The Starting Point for an Effective Business Plan
Most entrepreneurs do not have a formal planning process; they operate their business informally and implicitly. In other words, they do not have a business plan that they can share
Business Plan: How to Hit Your Target
The entrepreneurial journey is full of distractions. Entrepreneurs are optimists and see opportunity everywhere. These opportunities are beautiful shiny objects and, if pursued, they take the entrepreneur on a path
How to Build a Successful and Sustainable Business
In building a business, there are Four Cornerstones that represent the foundation of a successful and sustainable business. To build the business that is right for you, the following elements must
How Testing Assumptions Can Improve Performance?
The lowest load-bearing part of a building is usually referred to as the foundation. The foundation of a building determines the kinds of adversities a building can withstand. A business
Rethinking Giving Back and Business
For many of us, December marks the beginning of the annual season of giving. It’s also a time for planning the year ahead. Yet giving and planning are seldom integrated
The Importance of Giving Back
A lesson I learned as a young life insurance agent was the importance of giving back. By word and deed, my managers, coaches and mentors instilled in me the value
How We Should Think About Marketing & Sales
Many of us get an icky feeling when we think about marketing or sales. Yet we do marketing and sales all the time. Every time you convince a friend to
4 Steps to Developing a Strategy for Creating Client Capital that Will Grow Your Business
The Oxford Dictionary defines marketing as “the action or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising.” We define marketing as all of those activities
What Is The Difference Between Networking And NetWeaving?
I have been involved in financial services for five decades. I was lucky enough to begin as a life insurance agent. One of the first lessons I learned was the
Why Networking Shouldn´t Make You Feel Dirty
Many of us have negative feelings about networking. Studies have shown when we talk to people about networking before asking them to perform word completion tasks (for example S_ _
Building the Resilience to Transform Conflict
We encounter conflict as long as we are in relationships and have jobs, responsibilities, and tasks to be completed. Conflict is part of the human experience. It is time for
Intergenerational Wealth: Are You Yoking?
When we hear the term “Baby Boomers” our minds tend to be flooded with thoughts about succession planning and the so-called “Great Wealth Transfer”. What if I were to tell
What The Most Successful Business Owners Do in This Age of Distraction
My friend and client is a large general contractor/project manager in Ontario. He purchased a gristmill built in the 1860’s with the idea of converting it to condos. The three-foot
How to Focus in an Age of Distraction
Does being busy mean you are productive? High performing entrepreneurs and professionals distinguish themselves because they know how to focus and what to focus on. We are all busy, but
Why The Future of Innovation Is Social
If you're like most people, learning that 62% of employees who work in bars and restaurants don't wash their hands makes you uncomfortable. It's estimated that sixty thousand people are
How To Assign Tasks Effectively & Be a Successful Business Builder
The following is based on one of The Covenant Group’s clients, Robin Froner. All of the names and telling details have been changed to preserve client privacy. Over the past year,
These 4 Simple Guidelines Can Transform Your Organization
There is a great story on business performance, from Harvard professors Donald Sull and Kathleen Eisenhardt who write and teach on strategy and decision-making. They tell the story of a
The Mental Hijack Affecting Your Performance
Recall a time when you have attended a presentation and thought "I get that." Then, after hearing the speaker, you try to relay the content to a colleague or a
What Business Leaders Can Learn From The Age of Antarctic Exploration
I was recently reminded a great historical tale. In 1911, two explorers, Amundsen and Scott, embarked on a race against each other to become the first known human being to
Why Practice Development and Business Planning Are Essential For Success as a Financial Advisor
Lets examine why practice development and business planning have become so important for success in today's environment. Over the last 30 years there have been three paradigms that have dominated in
Why Coach On The Go™
It is often easy to get excited about an idea. However, successful entrepreneurs differentiate themselves through their ability to put good ideas into action. When Isadore Sharp, the legendary founder of
Why Your Team Building Activity Was Probably a Waste of Time
Have you ever asked someone to come in and do a team building workshop for your team? Recently, a client called and asked, "I want to do a team building
Create an Effective Job Description
Many entrepreneurs find it difficult to prepare and present an effective job description. However, if you are clear about the purpose of a role and what you expect of the
A key factor in preparing for growth
Mentoring programs can play an essential role in preparing a company for growth. If an entrepreneur isn't helping employees develop in their roles, there may be no qualified and capable