https://rickbaker.ca/category/entrepreneur-thinking/ Rick Baker's Thought Posts — plain-spoken writing on leadership, business values, communication, habits, and the people side of building a business. Publishing since 2008. en-ca https://rickbaker.ca/post/success-key-find-the-growth-that-aligns-with-both-the-pessimists-good-habits-and-the-optimists-interests-in-new-things/https://rickbaker.ca/post/success-key-find-the-growth-that-aligns-with-both-the-pessimists-good-habits-and-the-optimists-interests-in-new-things/Tue, 02 Feb 2021 07:32:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet The common ground where optimists and pessimists can stand together and self-actualize together is – Growth ....all… https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-didnt-see-the-financial-meltdown-coming-i-didnt-see-the-economic-recession-coming-i-do-see-some-things-now/https://rickbaker.ca/post/i-didnt-see-the-financial-meltdown-coming-i-didnt-see-the-economic-recession-coming-i-do-see-some-things-now/Sat, 30 Jan 2021 07:05:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet Having been through those challenges , and rethinking business, I have a better picture of what we need to do to protect our… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-leaders-tell-followers-what-to-do-they-need-to-limit-that-telling-to-big-picture-things/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-leaders-tell-followers-what-to-do-they-need-to-limit-that-telling-to-big-picture-things/Sat, 16 Jan 2021 07:24:00 -0500The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet Some think Leaders should provide followers latitude to do their work as they choose. Some think that’s the way to breed… https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-influencing-powerful-people-3/https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-influencing-powerful-people-3/Tue, 10 Nov 2020 07:22:00 -0500Talking About Influencing Powerful People - here's another Dirk Schlimm quote: “What makes these geniuses so powerful is not ground-level expertise or… https://rickbaker.ca/post/entrepreneurship-beats-egos-down-to-a-successful-size-entrepreneurship/https://rickbaker.ca/post/entrepreneurship-beats-egos-down-to-a-successful-size-entrepreneurship/Thu, 16 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0500The Thinking Behind The Tweet To succeed for any extended period, an entrepreneur must have a balanced ego. When an entrepreneur's ego gets out of control… https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-5/https://rickbaker.ca/post/influencing-powerful-people-5/Sun, 24 Feb 2019 10:29:00 -0500For a month now, I have been writing short thought posts sharing quotes from Dirk Schlimm, who will be CFFB 's special guest and keynote speaker on April… https://rickbaker.ca/post/while-you-can-teach-about-entrepreneurship-you-cannot-create-entrepreneurs/https://rickbaker.ca/post/while-you-can-teach-about-entrepreneurship-you-cannot-create-entrepreneurs/Mon, 16 Jan 2017 07:22:00 -0500Five years ago I wrote: 3 forces drive entrepreneurs: Entrepreneurs have this burning feeling inside them…a Need To Achieve something. I describe it as ‘a… https://rickbaker.ca/post/fresh-squeezed-sales-juice/https://rickbaker.ca/post/fresh-squeezed-sales-juice/Wed, 25 Nov 2015 05:30:00 -0500What do you need to do to get your sales people juiced up about the amazing opportunities you see everywhere you look? First, does that question resonate… https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-you-annoy-people-you-dont-make-money-2015/https://rickbaker.ca/post/when-you-annoy-people-you-dont-make-money-2015/Wed, 20 May 2015 07:38:00 -0500When you run a company, from time to time, you may think your employees want to run the company their way. Perhaps, it isn’t that the employees want to run… https://rickbaker.ca/post/putting-a-finger-on-your-entrepreneurial-pulse-entrepreneur/https://rickbaker.ca/post/putting-a-finger-on-your-entrepreneurial-pulse-entrepreneur/Mon, 20 Apr 2015 06:18:00 -0500A few years ago, I wrote a little piece titled “Driven to Construction” . It considered the 3 forces that drive entrepreneurs: A burning desire to achieve, A… https://rickbaker.ca/post/do-you-want-to-expand-your-insight-power/https://rickbaker.ca/post/do-you-want-to-expand-your-insight-power/Wed, 24 Dec 2014 11:36:00 -0500Entrepreneurs have deal-doing insight . Good salespeople have deal-doing Insight , which can be defined as: a natural, deep capacity to understand people and… https://rickbaker.ca/post/business-involves-only-3-actions-doing-deals-delivering-value-and-receiving-value/https://rickbaker.ca/post/business-involves-only-3-actions-doing-deals-delivering-value-and-receiving-value/Wed, 15 Oct 2014 08:56:00 -0500Doing Deals : the actions taken to obtain clients Delivering Value : the actions taken to serve clients Receiving Value : the actions taken to obtain money… https://rickbaker.ca/post/willing-suspension-of-disbelief-an-entrepreneurial-phenomenon/https://rickbaker.ca/post/willing-suspension-of-disbelief-an-entrepreneurial-phenomenon/Thu, 02 Oct 2014 16:56:00 -0500From Wikipedia... Suspension of disbelief or willing suspension of disbelief is a term coined in 1817 by the poet and aesthetic philosopher Samuel Taylor… https://rickbaker.ca/post/driving-business-value/https://rickbaker.ca/post/driving-business-value/Mon, 02 Dec 2013 08:55:00 -0500A business owner drives business value by understanding self and understanding others, exercising self-control and influencing others to do the same… https://rickbaker.ca/post/some-day-you-and-your-business-will-part-company/https://rickbaker.ca/post/some-day-you-and-your-business-will-part-company/Fri, 29 Nov 