Leadership

James Galbraith's Rx for Wall Street Reform

BY Michael E. DourouxFri Nov 20, 2009 at 6:25 PM

"The post-op on the great crash of 2008 continued in Washington Thursday as the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) held a hearing on financial reform. 'Unfortunately, the regulatory regime that failed so terribly leading up to the ...READ»

CHANGE MANAGEMENT | Comment

The intersection of change management and design thinking

BY Melissa DutmersFri Nov 20, 2009 at 8:51 AM

When I read articles like Bruce Nussbaum’s, Life in Beta, I am more and more convinced that change management can teach us what (not how) we can do to lead change and design thinking can help us understand how. Humanistic thinking, ...READ»

ENTREPRENEUR | Comment

U.S. Economic Data Reports Flat 2010 Market

BY Mr Rickman Thu Nov 19, 2009 at 2:19 PM

Overall industrial production would have fallen except for a 1.6 percent surge for utilities. The Bankers Conference Board reports its index of leading economic indicators, which forecasts activity over the next six months into 2010, rose 0.3 percent last month, less than the 0.5 percent gain economists anticipated. The Mortgage Bankers Association nnounced more than 14 percent of American homeowners with a mortgage were either behind on their payments or in foreclosure at the end of September.READ»

DREAM | Comment

The weight of Story

BY Corey BlakeWed Nov 18, 2009 at 3:59 PM

This morning on my call with Katie and Annie I spoke mostly about my recent trip with Daniel Cardwell and our work together on “A Question of Color”. I told them about my first trip to the grocery store with Dan to stock up ...READ»

BUSINESS | Comment

Small Business Innovation Trends Mobile Enterprises

BY Mr Rickman Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 1:15 PM

Today, the number of unemployed in the U.S. has reached about 15 million, over 10 percent nationwide. As a result, millions of people are seeking new opportunities joining a growing trend of Mobile Office Entrepreneurs using the advances in communication technology, entrepreneurial creativity, and the ever-more-hectic pace of modern life all combining to encourage the rapid development of mobile businesses. READ»

BUSINESS | Comment

Seniors and Women Small Business Startups Gain Momentum

BY Mr Rickman Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 1:12 PM

Today’s “Third Age Entrepreneurs”, those seniors over 50-years old are healthy, energetic and competitive and determined to remain productive well into their 70s. They aren’t going anywhere near that rocking chair on the front porch if they can help it. Industry data shows seniors and women entrepreneur - small business startups rapidly increasing. Read more... READ»

BUSINESS | Comment

Seniors and Women Small Business Startups Gain Momentum

BY Mr Rickman Wed Nov 18, 2009 at 1:12 PM

Today’s “Third Age Entrepreneurs”, those seniors over 50-years old are healthy, energetic and competitive and determined to remain productive well into their 70s. They aren’t going anywhere near that rocking chair on the front porch if they can help it. Industry data shows seniors and women entrepreneur - small business startups rapidly increasing. Read more... READ»

CUSTOMER CARE | Comment

Customer Care: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Part I

BY Tibor ShantoTue Nov 17, 2009 at 10:21 PM

Part I: The Good and The Bad While I usually focus on B2B occasionally I need to unload as a consumer, especially when I encounter three very different experiences I faced as customers. One good, the other truly bad, and the third, well, that was down right ugly. READ»

INNOVATION | Comment

Ted Turner on Visionary Leadership: How to See Over the Horizon

BY Seth KahanMon Nov 16, 2009 at 7:44 PM

Many leaders are described as "visionary" -- I'm always curious as to how they got that way. Is it something they're born with, or something we can we all learn? I had a chance to participate in a Silicon Flatirons Q&A with media mogul Ted Turner as we probed this question with Ted Turner.READ»

LEADERSHIP | Comment

Why You Need to Keep It Together

BY John BaldoniMon Nov 16, 2009 at 1:52 PM

Keep composed; keep your team together.READ»

EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT | Comment

Employee Engagement Lessons from Fast Company’s “30 Second MBA” Part 2

BY Thomas CliffordSun Nov 15, 2009 at 10:09 AM

Here’s part two of my conversation with Ellen McGirt, Senior Writer for Fast Company magazine and Dean of Fast Company’s “30 Second MBA” website.Part one can be found here.5. Many organizations see and hear the potential ...READ»

DREAM | Comment

Day 3: A Question of Color

BY Corey BlakeFri Nov 13, 2009 at 3:35 PM

Because we are at the bottom of a small valley in the Solomon Islands, the rain from behind us and from across the street in front of us was all flowing beneath our cabin on day three of this tropical storm. Not the best week to ...READ»

COMMUNITY | Comment

The Dilemma: Bull or Bear?

