mark buckner Archives

10Dec 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Mission & Vision: What’s the Difference?

business building, mark buckner, mission, vision

Previously, we discussed the importance of vision and mission statements in creating a business plan. Both are important to the success of a growing business, so it’s important to understand the difference between these two similar concepts, and why both are vital to the health and development of a business. Mission and vision statements are both related to an organization’s purpose and aspirations, typically summed in short written statements. But while many people use the terms interchangeably, mission and vision statements have different objectives. A vision statement explains why a company exists and what purpose it serves. A mission statement explains how the company does what it does. As such, a mission statement usually features a brief explanation of the organization’s daily operations and immediate objectives. In contrast, a vision…

03Dec 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Planning the Path to Success: The Keys of an Effective Mission Statement

business building, mark buckner, mission

According to the Small Business Association (SBA), roughly 50% of new businesses fail within the first five years of operation. One of the major reasons for this is that many entrepreneurs suffer from a lack of clarity when it comes to the purpose their business will serve. A solid and realistic business plan is the cornerstone of a successful business, and the tell-tale sign of an effective business plan is a clear and memorable mission statement. What is a Mission Statement? A mission statement is a short phrase that defines the purpose of a company, expressing its immediate goals and objectives. It is generally brief, memorable, and indicates the specific values of your business. Businesses often fail because the owner doesn’t really know what they want to accomplish outside of…

27Nov 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Follow My Lead: The 12 Most Common Leadership Styles

leadership, mark buckner

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” Warren Bennis Just as every leader has a particular vision for their organization, every leadership style is unique to the leader’s background, the situation they are working in, and the goals they aim to accomplish. However, there are certain traits that are constant across leadership styles, to the point where some would argue there are only about twelve different leadership styles. A leader needs to understand the difference between these different strategies, because while they all have some merits that warrant their use, no single leadership style is suitable for every situation. As such, it is important to evaluate your organization and your team, than select a leadership style that best suits your needs. While we will elaborate on each of…

26Nov 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Chase the Vision, Not the Money: The Importance of Having a Vision Statement

business building, mark buckner, vision

While most small business owners have an idea of what they want to accomplish on a daily or monthly basis, if you ask them what their larger vision is for their business, they’ll likely struggle to define it. Just like how business owners so often spend most of their time working in their business rather than on it, they’ll worry so much about their daily operations that they don’t consider the big picture. This lack of vision can limit a business owner’s success before it even begins. So if you have trouble looking at the big picture, you might need to come up with a vision statement. What is a vision statement? A vision statement is a phrase that defines an organization’s objectives and guides their internal decision-making. While the term…

19Nov 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Is Social Media Right for Your Business?

Facebook, instagram, LinkedIn, mark buckner, marketing, social media, Twitter

It’s no secret that a lot of entrepreneurs try to avoid dealing with social media. Some less tech-savvy business owners find it intimidating and just aren’t sure how to use platforms like Facebook and Twitter “correctly.” Others just see social media as a distraction that doesn’t have any real relevance to their work. But for many, social media is one of the most effective ways to build their audience and grow their business. There is a ton of statistical data that supports this. For instance, 90% of all marketers claim that social media marketing has increased their business exposure, and more than half of marketers who used social media for their business saw an increase in sales within two years. Sure, for some people social media is just a way to…

17Nov 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Making Decisions Like Ike: The Difference Between Urgent & Important

business building, mark buckner, time management

Have you ever gotten a phone call from a business partner or co-worker saying that they have an urgent problem, only to realize that it could have waited? Have you ever found yourself working all day, but struggle to articulate what you really accomplished? If so, then you or someone in your life might have trouble differentiating between what’s urgent, and what’s important. This might seem like a matter of semantics, but while these two terms are often used interchangeably, they mean different things with regard to when and why a task must be completed. There are only so many hours in a day, and understanding these terms will help you be able to better prioritize your to-do list. When something is Urgent, it requires our immediate attention, having a…

12Nov 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Tweeting Your Way to the Top: How Twitter Can Help Build Your Business

mark buckner, marketing, social media, Twitter

“The qualities that make Twitter seem inane and half-baked are what makes it so powerful.” -Jonathan Zittrain While Twitter isn’t as massive as Facebook or Youtube, it is still one of the world’s most popular social media websites, boasting over 330 million active users every month. And though many younger internet users are moving on to Instagram and Snapchat, 45% of Twitter’s audience falls between ages 18-29, making it a valuable resource for business owners with a younger target demographic. Every social media platform attracts a particular audience, and it is important for entrepreneurs to go where their prospective audience goes. Barbara Caine recently held a class covering how to enhance your Twitter profile and find potential customers with just 280 characters. One of the reasons that Twitter is so…

25Oct 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Your Social Media Success Strategy…

Facebook, instagram, LinkedIn, mark buckner, marketing, seminar, social media, Twitter, video

Every year, FUSE Business Training hosts the Social Media Success Strategy seminar, an annual event dedicated to bringing together small business owners from across the Chicagoland area to learn the latest social media changes and strategies from experts in the industry. The overarching goal of the event is to grow a strong and supportive network of local entrepreneurs via social media efforts. Lead by FUSE’s Barbara Caine, the 2018 seminar took place at greenCOW Co-Working from August 16th to August 18th, and covered a wide range of topics, from social media strategies and workflow processes to content creation and lead generation. Consider this a summary of the major topics of the event. After some brief introductions, Barbara asked attendees to define their target market and their ideal client. At…

22Oct 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

Are You Working ON Your Business or IN It?

business building, mark buckner

One of the mantras of FUSE Business Training is “Work ON your business, not IN it.” Many business owners spend too much time micromanaging minor tasks instead of focusing on how to take their business to the next level. When you have a smaller business, it is common to be intimately involved in every aspect of the company. Sometimes this is even necessary. However, as your business grows and your employee count increases, you need to spend more time focusing on the big picture. NOTE: In this article, when the term "employee" is used it is also referencing independent contractors, volunteers, or any other person who might be playing a role on your team. Some people have trouble understanding the difference between working ON your business versus working IN it.…

18Oct 2018 by Mark Buckner No Comments

6 Ways to Grow Your Business Today!

business building, mark buckner, marketing, Positioning, seminar, time management

Every good business owner has a story to tell and advice to give. As such, greenCOW Coworking and FUSE Business Training decided to come together to host the Small Business Success Seminar, a quarterly event where business owners from around the region can share their stories and help their fellow entrepreneurs grow. For the July 2018 Seminar, FUSE and greenCOW brought in six speakers to present for those in attendance. The first presentation, “Relationship Advice for Your Business,” came courtesy of Isaac Carr from CCSK Law. He emphasized the importance of understanding the inner workings of business organizations, stressing the difference between just going into business and becoming a business entity. He went over different types of businesses, such LLCs (limited liability companies), C-Corps., S-Corps., and 501(c)(3) Nonprofits. He also…