I adore a man who can work with his hands. I admire a woman who knows how to handle a channelocks. I appreciate a well laid-out mechanical room. I’m a huge fan of trades people. Trades people are more in touch with the truth than other people. They are a no-nonsense group. They know that [...]
All dogs stink, chew, puke, poop, bite, whine, scratch, swallow objects which must be removed surgically and sleep in newly planted flower beds. The Working Dog also offers additional benefits. If your best customer calls, The Working Dog will alert the staff by barking incessantly within three feet of the phone. The Working Dog will [...]
Jeffrey Gitomer is one of my all time fav business gurus. He unabashedly LOVES sales and his hard-boiled delivery is grounded in goodness and integrity. Scratch the surface of this smart, tough guy and you’ll find mashed potatoes of love. However, I think Jeffrey is all wet – at least pretty damp – in his [...]
Recently I got this email from someone who had been accused of ripping off his customer… Dear Ellen, One of my customers called this morning and said I ripped him off. This was after my tech quoted a price, he accepted it, we did the work, and he signed for the work. This morning he [...]
I love helping people! One of the biggest challenges I encounter is the suffocating burden of debt. Money buys options. Debt eliminates options. Do you struggle under the mounting pressure of debt…personally and/or in your business? You are not alone. The statistics on debt are troubling: The average American household has 13 payment cards (credit [...]
I love our students at Davis Correctional! No one complains or gripes in this class. (That's not something I can say about many of my students!) These fellows want a better life...starting now. Their energy is inspiring. Their questions and discussions are focused on solutions. Even though they are in prison, they are free to [...]
Do you ever feel like you hate absolutely everything and everyone involved with your business? Do you wonder why you even show up in the morning? Do you fantasize about pitching it all and running away to Costa Rica? Do you doubt your ability to make the business a success, to make it WORK? On [...]
Got the beds in. Got the plan together. And this morning, we got snow. That’s the thing about gardening. It can be rewarding and spiritually uplifting. It can inspire you with its beauty and bounty. Or, it can disappoint you beyond words. It can humble you, until you feel as low as the soil. It’s [...]
A news channel’s legal analyst was chiming in about the danger (or lack thereof?) from the overheating nuclear reactors in Japan. I struggled with his credibility to weigh in on this topic. However, I was jaw-dropped stunned when he dismissively added that all you have to do is flood the site with sea water to [...]
Recently I got this question from a concerned business owner regarding an employee: Dear Ellen, My one and only employee is always pushing the boundaries. He knows he is supposed to keep his uniform shirt tucked in. Today, he showed up with his shirt untucked. Even worse, underneath his white shirt he was wearing a [...]