BY Michael E. DourouxFri Nov 13, 2009 at 3:22 PM

Bull:Liz Ann Sonders, chief market strategist at Charles Schwab, represents the more bullish point of view saying, "It's very clear we're in the midst of a V-shaped recovery." Tech Ticker credits Ms. Sonders with keeping its viewers ...READ»

EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION | 3 comments

Five Ways to Really Tick Off Your Employees

BY Roberta MatusonFri Nov 13, 2009 at 12:24 PM

The first step in solving any problem is admitting you have a problem.READ»

DREAM | Comment

Day 2: A Question of Color

BY Corey BlakeThu Nov 12, 2009 at 2:17 PM

Yesterday began early again and was one of those creative days that flowed from the get go. Dan and I hit a groove and Erin was awesome about getting me back transcribed material we were recording. We had a couple of striking ...READ»

DREAM | Comment

A Question of Color

BY Corey BlakeWed Nov 11, 2009 at 2:12 PM

Yesterday was day 1 of a 6 day trip working with Daniel Cardwell on A Question of Color. I found myself reading the manuscript in the taxi on the way to the airport, creating a new vision of the opening at the airport and then ...READ»

COMMUNITY | Comment

Privatizing Gains and Socializing Losses

BY Michael E. DourouxWed Nov 11, 2009 at 9:22 AM

"Repealing Glass-Steagall was 'obnoxious' and a bipartisan 'absurdity'...The end result of the repeal was you have 'taxpayers subsidizing risk-taking' on Wall Street...'It's the most anti-capitalist thing I've ever heard of in my ...READ»

CHANGE | Comment

Driving Dramatic Progress through Touchstone Events

BY Seth KahanTue Nov 10, 2009 at 9:56 PM

The original touchstone was basanite. It is a smooth, black stone used to test the quality of gold and silver. It was rubbed across the precious metal and the authenticity could be determined by the color of the streak ...READ»

COMMUNITY | Comment

"Job Losses Could Trigger Round 2 of Banking Crisis"

BY Michael E. DourouxTue Nov 10, 2009 at 5:10 PM

"The unemployment rate now stands at 10.2%, yet stocks are at a 2009 high. The bulls will tell you not to worry; the unemployment rate is a lagging indicator. True as that may be, Charlie Gasparino author of The Sellout, has a word of ...READ»

BUSINESS | Comment

Increase Sales Using Dynamic Marketing

BY Mr Rickman Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 5:05 PM

As the choices of new marketing strategies and initiatives evolve, organizations constantly reevaluate what marketing initiatives to pursue and how much to invest in each marketing communications channel. Learn to help your organization determine how much to invest in from one vehicle versus another? The best way to do this is with the same logical approach for building your own personal or business investment fund. Think of each marketing channel as a stock in your portfolio. Your nonprofit can invest in all types of marketing communications-from paid advertising and direct mail to e-mail lists and social marketing and much more. READ»

BUSINESS | Comment

Sales Results Developing Website Conversion Rates

BY Mr Rickman Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 4:35 PM

Several lead – sales management tools are available to help you monitor the download conversion rates. Do you know your site's conversion rates? What do you take into consideration when making changes to your site's design? Research has shown that 60% of websites do not know their conversion rates. By regularly measuring the websites effectiveness it will increase your sales in comparison with most competitors.READ»

BEHAVIOR | Comment

Why Values Trump Rules and Regulation

BY Dov SeidmanMon Nov 9, 2009 at 2:59 PM

Everywhere I travel, I hear the same refrains: "We need more regulation," or on the flip side, "If we hadn't deregulated, we wouldn't be in this financial mess." More regulation could be a very good thing, but we shouldn’t rush to regulation without asking whether it’s a list of prohibitive rules or something deeper, something that inspires consistent and right behavior, says LRN CEO Dov Seidman.READ»

DREAM | Comment

Alesia Shute and Everything’s Okay: Another Story Inspiring Change

BY Corey BlakeMon Nov 9, 2009 at 1:04 PM

As some of you know, our client, Alesia Shute, was diagnosed with cancer when she was seven years old. At a time when most kids are learning to ride bikes, Alesia was overcoming obstacles that knock adults to their knees. As a child, ...READ»

BUSINESS | Comment

Economics: Economists are Irrational!

BY Dr. Jim TaylorMon Nov 9, 2009 at 1:03 PM

I would love to put these economists on the couch and explore what is going on in their heads that enables them to observe the objective reality of the recent economic devastation, yet still hold as sacred their most basic, yet obviously flawed, beliefs about a free-market-driven financial system.READ»

BUSINESS | Comment

Psychology of Technology: Horse or Cart: Technology is Actually in Front

BY Dr. Jim TaylorMon Nov 9, 2009 at 1:00 PM

A fascinating new book, The Nature of Technology: What It Is and How It Evolves, by the economist W. Brian Arthur, was just published that challenges much of the conventional wisdom that we hold about the relationship between science and technology. Most notably, the notion that science is the horse to technology’s cart; in other words, scientific advancement results in technological innovation.READ»