YOU WinONLY HAVE a limited amount of money to pay your employees, I understand that.  As a result, you’re probably going to pay people differently, spending the most money where you think it will give you the greatest benefit.  Primarily, you’ll pay your most valuable people more than the others.

There’s other factors too, yes, but the effect is the same.  Most likely you have some workers who feel adequately rewarded, while others feel slighted.  Even if you try to be cagey about pay levels – especially if you do – people will pick up on the fact that they’re paid less.

This is one of the biggest quandaries about running a business.  Given that you only have limited resources, how on earth can you pay everyone what you’d like to?

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BRENDA AND RICHARD LUCIO own the Blue-Agave-GrillBlue Agave Grill in Fort Collins, the fourth restaurant they’ve started in northern Colorado.

I was introduced to Brenda and the company a few weeks ago, and was particularly struck by the relationship she has with employees.  So I sat down with her this week to discover the secrets behind this.

As you may know, the restaurant industry is infamous for its levels of turnover.  Companies often pay below minimum wage, attracting youngsters who have little loyalty and given minimal training.

After all, why bother with extensive training when the employee’s going to leave in just a few months?

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BILL TRACK 50 bill track 50 logois a great little company focused on helping people to be better integrated with what’s going on in our government.

It’s a straightforward idea:  There’s loads of public information about what’s going on in legislative action, and people need to have a simple way to track it, pull information together, and use it for their own decision making.

Wait a sec:  All this information is publicly available, right?  Why would anybody pay to get it?

That’s a darned good question.

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I‘VE It takes a villageCOME TO REALIZE just how much I rely on others for my business success.

It’s not that I’ve structured things in a particularly complex manner: I’m a part of a small group of coaches operating under a single brand. I’m responsible for finding my own clients and delivering services to them.

That group is vitally important to my focus and motivation. Read the rest of this entry »

 J OSH MILLER Josh Milleris a pastor who is starting up a new church in Fort Collins, St Thomas Church.  He brings a wealth of experience and amazing energy, so I have confidence that he’ll see success with this venture.

I first met him at a local Chamber of Commerce event.  How unusual is that, right?  It’s almost as if business relationships can’t at all be associated with spirituality.

So of course I just had to find out more.

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YOU WhitewaterHAVE A POWERFUL VISION:  You’re going to save the natural river with your ice cream business.  You’re putting together your plan, things are pulling together, but then you have a nagging feeling.

You’re losing sight of your vision.

Sure, the passion’s still there, but you’ve realized that you’re spending the bulk of your time just doing all the logistical stuff.  Health department requirements, suppliers, inventory, opening a new location, advertising … it’s pretty overwhelming.

How are you ever going to have time to save the river?

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GOD Music scoreIS THE COMPOSER of the universe.  Knowing the beginning, end, and everything in between, He has carefully constructed this beautiful place we pass through.

I’m the eight note down in measure 93, the low A flat.  I’m not particularly special, no more but no less important than anyone else in this entire symphony.  I marvel at the wonderful intricacy of it all.

Because I’m limited, I only see those around me and a few who have gone before.  Read the rest of this entry »

SilverEdge SilverEdge logoWAS A TRADITIONAL payments services company in Colorado.  From that history as Payment Solutions, they’ve reinvented themselves under a new name as a payment technology provider for small- and medium-sized businesses.

I saw that they were growing swiftly – they made the Inc. 500 in 2012, the Mercury 100 in 2011 and were awarded the Mercury Fastest Growing Company in 2012.  But I hadn’t paid much attention.

This is an impressive business.  Fast growing, focused, and solid in their convictions.

A few weeks ago I met Ken Salazar, president and CEO, and was impressed with the values foundation they have for the company.  So I was glad I had a chance to meet with him and dig into the topic.

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SOMETIMES WorryIT’S ONLY FAITH that gets you through.

This has been a tumultuous few weeks, both for my business and personally.  I won’t go into details here, but it’s been … a testing time.

Life is not meant to be comfortable or convenient.

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WE’RE ALL FALLEN, INSECURE, DOUBTFUL.  It’s a fact of life and part of the human condition.

HopeYour business, whatever it is, can supply hope.  For you, for employees, for partners, even customers.

I mean this in a deep way, not just as an element of your marketing messages.

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