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.
One of the biggest differences between average organizations and exceptional ones is where they spend their management time.
Most leadership teams devote the majority of their monthly meetings to rev...
Anyone can tell you what to do.........what separates Gray Cat from other "consultants" is that we actually DO the work on your behalf.
In this podcast episode with Ilaina Sperling, I describe what a...
In this podcast episode with Ilaina Sperling, we talk about the various angles that Gray Cat gets involved with in client relationships.
- Strategic planning - helping companies "look around the corn ...
If you operate a multi-unit retail chain, chances are your stores tell the story of your company’s history. Some locations are new, others are decades old. Product assortments have evolved, fixtures h...
Throughout my career, I have learned that being busy and being productive are two very different things.
It is a lesson that has followed me through more than 30 years in executive leadership—from Li...
One of the questions I hear most often from successful independent business owners is, “Do you think my concept is franchisable?” It is an exciting question because franchising can be one of the faste...
Part of the challenge of being an Interim leader is quickly being able to assess a new team.
Generally, the situations that I am asked to lead are fraught with challenges and sorting through the good...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be both friend and foe.
In one camp, AI will enable humans to be at the forefront of productivity and enter the "land of abundance".
In the other camp, AI will make ...
Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to lead businesses and initiatives across marketing, operations, merchandising, facilities, real estate, corporate communications and other dis...
Leadership is often misunderstood. Many people associate leadership with titles, authority, or organizational charts. In reality, leadership is less about position and more about influence. Effective ...
Working with a number of Founders, the biggest leap that I find for them is letting go of the tactical reins and focusing on the strategic.
To do that, it requires them to hire very smart people - pe...
For decades, convenience stores built their business around fuel, cigarettes, beverages, and packaged snacks. While these categories remain important, shrinking margins and changing consumer expectati...
