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Rebel Brown Articles

Written by: Rebel Brown

The Fear We Face - Click To Read Article
What if everything we fear was only in our minds - and the opportunities for business growth and success (personal too) are out there waiting for us to take that single step - beyond our fear?

The Grass is Always Greener - Click To Read Article
Greener pastures are like the sirens of the sea - they lure you in with promises of ease and opportunity - and then leave you wondering what happened as you find youself starting over in a strange land.

5 Critical Shifts for New Economy Success - Click To Read Article
Here are a few critical shifts that power success in the new economy. I've been sharing them with clients and audiences lately and thought I'd share with readers too.

Doing and the New Economy - Click To Read Article
A crisp, well-defined goal helps us focus our doing. With a specific goal in sight, we can leverage all of our actions into a coordinated effort. Each step of doing becomes a building block for reaching our ultimate goal. We're more efficient, we get more done and we're more successful.

Do You Think Like Your Customer? - Click To Read Article
Pay attention to the words customers use to describe their business. That's the language you want to learn - and use.

My Own Personal Storm - Click To Read Article
Previously I chatted about the storms we know - and avoid anyway. Until they run us down. Today I want to share a story about my own storm - and how I ignored it until it was staring me in the face, ready to blow me over.

The Storm We Know - Click To Read Article
We all know there are storms around our businesses. We can name them and describe them. But how often are we looking them straight on?

What Do You Expect? - Click To Read Article
Often we get so used to the way we\'ve lived, done business, spent money and more - that we are stuck in the expectations of the past - and can\'t see the new opportunities all around us.

Control is an Illusion - Click To Read Article
The reality is that we can’t control our environment; the economy, our buyers, families, partners or neighbors, the waiter at the restaurant, the valet with our car or airplane mechanic fixing the problem. Often we can’t even control ourselves.

Beyond the Fence - Click To Read Article
How often do we hear that we can’t be successful, can’t expect to have what we had before, can’t expect success to come again.

3 Steps to Get Your Groove Back - Click To Read Article
How do you get your Groove back for profitability in the new economy?

The Danger of Knowing - Click To Read Article
The problem with being an expert is that in some cases you don't know what you don't know. You get so good at one area that you assume you can apply what you know to another similar area. Uh oh.

Blinded by the Light - Click To Read Article
We choose so often to see the safety of what we want to see, instead of the scary storm that's approaching us. When the storm hits - we drop to our knees in shock and ask, "What the heck happened? How can this be?"

Success as a Circle - Click To Read Article
Bayer initiated a classic Zero Gravity strategy by shifting their focus onto a new and growing market opportunity with a new value applied to the same product.

Innovation in Place - Click To Read Article
Innovation only happens when we shift out of our knowns and into a new place - of thinking, seeing and believing. That’s a really hard thing for experts to do - after all, that’s why you’re an expert. Yet that’s exactly what leading innovators do. They throw their expertise to the wind and look at the world through fresh eyes.

The Straight Line to Mediocrity - Click To Read Article
I came out of Business School believing that all business success was really a straight line. The idea that we can create a straight line to success is 20th century thinking.

Zero Gravity Business Growth - PetRelocation - Click To Read Article
Do you have an emerging growth opportunity staring you in the face? Have you shifted your focus look around for one lately?

The Infinite Loop to Nowhere - Click To Read Article
We've all experienced it in business. The analysis of every detail, every potential outcome. We search and search for facts, figures, consenting opinions, a quorum vote - we want to be sure. We let analysis get in the way of success. Especially as our world accelerates around us. All that analysis puts us farther and farther behind.

How to Defy Analysis Paralysis - Click To Read Article
Above all - it's time to realize that no amount of analysis will guarantee a sure thing. There are no sure things in today's world. Sitting in our offices analyzing and reviewing data and abstract opinions from supposed experts takes time away from being in the market, watching and learning.

1 Step Forward, 2 Steps Back - Click To Read Article
The old adage is a pure form of Gravity....here's why.

What do You Deserve? - Click To Read Article
This week I have been talking about customer service and our expectations, and my own experiences. Today I want to share a lesson I learned as I evaluated my own behavior patterns when it comes to selecting vendors and their service levels.

Rebel’s Ranting: The Digital Wolf - Click To Read Article
There's a new breed in our digital world. I call it the Digital Wolf. We all know them. Digitally met and connected associates disguised as coaches and mentors and givers of self - talking the great talk and walking the all-about-me walk.

Three Cheers for Marketing Innovation - Click To Read Article
I love great marketing. I especially love great marketing that shows Zero Gravity thinking - mapping innovative value to real-time buyer needs. After all, the formula for business growth doesn't have to be difficult. It's really quite simple.

The Art of Demanding - Click To Read Article
Last week someone told me I was too demanding. It's not the first time I've heard it, so I decided to share some of my experiences and let my readers tell me what you think. So here goes....

I’m Righteous about My Customers - Click To Read Article
Today I want to chat a little bit about the status quo Gravity of crappy customer service we all seem to be experiencing. This is a different kind of Gravity - it holds businesses back, and it also holds customers down. It throws a big wet blanket over buyer and seller, industry by industry.

Eruptus Vitae - Click To Read Article
We live in a constant state of eruptions, or interruptions. Whether it's a at crisis at work, a call from home, an opportunity that comes up or a social media chat that distracts - we are interrupt driven.

Angels Are All Around Us - Click To Read Article
Angels are all around us. I've written about many of them but there are so many more angels out there who use the digital world to help the less fortunate; giving of themselves, their time and their energy to make the world a better place. What a contrast they bring to the self-centered wolves.

Changing Lanes and Shiny Objects - Click To Read Article
How often do we dart back and forth between products, markets, marketing strategies, sales tactics and even our very organizational structures - looking for a quick fix or a fast way to get ahead?

