Ask Paul Abbot, the Executive Vice President of Commercial Payments at American Express what he thinks separates AmEx from the competition and he will give you three simple differentiators: trust, service and relationships. In an interview with CEO magazine, he said, “Service is very much the heart and soul of the company… Our customers expect exceptional service every day because that is the stan... »
A quick, fun read by Bryant McBride in Worth magazine recently reminded me of the story of so many of my top clients… and my own story. In 1982, after being notified by their landlord that their rent would go up from $2,000 per month to $10,000 per month in less than 60 days, Tim and Dagny DuVal scrambled to find new space in a city that didn’t have a whole lot of what they wanted. In a bad part o... »
Recently, McDonald’s announced it is switching to fresh beef after nearly 40 years of using frozen meat for their hamburgers. (Source: New York Times) The company will start with the quarter pounder, then gradually shift the entire burger menu to fresh, never-frozen beef, as they refocus on “returning to their roots” as a burger joint. Several failed attempts to introduce healthier items like smoo... »
According to Kate Kaye’s recent article in Advertising Age, the next frontier in advertising coupons is coming to a car near you. Kaye shares details on the collaboration between General Motors, their OnStar equipped vehicles and Koupon Media. “The relationship reflects what’s becoming an everyday reality for consumers: more ads in connected things, including their vehicles. Koupon helps GM ... »
A special report in The Economist examines the extremely slow changes in television viewing habits and why, as I’ve been teaching for years, it takes media decades to really change. On-line marketers have predicted the death of direct mail, email, cold-calling, radio, television and everything else that was supposed to be completed replaced by the web. Yet, here we are with television approaching ... »
Joseph Davis takes a unique stand against the contempt dished out by his fellow journalists and intellectuals towards self-help books and journals. Granted, there are a lot of self-help books that are peddled by “snakeoil salesmen,” as some of Davis’ colleagues demonstrate. Yet, there is a deeper lesson to be learned by the long-standing use and wide range of books and articles that have our atten... »
According to ComScore Mobile Metrix, the average 18-24 year old spends 93.5 hours per month using smartphone apps. That’s 28 forty-hour work weeks per year. Time spent on desktop and traditional media is holding steady or going down while time on mobile continues to increase. By 2018, AdAge predicts the share of internet advertising going to mobile platforms will be 53%. As of 2016, mobile represe... »
As The New Criterion turns 35 years old this year, editor Roger Kimball is exploring the topic of conservatism and populism. I’ve often been warned not to mix religion or politics into my coaching and consulting and I’ve equally-as-often reminded those critics that I do this for my cleft palate foundation, as a charity and as part of my mission to pay it forward and help other doctors in their pra... »
Ask anyone today about technology and you’re likely to hear about the amazing transformations happening across the board. Silicon Valley has exponentially grown the number of tech startups and has created millions of jobs. Here’s the only problem: today’s apps and tech startups like Nest and Alphabet’s other Google projects can’t hold a candle to the benefit indoor ... »
Here’s a shocker: network television continues to cling to programming that works. We’re basically seeing the faithful formulas that worked decades ago continue to succeed today. Even the popular series, Empire, is only a slight twist on the traditional soap opera format. An article in the Atlantic by David Sims reviews the trend in more detail, but below I’ve summarized the most important p... »
When a new client comes to me for help growing the practice, there is often confusion and frustration at the overwhelming inability to get things done. “Where do I start,” and, “How will I find the time to get everything implemented,” are the most popular questions for doctors staring at the work required to double, triple or even quadruple their annual revenue and net income. In a recent article ... »
Every year in the United States, we waste 2 million hours on performance reviews. Business and research leaders are encouraging companies to ditch the traditional performance review. In this interesting article from the Harvard Business Review, David Rock and Beth Jones explain how companies can still maintain a pay for performance culture without clinging to “forced ranking” or rating... »
Although we’re a long way off from printing complex organs via bioengineering, digital health promises to change the way patients interact with doctors, giving them more control and providing researchers and healthcare leaders greater ability to identify broad trends. Andrew Ward provides an interesting look at the future of digital health with several trends that you should pay attention t... »
