Business Archives

Are You Undermining Your Sales Success?

Are you struggling to get sales? What do you think the issue is? Do you think the problem is systemic (to do with the system) or individual (to do with the people)? According to sales expert Mike Weinberg, if your company’s sales department is struggling to hit its goals, the reasons can be both systemic (to do with the company’s processes) and individual (to do with the sales reps). In his book New Sales Simplified, he outlines possible systemic and individual factors that could be undermining your ability to acquire new business. Here’s a quick look at the issues that

Motivational Success Stories: Living the One Thing

What motivational success stories illustrate the principle of the One Thing? How has a narrow focus spurred success in real life? In his book The One Thing, Gary W. Keller shares several motivational success stories that all have one thing in common. Each success came about because of a focus on One Thing. The One Thing is different in each story, but the common denominator is a focus on one thing at a time. Keep reading for motivational success stories.

Overcoming the 3 Types of Organizational Inertia

What is organizational inertia? How does inertia manifest within an enterprise and how can you overcome it as a business? In simple terms, organizational inertia is when an enterprise becomes “set in its own ways.” According to Richard P. Rumelt, the author of Good Strategy, Bad Strategy, inertia generally falls into one of three categories: 1) inertia of habits, 2) cultural inertia, and 3) indirect inertia. Keep reading to learn about organizational inertia, its types, and ways to overcome it.

Clarity of Purpose: The Kernel of an Effective Team

What if every member of your team fully grasped your organization’s mission? How can you achieve this clarity of purpose? Submarine commander David Marquet understood the power that clarity of purpose wields. This is especially true in a leader-leader model, when each team member is empowered to make decisions. To achieve clarity with his crew, he employed several mechanisms to ensure clarity of purpose so that the decisions they made aligned with what the whole team was trying to accomplish. Read more to learn how to achieve clarity of purpose.

Simon Sinek: Is Your Business Mindset Finite or Infinite?

Why is mindset important in business? How would you describe your mindset when it comes to doing business? According to Simon Sinek, the author of The Infinite Game, those who survive in business do so because they adopt the mindset that business is an infinite game—a constantly evolving and never-ending game with a higher purpose. Those who don’t survive are the ones who have a finite mindset—they see business as a finite game, filled with short-term concerns and aimed at a win-or-lose ending point. Keep reading to learn about the two types of business mindset, according to motivational speaker and

4 Ways to Have a Competitive Advantage in Business

What is a business competitive advantage? What are some examples of competitive advantage in real-world business? In business, a competitive advantage is any attribute that allows you to perform better than your competitors. This usually occurs because they cannot replicate the resources underpinning it. So for example, a solid patent, a long-standing reputation for quality, or an outsized economy of scale will all give a company an advantage that is hard for a rival to overcome. Keep reading to learn about the different ways a company can exercise its competitive advantage in business.

Simon Sinek on Ethical Fading in the Workplace

What is ethical fading? What are the main factors that cause employees to behave unethically? Ethical fading is when people engage in increasingly unethical behavior while convincing themselves that they are acting fairly and properly. According to Simon Sinek, ethical fading happens for three reasons: 1) poorly designed incentives, 2) rationalization and 3) reliance on rigid and impersonal structures in place of enlightened leadership. We explore each of these below.

The Mastermind Group: What It Is & How to Create One

The Mastermind Group: What Is It, and Why Create It?

What is the mastermind group in Think and Grow Rich? How can you create your own group? The mastermind group describes a team of experts who have the specialized knowledge you need to achieve your goal. You can create your group by making a list of people who have the necessary knowledge and experience to help you carry out your plans. These people must be accessible to you. Read on to discover why the mastermind group of titans of industry like Henry Ford were so crucial in their success.

Gary W. Keller’s Formula for Success: The One Thing

How did Gary W. Keller get Keller Wililams back on track after it faltered? How can you apply his approach to your own life and work? Gary W. Keller, the founder of the world’s largest real estate company Keller Williams, argues that the key to extraordinary success is focusing daily on the “One Thing” that’s most important for achieving your goal, rather than scattering yourself in many directions. Keller used this approach in his business when it seemed to be faltering after a successful first decade. Keep reading to learn Gary W. Keller’s formula for success.

How to Decentralize Authority: Mechanisms and Tips

How can you get more out of your team by decentralizing authority? How is this different from a traditional leadership structure? When David Marquet took command of USS Santa Fe in 1999, he revolutionized the way the crew was led. He decentralized authority, which is the key to a leader-leader model. This switch from a traditional leadership structure had amazing results. Read more to learn how decentralizing authority can make a positive difference for an organization.