High-Velocity Business Growth: Instagram - Click To Read Article
I love it when a company consciously learns from real world users, then takes off like a rocket ship. That's exactly what's happening to Instagram, a hot photo-sharing startup.

Don’t Blame Mental Pause - Click To Read Article
Lately I catch myself in mid-action, trying to remember what the heck I was doing. Or trying to remember what I was going to do next, where I was going when I started up my web browser. To add insult to injury, the other night I cut my finger reaching for my phone on my kitchen counter. I'd just turned the lights off but I knew the phone was there. I simply forgot that I’d placed the knife next to the phone. I hurriedly reached for the phone, and sliced myself pretty good.

So Your Business Strategy is a Success but the Business Died? - Click To Read Article
Whether it's in our personal or business lives, we often just plain need to change our plans to be successful. The question is, do we alter our course, or do we just keep going according to plan?

Does Business Growth Trump Social Responsibility? - Click To Read Article
As leaders, do we have a social responsibiity on how we promote our products? Or is it every man, woman and teenager for himself?

Those Damned Assumptions - Click To Read Article
We're all pretty much programmed to have assumptions. We assume things based on our own perspectives, our history and our observations.

What Does Your Gut Say? - Click To Read Article
Everybody has an opinion. On pretty much everything.

What are Your True Colors? - Click To Read Article
Digital connectedness is the chance to show our true colors. When we take advantage of this opportunity to use it for false propaganda, we're cheating more than our audiences.

Preempting Perception - Click To Read Article
Most marketing folks believe that perception is the Holy Grail when it comes to marketing our brands or products. We strive to create the perception of a winner - that product or services that buyers can't live without - or so they believe. But what happens when perception trumps reality?

Mine’s Bigger than Yours! - Click To Read Article
Is anyone else tired of all the hype marketing? I don’t mean all marketing. I’m talking about the hand-waving promises that are so unrealistic as to be laughable. Perfect teeth in 4 days, hair re-growth in a few applications or a perfect body in only 2 weeks thanks to some revolutionary rubber band. Stretch it 3 times a day and look like a fashion model in no time. Wow.

How Good is Your Guru? - Click To Read Article
The meteoric rise of the guru, thanks to social media, is an interesting and sometimes scary phenomenon for us. Why? Because among our supposed gurus are, well, a number of just plain empty suits. What did I just say? Heresy!

Who's Got Your Power? - Click To Read Article
Never, ever give your power away to another. That's some really critical wisdom for our business and our personal lives. Yet how often do we give away our power, without realizing we are slipping down that slope?

Do you Want to be a Market Leader? - Click To Read Article
What did I just say? Don't fret, I didn't lose my mind or go off the deep end. I still believe that the best way to be a market leader is to plot your own course. But sometimes a successful course doesn't follow traditional thinking.

How do you Draw the Line? - Click To Read Article
I was raised to believe in the potential of people, to see others at their best and hold them there - even if they were struggling to live up to their opportunities. I was brought up to have faith in people. I still operate that way. The alternative is too darned negative for me to comprehend. But right now, I'm struggling with how to live by that philosophy and also run a business in the best way.

Are you a Chameleon? - Click To Read Article
I caught myself doing the chameleon these past few weeks. Instead of following my own voice - I was patterning some of the folks I most admire. Not necessarily a bad thing - but still a chameleon move.

Great Leaders Among Us - Click To Read Article
There's nothing like blending leadership and the power of Zero Gravity thinking to make a huge difference - in life and in business.

Are You in Your Own Way? - Click To Read Article
I catch myself in my own way so often. I have to laugh. What's really interesting is that it's usually different variations on the same theme. My Gravity just keeps shifting in its specific form, but comes back to the same core beliefs.

The Shifting Sands of Business Growth - Click To Read Article
Our markets can be like the shifting sands of the desert. They change and evolve - yet we may not notice because they still appear to be the same 'desert' landscape. Yet ahead of years have changed significantly beneath the surface.

Is Fear Making Your Decisions? - Click To Read Article
Did you ever notice how comfortable you can become with fear? So comfortable that you don’t even know that Fear is making decisions for you?

Business Growth, the NFL Playoffs and What If? - Click To Read Article
Shifts can hit us from out of the blue. Sometimes we never see the shift coming until it's upon us. Just like the Ravens on Saturday. The energy of the game had shifted to them in the fourth quarter and they appeared to be unstoppable. And then - the momentum shifted.

Business Growth in the Grey Zone - Click To Read Article
Many of us were taught that there is one right answer to any decision we might have to make. That's a big-time Gravity belief. It leads to black-and-white thinking, missed opportunities and limited potential.

2011 Business Growth Strategies: #3 Get Closer to Your Markets - Click To Read Article
In the last decade many businesses embraced the idea of being customer-driven, market-focused and all the other buzz words. But did we really act upon that direction, or merely give it lip service? In my experience - many businesses remained stuck in the status quo even as they believed they were shifting to a 'market-driven" reality. Why?

2011 Business Growth Strategy #4: Check Your Business Model - Click To Read Article
We all know our business models inside and out, right? We know where we make money, where we lose money, where we invest and recently, where we tighten our belts. But are we really executing on the best business model for growth?

2011 Business Growth Strategies #1: Think Different - Click To Read Article
Thinking differently is a big deal in today’s “new economy” and a key factor in powering 2011 success.

2011 Business Growth Strategies #2: Be Distinct & Compelling - Click To Read Article
We all nod our heads when someone talks about the need to deliver distinct, compelling value to our markets. We just assume that our value is as distinct and compelling as it was last year, or the year before - or whenever we were initially successful with it. But is our value really distinct? And if it is distinct - is it compelling to our markets?

