It’s a phenomenon. The Super bowl that is.
I’m not a sports person,… Read More yet I sit with family and friends, eat, and watch the game. From the start to the finish.
OK, I know who
Business Essentials
Commericials. Super!
Sunday, February 5th, 2012Blogging. Simplified to 4 Tips.
Monday, January 30th, 2012I’ve been blogging for about 3 years.… Read More I started, not because I had something to say, but because I was promoting the benefits of blogging in my seminars. I figured I should try it. And
Fire People Without This 1 Quality.
Saturday, January 21st, 2012Remember your 1st job?… Read More Mine was at a “Soup Salad Sandwich” kiosk in a Mall. I answered a newspaper ad and they requested an interview. I show up in a dress shirt and tie (pressed
1 Thing To Make You Sell More.
Sunday, January 15th, 2012I was in New Orleans this week for a great conference. Quality people that not only listened to me; but interacted with great questions.
Travel has gotten crazy. The airlines don’t get it.… Read More
Here are
5 “Checkup” Questions (fearless entrepreneurs only!)
Sunday, January 8th, 2012It’s hard to believe that we’re almost half way through January already. How are you doing with your resolutions? Goal-setting?
There’s still time.… Read More
To be honest, I’ve been exploring and researching the possibilities for the
3 Steps to Guaranteed Resolution Completion
Sunday, January 1st, 2012Happy New Year!
I find it interesting that 45% of American Adults will make a resolution in the first few days of this year. And within 14 days… Read More, 25% will have abandoned it. Huh?
3 Ways to Improve Your Website Now.
Sunday, December 11th, 2011I love seeing TV shows with self-improvement tips. How to dress better, how to talk to people, how to take better pictures, how to use electronics, etc.… Read More I’m a sucker for the before/after pictures. The
3 Resolves (and 1 Confession)
Sunday, November 13th, 2011I’m reading Good to Great… Read More again with some of my friends. We heard Jim Collins speak at a conference about his new book but decided (since we want to lead GREAT businesses/ministries) to go back
3 Critical Things Realtors and Business Owners Need to Know (and do!)
Monday, October 24th, 2011Know Your Sweet Spot.
Sunday, October 16th, 2011I love chocolate.… Read More In fact, this morning, I saw a bag emblazoned with “Hershey” on the side, and my mouth started to water. Of course, one must balance a sweet tooth with a salt tooth.
Wanted: An Apprentice.
Sunday, October 9th, 2011I just got back from the Catalyst Leadership Conference in Atlanta. 13,000 Leaders.
Andy Stanley started the 2-day conference and he ended it as the last speaker. He always amazes me when he states things … Read More
4 Ways You May be Failing.
Sunday, September 25th, 2011My wife’s baking an apple pie right now. The house is full of the wonderful smells… Read More. We all love to eat them. I’d pay a lot to eat her pie.
Have you wondered why
3000+ Days. Almost 3000 Deaths. A Big Change.
Sunday, September 11th, 2011We’d just moved to the United States from Canada. And had just decided that the future for our family was going to be in North Carolina. We were going to start a branding agency.
Changes.… Read More
Happy Irony Day.
Monday, September 5th, 2011Fresh Start. Refreshing Start.
Monday, August 29th, 20113 Reasons Why It’s Good to Visit the Past
Sunday, August 21st, 2011We’re approaching our 10th anniversary at PinPoint Creative Group. And this week I stopped into our very 1st office location. The one where our business practice was born.
It was good for me.… Read More Over
Warning: Business Disaster Watch is currently on
Sunday, August 14th, 2011Tonight there’s a Tornado Watch… Read More in our community. I never grew up where there were tornadoes. Ever! Each time I hear the weather radio alert us; I always have to remember what the difference is
Weather People are Creative Promoters
Sunday, July 24th, 2011We’re in the middle of a heatwave.… Read More Me and 100 million others in America. The weather people are bending over backwards “sharing” various ways to visualize it. Some are cooking eggs and pizzas on the
Business Essentials 6: Passion
Sunday, June 26th, 2011I love watching Shark Tank… Read More on TV. If you haven’t seen it, it’s basically a show where a panel of rich business people hear the basic business plan of small (with potential big) business owners.
Business Essentials 5: Perception
Sunday, June 12th, 2011Have you ever thought you knew something about a product or organization and then found out something entirely different?
Imagine what people say about your product or service. … Read MoreWhat do they think about your company?
Business Essentials 4: People
Sunday, May 29th, 2011I’m always amazed when I have to deal with a server that seems to hate their job. Why is it that the wrong people choose the wrong careers?… Read More
People are funny. Until it comes to
Business Essentials 3: Knowing Your Place. Essential!
