This volume contains a collection of Excel™ tools, PowerPoint™ presentations, and text descriptions and presentation scripts of material discussed in the articles in this site. Some of the material was originally created many years ago. Some of it is still directly applicable, while other items have been updated. More items are probably available but buried in backup hard drives and file folders. Other items, inspired by newer articles, will be added to the collection over time.
All of the items listed require some level of editing, updating, or refining. These efforts will be started after the articles that belong in the main body of the collection are completed. As the contents are updated, the issue date of this article will be updated so that users can quickly determine what has been added by selecting the “WHAT’S NEW” tab on the footer of the site’s home page.
Some of the material will be posted on the web site, with most of Excel and PowerPoint files available as downloadable files, probably posted on Dropbox™. Instructions for downloading the files will be provided when finalized. The initial list of tools, their targeted audiences, and current status is shown below. The items are not listed in any order but as they are issued, will be listed by issue date.
Title |
Description |
Format |
Audience |
Status |
Seven Business Principles |
A description of Seven Core Business Principles that should govern every employee’s behaviors. Each Principle is covered in a separate chapter in the site. |
PPT presentation. Text script. |
Companies of every size. |
Final Editing |
50 Years in 90 Minutes |
Covers 18 specific items that I have “learned” over my career and covered in some of the articles in the collection. |
PPT presentation. |
Existing, smaller companies. |
Needs Minor Updating |
Messages from the Masters |
36 different “messages” (quotations from some famous and some unlikely people varying from Einstein to Yogi Berra). |
PPT presentation. |
Companies of any size. |
Final Editing |
Be Like Sand |
A technique to help all employees to engage with customers to build stronger relationships. |
PPT presentation. Text script. |
Companies of any size. |
Final Editing |
Merger and Acquisition Considerations |
A presentation to promote thoughtfulness regarding a potential M/A by both parties. |
PPT presentation. |
Any organization considering a merger or acquisition. |
Final Editing |
Company Grading Tool |
A helpful tool that an investor could use to evaluate and compare companies. Useful for entrepreneurs and companies seeking capital. |
3 Versions of an Excel tool. Instruction Manual. |
Entrepreneurs and newly formed companies. |
Needs Minor Updating |
Fitness for Use Tool |
A listing of 30+ “quality” related characteristics that developers should think about and prioritize in their development efforts. |
Excel tool. |
Developers and Product Managers |
Needs Minor Updating |
Customer /Partner /Investor Qualification Tool |
A method to list extreme characteristics for customers, partners, and investors to form "rails." Useful in evaluating business opportunities. |
Excel tool. |
Companies of every size. |
Needs Minor Updating |
Sales Funnel Progress Questions |
A listing of a number of sales progress questions with the ability to assign them to standard sales funnel levels and weight their relative importance. |
Excel tool. |
Companies of every size. |
Needs Updating |
Business Process Templates |
Simple templates to define business processes and document the associated process steps. |
An Excel tool, Text description. Visio or PPT examples. |
Companies of every size. |
Needs Updating |
One Line Statements from Articles |
A listing of many of the one-line, attention grabbing statements included in the articles in the collection |
Text |
Companies of every size. |
Needs Updating |
Thoughts on Starting a Company |
A presentation highlighting many of the subjects covered in the 90+ articles that focus on starting a company. |
PPT presentation. |
Entrepreneurs and newly formed companies. |
Needs Updating |
One Question to Ask |
A presentation based on the article of the same name that is intended to help identify their potential customers. |
PPT presentation. |
Companies of every size. |
Needs PPT creation |
Entrepreneur Blink Test |
A presentation based on the article of the same name that is intended to help an entrepreneur identify their customer focus. |
PPT presentation. |
Entrepreneurs and newly formed companies. |
Needs PPT creation |
Tidbits of Advice for Early Stage Companies |
A presentation based on the article of the same name that is intended to summarize many of the items included in the Starting a Company volume. |
PPT presentation. |
Entrepreneurs and newly formed companies. |
Needs PPT creation |
Business Partner Types and Qualifications |
A tool template with examples that can help a company qualify potential distribution partners. |
Excel tool. |
Companies of every size. |
Needs Updating |