Zero Gravity Business Growth: Chocomize - Click To Read Article
Three college grads who couldn't find jobs in the new economy start a candy business and turn profitable in four months. Chocomize is a bigtime Zero Gravity Company!

Zero Gravity Business Growth: Frito Lay - Click To Read Article
Frito Lay is a giant in the snack food industry. They're also a Zero Gravity business in their commitment to social responsibility. We can all learn from their actions… and commitment.

Zero Gravity Business: Grey New York - Click To Read Article
What happens when a New York ad agency’s creative team is booted out of their posh offices and moved into a 70’s style sea of ugly earth toned cubicles?

Zero Gravity Business: LifeLock - Click To Read Article
Sometimes you have to take the plunge, do something different or whacky just to get attention. Check out Lifelock, a Zero Gravity Business.

It's Not the Size that Counts - Click To Read Article
Little things matter - big time.

How to Limit Business Growth in 2011 - Click To Read Article
Ask anyone about business focus and they'll begin talking about staying the course, sticking to the plan, 1, 3 and 5 year objectives. We keep focusing on that same profit margin (or lately, cash balance) as our goal - and miss opportunities for growth, investment and new markets along the way. That doesn't cut it in today's dynamic world.

The Gravity of I Can't - Click To Read Article
The more I learn about Gravity, the more I learn how sneaky it is. I find Gravity within myself in the most unexpected, places - areas of my life where I would swear to you that I have cleared all remnants of limitation and past programming.

My Own Worst Enemy - Click To Read Article
I was so surprised to find these beliefs inherently buried in my subconscious. Guiding my thoughts, my behaviors and my dreams. I thought I was far beyond my old habits of financial limitation - but guess what? I only limited them to my subconscious. They were still alive and kicking in the back of my mind.

5 Steps to Create Financial Opportunity - Click To Read Article
This week I’ve been sharing a huge financial Gravity Brick I found in my life - and its extremely limiting impact on my personal and professional success. I’m committed to Defying this Gravity around my financial self for good. Here are my steps – which are the same steps that you can apply to ANY form of Gravity Bricks in your life too!

Don't Break the Eggs - Click To Read Article
You can't be dynamic without breaking some eggs and tipping the boat. It's impossible.

The Gravity of Doing - Click To Read Article
Taking stock, reflecting on our business, its opportunities and issues - being in the reality of our business versus doing and doing and more doing - that's the way to Defy Gravity thinking and see with a fresh perspective. We simply cannot be in our reality, see our truth - when we are so busy doing.

Lost in Space - Click To Read Article
Here is a question for you. If I were to go after five of your employees in different areas about your business strategy and goals - would they all tell me the same story?

Set Us Free - Click To Read Article
We sometimes dread stepping up for the truth - especially when it's an unpopular position. We fret and fear, wonder how people will react and then finally - when we do step up - we feel so much better. And usually people embrace the truth much better than we expected.

The Gravity of Black and White - Click To Read Article
We all get stuck in 'black and white' thinking, especially when it comes to rules and regulations. But every rule was made to apply to a specific time and place – and what happens when that time and place has changed, dramatically?

Ready. Set. Check! - Click To Read Article
Only when we continuously and consciously shift our perspectives - from Gravity to Growth, from Known to New - will we reach for and attain sustainable growth.

Will you Stand up for the Truth? - Click To Read Article
I've been struggling this last week with a sticky situation. Actually as I write that, I realize it doesn't have to be a sticky situation. It's only sticky because of fear. My own fear, which has been fueled to a flame by the fear of others.

There's a Hole in the World - Click To Read Article
The world lost a great man and leader last week. Mike Fields was one of the most amazing man I ever knew. He was bigger than life, conquering barrier after barrier to rise from a very humble beginning to become one of the most powerful Afro-American leaders in the Silicon Valley.

The Gravity of Greed - Click To Read Article
The Gravity of Greed does nothing to help us succeed. Nickel and diming customers, penny- pinching to focus on getting every potential piece of revenue out of our markets, is not a strategy for success. It will backfire every time.

Subtle Shifts - Click To Read Article
I let my own Gravity diminish my dreams. The shift was so subtle I didn't even notice - until my new friend began playing back a bigger set of dreams. What about your dreams? Have you checked them lately?

3 Simple Shifts to Success in the New Economy - Click To Read Article
History has proven that the best opportunities for success come on the heels of an economic dip. Now is the time to shift your thinking and your actions. When you shift your focus from Gravity to Growth - your business will do the same.

Lessons From My Wallet - Click To Read Article
I want to share a funny story today about my own Gravity. I find Gravity in my life so often I just have to giggle.

I Need Some Help - Click To Read Article
How often do you ask for help from others? If you're like me, it's a hard thing to do. Many of us are taught that asking for help equates to not being capable, to admitting some kind of flaw or weakness.

Priorities - Click To Read Article
If you think you're too busy to question your business legends and knowns about your products your value and your business - stop and ask yourself "Why am I in business? Who am I here to serve?"

Letting Go - Click To Read Article
Letting go is one of the hardest things we humans can do. It's in our nature to hang on tightly to things that are safe, comfortable and make us feel good. Whether it's our favorite belief or our favorite teddy bear – we like to hang on to what we know.

Horizons of Opportunity - Click To Read Article
Opportunity is all around us. That’s why we need to focus.

Is Fear Really a Great Motivator? - Click To Read Article
The idea behind Provocative Selling is basically to scare the heck out of your customer by creating Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt about their business and its future. Since when did fear become the primary motivator for customer relationships?

A Lesson from 33 - Click To Read Article
33 men escaped their underground cell smiling and positive, joined together in faith, defying all the odds. Just think what can we do with a focus on the positive when the little bumps hit our lives.

