Disruptive Business Models
How disruptive is your business model? While much has been written about corporate vision, mission, process, leadership, strategy, branding, and a variety of other business practices, it is the engineering of these practices to be disruptive that maximizes opportunities. Without a disruptive focus, you are merely building your business model on a "me too" platform of mediocrity. Few things are…
Design Matters
So, does design really matter? Let me make my position very clear...design absolutely matters. Whether it is aesthetic, functional, creative, process, innovative, intellectual, technical, or applicational...design matters. While I have heard many a professional downplay the value of design, it has been my experience that most business people who espouse this opinion are commenting on something…
Business Model Architecture
I never cease to be amazed at how many times I receive a "deer in the headlights" stare when I mention the topic of business model architecture to even the savviest of senior executives. While most C-level execs have a general idea of what I'm referring to, it is also quite clear that most can't even begin to define it, much less articulate the specific constructs of a sound business model. In…
In Support of Strategy
What's with all the "strategy bashing" of late? How could sound strategic planning possibly be a bad thing? Things have spun so far out of control that I recently had a CEO ask: “Is strategy still relevant in today's business world, and if so, what role does strategy play in the overall make-up of a CEO's duties and responsibilities? Let me begin by stating that strategy has never been more…
The Counter-Intuitive CEO
Great CEOs are counter-intuitive. They don't subscribe to herd mentality, rather they use their contrarian instincts to exploit opportunities, to create advantage, to build strong leadership teams, to expand market share, and to increase brand equity. A global recession is nothing more than an excuse for poor leaders to assign blame for weak performance elsewhere. [Tweet "The counter-intuitive…
Effective Compensation Plans
"Can you provide any tips for modeling a winning compensation plan?" is today's Myatt on Monday's question which was asked by a CFO of an Internet marketing company. While certainly a great question, I must admit that I have been reluctant to address the topic of compensation in previous posts as compensation theory is not only complex, but it often varies greatly based upon the situational…
Deal Transparency
If deal transparency isn't at the forefront of your M&A strategy, you might want to stop and do a bit of thinking. In some ways the world of corporate M&A is much the same as it was 20 years ago, and in other ways the events of the last few weeks have changed the landscape dramatically. The Bailout, the current capital and credit crunch, and the outcome of recent litigation have taken and…
Improving Sales
The topic of improving sales should be near and dear to the heart of any CEO. Is your revenue flat or declining? Has the market shifted such that your sales model is showing signs of obsolescence? Are you tired of hearing the same old excuses from your line managers and staff professionals? A challenge that every CEO and entrepreneur is faced with, is the pressure to create consistent…
Intellectual Property
While the security aspects of intellectual property ("IP") are often sacrificed for speed to market considerations in today's world of mash-ups and knock-offs, I believe when it comes to IP it is possible to have your cake and eat it too. The protection of all forms of intellectual property ("IP") should constitute common sense and require no real explanation, however, the courts are littered…
Question Your Way To Success
As a CEO you must learn to question everything...even the answers to your own questions. Never settle for anything other than a solid answer that meets your needs. Regrettably, many CEOs feel that if they are doing all the talking then they must not be in control of their environment. It is those same CEOs who also tend to believe that the people they are talking to must be listening...rarely is…
How to Create a Powerful Tagline
Are Unique Selling Propositions (USP) different than Taglines? The correct technical answer is absolutely yes, but you'd be surprised at the number of people (even marketing types) that don't know the difference. However the truly sad part is not just in the lack of understanding, but in the missed applicational leverage and lost opportunity costs associated with the lack of understanding. In…
Thriving During a Recession
Recession are we, or aren't we? While the economists and pundits are arguing about whether or not the US is in a recession, my opinion is that we are. The classic definition of a recession is a decline in GDP for two consecutive quarters. However, it is important to keep in mind that economic data and statistics are reported on a historical basis, and by the time the economic data is released to…
Risk Management Made Easy
Accountability is the lowest cost, most practical, and most productive form of risk management and quality assurance that can be implemented across an enterprise. Put simply, accountability is really nothing more than a common-sense understanding that decisions made within a framework are going to have a greater chance of success than those made in a vacuum. What type of checks and balances…
The Value of Free
The old adage "you get what you pay for" makes for a good sound bite, but it is simply a myopic perspective based upon a misinterpretation of the value of "Free". The ultimate marketing hook has always been, continues to be, and will remain the "Free" trial or give-away. Free does not diminish value, nor is it beneath a premium provider or brand...Rather "Free" is simply a very intelligent way to…
Why Brand Name Clients Matter
If your company doesn't have a recognized brand, I will guarantee that your selling cycle is longer than necessary as your sales process grinds to a halt while you endeavor to establish credibility. Even after enduring the good fight, when all is said and done, you likely end up making frequent price concessions to win business. You are most probably sick and tired of dealing with repeated…
Internet Vision and Strategy
Here is a message that you might not want to hear. I am willing to bet that your company is not even remotely beginning to harness the full power of the Internet. Moreover I'm also willing to bet that you probably already know this. In a recent survey conducted by WebTrends in which more than 250 Chief Marketing Officers were polled, only 4% of respondents rated themselves and their staffs as…