The corporate structure is based on a division of labor into specialized groups who tend to isolate themselves from the rest of the company. Each division has its own professional organizations that reinforce this view. Within these divisions of labor are further structural elements that stratify the chain of command into pyramid-like structures. Although these […]

Join us for AUTUMN IN THE VINEYARDS – a Supper Party Benefiting LandPaths, Celebrating 16 Years of Connecting People with the Land! Stroll through the gardens and rolling vineyards of Lynmar Estate Winery on Sunday, October 14 from 3:30pm to 7:00pm. Feast on fresh, local gourmet foods paired with Lynmar’s award-winning wines. Win one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences […]

Ideas, information and predictions will be presented by some of the most experienced members of the wine and grape industry at the Wine Industry Expo on Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Stay current on the latest developments in production, sales, viticulture and marketing so you are ready for 2013 and the […]

From the outstanding musical, “The Music Man” to the hilarious movie, “Used Cars,” people in the sales profession have long been saddled with an unfair stereotype. Yet, without sales, few businesses would succeed. Our economy relies on hundreds of thousands of salespeople that most of us never see, but their skills are responsible for our […]

When we owned Barefoot Cellars and were recognized for our success, we had our excellent staff to thank. So, it is not surprising that people ask us how we found such good people. Probably the most stressful part of hiring is, as Forrest Gump’s mom said, “You never know what you’re going to get!” Hiring […]

If you are thinking about running your own business, stay in school. Many of the skills learned surviving the college experience can be just as important as what they teach you in the classroom. Just to get through 4 years of college requires disciplines and mindsets that are essential to self-employment and building your business. […]

We have always recommended seeking the advice of experts, but your approach will make it either affordable and effective, or expensive and unproductive. Most advisors work by the hour, so be careful you don’t run up the bill unnecessarily. Make sure you are paying for their expert advice and not for listening to your vague […]

No matter what kind of business you think you’re in, you quickly find out you are in the personnel management business. With careful hiring, mentoring, recognition, and compensation plans, your people can be your greatest asset. Recurrent, personnel issues can be a distraction to you and your staff. Some react to personnel problems by firing […]

Michael has been invited to share the story of how hardship, hustle and heart built a top-selling brand and what they’re doing now to give back, from 12:00 noon – 1:30pm PDT on Wednesday, October 3rd. This event is sponsored by the Santa Rosa Rotary and it’s being held at the Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa. Click here […]

People ask us how to know when administrative people “own” their jobs. What behavior convinces us that we can depend on them? How do we know when they take responsibility for the outcomes related to their performance? When can we stop worrying about them and stop micromanaging them? It’s when they become proactive. One dictionary […]