Changing the Game - Click To Read Article
Changing the Game can save our butts.

Time For A New Pump - Click To Read Article
Our economy has moved on, offering new and exciting opportunities for success to those who are willing to ditch their gravity, think differently and move on to new ways of creating sustainable profits.

The Dangers of HindSight - Click To Read Article
Don't assume Hindsight is 20/20. That will send you reeling every time.

Broken Promises - Click To Read Article
How do you react when people promise to do something - and then don't?

5 Lessons from a Master Storyteller - Click To Read Article
We can all learn to bring our message to life with fabulous stories. We can all learn to be better storytellers - focusing on our customers and prospects, and not our own chest thumping selves. That's where true marketing begins!

A Recipe for Change - Click To Read Article
When we challenge the status quo, we do so for one reason… to bring change. We are driven to solve a personal challenge, a business challenge, or something bigger. Moving from where we are to where we need to be is the goal. Recently, a friend sent me a copy of a new book called The Recipe: a fable for leaders and teams by Amilya Antonetti. This is not your typical business book full of leadership theory or case studies and models.

But It Never Rains... - Click To Read Article
"Never" is a very long time. It's also a high Gravity word. "Never" clouds our vision, limits our growth and leaves us just plain blindsided - standing in gravity, clueless and completely unprepared. This Gravity impacts our business and personal lives.

Beginner's Mind - Click To Read Article
Beginner’s Mind is an amazing way to prepare yourself to learn. Being able to let go of any suppositions and simply be a sponge is a gift beyond explanation. But we must also be selective when it comes to Beginner’s Mind. We all have expertise in some areas. And those areas often overlap with areas of Beginner’s Mind.

I Missed the Joy - Click To Read Article
One of the biggest dreams in my life has been to become a published author. That dream came true last week. Last week I launched my first book - Defy Gravity. And I was so stuck in my own Gravity, I missed the joy.

2 Sure Signs of Gravity Ahead - Click To Read Article
We are Natural Born Gravity Machines - we create Gravity as part of our daily experience. That means we have to defy gravity as part of our daily experience too - if we want to grow beyond the excuses and into the freedom of limitless thinking and being.

Growing in a Down Economy - Click To Read Article
When we deliver unique true compelling value that matches opportunities where buyers will pay for that value, we fuel our growth.

Enough with the Insults Already! - Click To Read Article
We have seen a social phenomenon of quite ordinary people transform within a short space of time into power-crazed business chiefs who apparently succeed by an ethos which is tantamount to the feudal system. It is the mission of Realize Publishing Co. to facilitate the connection of all entrepreneurs, of whatever scale, wishing to belong to and trade within a system where everybody wins. Our vision is to create a world-class resource base that becomes a recognisable reference for people aspiring to achieve their optimum business and personal potential by trading with integrity and passion.

Stuck in a Pigeon Hole - Click To Read Article
Do you take the progress others have made into account when you view the folks around you? It's hard - because we can all change and adapt so quickly. Especially when we are focused on making a positive and significant change in ourselves, our lives and our capabilities.

Sweating the Wrong Stuff - Click To Read Article
Whatever it is - if we choose to focus on something that is known, comfortable and in our control, even as other things are crying for our attention - well, we're sweating the wrong stuff. And that's a great big Gravity No No.

Gravity Freeze - Click To Read Article
The media is contributing heavily to the belief that there's little hope for any forward progress in terms of our economy. Thanks to the continued negative press and coverage - a lot of people are Frozen in Gravity, hopeless as to a recovery of any kind.

A Recipe for Gravity Suck and Staying Stuck - Click To Read Article
You hear a lot of advice from the so called experts. Defy Gravity! Be forward thinking! Be innovative! But what if you don’t want to? What if you like things just the way they are right now, and have no desire to make stratospheric leaps in your business or increase your results?

Profitable Non-Profits - Click To Read Article
Randy Seitz is taking the traditional approaches of 'non-profits' and turning them on their ear - challenging status quo in every aspect of his operations. I'm inspired by Randy's innovative thoughts on turning a non-profit into a self-sustaining entity. This is a fabulous example of defying Gravity for all of us.

How to Upgrade to the Next Version of Yourself - Click To Read Article
ULTIMATELY: Upgrading yourself benefits everybody. Here's how.

How Quickly We Forget - Click To Read Article
I started using Dragon Naturally Speaking products about a year ago. I actually bought the software some three years ago but had a few false starts and finally gave up on the idea of dictating to my computer. It wasn't that the products were hard to use or didn't work - they are easy and do work.

Business By Belief - Click To Read Article
Yesterday we chatted about fear and how it can limit our business growth and success. Today I want to chat a bit about the business beliefs that fear can create - the status quo Gravity that is so often driven by our fears.

Zero Gravity Business - Southwest Airlines - Click To Read Article
While every other airline in the industry is in trouble, Southwest continues to grow and thrive. Why? Southwest ditched the status quo that brings Gravity to the airline industry. Here's how.

The Gravity of Failure - Click To Read Article
We can and should learn from failures. We just need to be thoughtful about the lessons we carry forward.

Don’t Overlook the Wealth of Intellectual Capital - Click To Read Article
“We’re forced to close because the bank will not loan us the money we need.” Phrases like this have been heard too many times the last several years, and yes, it’s unfortunate, but here’s my perspective: “Companies don’t fail due to a lack of financial capital. They fail due to a lack of intellectual capital.”

Breaking the Rules - Click To Read Article
Sometimes the power of your brand, the magic of the story you weave and the image you create can help you break even the tried and true rules.

