Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get comfortable in the way we do things and lose sight of how they could be improved. Here's an interesting story.

A woman was in the process of fixing her special holiday ham. She cleaned it and then took a huge knife, lopped off both ends of the ham and placed it in a pan. Her daughter, who was learning how to cook asked, "Now Mom, why did you do that?"

"Because that's how your grandmother taught me," was her answer. "Let's ask her." So they did. Her answer was the same. Her mother taught her that way. Being a lucky family, great grandma was still with them so they asked her.

Her answer? "I always cut off the ends of the ham so it would fit in the pan."

Just think of all the pork they wasted over the years doing it great grandma's way. Just because great grandma didn't have a big enough pan.

Do you have any hams in your small business? Are you doing things a certain way just because you always have? Your business could be leaking huge amounts of cash. At least once a year you should be reviewing your business processes to make sure they are being completed in the most efficient way for your business.

Denise O'Berry

With more than two decades of operational and management experience, Denise O'Berry has developed a sharp eye for how businesses get bloated with inefficiencies, cross-purposes and miscommunication -- and how they can retool for a sleeker, smoother, strategically focused organization.

An entrepreneur who quickly built her own successful consulting business, she helps other small business owners set priorities, take action to grow their business and create the balance they want between life and work. Her clients have ranged from telecommunications giants like Verizon to Mom-and-Pop retail shops with a primary focus on those having 10 or fewer employees and up to $2.5 million in annual sales.

Denise frequently speaks to professional organizations, is the author of three booklets, and several "how-to" manuals. She writes a weekly small business column, hosts an online small business owners forum and is called upon regularly by publications such as Entrepreneur, Bank Rate Small Business, Florida Trend, Inc., various newspapers, radio and television to provide expert comments on small business issues.