The Pew Charitable Trusts are often quoted and mentioned in my newsletters as sources of excellent survey data and reports on topics of interest. Recently, Pew published a report on the state of dental sealants throughout the U.S. Many states are pushing in-school programs with dental sealants placed by hygienists. With as many variations on the programs as there are states, Pew’s in-depth ... »
– DUSTIN BURLESON, DDS In this month’s Harvard Buiness Review, Jordan Etkin and Cassie Mogilner take a look at one of my favorite pet peeves, multitasking. Years ago, when I was involved in the hiring process and actually read resumes, (we have a much more sophisticated system for seeking out great talent now) nearly every applicant listed the word “multitasking” as a job strength. If you’ve hung ... »
Container Store CEO Kip Tindell was one of the Inc. 5000 Awards Gala keynote speakers this year with a powerful message for business owners both large and small. Conscious capitalism, as he calls it, is building a business where everyone around you thrives. Employees, customers, vendors, share holders and the community. It’s possible and Tindell is proving the point. With 3 year growth o... »
Glassdoor already told us the happiest workplaces, and on Thursday it released its list of the best tech companies to intern at. Facebook has knocked Google from the top spot, which the search giant has held the last two years. The list was compiled based on at least 20 former and current intern reviews from January of 2013 to 2014. The top 25 companies featured in the chart below were still hirin... »
As widely speculated late Wednesday night, Comcast and Time Warner Cable‘s boards announced on Thursday that the two companies were merging in a deal reportedly worth more than $45 billion in stock. Indeed, the #1 and #2 cable providers in the country, respectively, are joining forces to form a single, massive conglomerate that would ostensibly wield considerable influence. Per the terms of ... »
If you believe the hype, driverless vehicles, embedded sensors, immersive interfaces and a host of new wearable technology will soon be changing the world as we know it. But which of these new technologies will become an imminent marketable reality and which of them are destined for another decade of development? The ‘hype cycle’, a five stage development curve can help marketers distill what’s ho... »
Above: The Oliver Sweeney range of handcrafted shoes features on start-up website VeryFirstTo, helping to boost its credentials The concept of the wingman – someone in a supportive role – is well-known on the dating scene, where a friend can help another navigate the complicated singles landscape. But the idea is also gaining traction among start-ups, who are engaging like-minded compa... »
The definition of faith in the truest sense of the word expands far beyond a belief in God or an acceptance of heaven or hell. If I take a plane to Hawaii from Chicago, which I do twice a year with my family, while I might pray before we take off, my faith in the pilot, the aircraft and even air traffic control is also being exercised whether I mention it or not. Driving through the downtown area ... »
Aspiring tech entrepreneurs, the whole country needs you to get off the bench. The high-tech startup community boxes way above its economic weight, and, unfortunately for the entire U.S. economy, it’s looking a bit run down, a new report shows. “Despite its relatively small size—representing just 4.1 percent of total private-sector firms in 2011—the high-tech sector packs a lot of economic punch,”... »
Question: I design custom jewelry. I have had several home-based parties and sold $3,000 to $5,000 worth of cuffs, earrings, and rings at each. I work with a local silversmith who does fabulous work, but he is limited in the number of pieces he can produce because each design is handcrafted. I would like to expand my business to a broader audience, but I need advice on how to increase production a... »
Research on small business credit quality from Experian (EXPN) and Moody’s Analytics (MCO) has highlighted a continental divide. Small businesses in Western states are riding high on an improving housing market, access to Asian markets, and the shale energy boom. East coast businesses have been weighed down by a slower housing recovery and greater exposure to dicey European economies. A report pub... »
Does your little home office make you feel like a small fish? Here’s what the big fish think of you. Stress comes from all angles for the entrepreneur. One would think that working from the comfort of home would decrease stress. That’s not necessarily so. While many small-business owners value the freedom and lower cost of a home-based office, they also worry about being “found o... »
It’s that time of year when people think about starting a new home-based business. Here’s how to find the right legal structure and stay-out of trouble. The end of the year is a time when people contemplate starting their own business. Whether that contemplation is triggered by an end-of-year layoff or a new year’s resolution, home-based businesses will be on the minds of many. A... »