Balance or the Big Bang? - Click To Read Article
I like to swing for the fence as much as anyone. For me, the key to winning with big change or innovation is to make the Big Shifts the exception rather than the rule. An exception that kicks into overdrive when the time and the opportunity is right, not as a standard business practice.

4 Ways We Kill Innovation - Click To Read Article
Yet when we separate innovation from our core business, set it apart as a unique process or proposition - we position innovation as "outside" our core business. We make innovation the exception rather than the rule, treat it as a point in time exercise rather than an integral part of the way we operate on a daily basis. Only when we embrace innovation as a conscious and continuous part of our daily actions can we reap the will rewards of innovation.

Your Customers Are Your Most Valuable Asset - Click To Read Article
The following story illustrates not only how important it is to take seriously the way we treat our past customers, but it also shows just how easy it is to blow what could otherwise be a lasting win, win situation for everyone involved.

What is Gravity? - Click To Read Article
I’m interested in Business and Personal Gravity – and you should be too. Why? Because Business and Personal Gravity are the single biggest reasons we get stuck in the way we've always done it and stop growing.

The Grey Zone - Click To Read Article
Growth often thrives in the Grey Zone - outside of the Black and White rules we learned in B School. Do you spend enough time investigating your Grey Zones?

The Law of Attraction in Business - Click To Read Article
Most businesses don't follow the Law of Attraction, at all. I think that's a status quo approach that brings loads of Gravity. It's time to change that thinking.

Passion, the Herd and Objectivity - Click To Read Article
We all talk about the value of objectivity. But it’s not as easy as it sounds. It’s easy to lose our objectivity, to adopt the beliefs and perspectives of those around us. The more we interact with others and their beliefs, the easier it is to mind meld with them, and lose our objective focus.

Lousy Bosses Pull You Down: How to fix things - Click To Read Article
Talk about gravity. One of the most powerful things pulling down organizational performance and morale is lousy bosses.

How to Step Out and Soar Amidst the Noise of Social Networking Today: Finding Your Wings In the Middle of the Big Flap! - Click To Read Article
There are five key ingredients to getting noticed in today’s crowded virtual networking. Once you have these soundly in place, simply continue to mix with consistence and persistence for results that will have you leading the way and soaring above the din of those unable to defy gravity.

Corporate Legends - Click To Read Article
Corporate Legends Live Long. But we don't always prosper. What are Corporate Legends? Well, those are the status quo beliefs and practices, based on our past, that we hold near and dear. I see a lot of Corporate Legends in my consulting work. How about I share a favorite with you as an example.

Boring to Bravo - Presentations that Sing! - Click To Read Article
Whether you're giving a presentation to your peers, or are thinking about becoming a professional speaker or are already on that path - Kristin Arnold's new book, Boring to Bravo, is a must read.

Assumptions - Click To Read Article
How often do assumptions step in to define our beliefs, our actions and our very lives? We all know the old rule about what happens when we assume. Yet, I find in my own life that no matter how much I say I won't make assumptions - I still do.

Another One Bites the Dust - Click To Read Article
As Darwin said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

Smashing Pedestals - Click To Read Article
We are all equally flawed and equally filled with the potential for greatness.

Power Chicks Do It Bigger - Click To Read Article
Power Chicks get by with More than Power Dudes!

Comfortable with the Uncomfortable - Click To Read Article
Human beings have an amazing capacity to adapt. But adapting too easily in the face of discomfort can leave us stuck in a no-way-out situation.

Zero Gravity Business Principle # 5: Responsibility - Click To Read Article
We need to change the way we define success - in business and our personal lives. Those definitions create some of the biggest and most dangerous Gravity around.

Personal Gravity Part 2 - Filters - Click To Read Article
Listening isn't just about staying quiet to hear the other person all the way the end of their thought. Listening also demands that we hear others' words with no personal filters associated with that communication. That's a much taller order than simply shutting your mouth until the appropriate time to speak.

When We Look the Other Way - Click To Read Article
The easiest path often isn't the best path. By looking the other way, ignoring the Gravity in front of us, we destine ourselves to a life and business flight bound for trouble. If everyone's ignoring the Gravity - our world will continue to spin farther and farther out-of-control. Gravity will win - and sooner or later we'll crash and burn.

My Own Personal Gravity - Click To Read Article
Personal Gravity includes those beliefs and behaviors that limit us in our personal lives. Personal Gravity runs rampant in all our lives, it's part of being human. We learn from our experiences, hang onto that which we know to be true and create habits - in our thoughts and our behaviors. When those habits no longer serve us - they become Personal Gravity.

Big Doesn’t Mean Slow! - Click To Read Article
Big companies have a choice. We can let our mass drag us down until eventually, we’re nothing but dead weight trying to keep up. Or, we can use our momentum to create change and market disruption - and stay in the lead.

Business Lessons from a Porcupine - Click To Read Article
Sometimes I just love to laugh at the unexpected gems you can find on the internet. Especially the ones that show me a whole new perspective on something.

Zero Gravity Business - Expedia in Flight - Click To Read Article
A big Rebel Yell to Expedia - for listening to their audiences, ditching the way they'd always done it and solving a big problem for their buyers along the way. A Zero Gravity Business example at it's finest!

The Customer is Not Always Right - Click To Read Article
When customers step across the lines above, it’s time to take a hard look at whether you really want to be a business partner with them. Ask yourself - what are your chances of success with this customer. Will they really be profitable? If the answer is “slim to none”, move on!

Settling for Less - Click To Read Article
Poor service seems to have become the status quo. Why is that? In business we all talk the talk of customer focus, we all share the same vision - but in execution we seem to fall far short. I'm beginning to wonder if it's our own fault - as customers, not as business leaders. Are we settling for less?