2013 08:38:00 -0500Some day you and your business will part company. Based on our Spirited Leaders’ experience, it appears about 2/3 of small-business owners do not realize… https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-are-in-business-to-generate-money/https://rickbaker.ca/post/you-are-in-business-to-generate-money/Thu, 28 Nov 2013 08:49:00 -0500Yes – there are many other reasons why you are driven to be in business. Regardless, you are in business to generate money. You have set a plan for your… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-862/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-862/Tue, 05 Nov 2013 08:56:00 -0500Thought Tweet #862 Business Valuation...difficult to have it survive the test of time...near impossible to do under dispute. The Thinking Behind The Tweet I… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-8385/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-8385/Wed, 02 Oct 2013 10:03:00 -0500Thought Tweet #838.5 Over time, entrepreneurship beats the ego down to a manageable size. The Thinking Behind The Tweet To succeed for any extended period… https://rickbaker.ca/post/saying-no-seeking-simple/https://rickbaker.ca/post/saying-no-seeking-simple/Fri, 27 Sep 2013 11:39:00 -0500Many big businesses are struggling with downsizing, rightsizing , and other kinds of sizing activities that are aimed at reducing costs and building… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-831/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-831/Mon, 23 Sep 2013 08:49:00 -0500Thought Tweet #831 Allies will help you build your business. Work to choose allies . And choose your allies carefully. The Thinking Behind The Tweet And… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-830/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-830/Fri, 20 Sep 2013 08:43:00 -0500Thought Tweet #830 Continuously driving to deliver value to other people is important because it energizes people. The Thinking Behind The Tweet Continuously… https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-more-you-struggle-the-less-you-achieve-goals/https://rickbaker.ca/post/the-more-you-struggle-the-less-you-achieve-goals/Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:20:00 -0500Successful people have a burning internal drive to build things and accomplish things and to influence other people. At one point in their lives - perhaps… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-811/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-811/Mon, 26 Aug 2013 09:27:00 -0500Thought Tweet #811 What's the difference between a small-business owner and an entrepreneur? It's in their Motivation. The Thinking Behind The Tweet It's in… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-804/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-804/Thu, 15 Aug 2013 09:22:00 -0500Thought Tweet #804 " If you haven't had to make payroll month after month, you haven't really learned how to be practical. " John Rose The Thinking Behind… https://rickbaker.ca/post/motivation-self-confidenceentrepreneurship-sales/https://rickbaker.ca/post/motivation-self-confidenceentrepreneurship-sales/Thu, 16 May 2013 09:36:00 -0500Some people are convinced their motivation is not their responsibility. They rely on others for motivation and they blame others when motivation isn't… https://rickbaker.ca/post/im-no-economist/https://rickbaker.ca/post/im-no-economist/Thu, 02 May 2013 07:55:00 -0500I'm no Economist. So, I have no delusion about being able to either understand the financial-facts and number-nuances or accurately forecast the future… https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-ceop2p-ceo-we-take-something-we-believe-in-and-provide-it-to-people-that-need-itthat-feels-good/https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-ceop2p-ceo-we-take-something-we-believe-in-and-provide-it-to-people-that-need-itthat-feels-good/Thu, 14 Mar 2013 10:27:00 -0500Related articles… About Entrepreneurs The @GKWCC #P2P series of thought tweets contains ideas, quotes, & suggestions provided by local business leaders at… https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-ceop2p-people-want-to-create-value/https://rickbaker.ca/post/gkwcc-ceop2p-people-want-to-create-value/Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:00:00 -0500A related article… About Creating Value The @GKWCC #P2P series of thought tweets contains ideas, quotes, & suggestions provided by local business leaders at… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-670/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-670/Fri, 08 Feb 2013 08:00:00 -0500Thought Tweet #670 Stepping from excelling at execution to excelling at delegating it...one giant leap for business growth. The Thinking Behind The Tweet… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-659/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-659/Thu, 24 Jan 2013 08:00:00 -0500Thought Tweet #659 Entrepreneurs have an innate talent: moving back and forth between narrow and wide focus...identifying opportunities. The Thinking Behind… https://rickbaker.ca/post/successful-local-businesses/https://rickbaker.ca/post/successful-local-businesses/Thu, 08 Nov 2012 08:00:00 -0500We are fortunate to live near numerous successful businesses. I've had the privilege of visiting many of these businesses, meeting the people who generate… https://rickbaker.ca/post/how-to-get-off-a-business-roller-coaster/https://rickbaker.ca/post/how-to-get-off-a-business-roller-coaster/Thu, 04 Oct 2012 08:55:00 -0500Some people enjoy riding roller coasters. They love the crazy ups and downs. They love the rush of the wind in their faces. They ride the thrill and