Why become organized with Outlook? Because the tools it offers can help you master the myriad and an increasing number of tasks you undertake each day. Disorganized people suffer more stress, become … [Read more...] about Using Outlook to Get Organized in a Digital World
Time Management in Small Business
Managing your time is relevant to everyone, from kids in school to people at home or work. The issue of time management becomes even more paramount to owners of small businesses. We have all either … [Read more...] about Time Management in Small Business
Time Management | Utilizing Your Time Wisely
Very often, we hear clients, and peers, say “There isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done.” Yup! You are right; often, there is more to do in a day than there is time in a day. However, … [Read more...] about Time Management | Utilizing Your Time Wisely
Revenue Growth Through Product Development
Difficult times often require rethinking a company's products and markets to maintain or grow revenue. These last months have certainly been a time for owners to review their business model and … [Read more...] about Revenue Growth Through Product Development
Designing Organizational Systems
In today’s global market, it is becoming more complex and competitive to efficiently and effectively run an organization. This article will address some key principles which need to be considered … [Read more...] about Designing Organizational Systems
Recruiting and Hiring Practices
When speaking with clients about Recruiting and Hiring processes, one of the first things I always hear about is their challenges in filling the role with the right candidate. This always gets me … [Read more...] about Recruiting and Hiring Practices
What’s Going to be New in 2021?
2020, The Year of Innovation. 2020 has been an incredible year for innovation opportunities and possibly a wakeup-call or reset of complacency or standard thinking. Yes, it was a strain on our … [Read more...] about What’s Going to be New in 2021?
Is Digital Transformation Necessary for Your Business?
The short answer to this question is yes. Digital transformation is not only necessary; it’s inevitable. As Henrique Dos Santos (past Senior Project Director for Cogent Analytics) writes, the topmost … [Read more...] about Is Digital Transformation Necessary for Your Business?
Retirement Planning for Business Owners
As a business owner, you are used to thinking ahead concerning your business strategy and taking care of finances. But do you take enough care of your personal strategy and finance? Many business … [Read more...] about Retirement Planning for Business Owners
The Profit Platform® of Business
From Behind The Desk offers valuable information during these difficult economic conditions. Rob Braiman, CEO of Cogent Analytics, provides PSAs for business owners around the country to make sure … [Read more...] about The Profit Platform® of Business
The Power of Cash
Rob Braiman, CEO of Cogent Analytics, provides PSAs for business owners around the country to make sure they're ahead of the ball regarding what is happening right now. In this episode, Rob … [Read more...] about The Power of Cash
Cash Flow vs. Cash Management
From Behind The Desk offers valuable information during these difficult economic conditions. Rob Braiman, CEO of Cogent Analytics, provides PSAs for business owners around the country to make sure … [Read more...] about Cash Flow vs. Cash Management
Recession Readiness – PSA
From Behind The Desk offers valuable information during these difficult economic conditions. Rob Braiman, CEO of Cogent Analytics, provides PSAs for business owners around the country to make sure … [Read more...] about Recession Readiness – PSA
5 Signs You Chose The Right Business Mentor
These days, we can look up mostly anything on the internet, and this has led a lot of people to now turn to YouTube videos, DIY blogs, and online courses whenever they need to learn something new. … [Read more...] about 5 Signs You Chose The Right Business Mentor
Recession Ready – A Webinar in Partnership with ABC
During unprecedented times, business owners searching for answers on how to maintain and even create reliable revenue for their business during a down market. Rob Braiman, CEO of Cogent … [Read more...] about Recession Ready – A Webinar in Partnership with ABC
The Secret to being a Successful Sales Professional
The best sales professional has an extensive set of tools that they can utilize to close a sell. One of the most important tools they have is called empathy. Empathy is best described as the ability … [Read more...] about The Secret to being a Successful Sales Professional
Innovate to Generate Revenue
With economic conditions changing as a result of COVID-19, Rob Braiman, CEO of Cogent Analytics, discusses the importance of innovating different ways to generate and maintain revenue through the … [Read more...] about Innovate to Generate Revenue
Adversity Breeds Innovation
In these unprecedented times, adversity has hit the ceiling. Entrepreneurs are facing struggling times and becoming stagnant. From Behind the Desk with Rob Braiman, a series of PSA's on the issues … [Read more...] about Adversity Breeds Innovation
Paycheck Protection Program, What Does It Mean?
