We business owners could learn a few things from 3 year old kids. They ask “why.” A lot. “Why do I have to go to bed?” “Why is grandma’s hair that color?” In his book Start with Why, author Simon Sinek makes the case that most businesses can explain what they do and how they do it, but few can clearly articulate why.

Craig Durosko, Founder & Chairman of SunDesign, Inc., recently gave his perspective on Open-Book Management to "Housing Zone". Read the excerpt below and click the link to see the full story. If you arrived at work and found that there was a fire and everything was gone, there would be nothing you could change. If you were to know in 30 days there was going to be a fire at your office, there are so many things you could do to change the outcome.

It's the Spread “Thirty six thousand dollars!” “You’re proposing to pay him thirty six thousand dollars a year? We can’t afford that.” “It will be tight, but I’m pretty sure that’s what it will take to get him. I really like this candidate.” Discussions such as this happen all the time in small businesses. The company is in a hiring mode, the recruiting and interviewing has happened, and now it’s time to narrow it down to a specific candidate and make an offer.

Unusual in business and especially among call centers, Telisimo International Corporation practices Open-Book Management (OBM) to improve business communication, productivity and performance. It is an important practice that distinguishes us from a traditional call center or contact center and truly elevates us to a dynamic Customer Communication Center .

After reading this blog on the NY Times Website, GGOB practitioner James Mauch wrote the author with the following response; we thought our GGOB community would enjoy his thoughts as well: Your column today on loyalty in the workplace left me wanting. You positioned well an often discussed issue in business these day but offered very little by way of solutions. I have a suggestion.

We've had almost a full three-weeks to unwind after the 19th Annual Gathering of Games. Everyone here at GGOB had a great time, but I thought I'd share my personal "Top Ten" from the 2011 Conference: 10) The awesome staff at The Hyatt. Special thanks to Deandre; with his help we managed to unload our truck in ONE load (the usual is 6+) and Sondra “The Iced Tea Queen”. 9) Our dinner at Caleco’s with the ladies of SRC and our special guests Linda from Telisimo and Tammy from Creative Roots.

Could you use a win? The last few years have left many small businesses battered and bloodied, just hoping to cover the next payroll. Is it getting better? If you’re the one in dire straits it probably doesn’t seem like things are improving. Your team feels it, too. Cut-backs and pay freezes aren’t fun for anyone. Maybe you’ve cut expenses to the bone, lost some key customers and generally hunkered down. If so, you and your people may have forgotten what it felt like to win.

Are "They" Hurting Your Business? Got accountability? Of the multitude of challenges faced by small business owners, lack of accountability among employees is at the top of the list. There are many reasons for poor accountability. Most folks come on board full of vim and vigor, eager to please and show what they can do, hoping this new job will live up to their expectations.

Thank God for Entrepreneurs “The few who do are the envy of the many who only watch.” – Jim Rohn As much as I enjoy being an entrepreneur myself, I feel so very fortunate and privileged to spend a significant amount of my time working with other business owners. The best part always is hearing about the entrepreneurial journey ... the start-up, the progress to date and future plans. Each story is unique, of course, but some of the common themes include enthusiasm, optimism, persistence and a clear vision of the future.

Are you playing The Game to your full potential? Without a doubt, The Game is a process that should be adapted to your company’s environment, not adopted or replicated. However, there are a few key questions you should ask yourself to determine if you are missing a critical step in playing The Game.