Stage 2 Small Business

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Small Business Strategy

Mar 15
2 min

The Importance of Judgment

In this previous post, I described the Business Growth Stack. You’ll notice that Management appears twice. The dual-role that Management...

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The Business Growth Stack, and The Role of Judgment

Phimation Strategy Group

Mar 13
3 min

The Business Growth Stack, and The Role of Judgment

There is a lot of conversation these days about Business Operating Systems, which have generated great productivity improvements for many...

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What Your Reset Needs: The 4 parts of a business restart

Phimation Strategy Group

Jan 23
2 min

What Your Reset Needs: The 4 parts of a business restart

Small businesses are often dealing with situations in which performance has not met expectations. It’s not really a failure, per se, but...

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Ebenezer Scrooge Teaches Strategic Planning

Phimation Strategy Group

Dec 9, 2019
3 min

Ebenezer Scrooge Teaches Strategic Planning

Picture this… A friend of yours runs a successful Stage 2 business – but is also frustrated that things aren’t going as well as he’d like...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Jun 24, 2019
2 min

First steps toward accountability

I have 2 clients who are focused on “accountability” this year, and it’s proving a hard row to hoe for both of them. Why? Well, first of...

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Your business model is a depreciating asset

Phimation Strategy Group

Mar 9, 2018
2 min

Your business model is a depreciating asset

Most people recognize that markets don’t stand still. Customers, competitors, and technology are constantly changing. Although most peop...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Feb 8, 2018
2 min

Sales Enablement, A Love Story

Its Valentine’s Day – a day when we celebrate the role that marketing and sales plays in our personal lives. And in honor of Valentine’s...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Sep 26, 2015
2 min

My Goals Can Beat Up Your Goals

Making Better Goals with a Strong Annual Planning Process Although it seems like just yesterday that the days were hot and we were at the...

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The Sales Process Mash-Up Your Small Business Needs

Phimation Strategy Group

Aug 30, 2015
2 min

The Sales Process Mash-Up Your Small Business Needs

I’m going to be talking about sales process on my webinar this month, and I want to focus in on the most interesting part of the sales pr...

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Developing Your High-Potentials – The No-Brainer You’re Missing

Phimation Strategy Group

Jul 25, 2015
2 min

Developing Your High-Potentials – The No-Brainer You’re Missing

If there’s one thing in Stage 2 companies that does not take a lot of thinking, it’s identifying who your “High Potential” staff are. Th...

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Phimation Strategy Group

May 24, 2015
2 min

Designing Powerful Dashboards

Sometimes I’m asked to help companies find the right path for their next 3-5 years – which qualifies as “long-term” strategy for a Stage ...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Apr 3, 2015
3 min

10% – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Many of you reading this post are 10%ers. And there’s something in the back of your mind eating away at your conscience. You know there...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Jun 27, 2013
2 min

Empathy & Profitability

Many of my clients are proud of the “family feel” of their companies. They care about their people, see the whole person, and create a bo...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Jan 16, 2012
2 min

Systems Thinking is the Key to Second Stage Companies

Want to succeed as a Second Stage company? Become a master of systems thinking. Systems thinking is at the heart of my work. A Stage 2 ...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Dec 18, 2011
2 min

Our Trend Report Identifies 2012 Trends Impacting Your Small Business

Imagine having a crystal ball that could show you the future. Wouldn’t it help you make better decisions for your business? Well, we don’...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Nov 23, 2011
2 min

“If It’s Easy…It’s Wrong”

My 11-year-old son started playing hockey goalie this year. At a recent goalie clinic, his coach said something I think applies to busin...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Sep 29, 2011
1 min

Stage 2 Planning: Make Waves…Not Spikes

Most Second Stage small businesses have a planning process, but there are often 2 problems with them: the planning cycle is incomplete, ...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Aug 2, 2011
3 min

Value Propositions – The Good, The Bad & The Ugly

If you've found this post as you're thinking about how to handle a COVID-19 world, you might also be interested in my free ebook, Winning...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Jun 17, 2011
2 min

Are you pedaling your car?

Hammering a screw … Baking a cake in your dishwasher… Pedaling your car… One of the most common ways that small business owners get stuck...

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Phimation Strategy Group

Jan 5, 2011
3 min

“It’s Deciding What’s Worth Fighting For”

It’s not the fighting that’s hard. It’s deciding what’s worth fighting for. – Fafnyr the Dragon Few books have captivated my elementary-s...

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