Mark Riffey May 16th, 2008
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This week on HotseatRadio, Mark talks about pet peeves in your business, in your market - and how to turn them around and into a competitive advantage. One example is the plumber who is falling out of his pants as he crawls under your sink.
Click the link above to listen.
Mark Riffey April 25th, 2008
This week Mark talks about the impact of rising fuel costs on your business, on your clients’ behavior & how to deal with it.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/SmallBusinessMarketingHotseat/2008/04/25/Small-Business-Marketing-and-Operations-Help-Hotseat-Radio to listen now!
Mark Riffey March 21st, 2008
Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing Forrest Breyfogle III (the author of the Integrated Enterprise Excellence series) about business systems and integrating them to improve small business performance. Have a listen to my interview with Forrest.
Here’s the scoop on Mr. Breyfogle:
A professional engineer, CEO and author, Forrest W. Breyfogle III has dedicated his career to assisting companies achieve optimum quality and efficiency. A fellow with the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and a Crosby Medal Award recipient, Breyfogle has written a new, four-part, business book series, Integrated Enterprise Excellence, which takes managers beyond Lean Six Sigma and the balanced scorecard.
This series describes a business system where organizations can move toward achieving the three “R”s of business: Everyone is doing the Right things and doing them Right at the Right time.
The Integrated Enterprise Excellence System will be available in the spring of 2008 and is an “Enhanced, Unified Approach to Balanced Scorecards, Strategic Planning, and Business Improvement”.
The first 3 volumes include:
A 1968 graduate of the University of Missouri at Rolla, Breyfogle obtained a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering. Upon graduation, he went to work for IBM as a development engineer, in Lexington, Ky. His stint with IBM was put on hold when he was drafted by the Army one year after joining the company. Breyfogle was stationed in Dover, N.J., where he served at Picatinny Arsenal.
After his time in service, he returned to IBM in 1971, relocated to Austin, Texas, and stayed with the company until 1992. At IBM, he held positions as a development engineer, product test engineer and an internal statistical consultant. Additionally, Breyfogle graduated from the University of Texas with a Master of Science in mechanical engineering in 1975.
In 1992, Breyfogle founded Smarter Solutions, Inc., where he currently serves as CEO. Specializing in training, coaching and consulting, Smarter Solutions introduces companies to the next generation of Lean Six Sigma – Integrated Enterprise Excellence. Breyfogle and his company have worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies, including CIGNA, Hewlett-Packard and Sherwin Williams.
He has authored and co-authored a total of 11 books and published over 80 technical resources for well known, worldwide publications on Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma and Lean methods. In addition, he is a member of the board of advisors for the University of Texas Center for Performing Excellence.
Breyfogle currently hosts seminars through Smarter Solutions and frequently speaks to professional organizations across the country. He enjoys playing golf and often uses the game of golf to illustrate improvement strategies in business. Breyfogle has two children and lives with his wife in Austin, Texas.
To contact Forrest, visit http://www.SmarterSolutions.com.
Mark Riffey March 14th, 2008
This week, Mark talks about strategies for hiring quality people for your small business - without reading 2000 resumes and interviewing 50 people, all to fill one position.
Mark Riffey March 5th, 2008
The old joke goes “I know half of my marketing is working, I just dont know which half…”
If you can’t measure it, how do you know if it’s really working?
This week, Mark talks about how to measure the response to your marketing, regardless of the media you’re using.
Mark Riffey March 5th, 2008
Today, I’m doing a special Wednesday show time, due to my weekend trip to Seattle for Rotary President-Elect training (PETS).
This week, we discussed how to measure your advertising response in ANY media.
PS: Pardon the stumbles at the beginning. Technology was my friend today:)
Mark Riffey February 20th, 2008
Today, Mark closes out his 3 part trade show series with “After the trade show“, perhaps the most important discussion of all.
Mark Riffey February 15th, 2008
This week, Mark’s 3 part series on small business tactics for exhibiting at trade shows continues the before/during/after discussion of dos and donts.
Mark Riffey February 8th, 2008
This week, Mark starts a 3 episode series on trade show exhibiting for small businesses. How do you compete with those businesses with the 40 foot by 40 foot booths?
Easier than you think - IF you think.
Mark Riffey January 4th, 2008
Today Mark talks about things you need to keep in mind when getting a small business website - and - why you need one, even a one page site.