Ron Sturgeon 
Are You A Survivor? Or Are You Going Out Of Business? Not all businesses whose sales are going down go out of business. But all businesses that go out of business had sales going down. Think about it. Who is most at risk of closing? Yards with annual sales of less than $500,000 are almost … Read moreIf Your Sales Aren’t Going Up Then They Are Going Down
Focusing on the customer is almost always the right place to start. Whenever you are thinking about changes in strategy, marketing, or other policies that could affect the customer, try to error on the side of doing what benefits your customers. When the customer wins, you will likely win. In 1978, when I opened, we … Read moreFocus on the Customer
After blocking and tackling (another in this series), you have to think out of the box to stay ahead of the competition and the industry in general. Here are a few ways to stimulate your out-of-the-box thinking: Read, read, and then read more. Your competitors aren’t doing it, so they don’t know what they don’t … Read moreThinking Out of the Box
You are unlikely to achieve maximum success on your own. You need people to like you and want to see you do well. When others like you, they can buy into your goal, and you get everyone pulling on the oars at the same time, the same way. Your results will be catapulted to success, … Read moreTools for Success: You Can’t Make it on Your Own!
I am always amazed at the quality of computer skills those that are looking for work have, or don’t have. We use Excel a lot and test for it when hiring. Most applicants say their skills are rusty, but in reality can’t even create a simple 9-cell spreadsheet. What amazes me even more is that … Read moreYou Simply Must Have Modern Computer Skills
I get a few calls a month from “I want to be an entrepreneur, and this is my business idea.” My investor friends tell me that the world is full of great ideas, and the world is awash with money to fund them. There are very few people that can connect the ideas and the … Read moreOn Your Mark, Get Set, Don’t Go!
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreIt’s a Noisy World – Why Should Anyone Notice You?
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreUnderstanding your Profit and Loss Statement
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreThe Pie Conspiracy
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreTools for Success: Master Blocking and Tackling
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreTools For Success : Pulling People Through Keyholes
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreTools For Success: Inventory Turns and Purchasing
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreTools For Success: Shine Your Flashlight for Results
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreUse Email and Texts When Efficient
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreTools For Success: Building a Network List
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreTools For Success: Never Underestimate the Value of an Hour!
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreKeep Shooting the Gun
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read morePositive Energy – The Way To The Top
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreDon’t Create A Solution For A Problem That Doesn’t Exist
“Teach less. Charge more.” That was the advice I gave to a friend of mine who has graduated from college and been pursuing his career as a professional musician for a few years. He has moved to Nashville and has steady work as a session drummer and a touring musician. Not long ago, he came … Read moreThink Big To Do Big
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your level of formal education. Email me to get the first article (or … Read more70-Distractions And Focus: What Should You Do When Your Best Salesperson’s Numbers Drop by 50%?
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreFind A Good Mentor And Be A Good Mentee
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article (or any of the … Read moreHow Much Does Procrastination Really Cost Us?
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreKnow When It’s Showtime (Let’s All Look Good)
Watch and Understand Your Competitors, But FOCUS ON BUILDING YOUR BUSINESS! The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success. I have used all of them. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail … Read moreTools For Success
Here’s What a Perfect One Looks Like! The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success. I have used all of them. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the … Read moreTools for Success — Do You Have A Succession Plan?
Many successful people start businesses because they have a skill to create something for which there is a market. Unfortunately, they may or may not have the other skills it takes to be an outstanding businessperson. A great chef produces fantastic food and he may even be outstanding at getting the team to deliver peak … Read moreTools for Success — Know How Your World Will Change When You Start Running a Business
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreTools for Success — Need to Borrow? There’s Money Out There If You Understand How a Banker Sees Your Business
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreTools for Success — Always Have Positive Dissatisfaction!
Remember only you can make business great! The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics you can use to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing. I didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail … Read moreTools for Success — Do The Hard Stuff First!
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success. I have used all of them. I started with nothing. I didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your level of education. E-mail me to get the first or any of the … Read moreWhat Are You Doing to Move Your Business to the Web?
Without peer benchmarking I would not have been nearly as successful in the auto-salvage industry as I was. In an industry not known for making millionaires, I sold my auto salvage operation to Ford Motor Company in 1998 for an 8-figure sum. I considered it to be so important that I wrote a book on … Read moreThe Difference Between Doing Pretty Well and Selling My Yard for 8-Figures was Saying Yes to an Invitation, the Same One I’m Giving You Today
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing. I didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, no matter what your level of education. E-mail me to get the first article (or … Read moreTools for Success – Know When It’s Time to Sell
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreTools for Success – Why Training Makes Sense on So Many Fronts
Remember only you can make business great! The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics that worked for me and that you can use to increase your business success. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your level of education. … Read moreTools for Success – Systems Run Dependably; People Let You Down
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreTools for Success – Have a Sense of Urgency
After Ford purchased my auto salvage business, I worked for them for 18 months. My peers at Ford used to marvel at the way that I could get tasks done in a fraction of the time others needed. I was decisive, relentless, passionate, and results-oriented with a fierce sense of urgency. But my real secret … Read moreTools for Success Be the 80-percent person
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreTools for Success – Don’t Be Afraid To Be A Rebel
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreTools for Success Share, Listen and be Collaborative
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreTools for Success Learn to Delegate, to Tolerate Mediocrity, and to Value 20 Seconds
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreWeekly Meetings Are Key
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success. I have used all of these tactics in my business career. I started with nothing and did not go to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your level of education or circumstances. E-mail me … Read moreThe Three Legs of A Business Success Stool
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success. I have used all of these tactics in my business career. I started with nothing and didn’t go to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your level of education or circumstances. E-mail me to … Read moreTips on Success Never Forget that the Customer is King Carl Sewell says, “Customers are for Life!”
Tools For Success – Learn to think Strategically The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to … Read moreTools For Success – Learn to think Strategically
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all of them based on my experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success, regardless of your education. E-mail me to get the first article or any of the … Read moreTools For Success – Get Help from Others
The first article in this series listed 25 tactics that you can use to increase your business success. Each of the rest of the articles in this series looks at 1 of the 25 in detail. All of them have helped me to reach a high level of business success, even though I started with … Read moreTools for Success … Be Your Own Advocate – No One Else Will
The first article in this series listed more than 25 tactics to increase your business success, all based on my personal experience. I started with nothing and didn’t get to college, so I know you can achieve maximum success regardless of your level of education. E-mail me to get the list or any past articles. … Read moreTools for Success – Learn Marketing and Advertising
The first article in this series listed several tactics to increase your business success. Each of the successive articles takes a closer look at one of those tactics. Last month, we talked about financial statements. This month we’re covering a subject vital to your success: Operating metrics. Much of my success in every business I … Read moreTools for Success – Financial Statements and Metrics
The first article in this series listed several tactics to increase your business success. Each of the successive articles takes a closer look at one of those tactics. Last month, we talked about the importance of keeping perfect credit and building long-term banking relationships. The next two lessons cover topics important to your business success: … Read moreTools for Success – Financial Statements and Metrics
The first article in this series listed several tactics to increase your business success. Each of the successive articles takes a closer look at one of those tactics. Last month, we talked about the importance of keeping perfect credit and building long-term banking relationships. No matter what anyone else tells you, ALWAYS have and use … Read moreTools for Success Perfect Credit Part 2 – Banking Smart