Manipulation or Marketing? - Click To Read Article
What do you think about BP's latest ad campaigns? Is it marketing or manipulation? Check it out and let me know what you think!

5 Impeccable Ways to Grow Your Business - Click To Read Article
Integrity wins. So be impeccable with your word, even when it means admitting you can’t do it all. Customers will respect you for it. And respect is the basis of any great relationship. 

My First Defy Gravity Interview - Click To Read Article
Kimberly Bohannon or Go For Your Dream interviews Rebel Brown about Defy Gravity and how to grow your business.

The Thin Line - Click To Read Article
How do you react to the word manipulate? Probably not too positively. Manipulation is a bad thing, right? Yet we practice the art of persuasion every day in our businesses - and persuasion is a form of manipulation.

If you Can't Say Something Nice, SHHH, Say Nothing! - Click To Read Article
I make Thumpers song a set rule when speaking about the competition. No matter what the question or comment – I simply refuse to dis the competition. It's the best way to win.

The Power of Solitude - Click To Read Article
It's extremely rare to hear someone say, "I get my best ideas at work." You cannot hope to experience the quiet needed to unearth your greatest ideas if you are running 100 miles an hour and have seventy things on your to-do list.

That Zero Gravity Instinct - Click To Read Article
Does your business have that Zero Gravity instinct for growth.

Market Value is Not Determined by Wall Street - Click To Read Article
For every customer or partner success that we empower, we attain more than just revenue; we capture Market Value.

Is Profit the Sustainable Goal? - Click To Read Article
In our new world, sustainability is just as important as profitability. The question is, how do we push big business to adopt that focus? Especially when that Secret Status Quo is still working in favor of the "big people".

Blue Birds or Vultures? - Click To Read Article
We all have unexpected events fly across our path. The question is - do we see them as blue birds of opportunity, or threatening vultures?

7 Keys to Market Launch Success - Click To Read Article
If you want to launch with market momentum that powers revenues - forget the way you've always done it. Step up and think different!

When Good Enough…Isn’t - Click To Read Article
When it comes to the status quo, one phrase defines it and ensures it will continue.

We're Stuck! - Click To Read Article
In a world where skepticism rules, maybe the lesson we all need to learn from Maverick is that it's time we trusted more.

Too Many Balls - Click To Read Article
Trying to catch all the balls that might contribute to that goal won't propel us to growth. It will just wear us down.

What You Really Need to Know About the Competition - Click To Read Article
When it comes right down to it, the only that really matters is what our buyers think. Focused customer assessment is the best way to learn the truth about ourselves, our competitors and what we really need to enhance our future success.

SNAP Out of Your Sales Status Quo - Click To Read Article
I'm thrilled to share this interview with Jill Konrath about her new Best Selling books, SNAP Selling.

Competitive Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing - Click To Read Article
Nothing we do that follows our competitors will make us market leaders. We abdicate responsibility for our own success and empower the competition to define our future.

7 Examples of Status Quo Interruptus - Click To Read Article
I continue to be amazed at what we can accomplish and discover when we chuck our Gravity and view our world, our lives or our business with a Zero Gravity perspective.

Will Your Sales Defy Gravity? - Click To Read Article
The world of professional sales is on the cusp of major change. This new reality simultaneously threatens and challenges us, but like it or not, things are changing. The question before us is, “Are we going to drive it, or become its victims?”

Who Says we Have to Choose? - Click To Read Article
As you create tactical plans, there’s often no need to choose between a number of great options. You can stage those options, evolve your plan to match the changing winds of the market - and win all those market opportunities for growth!

3 Steps to Avoid Gravity - Click To Read Article
Gravity’s a given – just like Change. But we get to choose how much Gravity we gather.

You Get What You Pay For! - Click To Read Article
Contraction is great for silly dollars. We all know there are ways to save and reduce spending, in our business and in our lives. But we must be conscious and selective about where we cut - and where we invest.

Gravity Happens - Click To Read Article
It's not just dinosaurs that get stuck in a tar pit of gravity. We can all get stuck in our status quo, without even seeing it coming. That's the tough thing about status quo and gravity; they're sneaky. Even the best of innovators can get stuck in gravity sometimes.

Time Honored Truths - Click To Read Article
Challenging our status quo beliefs, actions and processes is important as we reach for sustainable growth. The truths we hold dear may be holding us back. The truths we've forgotten, or ignored, may indeed be our key to success.

Authors as Entrepreneurs and Heroes - Click To Read Article
Whether you are a book review editor, media producer, awards director, or literary association leader, if you are blacklisting bootstrapped authors, you are a huge part of the problem. The talented new voices are out there, but you must be open to hearing them regardless of the business model behind their work. Put your money where your mouth is and support your own.

Serving for Success - Click To Read Article
The elements of business success go far beyond simple bottom line calculations. Success comes from an attitude and focus on serving others, not just our balance sheets.

Are you an 'And' or an 'Or'? - Click To Read Article
Our status quo training tells us that business is a battle. It's either us OR our supposed competitors. What opportunities are we missing because of that thinking?

Dissension in the Ranks - Click To Read Article
Popularity is not the most important part of a leader’s job description. Sometimes the decisions are tough. When we don’t step up and make the tough calls to ditch the dissension, our business and all of our employees suffer.

Adding a Dash of Critical Thinking to the Social Media Stew - Click To Read Article
I guess if there was one thing I could change about the status quo of my business world it would be the lemming-like attitude on the social web.

3 Steps for Leaders When the Customer is Wrong - Click To Read Article
Successful businesses don’t blindly follow others, even their biggest customers. Successful businesses listen and learn from their markets. And then they think for themselves.

5 eMarketing Status Quo Beliefs to Challenge - Click To Read Article
Challenging our status quo beliefs is critical for marketers who want to step up their ability to attract, engage and inform prospects in ways that help them choose to become buyers.

