The Gray Cat Blog
A growing library of practical business articles and insights created to help entrepreneurs, small business owners, franchisees, and multi-unit operators strengthen leadership, improve operations, drive growth, and build more profitable organizations.
 If you have read any of my previous articles, you know that I am a strong believer in planning for success.
Whether it is operational excellence, strategic growth, capital investment planning, store...
Communication and accountability with the team is critical for ongoing success.
In this podcast episode with Dilan Abeya, we talk about the table stakes for CEO's to put in place in order to rally th...
“Merchandising, merchandising, where the real money from the movie is made. Spaceballs the T-shirt. Spaceballs the lunchbox. Spaceballs the coloring book. Spaceballs… the flamethrower! Kids love it.”
—...
Over the past two decades, I have enjoyed the challenges of working projects for my clients. Â
I have also enjoyed the benefits of an entrepreneurial lifestyle.
Maintaining balance in my life is one...
In this podcast episode with Amisha Shrimanker, we talk about how clients come to Gray Cat with general need and how I help them refine and isolate a scope of work (SOV) for their project.
Every day we make hundreds of decisions—some trivial, others with lasting consequences. Whether you’re choosing a supplier, hiring an employee, investing capital, or determining the direction of your ...
In this conversation with Jada Willis, I outline the areas where Gray Cat focuses.
I like to think that clients come to me with a box of jigsaw puzzles pieces; dump them on my desk; and ask me to sol...
In this podcast episode with David Zylstra, I highlight the impact that mentors have had on my corporate career and ultimately inspiring the work I do at Gray Cat.
Have a listen.
The true cost of turnover is difficult to measure.
Putting your team through a meat grinder can often lose some of the best people from the organization.
It is critical that leaders are very conscie...
One of the most frustrating issues I face in Leadership roles is the noise that comes from the team. Â
I try to eliminate as much of the noise by asking the team to raise concerns, but only if they a...
In this episode with Al Li, we discuss the challenges of getting bombarded with fake, vaporware messages and the time wasted sifting through the noise.
I know this is not specific to Gray Cat, this i...
Like many youth sports teams, ours was always looking for ways to raise money for uniforms, equipment, travel, and league fees.
Most teams sold candy bars, cookie dough, or discount cards. Not us.
...
