• Business Plans – Are They Worth It?

    I’m not a big fan of business plans, but apparently that’s not always been the case. In my Google Drive there is a folder called “Business Plans”. Inquisitively I clicked on the folder to see what it contained. My last modification was on April 10, 2008 (6 years ago). None of the five businesses listed…

  • How Can I Better Market My Business?

    One of the questions I often get asked is, “How can I better market my business?” 10 Things You Can do to Market Your Business Remove obstacles stopping customers from giving you money – How can someone buy your product or service? How many clicks does it take? How many forms do they have to…

  • Be the Benefit, not the Butler

    How can I move away from ‘being the butler’ to ‘being the benefit’ to my client? When you’re a business consultant who works on retainer without any long-term project goals, there is a tendency for the relationship to become more responsive and less proactive. Instead of always ‘seeking to add value’, it can trend towards…

  • One Dozen Rubber Ducky Ducks

    This past week I sold One Dozen Rubber Duckie Ducky Ducks in a nativity scene (set includes: Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, 3 wise men, angel, lamb, cow, donkey and camel) without ever linking to the product. It would make most sense if it came from this website since I talk a lot about Erich Stauffer…

  • Plans

    “In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable.” -Dwight D. Eisenhower It’s easy to get caught up in the notion that a sound business plan and a strong marketing strategy will ensure your success in business. We’re taught in business school and in the media that if…

  • How to Succeed and Grow through a Slow Economy

    Are your company leaders keeping an eye on the traffic patterns in the economy? Are they doing what most companies do during a down economy? Does your company have a culture of innovation? It doesn’t matter if your company has 10,000 employees or you are self-employed, the economy affects us all. How we react to…

  • Indianapolis Technology Consulting

    We recently updated our parent company’s website, Erich Stauffer, Inc., with a new WordPress theme featuring fast-loading rollover image hyperlinks, custom widget placement, and new content. Erich Stauffer is an Indianapolis business consulting firm that has several professional services brands and a publishing arm.

  • My First Day of Work After Quitting My Day Job

    While I started my own business in 2007, I have been working full time since 2001 doing various things for banks and other institutions. However, my heart was almost never in the work I was doing. I was doing it, but without joy. Eventually, I didn’t feel right thinking about my ‘other life’ for most…

  • Should Amazon.com Go Brick-and-Mortar?

    Those who remember walking into a Service Merchandise may recall the assortment of toys, electronics, and fine goods where the selection was larger because there was only one of everything. That’s because you ordered your item in-store and picked it up from a warehouse in the back. It was the pre-Internet version of Amazon.com and…