Business Archives

10X Companies: 3 Core Habits That Drive Success

What distinguishes 10X companies from the average? What are some of the key characteristics of businesses that manage to stay afloat through a crisis? Dispelling an entrenched myth, the research suggests that ultra-successful 10X companies are not more creative, more ambitious, or more visionary than the average. What sets them apart are these three behaviors: 1) fanatic discipline, 2) empirical creativity, and 3) productive paranoia. Keep reading to learn about the three core characteristics of 10X companies.

Employee Performance Management: Best Practices

What does employee performance management entail in your organization? What are the characteristics of a good performance management routine? Employee performance management consists of meetings and conversations that help you to focus on the progress and performance of your employees. An effective performance management routine must be simple, regular, future-focused, and tailored to each individual employee. Here are some things to think about as you design a performance management routine for your organization.

Amazon Company History From 1999-2001

What events from Amazon’s company history took place between 1999 and 2001? Why did Jeff Bezos decide to become CEO of his own company? What was the “milliravi” incident? The early 2000s started off rough for Amazon. Many people were skeptical that a middleman company like Amazon could survive, Amazon’s new CEO was a failure, and the milliravi error caused Amazon’s stock to plummet. However, during this time Bezos still somehow managed to keep growing Amazon. Continue on to learn more about Amazon’s company history.

20 Mile March: Steady Progress Meets Business Goals

What is the 20 Mile March in business? What are some of its key characteristics? To 20 Mile March in business means to hit specified targets year after year with a long-term view in mind. A good 20 Mile March has these five characteristics: 1) it specifies both lower and upper bounds; 2) it’s consistent; 3) it’s customized; 4) it’s achievable, and 5) it falls within a reasonable time frame. This article spotlights the key characteristics of a good 20 Mile March and how to put it to work for your business.

Amazon’s Growth: Timeline Of Events From 1996-1999

How did Amazon grow so quickly after it’s conception in 1994? What happened in Amazon’s early days? From 1996 to 1999, Amazon grew rapidly. Amazon went from strictly selling books to selling DVDs, music, and toys. But they weren’t the only large, online store—eBay entered the scene. Continue on to learn about Amazon’s growth from a bookstore to an everything store.

How Was Amazon Started? The Timeline of Events

How was Amazon started? How did the online bookstore that started in a basement grow to need a warehouse in just two years? Jeff Bezos had the idea for an online bookstore in 1994 and launched it in 1995. At first, they pulling all-nighters and packing boxes on their basement floor. By 1996, the revenue was growing 30%-40% every month and Bezos was forced to buy a warehouse. Continue on to learn how Amazon was started and how it grew so rapidly.

Rethinking Personnel Development: Tips for Managers

What is the most important thing when it comes to personnel development? What can you, as a leader, do to help your employees level up their performance and contribution? According to Marcus Buckingham, the author of First, Break All the Rules, personnel development is not about trying to transform your employees by weeding out their weaknesses. Rather, it is about building up their existing talents and navigating around their weak areas. When designing your personnel development system, keep the following in mind.

How to Be Original: The Adam Grant Guide

Do you want to know how to be original? What makes someone original? Is originality more of an inherent trait or a skill that can be improved through practice? Originality is not locked on genetics—it can be cultivated through practice. According to Adam Grant, the author of Originals, the key to being more original is two-fold: 1) go against the status quo and 2) brainstorm lots of ideas. Here is how to be more original, according to organizational psychologist Adam Grant.

Defining Business Objectives: 3 Things to Consider

What are your main business objectives? Do you think your objectives align with the purpose of your business? Every organization has different goals. For example, a retail store may focus on customer satisfaction whereas a medical organization— on patient safety. While these goals aren’t mutually exclusive, these organizations have different priorities because they have different purposes. When defining business objectives for your organization, ask yourself the following three questions.

SMaC Recipe: How to Survive in Times of Uncertainty

What is a SMaC recipe? Does your enterprise currently have a SMaC recipe—a plan you can turn into in case of a contingency? SMaC stands for Specific, Methodical, and Consistent. A SMaC recipe is a set of defined practices that a company can turn into in extreme circumstances. If your enterprise doesn’t have a SMaC recipe, think about specific practices that have led to success in the past. Here is how creating a SMaC recipe can help you increase your chances of surviving and thriving in the world of chronic instability.