Josh Linkner | Fast Company

5 Disastrous Moves That Will Botch Your Pitch

BY Josh LinknerTue Dec 6, 2011

Most of us have something to pitch--your startup to VCs, yourself for a new job, or your product to customers. In any situation, one rule applies: The better the pitch, the better the results. Here are five rookie mistakes that will sink even the best ideas. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Finding Your Brand's "Red Sole"

BY Josh LinknerWed Nov 16, 2011

Women would gladly fork over upwards of $1000 for Christian Louboutin's much-coveted red soles. Whether it’s for yourself or your organization, the clearer you can make your single point of distinction, the closer you’ll get to seizing your full potential. And that’ll really get your competition seeing red. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

To Be Taken Seriously, Occupy Wall Street Needs To Focus Its Message

BY Josh LinknerSun Oct 30, 2011

Industry or government is not taking the Occupy movement seriously, mainly because it is not rallied around a specific mission. Being angry and having a list of nonspecific demands doesn't motivate change. Here's how the Occupy Wall Street movement could do better. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Are You A Firebrand?

BY Josh LinknerTue Sep 6, 2011

Nobody remembers the also-rans. If you want to drive your company or yourself to new heights, you have to ignite your firebrand and become a category of one. It’s time to do something so different that it can’t be ignored.READ»

CREATIVITY | Comment

Need A Career Pep Talk? Lessons From Teddy Roosevelt On Going "All In"

BY Josh LinknerMon Aug 15, 2011

Think how silly Lady Gaga would look spending 10 hours a week working on her CPA license in case her music career flopped. Life is short and opportunities are fleeting. If you hope to achieve your full potential, you must put all your weight behind each punch. Of course, this isn't new advice: Theodore Roosevelt said it best all the way back in 1910. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The United States of Apple: How Jobs & Co. Amassed More Cash Than The Federal Government

BY Josh LinknerMon Aug 1, 2011

Five lessons from Apple that we can all embrace to drive success in our companies, careers, and communities.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Man Behind The Magic

BY Josh LinknerMon Jul 25, 2011

Magic Johnson is a legend in both basketball and business. But his most important teachings are not mastering a jump shot or commanding a board room. The lessons we can all learn from Earvin relate to being a better human being.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Should'a, Could'a, Would'a

BY Josh LinknerMon Jul 18, 2011

Most people overestimate the risk of following their dreams, yet underestimate the risk of not seizing the opportunity. We make excuses why we never stepped up and took a stand. We cast blame on circumstance and other people while the world simply passes us by.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Stand Up And Stand Out

BY Josh LinknerMon Jun 20, 2011

To seize the lion's share in both business and life, you must unleash your imagination. Inventing the never-been-done-before will capture the hearts of your customers and team members, while the me-too players shrug their shoulders with frustration and despair.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

How To Be Attractive

BY Josh LinknerMon Jun 6, 2011

We all want to be attractive. To get to the next level in our lives, we are trying to "attract" people: investors, employees, voters, customers, suppliers, friends, a mate, Facebook friends, Twitter followers, etc. Of course, we need to turn up the attraction far beyond beauty and style to reach our goals in today's hyper-competitive world.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Past Is Dead

BY Josh LinknerMon May 16, 2011

We all face incredible challenges in our lives. Difficult people. Ruthless competition. Time constraints. But so many of us succumb to an imaginary and impotent demon that strangles our potential and restricts our progress. This ...READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Your New Job: Disruptor

BY Josh LinknerMon May 9, 2011

In the past, your job was to do what you were told. Follow instructions, keep your head down, don't make waves. But today things are very different. Today, we live in a world where playing it safe is irresponsibly dangerous.READ»

MANAGEMENT | Comment

The 5% Creativity Challenge

BY Josh LinknerMon Apr 18, 2011

Take a quick look at your schedule. Most of us have calendars that are packed to the gills with endless appointments, meetings, conference calls, and deadlines. When, in this insanely-busy schedule, are you planning to come up with your best ideas?READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Will You Protect Your Newborn?

BY Josh LinknerMon Apr 11, 2011

Newborn ideas need to be protected and nurtured in the same way a mother cares for her baby. Early ideas are fragile, requiring care and feeding before they'’re ready to stand on their own. Before eviscerating original thoughts, give them time to breathe and flourish.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Think Like a Jazz Combo

BY Josh LinknerMon Mar 14, 2011

The jazz musician's ability to improvise, take risks, adapt to change and forge new ground are the exact skills we all need to develop in our current economy of bureaucratic sameness. READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Lessons From Charlie Sheen

BY Josh LinknerMon Mar 7, 2011

We can all learn something powerful from Sheen's self-destructive rants. He is standing out from the pack, breaking the mold, and daring to be different. And as a result, he's memorable. He can't be ignored. He doesn't try to please everyone. He’s a category of one.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

ISMs: What Values Are Found in Your Company Culture?

BY Josh LinknerMon Feb 28, 2011

In the midst of economic catastrophe, a new breed of hyper-growth companies emerged. Despite a global recession and financial meltdown, companies like Facebook, Zappos, and Google enjoyed meteoric growth and profits. The common threads of their success are powerful ISM's-- shared cultural philosophies of business that enable breakaway results.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

The Downside of Traditions

BY Josh LinknerMon Nov 22, 2010

Traditions like Thanksgiving may be nice in a family setting, but following tradition can be disastrous in the business world. If you think about it, the whole idea of a tradition causes us to turn our brains off and blindly follow the past--so you don't have to do the hard work of critical thinking in the present.READ»

ASIAN PHILOSOPHY | Comment

Create A Playbook of Successful Strategies

BY Kaihan KrippendorffTue Dec 8, 2009

Tomorrow at 11 a.m. EST (9 a.m. PST) I will be holding an executive briefing on ePrize, the world’s largest interactive promotions company. Sign up now for this FREE webinar by clicking here. Join me as I speak with ePrize’s ...READ»

JOSH LINKNER | Comment

ePrize Connects Clients And Decreases Costs

BY Kaihan KrippendorffWed Nov 26, 2008

As I wrap up my study of ePrize, I wanted to share more from my interview with Josh Linkner, CEO and founder of ePrize. I was impressed by his dedication to finding new innovations. The company is leaps and bounds ahead of its closest ...READ»