PAULA M. PARKER

If architect, systems theorist and inventor R. Buckminster “Bucky” Fuller were alive today advising entrepreneurs maybe he’d hammer this home ... “You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” Fuller’s theory works in certain situations with skillful application but as an advisor, my focus is business. I’ll channel a little Bucky and this uncommon idea to help supercharge your business

A Sumerian bazaar office environment. Wacky idea? Maybe not. Post pandemic, businesses are grappling to redesign the workplace. Remote. Hybrid. Some employees don’t want to return to the office, ever. Meanwhile, a business must generate revenue, otherwise, it’s just an idea. I’ve been on the planet awhile, producing in and out of an office, as an advisor here’s what I know to be true. Humans need to be with other humans. Enter the renaissance of the American workplace, Sumeri

His hand goes up. The audience gasps. Simon stops the singer, “It’s the wrong song, can you rehearse another one and try again.” Depending upon your perspective, that scenario is either a problem or a possibility. Maybe Cowell is coaching, “Dig deep, then come back and show me the vocal mastery, I know you have.” Well, that’s my interpretation. Ultimately the artist returns and belts out a song to thunderous applause. Problem or possibility is it the shrouded secret to succee

Challenges, business owners face a lot of them. Just watch the news, scratch that, maybe not. So, here’s a question. Do you know any...

If this LinkedIn poll question was asked once, it’s been asked a bazillion times. “Is there really a “Great Resignation,” looming? I’ll...

Have you noticed it too? LinkedIn is rife with posts barking at leaders, “Be vulnerable!” Influencers and expensive consultants, who perhaps have never run a solvent business, continue the drum beat, day in, day out. Did they miss the memo? Leadership vulnerability … big deal. Don’t get me wrong. There’s a time and a place for everything, including vulnerability. And. No. I don’t think it’s okay for a leader to be a cold-hearted tyrant. But on a scale of one to ten, emphasis

On a recent Construction Disruption podcast, host Todd Miller, President of Isaiah Industries asked, “Paula what is alchemy in business....

They said, “It can’t be done.” People couldn’t see the vision for a Pond Street renovation until bulldozers began moving mountains of earth along the road ... and then they did. Each day construction workers hover over engineering drawings and police direct motorists as they navigate, “Road Work Ahead.” It’s safe to say, this $21MM dollar State funded MassDOT project is underway. Sandwiched between Framingham and Holliston, Pond Street in Ashland is transforming from blight t

“Paula M. Parker, what a platitude.” That remark on LinkedIn came from someone who disagreed with my comment to Dan Price, Founder & CEO of Gravity Payments. Dan thinks billionaires don’t pay enough in taxes. So, let’s look at the numbers. “The top 1 percent paid a greater share of individual income taxes (38.5 percent) than the bottom 90 percent combined (29.9 percent).” Taxfoundation.org. My comment? “When has bellyaching about billionaires made anyone rich? I’d rather use

“Instead of baby showers, let’s host business showers for startup company entrepreneurs,” Elon Musk. I’m not sure if he actually said that, if so, here’s the conversation I’d have with Musk. Agree. Startup businesses need tremendous resources. But resources don’t run a business. People run businesses. I’d give entrepreneurs “mind mastery” skills so that they can transcend any challenge. They’ll have the ability to scale the peaks and valleys to flourish. You can’t wrap these

Call me Captain Obvious, I’ll say it anyway. Successful businesses existed long before social media. So, is it me? Or have you noticed...

Divorce. It could happen the month before Christmas. Some people look the other way when something’s wrong. I don’t. A relationship...

People were fidgeting. Fingers tapped the table. And if facial expressions could talk, they’d have said, “I’d chew my arm off to get out of here.” Have you been in a meeting like that? It’s where people talk on and on about the “problem,” and that’s a problem. A big one. It’s especially tricky when you want a solution. So instead of fidgeting, finger tapping or risking an arm, when facing a problem, I remember P&P. It works like a charm. C’mon. I’ll explain. 1. Polarity. Have

Nope. I’m not comparing you or any other business owner to a gangster. Absolutely not. But I will highlight one aspect of his personality. Bugsy Siegel saw a casino in the middle of the desert. He was a visionary. People thought he was wackadoodle, but then they didn’t when the Flamingo was built and Sinatra began headlining. From tumbleweeds to today, the iconic Las Vegas Strip spans over four miles. An acre of land costs about four million dollars, and for trivia buffs, at

Squirrels are eating us out of house and home, black sunflower seeds to be exact. The contest is constant. So far, it’s squirrels, forty-nine, Paula, zero. Game on. I went in search of the perfect squirrel proof bird feeder. Or so I thought. Within an hour of hanging this “guaranteed” device, my fur friend was dangling upside down feasting on seed. OOOF. But in their simplicity, these little creatures have a profound message. As a business advisor, when I mention leadership l

What’s your go-to method to take an idea from your imagination to profitable reality? Do you study, plan and implement? Do you collect...

If you’re ready to hang a shingle or revamp an existing company let’s talk about two unconventional skills to help you succeed in business.

The skills you'll need to rebuild and succeed aren't in a book because ....

If your business was sidelined, like millions of others due to the Governor’s orders, did you introspect while off the hamster wheel? Did...

Go to a grocery store before the media predicts, “SNOW STORM!” There’s a run on water. Bread. Batteries. Peanut Butter. Shoppers with...