Sunday, May 22nd, 2011The other day I was driving to Atlanta. I was thirsty, tired, and I needed a PepsiMax… Read More (not a shock to anyone who knows me). I stopped at a Gas Bar at the next exit.
Business Essentials 2: The Product of Business.
Sunday, May 15th, 2011Business Essentials 1: Profits for Dummies. Not: Profits are for Dummies.
Sunday, May 8th, 2011Imagine a world that could be described as:
- All people were identical.
- All people were missing (needing) one “thing”.
- You had the formula for that “thing”.
It would be easy to build a business plan… Read More
3 Signs of a Great Relationship
Sunday, May 1st, 2011We enjoyed an amazing long weekend with new friends.… Read More It’s rare to find two families that seem to be so compatible. But this family made us feel welcome; and we laughed and cried together as
7 Reasons Your Resume May Be Ignored.
Sunday, April 24th, 20113 Reasons You Need a Uniform.
Sunday, April 17th, 2011My son and I had a discussion about school uniforms… Read More. It seems that once again, this issue is being talked about. He was surprised to know that I had them in the high school
Late for Her Funeral.
Sunday, March 27th, 2011Elizabeth Taylor. Dead at 79.… Read More I always knew about her. But I don’t think I’ve ever watched a movie or TV show with her in it.
But then again, EVERYONE knows “about” her. I think
We’ve got a Problem!
Sunday, March 20th, 2011Not a lot of sugar.
Sunday, March 13th, 2011I met someone yesterday who has never tried Coke Zero.
It surprised me a bit.… Read More After her initial question, I curiously asked if she’d ever had a diet soft drink. She then asked “Is it
What’s the Big Idea for Change?
Monday, March 7th, 20113 Things I’m Learning in Our Move This Week.
Sunday, February 20th, 2011This week we’re moving PinPoint. Just across town, but it seems huge for us. After months of planning and dreaming, it’s all coming together. This move is going to be so good… Read More for us, but
3 Steps to Selling Anything in this Economy.
Sunday, February 13th, 20113 Easy Steps to Reducing SPAM
Sunday, February 6th, 2011How much time do you spend going through emails?… Read More If you’re like me — you get a lot! In fact 3/4 of my emails are spam. And it becomes annoying that I waste time on
3 Steps to Get Ready for Visitors
Sunday, January 30th, 2011Many of you know that I moved to NC from Canada 10 years ago. The difficult part of living thousands of miles away from family and friends is that people rarely come and visit. I … Read More
Your name could determine how long you’ll live
Sunday, January 16th, 2011A few weeks ago, I was standing with the Sears cashier, handing him my credit card. He thanked me, using my name, Mr. MacDonald.
Then he hesitated and started to chuckle. … Read More
Having lived with my
3 Fail-Proof Ways to Have a Successful Year
Sunday, January 9th, 2011A Simple Outline to Face 2011
Friday, December 31st, 2010Christmas Contentment
Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010As we get near to Christmas, we wind down and think about this past year. And once we clear through the clutter, the negativity and the politics; and really look at the things that matter,… Read More
My 3 Business Wishes for 2011
Sunday, December 12th, 2010This is the first time in our home that we haven’t had a lot of Christmas wish lists. Our teenage sons (15 and 16) have become more “sophisticated” this year and we received a short… Read More
Be like Spiderman — Arrive Just in Time!
Sunday, November 14th, 2010The fall is upon us (for some winter is already. The American election is over. Thanksgiving is around the corner.
What does that mean to you as a business owner?… Read More Is it your biggest time
3 Things You Should Never Have on Your Website
Sunday, October 31st, 2010I usually try to be positive on my blogs.… Read More But I’m going to make an exception this week.
Have you ever worn something and had a friend, spouse or child tell you, “you shouldn’t be
Who doesn’t like FREE food?!?
Sunday, October 24th, 2010I love freebies.… Read More And this past week I got a bunch!
Over the years as I’ve signed up for various e-blasts and restaurant clubs, I’ve listed my birthday. I’m not sure why, but it seems
Secret Confessions of a Procrastinator
Sunday, October 10th, 2010It’s time. There’s no time like the present. Seriously!
You’ve been putting something off. I think that at the heart of every entrepreneur is a procrastinator.
So what is it? … Read More
For me, several things come
SEO is a waste of money without this key topic.
Sunday, September 26th, 2010Get ready for Socks and Underwear.
Sunday, September 19th, 2010A recent press release from Walmart looked into their fortune-telling minds. In fact, Walmart Leadership suggests that in the near future, the buying trends of Americans will veer towards one thing.
Practicality.… Read More
Because of the
Celebrate 3 Freedoms Today!
Saturday, September 11th, 2010It only takes a little.
Sunday, August 29th, 2010Just do it.
Sunday, August 22nd, 2010Happy 4th of July!
