Marketers tend to make a big deal out of terms like “purpose” and “authenticity.” Why? Because research findings, survey results, and numerous other studies indicate that these things matter to customers. Brands that exist beyond mere profit — and can communicate that purpose clearly — tend to succeed. On the other hand, those that behave in a way that doesn’t match their message are penalized by consumers. They’re…
The in-house agency, like most marketing trends, has had its share of leaps and starts. In 1986, Bank of America led the way with its internal agency, Enterprise Creative Solutions; in 1987, Fidelity Investments followed, founding Fidelity Communications and Advertising. Then, as quickly as it had come, interest in internal agencies waned. It wasn’t until the early 2000s, with the proliferation of mobile and digital marketing, that the…
If you’re not a product manager, you might wonder why the role is sometimes called the “product CEO” or even the “second CEO.” Don’t those terms also describe the head of engineering? What about the CTO? Unlike the typical CTO or lead engineer, product managers touch every area of the business. They’re responsible for the product’s progress, of course, but they also coordinate with marketing, sales, procurement, and…
There’s something to be said for focusing on the here and now. But to say that you can only control the present is a shortsighted view of business management. Smart leaders are equally focused on how they can prepare for the future. The Marks of a Forward Thinking Company As a business leader, you have no choice but to focus on what’s in front of you – the…
Entrepreneurs are persistent people and innovative thinkers, but if there’s one thing that they’re not very good at as a group, it would be saving for retirement. What’s the problem? Simply put, starting a business can leave entrepreneurs in a financially precarious situation with little money left to save or invest for their retirement years. What can you save when you’re running up debt and living on loans?…
Large, complex projects are twice as likely to be delivered late, go over budget, and have missing critical features. You can use the best project management tools on the market and still fall behind. Avoid a dismal fate for your next big project with the following project management strategies: Get your project managers PMP certified If you’ve hired a skilled project manager without Project Management Professional (PMP) certification,…
A business should always be moving towards a set of goals. As soon as one set of goals is accomplished, a new set of objectives needs to be put in place. But how do you track how your team is doing in between goal creation and realization? The Importance of Tracking Progress Whether it’s a fitness goal, business objective, or anything in between, tracking progress from the beginning…
If you have reasonably sound credit, it’s easy to get a personal loan – in fact, there are probably several companies actively clamoring to loan you money. When starting a business or trying to grow your company, though, steer clear of using personal funds. Despite the easy access, introducing personal funds into your professional endeavors can get messy quickly and leave your credit in shambles if things go…
Just like human beings, startups that grow up go through “teenage” years. No longer is the founder’s basement an acceptable workplace, but office rental costs aren’t exactly within reach, either. That sole salesperson has an assistant now, but can two people truly be called a “department”? Perhaps the most awkward part of business adolescence, however, has to do with office management. With two or three, it might’ve been…
This week’s episode of the Live Different Podcast is all about cryptocurrency, building a business, and transforming one’s life. The Guest Michael Jacobs, also known as NYE, is an avid speaker, world explorer, content creator, and digital marketing specialist in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. Ever since 2017, he’s been trading in the cryptocurrency space while running his company Elevated District at the same time. Elevated District helps blockchain and…
