COVID-19 and business are intertwined. The virus has targeted not only individuals, but also the business infrastructure, trade, supply chains and consumer behavior. We are in the midst of ongoing change and disruption, trying to establish some normalcy while dealing with the unexpected. It’s time to think, plan, and act. Consider both the immediate realities,…
Managing business uncertainty can be overwhelming. Even if you embrace and even welcome change, dealing with uncertainty from local markets and global developments is a whole different ballgame. What’s happening with the economy? What is the impact of global warming on the weather, or agriculture and water supplies, or property values and retirement destinations? How…
Business insights can come from anywhere, so let’s take a look at what business can learn from the world of opera. I recently had the opportunity to watch an opera master class conducted by Matthew Polenzani, a world-renowned tenor and thoroughly fascinating instructor and speaker. The students performing were advanced, with strong voices and significant…
Directly or indirectly, solid relationships are a driving force in building sales. As consumers, we ask our friends and neighbors for vendors they recommend, with whom they have had a successful relationship. Word-of-mouth advertising is huge. Alternatively, we often gravitate to those vendors with whom we have had personal contact. The successful vendor might be…
There are many approaches you can take to create a strategic plan. You may elect to focus on your ultimate business goals, or past experience; or you can base your plan on a SWOT analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. An alternative option is to focus on your customer. The core premise of this…
What is the trick? How adept are you at creating new products and finding new ideas? Nothing is more dead than yesterday’s hot item. Customers are attracted to novelty. The blockbuster movie premiere, the newest restaurant on the block or the latest viral dance craze capture the media and lock in our attention. Technology, interests…
Does your business create marketing “Wow!”? Are you constantly thinking about new ways to delight your customers? Do you have an edge? Competition in every field is fierce. Even if you dominate your market, there are always others ready to enter, offering something new and enticing to your steady customers. Your predictable, dependable product suddenly…
A strategic network is a powerful tool to boost your career and ignite business growth. Professional colleagues, working together, can create synergies and opportunities far beyond the capabilities of any one individual. Power partners can make introductions, open doors, lend expertise and offer critical insights. Business is a team sport. No one can be an expert…
Who are the 2040 Leaders, and why should we care? 2040 Leaders are the young business professionals who are in positions of responsibility now, and have the focus and drive to achieve even greater things in their professional careers. They are the movers and shakers for the future – the leaders of 2040. And they…
What business strategies can possibly be gained from Pokemon Go? Just because it’s the hottest craze to hit cyber-civilization, why should the established and sometimes dull business community look to this new fad for insights? First, Pokemon Go is successful – spectacularly so. And every business, except possibly for the partners in “The Producers,”…