Everything, newest first

The feed

Stories, polls, quizzes and things to do, mixed rather than stacked.

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoNov 3, 20266 min

Your business shouldn't need any one person, you included

Every shop has someone whose two-week notice would cause a crisis. Find that person before they leave, and fix it with paper, not hope.

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoNov 3, 20265 min

Hire help when the mistake costs more than the invoice

Most operators call for help too late, or call the wrong kind. Here's how to tell which you need and what to ask before you sign.

Ask BRO

Rehearse the raise conversation with me

Ask it

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoNov 3, 20265 min

The "while you're at it" request that eats your margin

Scope creep rarely arrives as a fight. It arrives as a favor you didn't price. Here's how to stop it without losing the client.

Coconut.com — Tell us when. We find where the sun is.

PartnerCoconut.com

Business5 min read

The customer who costs you more than they pay

Revenue says they're a good account. Your calendar says otherwise. Here's how to price what they actually take from you, and what to do about it.

Poll

How many days a week are you actually training?

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoNov 2, 20265 min

Match the hire to the shape of the work, not your budget

Full-time, part-time or contract: the answer is on your calendar, not in your bank account. Four questions that settle it before you post the job.

Watch · Business

Take a week off and find out what you actually built

If the business stalls when you step out, the team isn't the problem. Here's how to count the questions, hand off the answers, and test it.

GermProof.com — An invisible germ barrier on your skin for hours

PartnerGermProof.com

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoOct 18, 20266 min

Fraud starts where trust replaces a second set of eyes

Most internal theft isn't a heist. It's one good employee with one unchecked step, and you can close that gap this month.

Quiz

Does your wardrobe actually fit you?

Five questions, honestly answered, and a plan for the next two weeks.

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoOct 17, 20266 min

The tax deadline you didn't know you had is the expensive one

Most owners can handle the bill. It's the filing nobody told them about that costs real money. Build your calendar before the notice shows up.

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoOct 17, 20265 min

Stop doing the work when your hour is worth more than the job

Being the best hand in the shop is how you got here. It's also what caps you. Here's how to know when to step back, and what to hand off first.

Ask BRO

Rehearse the raise conversation with me

Ask it

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoOct 17, 20265 min

Put it in writing before the contractor picks up a tool

A handshake works for friendships. For an $18,000 job, you want scope, payment milestones and a change rule on paper before anyone shows up.

PartnerWhackAWoke.com

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoSep 23, 20266 min

Give the hard feedback while the problem is still small

Most managers don't have a delivery problem. They have a timing problem, and by the time they finally speak up the conversation is twice as expensive.

Poll

When did you last ask for a raise?

GuideBusinessRay OkonkwoSep 23, 20266 min

What to check in the books before you buy somebody's business

The seller's P&L is a sales document. The bank statements are the truth. Start there and work outward.