My Mother taught me many things. Like many children, much of what I learned from my Mother wasn’t readily apparent until much later in life. I remember her saying, “Son, you’ll be judged by the company you keep.” I never really understood the magnitude of that until much later in life.

I must have heard a dozen different iterations of it before it really stuck. One example I do recall is, “show me the average income of your five best friends and I’ll be able to guess your income.”

But being taught a lesson and learning its implications are different…

However, if you’re in business, you just heard the sound of the third quarter ending and the fourth quarter beginning. Now is the time to take action to ensure you win the final quarter and the game of business this year and ensure you’re in a position to capitalize on the new year when it arrives.

Here are a few things you should do right now to end the year on a high note.

1. Implement new ways and reasons to communicate with your customers. You can devise fall-related messages and conversations to be sure, but don’t stop there. …

I try, I really try to stay out of the political scene. About a year and a half ago I decided to resist the temptation at every turn to voice my opinion on political matters. It’s just too easy to lose friends because of a disagreement when we really don’t have a chance of changing minds.

Besides, it’s really a waste of time. Not only the time you lose debating, but the countless hours of productivity lost after the interaction to heightened emotions and distracted thoughts.

And between the blood-sport it has become and the venomous attitude on both sides…

Did you know today is Global Running Day? Unless you are a runner or someone close to a runner, probably not. And that’s a really important principle to understand when you think about your business.

My son and I are runners. Early morning runners actually. Five days a week, between 5 am and 6 am, we get up and run (hence the goofy reflective vests).

And, since we’re runners, we know about Global Running Day (the first Wednesday in June each year). And since we know, if you know us, you know too.

How does this apply to your business…

Today is June 1, but it could just as well be any other day. A day of resolution. You don’t really need New Year’s Day to resolve to do or not do something, but seems like people like starting at the beginning.

I like the first of most anything and perhaps that’s my problem.

I’m great at starting over. I’ve had to do it so many times now it seems like I’m always doing it. And not only have I had to start over countless times, I’ve chosen to just as many times as I’ve been forced to.

When we…

While at an event last night I was asked for my business card. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t have one. Should I be embarrassed? Is a business card still a prerequisite for business interaction?

The debate is vigorous. “Business Cards Are Dead — Here’s Why” declares J. Maureen Henderson in an August 22, 2014, Forbes.com posting.

Jonathan Long counters with “5 Reasons Business Cards Still Matter” in a March 30, 2015, Entrepreneur posting.

Business cards have gotten a bad rap over the past few years. Aside from the newness of electronic cards and social media accounts, too many people…

While at an event last night I was asked for my business card. I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t have one. Should I be embarrassed? Is a business card still a prerequisite for business interaction?

The debate is vigorous. “Business Cards Are Dead — Here’s Why” declares J. Maureen Henderson in an August 22, 2014, Forbes.com posting.

Jonathan Long counters with “5 Reasons Business Cards Still Matter” in a March 30, 2015, Entrepreneur posting.

Business cards have gotten a bad rap over the past few years. Aside from the newness of electronic cards and social media accounts, too many people…