As the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) rolls out for small businesses, Rob Braiman, CEO of Cogent Analytics, discusses the pros and cons of every CARES Act and SBA Relief program, helping business … [Read more...] about Paycheck Protection Program, What Does It Mean?
Have a (Succession) Plan
It may be hard to fathom the reality of selling your business. You had a goal to grow and build your business, and over years of work, your energy, your vision, your customers, based on your value … [Read more...] about Have a (Succession) Plan
Cash Management Plan: Know Where Your Money Is
A cash management plan is important in any business whether you are a contractor, wholesaler, or even a business management consulting firm, because it allows you to be better prepared for future … [Read more...] about Cash Management Plan: Know Where Your Money Is
Take Control! Motivation to Improve Cash Flow
Cash flow is the primary responsibility of the business owner, yet many owners aren’t motivated to improve it. Everyone knows more money must be taken in each month than sent out, but many owners make … [Read more...] about Take Control! Motivation to Improve Cash Flow
7 Ways that Technology Increases Profits
Guest post about using technology to increase productivity and profitability in a business. Technology has greatly evolved in almost all aspects of life, and workplaces have not been left out. … [Read more...] about 7 Ways that Technology Increases Profits
Effective Coaching To Win Big With Your Team
In 2019, New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick was the highest-paid coach in U.S. sports with a $12 million annual salary. Dabo Swinney negotiated a $93 million, 10-year coaching gig at Clemson … [Read more...] about Effective Coaching To Win Big With Your Team
Business Plans Provide Small Business with Direction
Cogent Analytics Project Director, Rod Shuck, discusses the importance of business plans for small business. Are you a small business owner who has not taken the time to develop or update a formal … [Read more...] about Business Plans Provide Small Business with Direction
Consistency: Two Sides to the Same Coin
What are the benefits of consistency to a small business? Most will answer it is a critical element for forecasting revenue, and that is true. It is impossible to plan for profitability without … [Read more...] about Consistency: Two Sides to the Same Coin
More Profit: Earn More Profit Than Last Year In 6 Steps
With the new year just underway, everyone is talking about New Years Resolutions, and every business owner has the same one: Earn More Profit than last year. Business owners often look at a new year … [Read more...] about More Profit: Earn More Profit Than Last Year In 6 Steps
Inventory Management in 3 Steps
Many businesses manage inventory well. Firms that recognize the importance and benefits of excellent inventory management, typically have better customer service, higher margins, and more robust cash … [Read more...] about Inventory Management in 3 Steps
Safety and Marketing: How it Affects Profitability
Many business owners do not realize that their Experience Modification Rate (EMR) safety rating can be a powerful marketing tool. In industries where the competition is stiff, business owners are … [Read more...] about Safety and Marketing: How it Affects Profitability
Best Practices For Small Businesses
Small and large companies share many of the same challenges on their paths to success. For a company to be successful, management needs to understand that many different moving pieces need to be … [Read more...] about Best Practices For Small Businesses
OSHA and the Small Business Owner
The Occupational Safety Administration (OSHA) was created in 1970 when the Occupational Safety Act (OSH Act) was passed. The OSH act was passed to prevent workers from being killed or seriously harmed … [Read more...] about OSHA and the Small Business Owner
Metrics to Use to Manage Business by the Numbers
Which metrics should businesses use daily? Choosing the right metrics can often be challenging for small business owners. Many times the choice made is not to look at any metrics at all and still … [Read more...] about Metrics to Use to Manage Business by the Numbers
SOPs to Improve Performance and Profit
Day to day operations of a business are what drive the week to week and year to year profits. The most valuable asset that companies sometimes overlook is time. Proficient allocation of time is a … [Read more...] about SOPs to Improve Performance and Profit
Empower Employees by Giving them a Voice in 3 steps
The workplace can seem like a tug of war between who gets heard from one day to the next. This can seem like it is even more true for a small business where each role has more weight, and delegation … [Read more...] about Empower Employees by Giving them a Voice in 3 steps
