Bud Bilanich | The Common Sense Guy

Happy 4th of July

I am going to take a few days off over the holiday weekend.  I'll post next on July 5.  I hope everybody has some time to relax this weekend.

All the best,

Bud

Good Ethics = Good Business

I got into an interesting conversation with Julie Clark, a Sarbannes Oxley consultant, while I was at DIA waiting for a plane to Chicago yesterday.  On the flight, I began thinking about the Enron mess that precipitated SOX.  That led to me thinking about ethics in business.  I’ve been meaning to do a post about ethics for a while…

Hire Well to Avoid Problems Later

Recently, Right Management conducted a survey of 273 companies.  Respondents were asked to list the most common mistakes they make in hiring and promoting managers and executives.  Here are the results…

Leading From a Distance

Over the weekend, I read an interesting Walk the Talk Company handbook called How to Lead From a Distance by Debra Dinnocenzo…

The Tattered Cover -- Success Through Customer Service

I live in Denver.  The Tattered Cover bookstore is a beloved institution here.  The Tattered Cover is one of the largest independent bookstores in the US.  Some say that it was the model for the browser friendly Barnes and Noble and Border’s book store chains...

Giving Back Through Service

Yesterday’s post was on service.  I believe that business people have a responsibility to give back to the communities in which they operate.  The current (June 2006) issue of The Motivational Manager (www.managementresources.com) had an interesting piece on service…

The Power of 1 -- Times 348

If you read this blog, you know that I am a big believer in the Power of 1.  That’s why I am such a big supporter of Alex’s Lemonade Stand.  Alex Scott exemplified the Power of 1. 

Tuesday evening, I had an opportunity to meet over 300 people who also exemplify the Power of 1.  I attended the 30th anniversary celebration of the Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award...

Common Sense Ideas on Customer Service

I came across Myra Golden's blog recently.  One of her posts was so dead on, I had to link to it here.  the post is called The ABCs of Customer Recovery. 

Anybody who runs a business, knows that it's really important to keep your customers happy -- and to fix problems as soon as they arise.  Myra tells you how here.

4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations in Action

I’m always on the lookout for real life examples and applications of the ideas in my book 4 Secrets of High Performing Organizations in action.  I saw one this weekend at the Sixth annual Rocky Mountain Rugby Challenge -- America’s Premier Under 19 Rugby Tournament…

When Life Gives You Lemons...Make Hot Sauce

I like hot food, the spicier the better.  I like it so much that there is a three and a half foot poster of a bottle of Tabasco sauce next to the pantry in our house.  There’s some Tabasco, and seven other hot sauces, in our refrigerator too.

Today, Tabasco is a ubiquitous condiment.  You see it everywhere.  But did you know that Tabasco was born out of adversity…