May 17 2012

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

Randy Joy @ 11:00 am

 

What do planes, trains and automobiles teach us about business?  As a business consultant these vehicles teach me that fast is good, comfort is important, and beautiful designs make the ride even better.  The same is true for business.

Having an environment in which you and your employees enjoy working in that drive productivity and collaboration help enhance the bottom line.  Your environment affects everything including how people treat each other, whether their is coffee or fresh fruit in the afternoons to boost energy.

Just like you feel enthusiastic when you enter a fabulous vehicle so should you feel when you enter the place you have built and want to work in.

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Category: Joyful Business Model,Optimizing Operations

Mar 13 2012

Is your company a Speedboat or a Sailboat?

Randy Joy @ 10:30 am

 

As a business consultant I wonder what type of boat I would compare a great business too – a sailboat or a speedboat?

I would prefer a sailboat.  It does not run out of fuel.  It  requires much more wit and planning.  A sailboat also does not have motor parts that wear out, engines that need to be overhauled, or parts that need to be replaced.  A sailboat can cross the Atlantic Ocean just by natural winds.  Sure the speedboat looks cool, speeding through the waves.  Yet, it must dock quite soon to get refueled and will never be able to plow through ocean storms.

As a business owner having a self propelling business that you streer is ideal.  This looks like a constantly cash flow positive business with minimal overhead that can live on for years.  With a strong leader guiding the sails and the beams obeying your every direction.

Is this what your business looks like?

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Category: Business Consultant,Leadership,Strategic Planning

Feb 17 2012

The Dance Sequence of Leadership

Randy Joy @ 1:00 pm

 

Business leaders take your cue from fashion models.  Lead, then step back and let someone step forward.  The natural flow of movement is one of stepping back to allow steps forward, and stepping forward when those we lead step back.

 

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Category: Business Planning

Feb 07 2012

How to Empower your Team to Make Positive Change

Randy Joy @ 11:00 am

 

As an NYC business consultant, I am asked to help align the team toward the CEOs vision.  Here is how to can rally the troops behind your leadership:

1. Be crystal clear where you want to lead the team

2. Communicate your vision to the team – carefully choose the environment to show you are serious about your decision  and optimistic about the future

3. Take action – quickly show your team you are serious about the change and make things happen

4. Track the change to demonstrate the amount of change after each month, quarter and year.  Progress breeds progress

5. Celebrate those changes

 

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Category: Business Consultant,Leadership,Strategic Planning

Jan 20 2012

5 Goals of an Energetic Business Presentation

Randy Joy @ 10:30 am

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever been to a business presentation that put you to sleep?  Where the presenter read from the slides?  Here are the 5 steps to give an energetic presentation that keeps your audience’s attention and interest and leads to a next step:

1. A story to engage your audience

2. An overview of what you intend to share with them with 3 key points

3.  Visual slides to support and dramatize your speech

4.  Gifts you are giving the audience for listening to you

5. A call to action – the next step you want your audience to take

 

 

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Category: Business Planning,Leadership

Jan 04 2012

How to Scale Your Business

Randy Joy @ 9:30 am

 

Scalability is the essence of taking what you have and multiplying it.  How can you do more with less?  Technology companies are scalable because they can take one product built by a few and sell the same product time and again to many.

In building a company there are many resources including time, money and labor; the secret is using all resources efficiently to maximize the company’s value.

Next time you need to make a business decision think what is the best resource to use.  Then figure out how to repeat that — it is like a math.  If this resource gains this result, can I somehow find the factor that makes that resource multiply that result.  For example, many supermarkets have lines where customers wait to pay.  Putting various “small ticket” items in view of those lines increases the purchase total of  the same customer who was standing there, for many of them will toss some of those small-ticket items, things they had no intention of buying originally, into their basket.

Look around your business and see what can be added here or there that would use your current operations wisely, while still upping your profits.  This will help you scale your business.

 

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Category: Business Consultant,Optimizing Operations,Strategic Planning

Dec 26 2011

The Resilient Business Consultant

Randy Joy @ 2:00 pm

 

This morning I fell down right there on the New York street, scratching my knee and elbow.  I fell with a smile and picked myself up with a smile.  As a New York Business Consultant I have seen many businesses fall and pick themselves right up with a new plan, direction or resiliency.  It is these strong entrepreneurs who courageously decide to succeed no matter what.

Think of the business growth greats like Ray Croc of McDonalds who did not find his business stride and the right idea until he was in his 50s.

As a Business Consultant I have seen that it does not matter where you start your business journey - only how resilient you are to succeed.  If this week you fall, try to do it smiling and courageously.  Pick yourself up for just around the corner might be your million dollar opportunity.

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Category: Business Consultant,Leadership

Dec 14 2011

Uncover Your Business Vision Now

Randy Joy @ 9:30 am

Why are you reading this business blog and/or contacting us?   (Well, yes, stumbling upon our blog is a correct answer…but for those who sought us out, read that question again and ponder it.)

There must be a need you are trying to fill or a dilemma you are trying to solve.  It could be your company is  growing too fast or  not growing at all.   In 15 minutes or less, we ask our prospective clients to uncover their true vision and needs for us so we can show them the Randy Joy path to pave the way toward that vision.

Why 15 minutes?  Your time is your most valuable resource.  You can’t buy it or create it.  We are busy and so are you.  Uncovering your vision and revealing your needs is the hard part.    Start from there.

Solving dilemas and identifying needs leads you to a plethora of business options.  Take the time to free up time.  Slot yourself fifteen minutes to actively identify your vision and figure out any blocks to it.

Tweet:  Fifteen Minute Need Assessment  – because time is valuable.

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Category: Business Consultant,Clarifying Your Vision

Dec 17 2010

Company Awareness

Randy Joy @ 11:00 am

 

There are three stages of a company’s cash flow cycle: surviving, sustaining, and growth.  Knowing which stage your company is at will help you develop the best action strategy to get to the next point.

Each stage of the company’s cash flow cycle is important because the strength you build from one level to the next is the muscles needed to persistently grow.

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Category: Optimizing Operations

May 24 2010

Tools of the Trade

Randy Joy @ 11:27 am

You know your company mission and what you want to do and you’ve recruited the employees and investors who are on board to make it happen.  What happens next?  If you are a restaurant, would it make any sense to open your doors to hungry patrons, but not buy pots, pans and dishes.  It is clear to any food establishment that it needs those basic tools.  Offices need basic tools, too.  And, there in an office environment, it is more likely to happen that the wrong tools or not enough tools are put into place.

One of my jobs as “business shrink” is to analyze my client-business’ environments and assess whether or not they have the tools needed to accomplish your mission. It could be the right computer, software or budget.  In one of my weekly meetings I found out that a client’s customers were requesting a slight update to the offices.  I ask the employee how much it would take to make the necessary updates.  I was told $50.  This small budget was the difference between happy customers and unhappy customers and a very small price to pay to increase employee and customer morale. 

When do you regularly meet with your staff to find out if they have the tools they need?    And did you ever really map out what tools are needed for the jobs you have outlined to do?  After all, you don’t want to be stuck with a teaspoon on a boat that needs a bailout.

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Category: Strategic Planning