Manage Time Wisely for Effective Business
It would be easy to think that 19th-century writer, Leo Tolstoy, was thinking of the challenges a small business faces, when he wrote, “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” How many … [Read more...] about Manage Time Wisely for Effective Business
Charge Up Your Workplace With Effective Feedback
“That particular receiving clerk is always charged up and looking for a way to help!” “Bill is so distracted and negative that he cannot get charged up about anything!” Businesses can count on … [Read more...] about Charge Up Your Workplace With Effective Feedback
Creating A Leadership Perspective
The transition from employee to supervisor involves many changes that require both hard-work and concentration, but the payoffs are enormous, both personally and professionally. It is the beginning of … [Read more...] about Creating A Leadership Perspective
What’s Not Being Said- Body Language
Despite the amount of attention directed to numbers, schedules, and plans, the most important aspect of business is the interaction among people. It is during face-to-face interaction with other … [Read more...] about What’s Not Being Said- Body Language
Committing to Commitment- “Burn the Ships”
A business owner will make many commitments along his/her journey to building a successful company. The first, and foremost, compromise is often leaving somewhere, or something, behind and venturing … [Read more...] about Committing to Commitment- “Burn the Ships”
The Tenuous Triangle
One of the most common, yet critical, mistakes that small business owners make is blurring the boundaries between three closely-related but dramatically different decision-making forums. An important … [Read more...] about The Tenuous Triangle
Leading Your Employees
Are you a small business owner? Are you frustrated when your employees and leadership aren't working towards what you think are the company's priorities? If you answered 'yes' to both of those … [Read more...] about Leading Your Employees
How to Perform an End of Business Quarter Evaluation
As you come to the close of a business quarter, small business owners and managers must make the time to evaluate how well the quarter has gone to begin the next business quarter with confidence. This … [Read more...] about How to Perform an End of Business Quarter Evaluation
How to Repair Your Failing Digital Marketing Strategies
As a small business owner or a corporate pro; there will come a time when you will have to repair something that is negatively affecting your digital marketing strategies. It will never be as easy as … [Read more...] about How to Repair Your Failing Digital Marketing Strategies
Attract, Hire and Retain Employees
Having the ability to attract, hire and retain quality employees will always provide significant benefit to any small business who can master this ability. High employee turnover within a small … [Read more...] about Attract, Hire and Retain Employees
Succession Planning Tips From Popular Television
After the final season of the acclaimed and award-winning series Game of Thrones, many die-hard fans, such as myself, were somewhat underwhelmed with the ending. As dedicated fans, we have invested … [Read more...] about Succession Planning Tips From Popular Television
6 Steps to Implement and Develop Annual Goals
Organizations often struggle to successfully implement annual goals that are both useful and meaningful to everyone. Frequently, a company might attempt to create a banner that says something like "2 … [Read more...] about 6 Steps to Implement and Develop Annual Goals
Leading to Success or Managing Fires
In The Missing Piece of Leadership by Doug Krug, a leader is defined as someone who has a responsibility to produce results through people. As an owner, regardless of the size of … [Read more...] about Leading to Success or Managing Fires
Accomplishing The Uncomfortable
Recently I've found several of my clients doing their employees jobs while neglecting their duties as an owner. The most typical reason I hear is, it's easier to do it myself, or I really needed it … [Read more...] about Accomplishing The Uncomfortable
Creating Accountability in the Workplace
Accountability in the workplace is a topic everyone seems to care about, but surprisingly few people understand. Many people feel like it refers to some type of “score keeping” … [Read more...] about Creating Accountability in the Workplace
Creating a Business Plan 101
A business plan is a document that spells out the direction the business will take and the actions that will execute the plan. Creating a business plan is not an arduous effort, the challenge for an … [Read more...] about Creating a Business Plan 101
