Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter I recently had the privilege of delivering the opening keynote at The Great Game of Business (GGOB) Conference in St. Louis, Mo. I brought my daughter with me. She is heading off to college soon, so the trip gave us a chance to mix a little […]
Give Your People a Stake in the Game Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter One of the hardest things for a leader to abandon is not a failed idea. It is a good idea that no longer serves the strategy. In a recent piece, I explored what I learned from Ron Johnson, co-creator of the Apple Store, about looking beyond
The Courage to Hit Rewind Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter When companies talk about growth, they usually start by looking across the battlefield. Who has the customers we want? What would persuade them to switch? How can we offer a better product, a lower price or a more compelling experience than our competitor? It is logical.
Stop Fighting for Your Competitor’s Customers Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter I recently tried to boost a clip on Instagram from my Outthinker podcast with Eric Ries. Meta rejected it as political content. The apparent problem? Eric was questioning existing securities laws. Think about what happened there. An algorithm interpreted an idea, classified it according to rules
When an Algorithm Decides Which Ideas You Can Share Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter What do people feel when you walk into the room? Not what do they think of your strategy. Not whether they liked your presentation. Not even whether they agree with you. What happens to their energy? Do people sit up a little straighter? Do ideas start
What Is Your Leadership Brand? Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter “Can we afford it?” Every business owner, executive team and board has asked the question before making an investment. But there is another question we ask far less often: Can we afford to stop too soon? The most meaningful investments rarely produce their full return immediately.
Can We Afford to Stop Too Soon? Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter We ate a big salad outside under one of Seattle’s rare, brilliant blue skies. My friend Chris Hare, an expert in the science of storytelling, had invited a fascinating group of new friends from companies including Microsoft, Costco and Amazon over for a housewarming dinner. The
The Right Time to Grow Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter The chief of staff to the CEO often functions as the chief strategy officer, whether the organization recognizes it or not. This is not because the chief of staff necessarily owns strategic planning or carries the CSO title. It is because the role sits at the
Your Chief of Staff May Already Be the Chief Strategy Officer Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter On a recent onboarding call with a new Outthinker member, we were discussing the role of the chief strategy officer when he offered a description that made me laugh. If the position is not carefully defined, he said, the CSO can quickly become the “Chief Random
Avoiding Strategic Drift: How Strategy Officers Keep Companies On Course Read More »
Listen to an AI audio recording of this newsletter Our house in Miami is slowly disappearing into boxes. For years, it has held the evidence of a family becoming itself: books read and forgotten, photographs waiting to be framed, furniture chosen for rooms we no longer use in the same way, and objects that belonged
What Constraints Reveal: What We Choose to Keep Says Everything About What We Value Most Read More »
