In Spring we train for many different things. Sports, of course, comes to mind immediately. Maybe we exercise our bodies more to get in shape for swim season. We may even beef up our workload in anticipation of free time to enjoy summer vacations. Not everyone is lucky enough to breeze through Spring “training”. Some…
DetailsEach February we celebrate Presidents’ Day as a national holiday that honors two of our country’s greatest presidents: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both men were great presidents because, despite their vast difference, they shared similar leadership traits that are just as important today — in the private and the public sector — as they…
DetailsIt’s nice to know there’s a week set aside to practice random acts of kindness. It falls on the week of Valentine’s Day, which is a nice extension of the meaning of Valentine’s Day, and was first introduced in 2000. This year even the Super Bowl got into the act. But way before there was…
DetailsIn any relationship actions often speak louder than words. Sometimes it’s easier to say “I care” than to show you care. For example, losing a customer is always difficult. Sometimes the loss happens through change: a business acquisition, a change in direction, or a change in personnel. That’s why, at Shamrock we follow the rule…
DetailsGroundhog Day has passed and groundhogs across the northeast did not see their shadows which, at least in groundhog circles, means an early spring. We may have an early thaw. Speaking of thaws, what can be done to rekindle a customer relationship that, for whatever reason, begins to chill? Like any entrepreneur, I don’t like…
DetailsDuring his three terms as New York’s mayor, Ed Koch was known for asking just about everyone, “How am I doing?” Koch tackled a problem head-on, asking that dreaded question, and expecting an honest answer. He was known to immediately address an issue before it became a major problem. Koch was one of the most…
DetailsI like January because it is the beginning of a new year, and even though it’s cold, dark and snowy in northeast Ohio, it’s also a time to look back on the past year and begin a new one with a clean slate and new ideas. Looking back on 2012, I was gifted with a…
DetailsOn April 3, 2010 Apple changed the way we consume media with the introduction of the iPad. Before that, maybe 30 years ago, I was a salesman calling on Progressive Insurance, providing them with most of their business forms. Thirty years ago, Progressive kindly told me they had bought five Xerox 9700 page printers, and…
DetailsAlbert Einstein said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I’ll take that one step further and say it’s really insane if you make a mistake and turn around to make the same mistake, again and again. A mistake is only an irreversible error if you don’t…
DetailsChange is inevitable, in business and in life. Actually, change in business is good since it’s a reflection on growth and movement, which, I believe, are two things that keep a business vital and poised for sustainability. Since 2010 we at Shamrock have seen lots of change. First, spurred on by a lagging economy, Shamrock,…
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