Posts by Caterina Valentino

A crisis can be described an intense, immediate tension. It’s a critical event, which if not handled in an appropriate and timely manner, or is ignored, can turn into a business catastrophe. Let’s be clear – a crisis is different from an issue that needs to be managed. Issue management is about facilitating communication. It’s … Read more →

The ‘Johnny-on-the-Spot’ well-greased elevator spiel practiced to perfection and ready to be delivered to any person at any time is in dire need of a facelift. In today’s environment, when business owners are interested in how they can differentiate their product to increase their reach and profits, they resent being held hostage for a message … Read more →

Pierre Cléroux, VP of research and chief economist at BDC, believes that 2019 will see great opportunities to expand markets and diversify product lines. But there are two huge threats:  labour shortages and technological advancements. Hugo Sarrazin, Senior Partner and co-author of the December McKinsey Quarterly 2018, predicts that the critical enabler of future success … Read more →

“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. – Vince Lombardi, Former Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi got it only half right. Persistence, knowledge and willpower increase the odds that one will be successful. But, if one … Read more →

Operations must be aligned to create value from data and new technologies In 1992, Robert Kaplan and David Norton turned the business world on its head when they proposed the idea that financial health was an insufficient indicator of business success. Could there be more to measuring success than just solvency? Kaplan and Norton said … Read more →

Here’s how you can overcome the thief of good decisions Before you lift your head off the pillow in the morning and plant your feet on the floor, how many decisions have you made? Internet sources estimate that an adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decisions each day. Cornell University researchers estimate that individuals make 226.7 … Read more →

The solution may be to change soft organizational factors Despite a healthy working capital and a quick ratio measure, what’s is it that’s flying below the radar and preventing your business from reaching its next revenue target? If it’s not money, what is it? It’s those soft organizational factors that, when bundled together, form the … Read more →

What’s the magic characteristic which allows an entrepreneur to weather the storms of abysmal revenue statements and a tsunami of change? Resilience. The good news is that you don’t have to be born with it. Resilience can be learned. Dictionary.com defines resilience as the power or ability for someone or something to return to its … Read more →

Assess your business through a wider lens so you get the full picture What is a healthy business?  When business owners set out to assess the health of their business, they need to look through a wide lens and capture the entire landscape of their operation. A periodic business health assessment should be a staple … Read more →

Digital finishing holds great promise and many benefits, but the first step is demonstrating the value of these special effects   Print finishing, and in particular, digital finishing, promises to boost profits, add value and separate early adopters from the competition. And, in a world of shorter runs, product customization, faster time to market, shrinking … Read more →

Succession planning is an entrepreneurial pitfall. Let’s take a look at some strategies for successfully exiting your business.  Ask an entrepreneur how much time he or she devotes to succession planning and once the look of incredulity passes you’ll get one of these responses:  “I’m too busy trying to make a go of the business … Read more →