Why You Should Always Lead with a Story
Today’s post is by Paul Smith, author of Lead with a Story (CLICK HERE to get your copy). You can learn more about him at the end of the post. Here’s Paul… A great sales story isn’t just helpful when talking to the buyer. They’re also helpful to you as the leader to turn your [...]
If You Want to Sell Better, Speak English
Don’t worry – this isn’t some rant about English being the official language of the U.S. It’s a rant about using plain, simple language to get people to want to learn more about your business and purchase your products or services. I’m currently a judge for The Big Awards where companies compete to be named [...]
The Road to Value – Part 2
Today’s post is by Thomas Butta, Founder and CEO of 21 Weeks. You can read more about him at the end of the post. Here’s Thomas: In The Road to Value (Part 1) I revealed a powerful way to lead a changing or emerging industry by developing a roadmap that delineates the way to create and [...]
5 Marketing Strategies that Don’t Change
Today’s post is by David Chapman – Director of Marketing at Webrageous. Here’s David: Musicals never go out of fashion, because the formula is well understood. It is tried and tested and everyone knows what to expect when they sit down to watch a good musical. The audience is given what they want. The marketing [...]
How Creating a Value Roadmap can Lead to Sustainable Success
Today’s post is by Thomas Butta, Founder and CEO of 21 Weeks. You can read more about him at the end of the post. Here’s Thomas: Do you remember the popular book, Dress for Success? It sold millions of copies based on a simple concept: If you want to get ahead you need to look [...]
Entrepreneurship – the Tech is the Easy Part
Tech is easy. Execution is what matters. There. I said it. Why is it that so many entrepreneurs believe the tech is the be-all, end-all? Where did the notion come from that if you have nothing more than a killer application, website, algorithm, or any other combo of 01001010101110110 that you can build a multibillion [...]
Best of thoughtLEADERS 2011: The Awesomest Posts Ever
This year is almost over so it’s time for the year in review list of the BEST posts we’ve published in 2011. It’s time for the 2011 edition of The Figgies (here are the 2010 and 2009 editions). This is an annual event here at the thoughtLEADERS Blog. Here’s how it goes: this list is [...]
5 Reasons Your Idea Pitch Sucks
I’m fortunate enough to see a lot of cool business ideas – both entrepreneurial and “big corporate” in nature. While the people pitching the idea are passionate, smart, and excited, more often than not, the pitch itself sucks. I’m not being bombastic or hyperbolic here. The pitches really suck. Bad. Terribly. I’m not saying I’m [...]
Gurus, Ninjas, and Morons: Losing Credibility One Business Card at a Time
Titles matter. A lot. So do email addresses and signature blocks. As unfortunate and as shallow as it is, people make a first impression snap decision about you and your business in an instant. If that instant includes your title it can make or break your business opportunity. Yes, CxO, Vice President, Director, Manager, Analyst, [...]
Your Thoughts on 2011 – Signs of Optimism
As many of you know, I write the weekly analysis of the SmartPulse poll for SmartBrief on Leadership. If you’re not reading SmartBrief, you HAVE TO (www.smartbrief.com). Great articles. Great abstracts. Anyway, we just conducted the end-of-year poll and I want to share the results with you here. The end of year polls covered three [...]
