Reframe the Framework to Generate More Cash
This article originally appeared on the American Express OPEN Forum The way we frame our business world can significantly impact our success. Frameworks are useful, but they can also be limiting. Perhaps it’s time to rethink the way things have been done in the past. One useful framework is often called the product funnel or […]
The Three-Step Formula for Innovation Success
A lot of theories circulate on how organizations make innovation a reality. Over the past 20 years, I have found a very simple formula that helps a company transform the way it innovates. Here’s the key: Ask the right question, the right way, of the right people. Let’s break that down into the three core components. […]
Innovative Advertising
Today I received an email from the owner of a furniture store who read my “Best Practices Are Stupid” book. He asked (paraphrased)… In all my years of furniture advertising, I have been showing pictures of nice living room, bedroom, mattress, and dinette furniture on sale. In your book you suggest advertising pain. Should I change the […]
How Candy Makers Helped Develop the iMac
I love it when companies are able to find solutions to problems in non-traditional places. I was recently at a conference where someone said that Apple was having difficulty making the clear, colored plastic that adorns the iMac. None of the plastic manufacturers could find a solution that could make the product hard and durable […]
Lessons of Pawn Stars
Yes, you read that correctly. PAWN Stars. This reality television show on The History Channel chronicles a pawn shop outside of Las Vegas. I enjoy the show because of the history associated with the pieces that are brought in for sale. In addition to rifles from the revolutionary war and antique political documents, people bring […]
One Small Step for Your Business, One Giant Leap for Success
Quite a few books and studies recently have touted the power of incremental change. Small actions can have a huge impact on long-term business growth. The appropriate degree of change needed for innovating within organizations is, in general, a 45-degree change, consistent but not too radical. That tends to be more effective than a 5-degree change (purely […]
You Don’t Hear Your Customers
The other day, I asked my business manager to follow up with a client about an unpaid invoice. She contacted the company’s accounts payable department and was told that the invoice was paid on June 1st, 2012. (italics added for emphasis) OK, I have some pretty talented clients, but I don’t think any have mastered […]
Are You Asking the Right Question?
For many years, I was a loyal BlackBerry fan. More accurately I was a CrackBerry addict. A year ago a got a MacBook Pro and six month layer I acquired an iPad. It felt like I should switch to the iPhone. But I was not ready for two reasons: I wanted a Verizon phone that could […]
Major Licensing Deal Signed
As some of you know, my 2012 business strategy is to license my content in a number of creative ways. We already licensed Personality Poker in a variety of languages and to a number of trainers. The Dutch translation is the most recent version and will be available in January. And, just last week, we […]
Why Brainstorming is Stupid
I was recently interviewed for an article on Inc.com. Due to length restrictions, only part of my interview was included in the article. Therefore I am giving you the other half here. But be sure to read the their article first as it sets the stage. I was asked by Inc.com why brainstorming, as usually practiced, is ineffective. […]