The way you start your day can change your entire life. Research shows that most successful people follow strict morning routines. Of course, no one can achieve the same routine every day, but striving for consistency can do wonders for your outlook and productivity. Here are the fundamentals: Train your brain to get what you …
It’s not about you
The perennial mistake made over and over again in pitches, presentations, and proposals is one of perspective. We all have a natural bias to focus too much on what we want to say, rather than what audience members want to hear. We’ve all done it. And we’ve all been on the receiving end. When communicating …
Sincere thanks
In the spirit of the holiday week, I’d just like to extend a simple and sincere thank you. Thank you, Gentle Readers, for opening this email and letting me share an idea or two each Sunday. Thank you, Clients, for trusting us with your clients, and your client stories, and your other important projects. Thank you, Friends and Family, for the love and support …
How to give thanks
The warm sentiments of gratitude will rise to a fever pitch this week as we prepare for our national holiday of thankfulness. And while the premise is altogether fitting and necessary, it can be easy to forget the fundamental reason for the day in the frenzy of last-minute grocery store trips, table settings, and cooking …
Random acts of kindness
With Thanksgiving almost upon us, the timeliness of this fun example of generosity as a growth strategy couldn’t be better. Most of us in the Kansas City area know Tippin’s as one of most beloved brands in the grocery store when it comes to holiday menu-planning. The company’s website says it all: You say “Tippin’s” …
Essential skills for leaders
The HBR Leader’s Handbook draws from years of research and experience observing and analyzing the world’s best run organizations – and the executives who lead them. Contributors Brook Manville and Ron Ashkenas are careful to point out that this primer for aspiring leaders is not enough just to read. Real proficiency is developed through continual …
The principles of personal change
Kansas City’s own Gretchen Rubin has become an international authority on joy and how to find it. While her book “The Happiness Project” explores what creates a joyful life, her second book “Better Than Before” focuses more on how to get there through personal growth and change. But how do we change? It’s not easy, you can’t …
Getting out of a rut
We all lose the spark of productivity and creativity from time to time. We grow too familiar with the same places and tasks. We see obstacles everywhere. And we get tired of capitulating to colleagues who overrule ideas that “won’t work because they’ve been tried too many times.” A good groove can turn into a rut if …
Looking on the bright side
Headwinds, flat sales, and downright tough times can be enough to dim even the sunniest outlooks. But getting yourself and others to stay focused on the positive is essential. Maintaining an orientation toward what you can do rather than what you cannot do is one way to overcome dark days. John Baldoni is the author of “Moxie: The Secret …
Designing products that sell
http://handypetes.com/order1966.html Only 1 in 20 new products actually succeeds. Whether you’re designing software, soap or surgical equipment, the chance of failure is high. To develop and sell a successful product requires the perfect recipe of innovation, iteration, hard work and luck. Here are three keys to developing new products: 1. Solve real problems Innovation occurs as a result of solving the most …