The Gray Cat Blog
A comprehensive collection of blogs designed to assist small business owners and multi-unit operators.
Your lease is expiring. A newer shopping center has opened nearby. A better location with improved visibility and traffic has become available.
The opportunity is exciting—but so is the risk.
Every ...
 Most successful businesses begin with a simple idea—and an entrepreneur determined to make it work.
Whether the company starts in a garage, a spare bedroom, or around a kitchen table, entrepreneurs ...
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,...
Â
If you operate multiple stores, chances are no two locations are exactly alike. Some are newer, some have been remodeled several times, and others are still operating with fixtures, layouts, and me...
“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...
“It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.”
While knowledge, experience, and expertise are critical to business success, relationships often determine how quickly opportunities present themselves ...
