success

Social Media: Does It Help or Hinder Productivity?

Ray Williams — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:53:37 -0500

Does the use of social media in the workplace benefit organizations and educational institutions and help productivity or hamper productivity? That's a question many leaders and educators are debating in organizations, even while students and employees immerse themselves in social media for both personal and business purposes. This article will examine both sides of the question, and show how it's clearly connected to a much bigger question of organizational change.

Why Success is For the Unlucky

Tia Jackson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:48:38 -0500

Too many people go through life like they’re playing the Mega Millions. They make a small investment, and then sit back hoping to hit the jackpot. More often than not, they’re left disappointed and defeated, because the luck they expected to swoop in and change their lives, never showed up.

Improving Customer Experiences - Is It Still Important Or Is Price The Only Thing That Matters?

Scott Glatstein — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:45:57 -0500

Has the economic downturn minimized the importance of the Customer Experience?

In Chapter 5 of my book, Strategy Activation: How to Turn Your Vision into Marketplace Success, I talk about how important it is to improve your holistic customer experience to differentiate your company from your competitors. As products and services continue down the inexorable path toward commodification, it is the ongoing customer experience that drives customers to choose one vendor over another.

The Power of Positioning! Part 2

Christine Comaford — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:48:08 -0500

Hi guys! Here’s part 2 of our Positioning Tool Be sure to do the exercise at the bottom to get the most you can out of this.

How Thriller Novelist J.C. Hutchins Turned a Passionate Fan Base Into Successful Book Sales

C.C. Chapman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:51:30 -0500

With the rise of Kindles, iPhones, and the smorgasbord of content we can get from every corner of the Web, the publishing industry must evolve or become extinct. The written word, bound in book form, is in danger of becoming an anachronism.

I firmly believe that people will always crave literature. We all need great stories to entertain us and non-fiction to expand our minds. But the publishing industry is bleeding faster then the music industry, and if it doesn't do something about it then publishers are in for dire consequences.

The Age of Empathy

Ray Williams — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:19:48 -0400

Greed is out. Empathy is in. That's how Frans de Waal begins his book, The Age of Empathy: Nature's Lessons For A Kinder Society. De Waal is a biologist, professor of psychology and director of the Living Link Center at Emory University. In 2007, Time magazine selected him as one of the world's most influential people.

Want To Stay Healthy After Retirement? Keep Working

Ray Williams — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:51:31 -0400

Since the Great Depression, a commonly held perspective on the good life is that we can all look forward to retirement, when we didn't have to work any more. We would be more relaxed and healthier away from the stresses of work.

Is Management Efficiency A Myth?

Ray Williams — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:55:56 -0400

The current recession has produced a flood of management "experts" and many leaders of organizations whose only strategy for dealing with the downturn in the economy is cutting costs, layoffs and more efficiency based strategies. The mantra for business for much of the last century has been operational efficiency. So leaders look for ways to cut costs and make the operations lean and mean. Yet much of the rationale for and evidence supporting efficiency as a key management strategy is questionable.

Leadership Mindset May Determine Long Term Success

Ray Williams — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 18:58:01 -0400

A leader's "mindset" may determine success. Mindsets that are characterized by a commitment to growth, flexibility and adaptability continue to develop the leader's brain and develop reservoirs of untapped potential.

The notion of mindset and how it can affect performance is outlined by Stanford University psychology professor Carol Dweck, in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

How Can Positive Affirmations Work?

Ray Williams — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:18:35 -0400

Positive affirmations can be a benefit to personal growth, if done in the right context, thus avoiding the damaging consequences of the wrong approach, as shown in recent research.

Management Rewired: What CAn Brain Science Tell Us About Leadership?

Ray Williams — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:17:32 -0400

Nonsense At Work

James McIntosh — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 06:13:14 -0400

Practice being suddenly successful:

One thing this sudden economic collapse has taught many of us is just how right Ernest Hemingway was about going broke. In his book “The Sun Also Rises” a character explains that he went broke “gradually, and then suddenly.”

Exactly! That’s how it happened: gradually and then suddenly.

Well, that’s the bad news. The good news is that the opposite is equally true. How do you become successful? Gradually, then suddenly.

Nonsense At Work

James McIntosh — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:25:14 -0400

Rolling with the times:

What does the saying ‘a rolling stone gathers no moss’ mean to you?

I grew up in a culture where calling someone a rolling stone was an insult. It meant that the person was incapable of holding down a job for very long.

