The greatest brand messages are impactful and memorable. What do you think when you hear someone say “Good to the last drop”? Maxwell House coffee? What about “Don’t leave home without it”? Did you think of American Express? Or “We bring good things to life.” General Electric? Most likely, the brand name immediately popped to mind after hearing each message.
But are those messages Taglines, Slogans, Mottos or Straplines? Are they synonymous? And why do brand messages even matter for your company’s success? Continue reading →

It has been said that there are two constants on which you can depend: death and taxes. There is one more item to add to the short list of things that never fail: death, taxes and change. As sure as day follows night, it is absolutely certain that nothing stays the same. Change is certain. And not only is it inevitable, but the pace of change is accelerating, especially in business. Technology. Business models. Economic systems. Marketing strategies. Compliance rules. HR policies. Changes to tools, processes and practices are constantly evolving in every industry, sector, and business, and those changes are coming fast and furious. The ‘Change Train’ waits for no one. People can either accept changes or get left behind. For companies, it is imperative to at least keep pace with change. But for most people, change is scary. So how do companies get employees to not just board, but enjoy, the ride on the approaching 2019 high-speed Change Express? Continue reading →

Most people have, at one time or another, worked with a colleague or coworker who often had a negative outlook. You know the type. These people seldom had kind things to say about anyone or anything or always seemed to see the glass half empty. Certainly, customer service departments have all dealt with pessimistic customers who were disapproving and quick to find fault. Such sour attitudes can be contagious, spreading and driving down morale. So how should a business handle the Cheerless Chief, Woeful Worker or Critical Consumer? Here’s how. Continue reading →

Confidence is a term that is generally associated with individuals. It is a trait that some have but many others lack. Without a doubt, it is a quality most everyone desires to have both professionally and personally. The most common formula cited for professional success is: “performance + confidence = power and influence.” Thus, individual confidence is a key ingredient to success. But what about organizational confidence? Can a company or organization have or lack confidence? What happens to companies that have a confidence deficiency? And can organizational confidence be acquired or increased? Continue reading →

Ever feel like your success is a product of luck or chance rather than talent or skill? Do you secretly think you’re really just a fraud or that you’re just not that good? Or have you ever met a person who is brilliant but doesn’t know it? Ever tried to compliment a colleague who could not accept credit or praise? That’s not modesty or even false modesty. For many super successful people, this is Imposter Syndrome.
What is Imposter Syndrome and who is most vulnerable to it? What causes it and is there a way to overcome it? Continue reading →

Kaizen – the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement – was adopted by car manufacturer Toyota, propelling it to become the number one car manufacturer in the world. But Kaizen is effective for helping more than just car manufacturing companies. Kaizen is an approach to business that has helped improve businesses in many industries.
See how Kaizen helped transform companies across a series of sectors into the most successful they can be! Continue reading →

There’s an old saying that “you don’t have to be sick to get better.” This idea of “getting better” has been embraced by many Japanese businesses over the last 70 years. They call it Kaizen. By embracing Kaizen, Toyota was transformed into and has remained the number one automobile manufacturer on earth with a market cap of $214 Billion as of May 2018. And, Kaizen is not just for manufacturers! The Kaizen philosophy works in any business or industry. It even works as a personal philosophy.

Just what is Kaizen and how does it transform a little-known company into the most successful it can be? Continue reading →

Line up a row of evenly-spaced dominos and tap the first one. It will hit the next one, which will then hit the next one, and so on. But, there are times when tapping a single domino doesn’t just topple the dominos in the row. It can have much larger impact. Dubbed the Butterfly Effect, this says even the tiniest action can have a profound effect. And it happens even in business. Here are two examples of the Butterfly Effect and some tips on how to manage business decisions and changes because of it. Continue reading →

Like a small stone thrown into the middle of a still pond can send ripples a far distance, the butterfly effect says that the flutter of a butterfly’s tiny wings today can affect the location and strength of a tornado weeks later. That is a powerful concept. And it is not just wishful thinking. There is scientific evidence of the butterfly effect. But does that concept apply to business? If so, what should leaders be doing based on this concept? Continue reading →

Want to dazzle clients? Looking for ways to thrill and engage employees? Stop settling for the same-old, same-old programs, awards, and gifts that have long since stopped being exciting and delighting. There is a way to “create” extraordinary moments for customers and staff alike. Here’s how! Continue reading →