It used to be, only big businesses could afford to let customers customize their products. But here’s how one small operation makes it work. You’ve probably heard of mass customization: It’s when businesses use e-commerce to let consumers order customized versions of products. The idea is to delight customers by providing exactly what they want […]

Sure, we’re all supposed to hire slow and fire fast. But hiring can become a real time suck. Here’s how to cut out the waste. Hiring a great team makes the difference between winning and losing, right? If only it were that easy. Seth Bannon, founder of the social fundraising platform Amicus, recently learned just […]

Follow these guidelines when you meet with customers and you’re much more likely to win their business. While a lot of business is conducted today over the Internet and the telephone, customers often want to meet you personally, just to make certain you’re the kind of person who can be trusted to deliver what you […]

The founder of 42Floors offers a crash course in e-mail etiquette for entrepreneurs reaching out to high-profile contacts. You think your e-mail in-box is out of control, right? Just imagine what VCs, angel investors, and other high-profile folks are facing. These extremely busy people must be buckling under an e-mail avalanche. But that doesn’t mean […]

A new survey offers tough medicine for bosses. How can you thrive in a grass-is-always-greener world? The Internet has made it easier to find nearly anything, whether it’s that perfect picture for your new apartment, the coolest new restaurant in town, a rare collectible or–apparently–a new job. And, according to a new CareerBuilder survey, that […]

This CEO takes pride in being brutally honest online–even if he offends people. Here’s why he thinks you should do the same. When I first read a blog post by J.C. Kendall, I had no idea who he was or what he did for a living. All I knew was, the guy’s writing had pluck. […]

Hey, Joe Biden. Look out, Paul Ryan. Here’s four expert speaking tips that might even help you sharpen your strategies at the debate tonight. I recently attended an executive-level speakers training program called “Leaders Edge” at Speakeasy in Atlanta, Georgia. Speakeasy has been around for 38 years and conducts intense three-day coaching workshops to elevate […]

Here’s how to motivate employees to get more done–no extra money or real effort required. Want to dramatically improve your employees’ performance without spending any money? Want to dramatically improve your own performance without taking classes, attending seminars, or buying cool new gadgets that promise lots but deliver little? It’s easier than you think. Here’s […]