That was a long, long time ago, when people could easily work for the same company until they retired. Today, the speed at which companies create and destroy jobs mean that you have no option but to be a rolling stone.

Management Wired: What Can Brain Science Tell Us About Leadership?

Ray Williams — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:36:04 -0400

Striving vs. Striding

Christine Comaford — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:18:57 -0400

Last week I spent a few amazing days with some of the most inspiring entrepreneurs I’ve ever worked with. They chose to invest their time and their money to work with me in a private mentoring capacity, and I, in turn, invest ALL of my expertise, my heart, my lifelong entrepreneurial success (and oh yeah, my ROLODEX). One of the most important discussions that we had was about striving versus striding. You see, striving is stressful. We THINK it’s ingenuity and nose-to-the-grindstone hard work, but hey, who wants their nose on a GRINDSTONE anyway?

Time To Reconsider Executive Education Courtesy of the Recession

Ray Williams — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:59:07 -0400

As a result of the recession many organizations have instituted staff reductions and reorganizations at the management levels. In doing so, leaders have an opportune time to rethink management structure, leadership styles and involvement in executive education.

Position Yourself as a Leader

Mark Hunter — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:16:33 -0400

It's been said that to be a successful salesperson, not only do your listening skills have to be great, but your closing skills have to be even better. However, I believe that while these skills are helpful, they are not essential. In my opinion, to be a top-performing sales professional, you must be a great leader. It is a fundamental character trait. Although we have all known salespeople who have had stellar years based on the luck of a few great clients, those with sustained, long-term success always exhibit great leadership skills.

Why Customer Service Destroys Salespeople

Mark Hunter — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:14:10 -0400

One position that has not been impacted by the economy is sales. Ask any CEO and you will hear that one of their biggest issues is finding and retaining good salespeople. Something happened on the way to a sour economy: Too many companies learned the hard way that their salespeople didn't know how to sell. Instead, their salespeople were good at taking orders and providing customer service. There is nothing wrong with this approach, as long as the marketplace is always going to serve up new customers and keep current customers in business. Does that kind of marketplace always exist?

Leadership For A New Era

Ray Williams — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 13:51:17 -0400

In times of crisis, people's behaviors and perspectives--both in their personal and work lives--change irrevocably. Those that adapt to the changes have the best chance for success. As a result of the current economic crisis, our economic system will fundamentally change and will not return to the "way it was." Our organizations will need leaders who understand that and provide the kind of leadership necessary for the new era.

Get more Freedom!

Christine Hueber — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:48:45 -0400

I can provide you with more free time by offering you customized marketing, accounting, and training solutions ... so you can focus on your business goals, what’s important to you and what you do best … NOW!

How do you want to optimize your time and focus? You can reach me on my direct line: +1 530.582.8091 or via my website: http://www.ChristineHueber.com.

To your continued success,
Christine Elisabeth von Malsen Hueber

Wanted: PEOPLE

Christine Comaford — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:14:30 -0400

In today's economic climate, it is essential to have a seasoned team, a fast path to revenue, and a staged rollout plan. When it comes to the team, there are some absolute necessaries that you need to put in place. You have to ask yourself, what are the first questions a prospective investor will ask? People questions, of course! Here are some of mine: Do you or your team members have massive experience in your field of choice?

Don’t Put Yourself On Sale!

Christine Comaford — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:13:14 -0400

3 Reasons Businesses Fail

Christine Comaford — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:13:25 -0400

I have dedicated my life to changing these statistics. You work too hard, but your time, energy, heart, mind, funds into building your business and I want it to be WORTH IT for you and your loved ones.

As you know I’ve built and sold 5 of my own multi-million dollar companies, invested in over 200 startup businesses (including Google), have been a mentor to hundreds of startups and have helped over 150 entrepreneurs become millionaires.

Let’s Get Visual – Using Visualization to SEE Your Success

Christine Comaford — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:08:37 -0400

Last week, I sent as many of you as possible a tool and some serious input on goal setting. This is definitely where the serious players get sifted out from those who are just playing around. In my case, I made tha

Business Plans 101 -- No Kidding.

Christine Comaford — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 10:44:46 -0400

When you're ready to pitch financers, investors, potential partners or even employees, the first thing you've got to have in place is a BUSINESS PLAN. And the most important thing you can do is to put in the hours to make it perfect, because you’ll be repurposing the content in sales presentations, marketing collateral and white papers, etc., etc., -- and even on your website. Next, be sure to address the following:

* People (Have you hired the right ones?)