Steve's Pep Talks:

Thoughts on when to sell

Posted in: Steve's Pep Talks

Siren Song

Read the article in Smart Business Magazine. Growth is seductive but shouldn’t Be pursued at any cost. The siren song of growth seduces all entrepreneurs. In the beginning, that’s totally the name of the game. Without it, you die. However, with apologies to the lyricist Sweet, like

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Startups are not the only path to entrepreneurship

Read the article in Smart Business Being an entrepreneur is great. I know a little about it, as I have virtually never had a real job. When I was a child, I cut my teeth in business by mowing lawns and shoveling snow. I expected, as my ventures grew, I would take as much money

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Successful team building with book club

Read the article in Smart Business Having a book club at work seemed like a fun idea, but I admit to being skeptical of its value in team building. When most people hear about book club, their first thought is, “I wonder if they will be serving red or white wine?” The whole concept is

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What gets lost in translation when working remote

Read the article in Smart Business Magazine. Communication is extremely effective when unspoken messages are accurately conveyed and received. However, issues often arise among colleagues because of mistakenly interpreted communications. This can happen whether a message is verbal or non-verbal.

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Don’t confuse money with wealth

Nothing elicits emotion like money. It seems like no one is ambivalent about it. Full disclosure — I’m one of those who really likes it. I am writing for a business magazine, after all. What is to follow will not be an exhaustive treatise on money, but merely some random ramblings about,

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5 traits to help ensure success

Upon learning my job description was changing to “visionary,” I have to admit I was a bit dismayed. Visionary? Really? Like a dreamer, a head-in-the-clouds type? I was put off until I learned the traits and duties of a successful visionary. Turns out, I already was one. Being a visionary

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Lucky, or good?

Is it better to be lucky, or good? Relying on luck is not a sound business strategy. It’s best to be both. Do we have a choice? It turns out we do, sort of. Studies show lucky people think and act differently than those who are not. When I talk about being lucky, I’m referring

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Exceeding expectations leads to great things

I’ve often been asked, “What’s the secret of your success?” Usually by someone young. I imagine they’re disillusioned when I blithely say, “It’s pretty boring. It’s all about long, hard work.” The harder you work, the luckier you get. Sometimes I offer the tidbit that, to

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Corporate Mojo

Mojo? Corporate mojo? Really, can that be a thing? I’m not referring to the Cuban marinade or the Marvel superhero. I mean the magic “stuff,” the special sauce, the indefinable thing that exhibits as all the best. Mojo has been around as long as, well, who knows? I believe it’s a concept

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Demand outstripping supply is stressing businesses

“A whole lotta things that I never done, But I ain’t never had too much fun,” is one of my favorite lyrics, with thanks to Billy C. Farlow and Bill Kirchen, two of Commanders Cody’s Lost Planet Airmen. Unfortunately, that’s not what I’m referring to when I bring up too much of a

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Embracing change: Seeing challenges as opportunities

Read the article in Smart Business Magazine. We used to have a saying at my company, “We’re really good at identifying problems and then solving them.” I always attributed a big part of our success to that skill set. I added a corollary to it, “but the problems are always new ones.”

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Disruptive Markets – Inherent value and dangers

Read the article in Smart Business Magazine. As a lifelong entrepreneur, Steve Peplin has started and operated numerous companies in the specialty building trades and building products industries. With a heritage as a third-generation manufacturer, he started Talan Products in 1986 with $2,100

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Perspectives on Business Management

Read the article on the MetalForming magazine website. This month we invite Steve Peplin, CEO of Talan Products, to share his insights. Cleveland, OH-based Talan Products “has been growing like a weed,” says Peplin, “at about 18 percent CAGR over the last 35 yr.  And, our sales/employee

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