For many business owners, talking about company culture can feel a bit hippy-dippy. Successful business people are often focused on things they can measure, like revenue, return on investment, and sales numbers. And you just can’t do that when you talk about culture. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important. In fact, if employee retention is something you value (and …
How a Street Performer Became a Harvard Case Study Last week Steve Banis talked a bit about Blue Ocean Strategy. As a quick refresher, Blue Ocean Strategy is a business principle that recommends organizations search for open spaces in markets in order to create a sustainable competitive advantage. This week, I want to talk about how a little known Canadian …
The Big Conference Room in the Sky Figuring out your company’s real purpose is a difficult task to approach directly. But it’s important. Within that purpose beats the heart of compelling marketing. An exercise I’ve often found valuable, if a bit morbid, is to write your company’s obituary. It’s a little weird, but it puts you in the right mental …
Trick Question Who’s your competition? If you’d like to play along at home, make a quick list in your head. Got one? If you’re like most business owners we talk to, you probably thought of 2-3 other companies in your industry who sell a similar product or service. But are those your only threats? The Better Question I should have …
Here’s a tip: next time you go on a job interview, skip the tie. In fact, wear that t-shirt you like so much. With the mustard stains. And skip the resume. Instead, grab a sharpie, rip a sheet out of your notebook, and write “BECAUSE I’M AWESOME” in thick black letters. Then just casually toss it on the interviewer’s desk. Don’t …