As a director of operations for online service-based businesses, I have learned that doing what's best for the business often means having hard conversations. Whether it's addressing performance issues with a team member or letting go of a long-standing contractor, difficult conversations are a necessary part of running a successful business. However let’s be honest: they can be uncomfortable, emotional, and stressful for everyone involved. Here are some important points to consider when having hard conversations.

Are you at a point in your business where you are ready to grow and are looking to expand your team? Growing a team can be a challenge for even the most savvy business owner. Not only do you need to be ready to delegate, you need to know when the right time to hire is. Sometimes, hiring is a better option than trying to push through a task that is out of your wheelhouse. But you’ve got to find the right people, and you’ll save yourself time if you set them up properly. Here are 5 tips to grow your team the right way.

If you’ve spent any time on social media and blogs, I’m sure you’ve noticed the “hustle culture” among entrepreneurs. Essentially, the attitude these posts are spreading is that if you’re not working 12 or rather 17-hour days, then you’re not working. 

To be honest, I totally disagree with this. Yes, working hard is important, but continuously stretching yourself thinner and thinner to make ends meet is going to lead to burnout - NOT success.

The thing that’s stopping you from growing is that you’re working WAY too much.

When you use data to make decisions, they are based on facts rather than biases. Data is objective and therefore remains fair and balanced, as opposed to your gut feelings which are subjective and biased. Data-driven decision making should be a vital part of your business strategy. Remember, the data alone is not transforming your business or propelling you forward. It is the actions you take based on the insights gathered from the data that make the difference.