What's Your Intent? - Click To Read Article
We can’t control the news media, the gurus, the drama queens and all the others. We can control our own intent.

Is Can't Limiting Your Growth? - Click To Read Article
Replacing "We can't," with "What if?" is a big step toward releasing the status quo that's holding us back. Once we ditch that gravity, the sky can be our limit! 

Monkey See, Monkey Do - Click To Read Article
The old idea of Monkey See, Monkey Do doesn't just apply to monkeys.

Don't Let Those Assumptions Hold You Back! - Click To Read Article
How often do we not take a positive step forward because we assume we'll have to go through some fires to get there?

The Other Side of Fear - Click To Read Article
Yet once we face that fear - reach out for help - the relief is extraordinary.

Perfectionism is Highly Overrated - Click To Read Article
The next time you catch yourself reaching for perfection – think about what that perfection is costing you?

Lessons from a Maverick - Click To Read Article
What a lesson this brave little horse has to offer.

Leadership Lessons from a Poker Ride - Click To Read Article
What brings success is delivering a quality product or service.

How Sharp Are Your Career Moves? - Click To Read Article
The world around us is changing in every aspect of our personal and professional lives.

Flinching is for Sissies, Right? - Click To Read Article
Asking for help is not a sign of weakness....

Leading for Success in a Changing World - Click To Read Article
Success doesn't come from executing a plan. It comes from offering value to our markets.

The Plan was a Success but the Business Died - Click To Read Article
Planning is a good thing. Don't think I'm saying it's not. We have to plan. The challenge is that human nature, and many of our reward systems, tend to reinforce the plan as the "be-all and end-all." We forget that the plan is a means to an end. The end is profitability, or however we define success.

Signs - Click To Read Article
How often do we see a sign in business and simply ignore it?

3 Leaders Who Follow the Signs - Click To Read Article
These companies trust their intuition, signs and the facts, evolving to intercept opportunities for growth!

Stop with the 4-letter Words! - Click To Read Article
CIOs and BU executives are businessmen. So stop with the argument that they want technical sales information. They have to justify their 'business' just like every other executive. Trust me, they are not discussing 4-letter techno words in their executive meetings.

Buzzwords are BS! - Click To Read Article
Three adjectives and a noun are not a positioning statement!

Stuck in a Rut? - Click To Read Article
Most of us don't like change because it makes us powerless.

If You Can't Say Something Nice - Click To Read Article
When you speak negatively about the competition, you take yourself down a level in your audiences’ eyes.

Is Yesterday's News Preventing Your Success? - Click To Read Article
Never underestimate the power of focus to create success.

I'll Do It Tomorrow - Click To Read Article
“Procrastination is opportunity's natural assassin.” ~Victor Kiam

8 Signs of a Positive Leader - Click To Read Article
How do we know when we're following a true leader instead of a sensationalist?

Transformation Opportunities are All Around Us - Click To Read Article
Business transformation is as natural as business growth - and just as inherent in any company's lifecycle. Transformation is all around us. Businesses transform themselves every day. Transformation is not just about big bangs and massive changes. Transformation happens so often that we often don't even recognize it as transformation.

Changing My Game - Click To Read Article
Have you ditched an old recipe and found a new way to cook up your success?

Cash Cow or Sacred Cow? - Click To Read Article
Getting down to the nitty gritty about a client's 'best sellers' is one of the first things I jump into when I start a new project. More often than not, those 'best sellers' are the source of more problems than anyone would expect. How can that be? It's the biggest seller (which is easy to prove with revenues), the cash cow, sacred cow, the product that delivers major corporate differentiation. Right? Sometimes it is. But more often it's not. It may generate the most revenue - but you have to look deeper, much deeper, to find out how the product is impacting your business.

Sensationalism is not Expertise! - Click To Read Article
Anyone can be sensational. You don't need experience, intelligence, savvy or much else to throw mud.

Do I Expect Too Much? - Click To Read Article
Have the rules for business courtesy changed in the 21st century?

All I Ask... - Click To Read Article
7 things to remember about how to treat a customer.

If it Looks like a Duck.... - Click To Read Article
If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - let it be a duck.

New Tricks - Click To Read Article
Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Convenient Commitments - Click To Read Article
Remember when our word was our bond, and a handshake sealed a deal?

The Way We've Always Done It - Click To Read Article
The way we've always done it' is usually the reason we're in a mess.

Assumptions Anyone? - Click To Read Article
Social media gives power to our assumptions. If we're viewed as leaders in our fields - our assumptions are often taken as facts by our audiences.

3 Steps to Customer Intuition - Click To Read Article
Numbers and facts will tell you the same thing everyone else, including your competitors, knows. Your customer intuition is what sets you apart. Find it, and use it!

Life in the Stream - Click To Read Article
Our audience is speaking to us, but are we listening? Twitter is.

Extreme Measures - Click To Read Article
Companies practice CYA because not doing so opens them up to frivolous litigation. What about our personal responsibility?

Twisten Carefully - Click To Read Article
Saying Twitter has little great info is like saying television has nothing but sports and reality TV.

We Are Responsible - Click To Read Article
We make the choice for fairness - or not.

Is Life Fair? - Click To Read Article
Life surely seemed fair when we were on a roll.

Drama Sells, Even When it's BULLoney! - Click To Read Article
When supposedly brilliant gurus resort to name-calling to diss a product - I've had enough. Drama queens - go home so I can enjoy my iPad.

A Lesson From a Ski Hill - Click To Read Article
How often do we look around, get distracted and lose our focus? What does that cost us in business and in our personal lives?