Sunday, July 4th, 2010I want to wish you all a happy 4th of July. Independence Day.
I’m not sure what that means to you — but I’m blessed to have the privilege of working in the United States… Read More
Supply the “Missing” Things. 3 Easy Steps.
Sunday, June 27th, 2010My wife and sons have been gone for a few weeks. … Read MoreIt’s a great opportunity each year for them to spend time with their grandmother, cousins, aunts and uncles. I wish I could spend the
3 Things to Consider for an Anniversary
Sunday, May 23rd, 2010It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago, in a small church in New Brunswick, Canada, I got married.
It’s almost like looking through a fog when I look back over the years and see… Read More
1 Tiny Thing I Hate Big Time.
Sunday, May 16th, 2010I’m not sure when it started happen. But I enjoy reading fine print in ads.
It’s always tells volumes about the company when you read the tiny print somewhere obscured in the advertisement. Sometimes it’s… Read More
3 Business Lessons My Mom Taught Me.
Sunday, May 9th, 20103 Tips for Effective PR
Sunday, May 2nd, 2010As I write this, I’m watching a TV news report about the oil slick off the coast of Louisiana. It’s huge and seems to be growing every day. And so are the press releases, news… Read More
3 Ways to Start at the very Beginning.
Monday, April 26th, 2010You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
Tuesday, March 30th, 2010Well, it’s tax time. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you of this.
What that means is that every time you drive near a tax preparation location you get banners, balloons, dancing Statue of… Read More
I’ve never gone to a NASCAR race. Until now.
Sunday, March 21st, 2010Mud your Marketing Communication’s Plan!
Sunday, March 14th, 2010I’m in the process of building a home theater. You know; a room that used to be called a TV room, but for some reason, when we have a larger TV area, we call it… Read More
3 Business Lessons I Learned While Getting my Haircut
Sunday, March 7th, 2010I got my hair cut this afternoon. A lot of people that know me, think I am very particular of my hair. I guess because I act and model, and have to have my hair… Read More
7 Lessons I’ve Learned About Getting Robbed
Friday, February 26th, 2010This week I had an out-of-town client visiting from Maine. We see them once a year, so my wife and I treated them to lunch. Near the end of a great meal of catching up,… Read More
Welcome to Canada!
Saturday, February 13th, 2010For the last 8 years we’ve been excited that the Winter Olympics is coming to Canada. We’d planned way back then that we’d go to the opening ceremonies as a family.
3 Obstacles.
Money.… Read More The
It’s the Big Game day!
Sunday, February 7th, 2010Today, we celebrate a national holiday — or at least so it seems. We’re having a large party to honor athletic men scrambling for a ball while unfit people eat, drink and cheer for their… Read More
4 Easy Ways to Sell More
Sunday, January 10th, 2010Have you noticed the ads that are running right now? It seems that someone knows we have new years’ resolutions: lose weight, eat better, working out and quitting smoking.
OK, the first 2 or 3… Read More
An Easy New Year’s Resolution. Guaranteed!
Monday, January 4th, 2010It’s a new year. … Read MoreA new decade. And once again we wonder how it’ll be called. Twenty-Ten or Two-Thousand-Ten; or will these years be called the “teen” years. Does that mean we’ll all go through
Word of Mouth made Easy in 3 Easy Steps!
Sunday, December 13th, 2009Want to increase your business? … Read MoreGrow it wildly to something you couldn’t even imagine?
Then you need to work on your “word-of-mouth” strategies.
We often are told by business owners that they don’t want to
So many colors!
Sunday, November 29th, 2009This weekend we finished the renovations on our basement family room. We’ve been working for about a month on weekends and evenings replacing doors, painting, fixing things and decorating.
We decided, since we have two… Read More
Typos Happen. 3 Secret Ways to Stop Them!
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009Isn’t it crazy how our writing skills and spelling abilities are getting worse and worse. I know, if you’re anything like me, you’re actually writing more and more — facebook, twitter, blogs, articles, emails, etc.… Read More
Features vs Benefits
Sunday, November 8th, 2009Want to make more Money?… Read More Ask someone what business they’re in and you get similar answers: I work for….. or I run… or we produce….
But if you switch to a sales-mode, you usually get
It’s Christmas Time!
Monday, November 2nd, 2009I was in the mall today. Christmas is everywhere!… Read More It seems like it arrives in retail far to early! Even before Halloween or early October — soon it’ll be late summer when the Christmas tree
There’s a Wrong Way to Do Things.
Sunday, October 25th, 2009This weekend, my wife and I decided to paint our master bedroom. We’ve renovated every other upstairs room in our house, so it was time to finish ours. We asked (told) our kids to help… Read More
The Management Gap
Sunday, October 11th, 2009I just got back from a Leadership conference. Very well done with speakers from all over America.
