What can management consulting teach you about brand strategy work? Everything. My very first post-college job was as a change management consultant for a large consulting firm. My job was to equip people and teams at Fortune 1000 companies to adopt big changes, whether that was a new system implementation, workflow, or organizational structure. All of these projects had one … [Read more...]
Don’t Reinvent the Wheel
What do you think of when you think of innovation? Do you picture a think tank of experts, crammed into a meeting room with Post-it notes on the wall, formulas on a white board, leftover pizza boxes strewn about, and crazy ideas flying back and forth? When we think of innovation in that way, it can seem daunting. What if I go into a room to innovate … [Read more...]
How You Can Look At Innovation
While all the talk of “pivoting” these days is turning into a drinking game for some entrepreneurs, it’s important to remember one important thing: As a business owner, creator, entrepreneur, it has always been your responsibility to innovate. This is not new. Show me a business that never adapts, and I’ll show you an extinct business. Show me a leader who … [Read more...]
How to be a better negotiator
Nice guys and gals finish last. That has been the conventional wisdom, hasn’t it? That only sharks using cutthroat tactics can make favorable deals and negotiate effectively. I’m calling BS. Turns out, empathy is a secret weapon when it comes to negotiation and effective collaboration. And author, activist and strategic … [Read more...]
Why hibernate?
A friend of mine recently commented that your life cycles around metaphorical seasons of growth and change. Sometimes you are in the Spring, where ideas are blossoming, seeds are being planted and animals are poking up their heads as they venture from their winter lairs. For your business, this may mean new product ideas, connecting with potential partners, planning a brand facelift. Summer … [Read more...]
Well, hello there, Rockstar!