blogging tools

Why Good Leaders Cannot Change in time to save themselves?
I almost cried when I read this excellent article: “Of Cell Phones, Maps and Mental Models: Why Doing What Was Right Is Sometimes Completely Wrong” from the Wharton website. This article hits it squarely on the head. It is an excerpt from the book: “It Starts with One: Changing Individuals Changes Organizations” by authors J. Stewart [...]

Advertising and Marketing are not effective for small business
It is quite a common lament by small businesses that advertising and marketing that seem to work so well for others, are almost always a total waste of money for the small business person. I just did a guest post over at Versa Creations Blog: “A 500lbs Gorilla will beat a 100lbs human anytime” Would love to [...]

The Leadership Competencies - Technical
When you stand and up say, “let’s go!” do you expect people to follow? Why would anyone follow you? Well, usually, it is because you know where you are going. Or rather, they hope you know where you are going. In a world of fast results and instant action, sometimes, people forget that it takes training, [...]

Off Topic - No Student-Teacher messaging allowed…
Nothing to do with marketing here. Just another demonstration of how “top management” can make sweeping decisions about things they barely understand. But more importantly, it demonstrates the sad state of affairs that our society in general, and the education system in particular; have fallen to. The whole idea here is to “save” the students from [...]

The Leadership Competencies - Operational
If you think about it, running a business really isn’t that difficult. I mean, it breaks down to be as simple as: Open shop Make products Call customers Take orders Make delivery Collect money Now, how complicated can that be, right? If you would just take a look at the many companies around, apparently, this is not as easy as it looks. To [...]

Small Business Insights - Dangerous as running with the bulls
This is just a short post because I just read a really nice post over at Yvonne’s blog titled “You Can Get Hurt Running With The Bulls - No Kidding“. Of course, the title had something to do with the small business person, and of course, it was good advise; and most certainly, it was [...]

Off Topic - The Color Expert
This is a story about product management, product marketing, subject matter experts and protecting one’s behind. Enjoy. I decided that my car needed a new color. So, off I went to the spray paint workshop. They had this color consultant there, an expert in getting the best color for whatever impact you want to create. Happily, [...]

The Leadership Competencies - Overview
I would like to propose that for anyone to be a good leader, there are certain basic competencies that are needed. A lot of focus has always been put on the charisma of a leader, the tasks and the roles f a leader. These are important or not important, depending on what theory you subscribe to. [...]

The Leadership Competencies - People
Leaders are not necessary. This might come as a surprise, but it is true. A good manager need not be a good leader - in some circumstances. You would see this most often in large, bureaucratic organisations. Management is about efficiency and effectiveness. Leaderhip is about inspiration and vision. Leaders deal with people. Managers deal with [...]

The Leadership Competencies - Financial
Here is an interesting one - finance. I believe that most people will think that if you know how to add up the dollars and you have a clever accountant doing your books, you are fine. Small businesses thrive with good leaders. Big businesses thrive with good managers and a few good leaders. A manager has [...]