At these conferences, I try to come away with a new business principle that I want to work… Read More
How Many Times?
Sunday, October 4th, 2009We are asked fairly frequently, “How many times should we contact our customers”?
Remember the “old” days when “touching a customer” meant running an ad in the newspaper, mailing out direct mail cards, a 30… Read More
Touch it Once
Sunday, September 27th, 2009Ready to try something with me?… Read More I’m an organization neat-freak and have an “everything in its place” mentality.
Are you with me?
Lately, as our work has picked up and the abundance of email, mail
Simplify!
Sunday, September 13th, 2009For the past month or so, my family has been planning a yard sale.
I don’t know what that means to you, but after having several of them, it means a lot of work, for … Read More
What Languages Do Your Team Members Speak?
Sunday, August 30th, 2009Hopefully you’ve read the Gary Chapman book, 5 Love Languages. It’s one of those books that should be taught to all students in college.It would help in all relationship issues including the business world!
I… Read More
80% of your Work is Wasted Time.
Sunday, August 16th, 2009I’m back from vacation. … Read MoreIt was a great time of relaxing on the beach, reading in the sunshine (and rain, sadly), spending time with my family and eating different foods. Ocean Isle Beach is a
4 Things to Enjoy on Vacation
Sunday, August 9th, 2009Vacation time is around the corner. We’re going to Myrtle Beach as a family with some friends. The anticipation is killing me. The ocean, warmth, fellowship.
Have you ever considered what you like about vacation? … Read More
Do you have different Audiences?
Sunday, July 19th, 2009I’ve been in Canada for the last 2 weeks. It’s my homeland. We’ve been privileged to work in the US for the last 10 years and every summer my family visits relatives in East Coast… Read More
6 Reasons I’m going to Miss Billy Mays
Sunday, June 28th, 2009I don’t quote too many celebrities but it seemed that Billy Mays came up in my speech this past year more than any other celebrity. A celebrity… Read More? Well, considering that most people know his
3 Things I Learned from My Father that I Use Daily
Sunday, June 21st, 2009Happy Father’s Day!… Read More Today is the day that we honor the guy who was our male leadership while growing up.
Think about most of your relationships and friends — how many Fathers of them do
4 Surefire Ways to Stop Burnout.
Sunday, June 14th, 2009Our family is starting to plan our summer vacation. We go to Canada to renew our immigration, see family, catch up with friends, and visit Canadian clients. It’s a rushed time with lots of demands… Read More
Not all ‘Graduations’ should be Celebrated.
Sunday, June 7th, 2009… Read MoreIt seems that everyone (including the media) is talking about Graduation. I guess it happens every year around this time. Presidents, Senators, and famous people deliver speeches that pass their “wisdom” onto the next generation.
TMI: I’ve been Fired AND Laid off
Sunday, May 17th, 2009When life deals you lemons, you make lemonade… Read More. Right?
We’ve all heard the stories of famous people who made it big. But then we find out that most of them have either lost it
Your 100 days. Or is that 91 1/4 days?
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009This past week on April, 29, 2009, we celebrated a huge day. Or at least for some. The media definitely showed up!
It was, of course, the end of the first 100 days of … Read More
5 Ways You can be More Creative. Now!
Saturday, April 18th, 200927 years ago, I entered college to become a “graphic designer”. Actually, back then, I referred to it as a “commercial artist”. I wanted to be Darren from Bewitched.
Remember him?… Read More
He presented ad
What Easter reminded me about Marketing
Tuesday, April 14th, 2009It’s Easter weekend.… Read More I find it interesting that we all have different traditions in our families. We were raised with getting Easter candy (large chocolate bunny and eggs sitting next to our plate) when we
Are you Unique?
Sunday, April 5th, 2009I overheard someone on Friday in the Dallas airport (while I was enjoying a short enjoyable burst of people-watching waiting for my flight) say, “You are one-of-a-kind… Read More!.” The recipient laughed and gave the look
Twitter and Facebook are a Waste of Time!
Sunday, March 22nd, 200910 Ways I Save Money EVERY Month
Sunday, March 15th, 2009It seems that every time I turn on the TV or pick up a magazine, someone is talking about “ways to save” or “to cut back”. Most of them are great advice – but, call… Read More
Prediction: The Recession is Ending
Sunday, March 8th, 2009Today we lost an hour but we say we “sprung forward” in time. There’s a big difference in perception.
In fact, when you ask someone today how they feel to loose an hour, and you’ll… Read More
Fox’s 24; 168 episodes too late
Sunday, March 1st, 2009This weekend we’re celebrating our older son’s 15th birthday. For weeks my wife and I have been discussing what we should give our maturing son. 15 is a difficult year to choose the right gift!… Read More
