The Importance of Having a Coach

In an environment that is global and so quickly changing, design firms have additional new issues to confront. In order to build a successful business today, you are required to juggle a great deal – challenges brought about by economic challenges, changes and adjustments within the industry, additional client needs, the competition to find and…

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Success May Be Holding Your Business Back

We’ve all heard the old saying, Nothing succeeds like success. When it comes to growing your business, though, success may be what’s preventing you from reaching the next level of success. Growth requires change, and a certain amount of success can prevent you from taking the steps needed to move forward. How might success keep…

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Making Smart Decisions During Challenging Times

Photo Credit-Stark Photography When a crisis hits, our emotions automatically kick in. Worry, fear, depression, panic are common responses to stressful situations. You need to allow yourself to experience those feelings and then work past them. Don’t make decisions about your business when you’re feeling distressed. You can avoid reactive decisions and overcome your anxiety…

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OPTIMIZE Your Operations

Photo Credit-Stark Photography Up to now, this has been a disappointing year for many design firms. However, designers in some parts of the country are beginning to see business pick up again, which bodes well for the rest of us. When business does return, you’ll want to get the maximum benefit from each project. Use…

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What’s Your Business Contingency Plan?

“Proactive people carry their own weather with them”   -Stephen R. Covey Obviously you can’t predict the future, but you can be proactive to be more prepared for various challenges your business might face. Being proactive includes having contingency plans in place to help you weather unexpected storms. One of the most important strategic tools you…

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Do You Have An Emergency Preparedness Plan?

News of business closings and supply chain disruptions as a result of the COVID-19 health threat is a reminder that every business should have an emergency preparedness plan. Aside from the sudden and wholly unexpected virus outbreak, extreme weather conditions in the past few years have led to more intense natural disasters (tornadoes, hurricanes, floods…

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Cutting Out Deadwood

By Gail Doby, ASID Co-Founder of Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting Small businesses tend to run on slim margins. That makes efficiency a high priority if you want to hit your profit targets. After the plans have been made and the budget set, you have one more important task to undertake to prepare yourself for…

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Technology Tools For Your Business

Work smarter rather than harder – and have fun doing it! Make it a point to incorporate technology that can help you and your design team be more productive in all areas of your business. You will find that there are programs out there that save you time (hence, money) while also creating a more…

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Time to Overhaul Your Business?

By Gail Doby, ASID CVO and Co-Founder of Gail Doby Coaching & Consulting Photo Credit: DesiLu Strange as it may sound, when businesses reach the peak of their lifecycle is when they need to start thinking about what comes next. Why? Because if they don’t reinvent themselves they will plateau and then begin to decline.…

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