We love talking about ideas, inspiration and motivation at the Bureau, but sometimes we need to get down to the nuts and bolts of running a business. And there’s nothing more basic than money. Last week in the Bureau Slack there was a great conversation about what kind of billing utilization strategies will keep the shop in the green without the team seeing red.
Fall is harvest time, when all the hard work of planting and weeding pays off with crisp apples, rich pumpkin pie and all kinds of other goodies (gotta stop writing these when I’m hungry). I love seeing how the work of our Bureau members pays off as they see their people and company grow and mature. We share a lot of these stories in the Bureau Slack, along with tools and resources to help one another succeed.
Last week we talked about how to gracefully leave your job to move on to a new opportunity. This week, we’re exploring the other side of the coin - letting someone go. It’s an uncomfortable topic but a very real part of the business world that we all have to navigate in one way or another eventually. Just like there is a right way to leave your job, there are also some steps you can take to make sure that if you do have to fire someone you do it with empathy and tact.
Difficult topics are often the most valuable ones to address, and few things are tougher than leaving a job and keeping relationships intact. But when you know it's time to go, there's a good way to handle it. Let’s see how to take care of business without burning any bridges.
We’ve covered the pros and cons of this popular strategy, and now it’s time to talk about how to make it work best for you. If you’ve decided it’s a good way to keep the prospects rolling in, here are a few hints to get the most out of it.
Last week we took a look at referral programs and why you might want to start one. It’s a useful marketing tool and has a lot of advantages. To make the right choice, though, you need to think about downsides as well. So this week let’s talk about the pitfalls to look out for.
Just like a hit movie, running a successful company requires effective marketing and sales, which can be hard to get right -- especially if you’re setting up a new shop. That’s why personal recommendations can be a great tool for building up that client base. Over the next few posts, we'll be talking about the pros and cons of agency referral programs. We'll even share some best practices for launching one before we're done.
Where did the summer go? These months seem to slip by so quickly, and we’ve been really busy holding Bureau events and sharing our favorite resources (and memes) in the Bureau Slack. Connecting with leaders across the country is my favorite part of working at the Bureau, and every week I send out an informational newsletter that dives into one hot topic and includes some of those useful resources we share. I hope you’ll consider signing up for the newsletter here, but we’ve also collected the best of those links right here.
If there’s one thing I learned from square dancing lessons (aside from the importance of the right belt buckle), it’s that you always want to make sure you start things on the right foot. You and your clients deserve to have a good working relationship, and it all hinges on creating and maintaining the right expectations. Let’s see how it works.
Every person in an organization, regardless of their role, can contribute to the company's success. To make that happen, we must create a culture where everyone feels connected to the company's mission and knows the value they can bring to potential clients. Beyond that, we have to give them the tools and understanding of how to engage a great prospect. Not sure how to do that? Don't sweat it, we'll share more below!
Have you ever read a warning label and thought, “Who would ever try to eat this?” But if we lived in a world where everyone thought through the repercussions of their actions, things would be much, much different. This week we’re talking about when too much of a good thing threatens to cause problems -- specifically, unlimited PTO.
Well, we’ve reached the “my skin is constantly sticky” portion of the year, but my spirits are high. We’re planning some awesome events, the Bureau members continue to be rock solid, and there’s some incredible work being done by our friends (some of which is featured below). We send useful info and resources out each week in our newsletters, which I hope you’ve signed up for already, but here’s a refresher on the best of our July content.
Your Bureau team has been hard at work making things better and planning for the future with you in mind. As a community where the members lead, I want a chance to share new opportunities and challenges with you in person. (Ok virtually in person.) That's the best way for us to hear your questions, suggestions, and insights as we navigate the changes ahead. So if you have time, please register for next Friday’s Bureau Town Hall.
We’ll be getting together to talk about what we’re working on to provide you with more support and a more valuable Bureau experience. Read on to learn more about what we’ll cover.
For shops of any size, success comes down to execution. There’s a lot of pressure on project managers to bring the goods. But if you’re struggling with too much or too little, is it the PM’s fault? Let’s talk about how you’re managing your project managers!
I know some of you are rolling your eyes and going, oh yeah let's grow. I meant to do that. It's tough right now, but it's a great opportunity to shift our mindset back into building something we love versus protecting where we are.
And growth isn't all about the numbers or operational stresses. It's about the people. Is your culture bound to change for the worse when you start to experience the growth you’ve been fighting for? Let’s talk about it.
Most of us have had relationships go sour. They start to get a distant look in their eye, pull back from activities you enjoyed doing together, and eventually you get the speech: “It’s not you, it’s me.” Of course this week we’re talking about budgetary concerns with your clients.
I love summer, with all the product announcements, events, and general good vibes all around. And we’ve had a great season so far as we rethink the best ways to gather together as Bureau members. Every week I send out our email newsletter with the latest topics we’ve been discussing, and I hope you’ll consider signing up for it. But for your convenience I’ve also collected the best of what we shared in the June newsletters. Take a look at what you might have missed out on.
Popular in-person events all over North America are announcing that they are closing for good or heading back to Zoom. Even with our fantastic community, we haven't been immune to this trend. We announced that our recent Owner Summit would be our last and recently shared that the Digital PM Summit would take place online. It stinks in one way, but it also feels like a huge opportunity to rethink why we gather. And in addition to that, how we make connecting in real life more accessible regardless of how our companies are doing. When we're down is when we really need to see that friendly face and hear those nuggets of wisdom. So let's dive into why being with one another is so important and how we can make that happen.
Summer is in full swing, and I hope everyone is planning some fun vacations. Along with those fun escapes to recharge our batteries, taking time off is also important for life changes, especially for new families. When you become a parent, everything changes, especially your priorities. I know this can be a challenging topic for a lot of small businesses, so let’s discuss parental leave and why it matters to you, your company, and your team. Read on!
If you sell a company a fish, you’ll make payroll for a day, but if you sell them a fish subscription… okay, I got lost in that metaphor, but today we’re talking about relationship marketing, and why it might be a better approach than staring at a stalled out biz dev pipeline. So let's get to it!
