Studies show that around 90% of new entrepreneurial ventures end up failing. While it's inspiring to see the next generation of entrepreneurs enter the business world, they face more competition now than ever. When I decided to take the path into entrepreneurship in my youth, I could only imagine that at this point in [...]
I've been an entrepreneur for a long time -- over thirty years, in fact. In that time, I've helped ventures grow from the seed of an idea into thriving businesses and seen good ideas not get off the ground. All of those experiences, good and bad, have been hard-won lessons that I've taken to heart. [...]
People are social by nature; we all want to be liked and respected by our peers and colleagues. The best leaders understand that to optimize their effectiveness, they need to define a role that isn't friend or dictator, but something in between — but creating that happy medium is no easy task. Let’s take [...]
"I" to "We:" 7 Steps to Gathering Your Team Around a Common Goal I’ve said it many times, and I know I’m not alone: nobody in business gets anywhere without know how to build a great team. It’s the most important skill to have, and it translates across all industries--there aren’t any successes that happen [...]
The Hoots' overall goal was to rebuild a reputation that was in tatters from the days of the Hannibal Cavemen. They wanted to build a franchise that the Hannibal and surrounding communities could take pride in and believe they were a part of it. Owner Rick DeStefane made that known before the first game of [...]
Anyone can make some money, but creating something of true value requires a solid set of principles. Without the right mission, it’s easy to lose direction and fail to inspire those you serve. In short, running any business without having values isn’t sustainable. I truly began seeing the importance of building an ethical business during [...]
Great minds make for great ideas, but what about executing those ideas and making them real? It’s never a one-person job: it takes teamwork. No person in business is a success without the work of others, and every great leader is only as great as the team they’ve assembled to make their dreams into reality. [...]
Dealmaking is an art unto itself. Following careful negotiations, all parties need to feel as though they’ve won. But, as many of us know, this is easier said than done. Striking reasonable deal terms involves numerous considerations that can often feel daunting to beginners. But, armed with a solid strategy, these disparate factors can coalesce [...]
The Herald-Whig writes about the excitement surrounding the season opener for the Hannibal Hoots and how fans were impressed with the first game. It was the first impression the Hoots were giving to the Hannibal community before to their inaugural game and the first Prospect League game in Hannibal since the Cavemen suspended operations after [...]