A largely unnoticed trend … What happened to the U.S. economic mojo?
Almost a year to the day of writing this column, I issued a rare tweet that said, “Very important article written by Ben Casselman in WSJ this a.m.! ‘Risk-averse culture infects Americans.’ A must read. Sound the alarm.” Frequent tweeters will note that I did not have any hashtags or other gobbledygook that is typical […]
How to react if your company is under investigation for white-collar crime
Embezzlement, money laundering, tax evasion and commercial bribery are common white-collar crimes that authorities regularly investigate. Oftentimes these alleged crimes happen without executives even knowing someone in their organization is committing them. However, ignorance does not count as a If authorities come knocking on your company’s door, how do you respond? Facing a subpoena, search […]
How to build an army of brand ambassadors
“Video Killed the Radio Star,” that’s the song running through my head as I think about the world today and what it takes to develop marketing that connects with prospects. A current version of the tune might be called “Social Media Killed the Formal Company Message.”
Aligning with your audience’s needs may challenge your customary practices
Like clockwork, United Way of Greater Cleveland kicks off its annual campaign in August with the pancake flip event at Public Square. The fanfare as we announce our fundraising goal is a routine for United Way. When the campaign concludes in March, we have more fanfare to announce the end of the campaign with our […]
John Crum’s Seaman Corp. is built for speed and longevity
John Crum’s appointment to president and COO of Seaman Corp. in January brought a philosophical and physical change to the company. The manufacturer of highly engineered fabric products for niche markets such as trucks, military and roofing, is systematically addressing critical issues to shore up its strength — commodification, global competition, decreased military spending and […]
Look for new ways to broaden your thinking – and increase your chances for success
In 1954, as a 52-year-old milk-shake-machine vendor was visiting one of his restaurant customers in San Bernardino, Calif., he witnessed a unique food assembly line system that two brothers had developed. Immediately recognizing the potential of their idea, he offered to pay them a percentage of their gross receipts. The brothers agreed, and now the […]
How I 'C' real leaders: Nine qualities that make it happen
I think it’s remarkable that Fortune recently ranked Pope Francis No. 1 in an article titled “Fortune Ranks the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.” Pope Francis sets the example by how he lives and how he treats people with kindness and compassion. Through his actions, he illustrates humility, simplicity and how to be nonjudgmental. He is […]
Assure success for your company by getting ISO certified
When smaller or midsized organization’s want to get the business of larger corporations, one of the biggest hurdles is perception of competency. Does the smaller business have processes in place to handle high order volume while maintaining security and safety measures? This is why it is so valuable to take advantage of recognized certifications. When […]
Be positive, truthful and show confidence when delivering messages
It’s not enough to just have a strong message. How a leader portrays that message is equally important. An effective leadership message has the right words based on the right actions and is delivered with the right attitude. For example, a leader might know the content backward and forward but send a message of surliness […]
Grant Cleveland began DuneCraft with Odd Pods, and now he’s the odds-on favorite
It all began 12 years ago with a product that had the unassuming name of Odd Pods. “It was a kit to grow cacti from seed in multilevel chambers and compartments,” says Grant Cleveland, founder, CEO and president of DuneCraft Inc. “It was something I wanted to do just based on the strength of the […]