Exceptional leaders often excel as skilled storytellers, and for good reason. Once a company hits a certain level of organizational complexity, one of the most important tasks the CEO has is to craft intellectually coherent and captivating narratives about the firm, its purpose, and its performance. Failure in this task means undermining the very existence of the company; a sin…
What does it mean to be your customers' "first choice" and why does it matter?Customers buy products or services to solve their problems and they have more choices than ever about where to go and who to buy from. They do all the research about products, prices, online reviews and…
A thriving business requires a good balance of strategy, commitment and dedication. Having a great idea and putting in some effort is no longer enough. To stay relevant, we must know how to match the pace of the evolving business landscape. Otherwise, we risk falling behind or being left out…
National Small Business Week, which celebrates the important contributions of entrepreneurs and small business owners across the U.S., is just around the corner. These days, an increasing number of Americans can see themselves starting ventures of their own. Young people are particularly interested: 50% percent of Gen Z aspire to…
In the old days, when I was much younger and inexperienced in business, I often found myself getting defensive when someone disagreed with me. I would say, almost automatically, "You're not listening to me!" I finally saw this knee-jerk reaction was a habit I needed to break; the other person…
In today's business climate, the contrast between organizations that manage workplace conflict effectively and those that don't is great. Organizations with neglected, ill-defined or immature conflict management approaches experience a host of undesirable effects, from reduced productivity and poor decisions to information suppression and gridlock. At times, these escalate, causing…
Consider the most impactful leaders you've encountered. What about them made you eager to trust and follow their lead? Perhaps they possessed a subtle yet unmistakable "presence" — a magnetic aura that commanded respect and instilled confidence.This intangible quality, often referred to as "executive presence," is a potent force in…
Branch Basics founders Marilee Nelson, Allison Evans and Kelly Love "never set out to sell soap," let alone launch a cleaning brand that would generate tens of millions in annual sales.But the company's "mission to create healthy homes" while keeping cleaning routines simple continues to resonate with customers — 50%…
As a business owner, you may be focused on profit and loss. Just as important as marketing the company and knowing the numbers that drive margins is the company's foundation: motivating your team. Why? A McKinsey survey found that employee disengagement and attrition cost mid-sized businesses between $228 million and…
Leadership — a dynamic, hard-to-tame beast that we all have to deal with. Do we agree? How would you feel if I said that there is some form of Greek secret from ancient times that is just lying around our nose and maybe around the corner? This could change the…
Ken Rideout was a hard-charging, money-minting Wall Street player until a series of financial crises and opioid addiction almost ruined him. But rather than succumb to the demons of drug abuse and economic ruin, Rideout rode out the storm."Every time I've been in the depths of hell, I've turned it…
In a declining economy, startups face an uphill battle when it comes to securing funding.…
With all of the recent news about artificial intelligence (AI), it got me thinking about…
A while back, I took a couple of my grandchildren on a tour of the…
Startups face numerous challenges on their journey to success, and failing to overcome any one…
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