As important as culture is (and we’ve only scratched the surface), it’s something that takes constant reinforcement. It doesn’t survive with nurture, reminders, etc. So, how do we do that? We start by understanding the 3 components that make up culture, i.e. the way we are. Core Values. These are the guiding beliefs of a…

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Management Guru, Peter Drucker, once said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” He’s right, of course. Culture, not brilliant strategy, is the secret sauce for organizational achievement and breakthroughs. According to a study by Harvard Business School, companies with strong, virtuous cultures outperform those without such an atmosphere by 5 times ROA; that’s an astounding number.…

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Leadership is always about the heart and in all circumstances. The COVID19 pandemic is no exception. Nor will it be any different when the virus is passed and we are left in a hybrid (remote/in-person) workforce. So what do you focus on to win, keep, and encourage hearts? Constantly reinforce culture. This is the way…

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The Pandemic of 2020 has presented leaders with one of the greatest challenges in history: how do you lead a team or a company where some people work from home, some people work in the office, and some people have one foot in both camps? Some companies have essentially declared a permanent WFH strategy; others…

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There’s an old rock and roll song from my childhood that contains the line: So tired Tired of waiting  Tired of waiting for you The Kinks, 1965 That about sums up business in the era of COVID-19. We’re all waiting and we’re tired of it. We’re waiting to hire. Waiting to grow. Waiting to get…

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Being able to feel with people and communicate that concern is one of the greatest gifts one human can give to another. The world has always been a hard place and, while the general direction of history is positive there are still great moments of human pain. COVID-19 is the latest major issue to afflict…

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Simon Sinek has developed thought around a company’s purpose; he calls it the “why?” It’s not a new idea and it’s not original with Sinek but he has brought it back to the forefront of business conversations. For that I’m grateful. Business is about making money (Peter Drucker). Business is about gaining and keeping customers…

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During this COVID-19 economy, millions have lost their jobs and, while I’m grateful to see the strength of the economy returning along with millions of jobs each month, there are still plenty of people looking for work. One of them is a close friend of mind. This friend has a strong background in marketing, innovation,…

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I have to admit, I hate the term “new normal.” The reason I hate it is that it seems to be saying, “How do we get back to the way things were?” That will never happen. We are not ruined but we are forever changed by COVID-19; that inescapable truth. Entrepreneurs don’t look for “normal.”…

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In these politically charged times, with all the hype and exaggeration in the media, it’s helpful to back away for a bit and get our bearings.  Let me be clear at the outset, I am an unapologetic free market guy. I am an unapologetic capitalist. Our economic system, for all its faults, has produced the…

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