Do you have a life plan to make the vision, dreams, and goals happen? Do you really have a life plan? My guess is that... [read more]

Work Life Balance

General

April 29, 2014

Most people I encounter have time challenges. Many are overwhelmed at work; do not have the time they would like with loved ones, time for themselves and scream out for a work life balance that helps them realize a vision of... [read more]

America Strong

General

April 21, 2014

Last week all of the Sunday morning news shows reflected on last year’s Boston Marathon bombing. Meet the Press did an exceptional job of remembering and conveying how the city and the Bostonians responded with Boston... [read more]

Two Heads are Better than One

Coaching

April 15, 2014

As long as we can remember, we have been told that two heads are better than one. It is instilled in us at an early age that discussing, collaborating, working together—dare I say team work, brainstorming will almost always... [read more]

Building Your Winning Team

Coaching

April 7, 2014

Over the years I have learned that one of the keys to success is being surrounded with the best, with talent. Not just in your business, but also in your personal life. You need people that are supportive, challenging,... [read more]

What is your business batting average

Business

March 31, 2014

Since baseball season starts this week, I am re-posting a blog I wrote several years ago that still applies, concerning the relationship between baseball and business. Enjoy. I love baseball. I love business. And there is an... [read more]

Health and Your Business

Business

March 18, 2014

Almost everywhere I go, I run into people from all walks of life discussing Health in one form or another. Physical Health, Mental Health, the Affordable Care Act/Obamacare, weight loss programs for better health, physical... [read more]

Life Long Learning

General

March 9, 2014

When did we begin learning? I think most of us understand the answer to this. When do we stop learning? I think we understand the answer to this also. However, I all too often run into people that think learning ended with... [read more]

Finish it!

Coaching

March 3, 2014

How many unfinished projects, plans, things to do, do you currently have? My guess it is many more than one. The deeper we get into our businesses and for that matter our lives, the more chance we have for accumulating these... [read more]

Who is Your Number 1 Client?

Coaching

February 24, 2014

I learned a long time ago that most people will do more for someone else than they will do for themselves. I guess it is the deep-rooted need to take care of family, people we care about and put ourselves second or third or... [read more]

And the Answer is…!

Coaching

February 17, 2014

“What is the Number 1 challenge to your business” is a question I ask business owners. The number one answer I get is – “ME”, meaning them, getting into their own way, not doing what they say they are going to do, looking at... [read more]

More Lessons From Coach Lombardi – Lombardi Time

Coaching

February 10, 2014

As I stated previously, Vince Lombardi was one of my idols growing up and he had great influence on me for what he said, what he stood for. Lombardi Time was one of my very first business lessons, it has stuck with me... [read more]

Business Lessons from Coach Lombardi

Business

February 2, 2014

Today is Superbowl Sunday. And with that comes memories of one of the influential people in my life and how his lessons can be applied to business and continue to ring clear today. Vince Lombardi was a great football coach,... [read more]

Fun, Fun, Fun

Business

January 27, 2014

Just like in the Beach Boys song of the 60’s – you need to have FUN, FUN, FUN, til Daddy takes the T-Bird away. In our case as business owners, managers, sales people, entrepreneurs, we need to have FUN, FUN, FUN, at/with... [read more]

WHY?

Coaching

January 13, 2014

Last night I was watching the end of the movie “The Magnificent Seven” and took great interest in the Eli Wallach character questioning Yul Brynner “You came back, why? Men like you (Brynner, Steve McQueen and the others... [read more]

Hit the Ground Running in the New Year

Business

January 13, 2014

Have you hit the ground running in 2014? Most small business owners that I have come in contact with say they have, however, I find that many are not telling themselves the truth. Every year the first full week of the New... [read more]

What is Your Business Batting Average?

Business

December 13, 2013

I love baseball. I love business. And there is an incredible relationship between the importance of numbers in both. I am fascinated by the numbers in baseball that I grew up with and am growing old with. 714, 755, 2130,... [read more]

What McDonald’s has taught us!

Business

December 13, 2013

Have you ever thought about how powerful a company McDonald’s is? The little hamburger stand that has grown to be behemoth has taught us many lessons about business that are still used every day, in many industries. Most of... [read more]

What is your Unique Selling Proposition?

Business

December 13, 2013

The real question is - Why should I buy from you instead of your competition? Your Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is what sets you apart, what gives you the competitive edge, what makes you special. If there is nothing... [read more]