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.
More than a decade ago, I began writing a monthly blog focused on helping small businesses improve their operations, marketing, leadership, and strategic planning. Much of the content was inspired b...
Being an Operational Consultant means that Gray Cat needs to prove to new clients and in particular the top management, that we deliver results. Â
Not vaporware, real trackable and verifiable results...
In this podcast clip, I speak with Bea Guzman about the key to happiness through a balanced lifestyle. Â
Yes, I view my life in 24/7 terms and because of that, can extract happiness from a number of ...
Is that your corporate communications strategy?
For many organizations, it certainly looks that way. A customer issue erupts, a competitor makes an announcement, a social media post gains traction,...
“Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd…smiling.” — Roger Waters & David Gilmour
Death.
Public speaking.
For many people, those two fears rank surprisingly close together.
Why is that?
Most peopl...
 The world’s strongest brands don’t become iconic because they have the best advertising.
They become iconic because they know exactly who they are—and who they are not.
Every successful brand has a...
One of the biggest differences between businesses that simply survive and those that consistently grow is how they manage capital.
Operating expenses keep the lights on. Working capital buys inventor...
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. Effectiv...
 Every successful retail chain started with a single location. The owner learned the business, refined operations, developed a customer base, and built a formula for success. Then comes the inevitable...
“Oh, what a tangled web do parents weave, when they think that their children are naive.” – Ogden Nash
 For decades, marketers have understood a simple truth: earning a child’s loyalty can create a c...
One of the most significant challenges facing retail leaders today is balancing the demands of running the current business while simultaneously designing the future of the business. Daily operation...
Running a profitable retail operation requires far more than simply generating sales. The most successful operators understand that profitability is not determined at the end of the month when the acc...