they… https://rickbaker.ca/post/optimistic-to-a-fault/https://rickbaker.ca/post/optimistic-to-a-fault/Fri, 28 Sep 2012 09:15:00 -0500Many entrepreneurs are optimistic to a fault. This is a common side-effect of an entrepreneurial spirit and it is encouraged by expert advice that goes… https://rickbaker.ca/post/with-best-intentions/https://rickbaker.ca/post/with-best-intentions/Thu, 27 Sep 2012 08:00:00 -0500Thoughts and actions are laced with intention of two types: intention can be ego-driven, backed by desires; intention can be spirit-driven, backed by… https://rickbaker.ca/post/layering-on-business-achievement/https://rickbaker.ca/post/layering-on-business-achievement/Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:15:00 -0500If you want to ensure your business is solid from top to bottom and from bottom to top, consider a pyramid of 3 layers: https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-561/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-561/Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:45:00 -0500Thought Tweet #561 The Business Riddle: How do you buy low, sell high, deliver quality, solutions, & value all at the same time? The Thinking Behind The… https://rickbaker.ca/post/driven-to-construction-entrepreneur/https://rickbaker.ca/post/driven-to-construction-entrepreneur/Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:30:00 -05003 forces drive entrepreneurs: a desire to achieve a burning desire to create and build things of value a need to be recognized as a different type of… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-550-2012/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-550-2012/Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:30:00 -0500Thought Tweet #555 Do you ask yourself what you want to be: a business owner?, an entrepreneur?, or a business leader? The Thinking Behind The Tweet What's… https://rickbaker.ca/post/some-thoughts-on-business-leadership/https://rickbaker.ca/post/some-thoughts-on-business-leadership/Tue, 28 Aug 2012 08:53:00 -0500What's the difference between business leaders and people who own or run businesses? The best business leaders approach the role of leadership as a career… https://rickbaker.ca/post/entrepreneurial-dilemma/https://rickbaker.ca/post/entrepreneurial-dilemma/Thu, 16 Aug 2012 08:45:00 -0500The Entrepreneurial Dilemma: how to delegate [or institutionalize] the entrepreneur's deal-doing insight . True entrepreneurs have deal-doing insight . They… https://rickbaker.ca/post/manufacturing-sector-contracts-what-you-dont-know/https://rickbaker.ca/post/manufacturing-sector-contracts-what-you-dont-know/Tue, 14 Aug 2012 08:00:00 -0500Manufacturing Sector Contracts: what you don't know...will hurt you. What's bad - manufacturers in Ontario continue to leave money on the contract-table and… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-536/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-536/Mon, 06 Aug 2012 09:15:00 -0500Thought Tweet #536 The ground is shifting more...and you are building...your business. The Thinking Behind The Tweet When the ground has a tendency to shift… https://rickbaker.ca/post/mistakes-i-have-made-buying-and-selling-businesses/https://rickbaker.ca/post/mistakes-i-have-made-buying-and-selling-businesses/Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:00:00 -0500Mistakes I've experienced, buying and selling businesses, more or less ranked in order from excruciating to awfully painful: Ignoring gut feel Not correcting… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-479/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-479/Thu, 17 May 2012 07:00:00 -0500Thought Tweet #479 Planning is not a cookie-cutter process; planning must blend strategic thinking with strategic intuition . The Thinking Behind The Tweet… https://rickbaker.ca/post/your-retirement-and-your-stakeholders/https://rickbaker.ca/post/your-retirement-and-your-stakeholders/Tue, 01 May 2012 07:00:00 -0500According to a recent poll 1 of small-business owners, 24% have a succession plan for their retirement. When asked about how the business would be handled at… https://rickbaker.ca/post/nurture-demand-progress/https://rickbaker.ca/post/nurture-demand-progress/Tue, 17 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0500" Moderation is the silken string running through the pearl-chain of all virtues . 1 " Recently, I have spent considerable time thinking about… https://rickbaker.ca/post/tom-deans-visits-our-centre-for-family-business-cffb/https://rickbaker.ca/post/tom-deans-visits-our-centre-for-family-business-cffb/Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:00:00 -0500" To Gift or Not To Gift ", that was the question...at CFFB' s March breakfast. At our breakfast event, Tom Deans explained why gifting a family business is… https://rickbaker.ca/post/getting-present/https://rickbaker.ca/post/getting-present/Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0500Often, we start meetings with a 'getting present' chat. Either we take turns answering a non-business question or sharing with one another how we… https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-goals/https://rickbaker.ca/post/about-goals/Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:00:00 -0500Do you regularly achieve the business goals you set? If you do then Great! You are among the Highly Successful minority. If you do not regularly achieve your… https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-404/https://rickbaker.ca/post/thought-tweet-404/Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0500Thought Tweet #404 If you could only build one thing, what would it be? The Thinking Behind the Tweet For leaders, this question can be a reality check…