What is “success?”—and better yet, how do you attain it and keep it? In this article, Blake and Mike define the characteristics of successful companies, explain how to succeed, and share tips on how to stay successful over time. They also lay out five core elements of success, which business owners of all types can benefit from applying to their own companies!

A company's success can often hinge on its leader's ability to make rational, smart decisions that further the goals of the business. This article describes how to recognize problems before they occur, make the right choices when a decision must be made, and execute those actions once they have been chosen--vital tips for any business (or personal) decision-maker.

With so many Web design companies to choose from, how do you know which will best serve your company's needs? In this article, Blake and Mike DuBose describe key traits to look for when seeking a quality Web designer.

Thriving businesses can sometimes feel like they're on top of the world--and can easily become blind to threats ready to knock them off Mt. Success! In this article, Mike and Blake explore reasons that once-great companies have failed through popular business literature and the frame of their own experiences. They also give useful advice to those companies who find themselves in danger of failing!

Even the greatest businesses can have problems weathering crises, so it is important that business leaders find ways to predict and avoid them. In this article, Mike DuBose and Blake DuBose describe ways for businesses to survive crises and prevent them in the future.

This document was written to describe and clarify the type of culture that we promote at our family of companies. It is written to address both new employees and current staff members alike. Defining our culture in this way is important because it helps everyone know what is expected of them and how to behave at work.

Providing employees with a strong set of fringe benefits not only shows your staff that you care about them, but also builds loyalty and helps attract other high-quality employees to work for you. There are many benefits you can offer to your employees at little or no cost to you, and even those with significant costs pay off by reducing employee turnover and increasing retention.

Marketing budgets are often one of the first areas cut by businesses facing financial troubles. However, it is in these times that marketing is more important than ever. In this article, Mike explains the need for marketing and advertising and describes his experiences with all forms of media. He also gives tips on how to use diversified marketing to draw customers--and thus profits--to your business.

When running a business, especially in a troubled economy, every penny saved counts. However, in your desire to reduce expenses, you should never cut corners on quality! Read on to learn how to buy first-class materials for cheap and other purchasing strategies that will save your business money, making it more financially secure.

This article describes the different qualifications that locations should meet for various types of businesses, how to choose amongst possible locations for your business, and how to negotiate a fair lease that won't break the bank. Location is one of the most important factors in your business' success...so make sure you choose the right one!

No one person can be an expert in all areas of business. To be successful, you will need advice from a wide range of professionals who can contribute their expertise to help you make the best choices for your needs. Don't wait until the last minute to seek this important knowledge--begin assembling your team now to head off problems in the future!

Employee terminations are difficult and painful for not only the affected employee, but for management and other staff as well. Terminations can also spark lawsuits, which can drain much-needed cash from your business. Read this article for tips on how to avoid legal troubles and terminate employees in the right (caring) way.

It’s no secret that happy employees work harder, smarter, more effectively, and more efficiently than unhappy employees. Happy employees also stay with the company longer. Conversely, employees who are dissatisfied with their jobs create an unhealthy, negative environment where the quality and quantity of work produced are subpar. In this article, Mike describes simple ways to create an environment that moves employee happiness (and companies themselves) to a higher level.

Most business owners have not prepared the business for their death or disability. This article shares some insight into how to plan to succeed and do it right!

No one wants a disaster to happen to their business, but it’s inevitable that you will face a crisis situation at some point in your operation. Though we may not be able to predict exactly when a crisis will happen or what form it will take, it’s important to be prepared for everything! Mike DuBose shares his experience in planning for, preventing, and leading through crises to help you manage your own.

You can have the best ideas in the world, but unless your business is able to execute promptly and effectively, you will never be able to get anything done! In this article, Mike shares insights on execution that came from his own experience and two days he spent with Larry Bossidy, the bestselling author of Execution. Learn how Mike and his staff enabled one of his businesses to execute better and get tips how you can help your business get things done.

The key to knowing where you are going and how to get there. Every organization and business should have a road map that will guide them into the future. This article outlines the reasons for having a strategic plan, how to construct one, and how to implement it. This process can enhance your chances of success by motivating your staff to get in the same boat as you and row passionately together to your new company’s destination!

Effective communications are critical in building a great business. Ineffective communications create more problems within an organization than any other factor. This article describes a variety of simple ways our companies communicate to keep everyone informed throughout the organizations. This enables us to predict problems early on, make good decisions promptly, and ensure that the left hand knows what the right hand is doing!

Many successful business leaders' personal lives, families, and businesses have been ruined by the disease of never being satisfied with the success they have. They want more and more, chasing the never- attainable gold at the end of the rainbow!

Based on our experiences training more than 25,000 people and hosting hundreds of workshops, this article gives special tips on how to plan successful events from beginning to end.

Many companies and leaders talk about great customer service but fail to produce it. This article gives helpful hints on how to create an exceptional customer service environment, which is one of the keys to business success!

These are two words that entrepreneurs do not want to hear! However, all business owners and leaders need to plan for failure in order to succeed. This information does not address the why’s but rather what to do when failure strikes.

The best seller Good to Great by Jim Collins documents that hiring the right, outstanding staff and then placing them into the right jobs is a major step towards success. This article gives tips on how to select the best employees. Our motto is to, “hire slow and tough!”

This article describes what a business owner and leader should strive for. The 34 keys outline the characteristics of a successful business that will enhance employee satisfaction, exceed customer expectations, and increase the chances of good profits!

This article outlines 29 characteristics that employees look for, the research documents, and what Mike has determined works for great leaders! No leader will ever obtain excellence in all 29 areas, but one should try!

Who says that Santa Claus isn't real? In this article, Mike describes a special experience from his childhood that gave him renewed hope--and belief--in jolly old St. Nick. It's a reminder that sometimes, Christmas miracles do happen!

Many Christians ponder this question as they struggle to reconcile the teachings of their faith to their profound love for their pets. In this article, Mike explores a variety of opinions from ministers and Biblical scholars on the possibility of seeing our pets in the afterlife.

Losing a pet cat, dog, or animal that you have grown to love can be devastating and very painful. This article describes how the DuBose family suffered the loss of their cat BB and how they channeled their hurt into saving other cats destined for death in the shelter.

A new car is a big investment, and consumers need all the help they can get to make the best possible deal. In this article, Mike shares the negotiating techniques he used to get a great price on his new car. He also gives tips on how to determine the best car for you, what time of year to buy, and how to get the most out of dealers.

It is a very harmful condition that chains a person to their past and can affect one’s mental and physical health. This article describes how Mike overcame the bitterness in his life with suggestions on how you can too!

Got a big vacation coming up? In this helpful new article, Mike draws upon his extensive travels to share tips on how to pack, what to take, and even what to wear on long flights!

Mike and Deb DuBose describe the people, places, and customs they encountered during their exciting eight-day vacation to Scotland in September 2008. The article includes a link to nearly 100 pictures of the Scottish countryside, quaint small towns, and even Loch Ness—sorry, they weren’t able to capture a picture of Nessie, though!

Mike has visited all of the Hawaiian Islands 14 times. If you are thinking about going to Hawaii, read his detailed article on how to prepare for, fly to, and enjoy the Islands. Even if you are not going to Hawaii, this article contains excellent tips on traveling and flying comfortably.

You may want to read this article before taking off! There are a lot of things that can go wrong that will turn your dream of a lifetime into a nightmare!

If you are thinking about traveling, Mike DuBose has prepared dos and donts that will help you successfully prepare for a decent, but inexpensive trip.