Batman and Robin. Ernie and Bert. Han Solo and Chewbacca. Powerful duos have been a success formula throughout history. Lennon and McCartney. The Wright Brothers. Sergey and Larry (Google founders). Progress often comes in pairs. Today many of us are our own islands. We build our personal brands, focus on self-improvement, and remain staunchly loyal to our own goals. The challenge … Read more
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Jack Ma is China’s richest man. He’s also the 12th-wealthiest person in the world, with a net worth of $29.7 billion, according to Forbes. Ma is the founder of Alibaba, an e-commerce company that’s the equivalent of Amazon.com in China. He launched a multibillion-dollar company and became one of the most financially successful people alive, … Read more
“Our company offers great service and affordable pricing.” “We really care about our customers.” “One call does it all!” Perhaps platitudes that lack specificity and depth worked 20 years ago. But in our fist-fighting competitive arena, these flimsy claims say nothing at all. Your customers and prospects want to know, need to know: What truly … Read more
“You cannot look in a new direction by looking harder in the same direction.” ~ Edward deBono “Out there is an entrepreneur who’s forging a bullet with your company’s name on it. You’ve got only one option – to shoot first.” ~ Gary Hamel “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, … Read more
Imagine taking up a new hobby such as playing the guitar or learning tennis. You’d begin this process lacking any previous knowledge, so you’d be completely open to learn. With no preconceived notions, you are bound by no tradition and thus fully able to embrace the possibilities. In contrast, getting an “expert” to take a … Read more
Making decisions can be downright scary. What if you make the wrong call? What if the new initiative turns out to hurt more than help (remember the launch of New Coke?) “I’d better be careful not to screw things up,” you tell yourself. “Don’t push the envelope. Just keep it safe.” Think how much effort … Read more
Teachings of the Far East explain the concept of yin/yang. In order to achieve balance, and ultimately success, we need to have oppositional forces present and equal. This is obvious in our relationships, as oftentimes opposites attract – personalities, talent areas, skill sets, hobbies, etc. This differentiation between partners is what keeps things interesting and … Read more
He almost closed the deal. She almost got that big promotion. They almost won the championship. Almost. Near misses can be especially frustrating, since you did almost enough work to make it happen. When a pro football team carries the ball 90 yards down the field, that progress was the sum of great strategy, precision, agility, and powerful execution. But when they fumble … Read more
In a smoky bar while drinking heavily, Hemingway made a bet with fellow authors that he could tell a story in only six words. Once everyone at the table agreed to participate, Hemingway wrote his story on the back of a napkin, passed it around the group, and gleefully collected his winnings. The story read, … Read more
Diplomacy with Cuba. More mobile devices than people on the planet. Cyber-attacks, not bombs, are the biggest threat to national security. Retailers such as Amazon delivering merchandise via drones. TV networks advertising when they actually have a scripted show. Who woulda’ thunk it? Back in early January of 1964, legendary songwriter Bob Dylan prophesied, “The … Read more