Most business people want to start out with everything new:   new facilities, new equipment and new vehicles.  However, new is expensive.  For example, consider the difference between purchasing new clothing in a retail store and used clothing in a good thrift shop. While I understand why there is a reluctance to buy secondhand clothing, there should be no reluctance to buy secondhand business equipment.

Frequently I encounter contracts that have an automatic renewal clause, known as an evergreen clause. Essentially it means that a contract automatically renews for specific period of time, typically for the original cost and service, if it is not canceled by a specific date. I personally detest these automatic renewal contracts and avoid them whenever possible.

We hear about stories on the Internet, radio and television that refer to fake news.  What is fake news and how does it relate to our business? I have come to believe that fake news is made up information often for a political reason and should not be confused with incorrect news reporting and analysis. 

Regular readers will know that a Unique Sales Proposition (USP) is critical for any business. When we are clear about our USP we are able to articulate the benefits of our business to prospective customers. I consistently advise businesses to lead with the benefits and follow up with the evidence.  Many businesses become clear about their USP and effectively focus on benefits to customers, but do not always follow with evidence. 

I don’t like going back to check other people’s work. I prefer to assign a task, assume everything is done correctly and walk away. However, this is unwise. 

I was updating a website some time ago. At first look everything seemed fine, and I was tempted to call it finished. However, I disciplined myself to take additional time to check every link and other aspects of the site. I located six mistakes requiring correction, including two serious errors.  Had I not taken the time to check, I could’ve gone on for months or years without catching the errors. 

We see a scriptural example of this after the work of the tabernacle was completed. “Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the LORD had commanded. So Moses blessed them.” (Exodus 39:43, NIV) Since the Lord had provided exact instructions about how to execute the work, it was important to check to see that it was finished properly.