No DMs Please - Click To Read Article
I'm continuously shocked at the lack of just plain common sense (or common courtesy) from some Tweeps.

Keepers of the Truth - Click To Read Article
Our audiences put their money where their beliefs are. Since those dollars represent the success we seek – let's follow them instead of our own assumptions.

Recipes for Success - Click To Read Article
Those B School recipes for success need an update.

Where's Your Focus? - Click To Read Article
Negative attitudes spread through an organization like a virus.

Legends - Click To Read Article
When corporate legends live long - we don't always prosper.

Little White Lies - Click To Read Article
Little white lies soon become dirty little secrets.

Evolve and Thrive - Click To Read Article
Without change we stagnate

The Path of Least Resistance - Click To Read Article
Avoidance is not the best growth strategy.

We Need Consequences! - Click To Read Article
How quickly we forget when Absolute Power corrupts.

Absolute Power - Click To Read Article
Sooner or later, we all start believing our own press.

Lessons From a Porch Light - Click To Read Article
Where do we draw the line when it comes to respecting personal space?

Primal Perception - Click To Read Article
Men and women see the world differently. That's a big deal for marketers, sometimes in the most unexpected ways!

Ready, Fire, Aim - Click To Read Article
We're so busy doing, we don't know when we're done.

We Can be Civilized - Click To Read Article
Just when I'm getting depressed - a Bright Light shines. A little boy named Noah engendered a showcase of civilized behavior this week.

Just Say No! - Click To Read Article
Why is it so hard for some of us to say No?

Walt is Rolling in his Grave - Click To Read Article
The new Mickey feels like Disney prioritized profits over a brand, a brand we've trusted with our kids for over 50 years.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T - Click To Read Article
Aretha had it right about respect. We want it, we need it and we don't get enough of it.

Are We Civil? - Click To Read Article
Some say we are following the path of ancient Rome and Greece.

My PersonalTrust Initiative - Click To Read Article
We can each make a difference when we trust.

Is Trust Broken? - Click To Read Article
Our trust factor seems to be decreasing every day.

You Get More Flies with Sugar - Click To Read Article
Let's be serious. If you're having problems, anyone asking you about them already knows what's up. So cowboy-up and face the music. Be open and honest. You don't have to share the dirty laundry and all the details. But you can be honest, open and paint a picture that is true. People respect other people that open the kimono and tell the truth. And guess what, customers are people!

When the Experts are just Plain Wrong - Click To Read Article
Don't dismiss your own knowing, no matter what the experts say.

What If? - Click To Read Article
The past doesn't represent out future - so why do we spend so much time focused on it?

We Really Should.... - Click To Read Article
When you hear someone say 'We should', it's a surefire flag that we're thinking in the wrong direction

Three is Marketing's Magic Number - Click To Read Article
When you overload your audience with too many messages, you risk not communicating at all.

There's Opportunity in that Crisis - Click To Read Article
Quantum Theory promotes the existence of limitless outcomes for each and every situation. The outcome we experience is the outcome we choose to see. Pay attention to that. Any outcome is available to us - we choose what we experience. When we change our thoughts and expectations - we change our outcomes.

They Chose Lemonade - Click To Read Article
There's no strategic methodology, no magic business formula to finding opportunity in a crisis. When it comes right down to it, seeing an opportunity or crisis in business or our personal lives is all about our attitude. We choose what we see and how we respond.

The Thin Line Between Persuasion and Manipulation - Click To Read Article
We practice the art of persuasion every day in our businesses. We bend our audiences' beliefs through the stories and information we share, through the brand or image we create, through the sales discussions we guide so carefully. So where's the line between sales and marketing persuasion - and manipulation?

Three Strikes for Customer Service - Click To Read Article
All I wanted was to buy an iPhone.

The Tower of Babble - Click To Read Article
Communication is a funny thing.

The Problem With Plans - Click To Read Article
You'd change course rather than fly into a thunderstorm, wouldn't you? Even if that storm wasn't in your flight plan? Markets change, customers change, people change - plans should change too.

The Power of a Blank Whiteboard - Click To Read Article
Unfortunately for many companies, people don't usually respond well to change. Anything but. I wish we could embrace the opportunity to evolve processes and thinking and behaviors - but often we don't. Especially in tough times - when the company environment is probably already tense and constricted. When things get tense, people tend to hang on to what they know, as a touchstone for the status quo - which is known and safe, even if it does mean a downhill slide. Hanging onto 'the way we've always done it' is one of the most common challenges I encounter in my clients.

The Enemy is Out There - Click To Read Article
Every second you spend pointing a finger at another group in your organization, trying to show how you can do their jobs better, you are wasting valuable time and resources. Not to mention the professional disrespect and contention that blooms. While you are infighting and pointing fingers, your competitors are laughing all the way to the bank.

The Company Your Keep - Click To Read Article
People perceive us in part based on who we hang around with, who we point to as 'friends' and associates.

The Ghost and Our Integrity - Click To Read Article
Audiences view social media as the safe ground for truth and integrity. It's the place where they can share and obtain real information in honest and meaningful ways. The place they can learn about prospective or current partners, get a feel for their thoughts and perspectives.

Stop Blaming Sales! - Click To Read Article
If sales isn't responding - then marketing is responsible. Marketing's role is to give sales the tools and training they need to sell the company's solutions. It's also marketing's role to get them excited about the newest offerings. So the next time someone starts to blame sales for lack of product acceptance in your customer base or for discounting deals that don't generate the margin or results you expected - think again. It's most likely sales is doing the best they can with what they've been given.

Stop Blaming Marketing - Click To Read Article
Sales and Marketing need to learn to work together and stop pointing fingers.

'So What?' Marketing - Click To Read Article
The simple fact is that marketing is not about you and your technology or business. It's about your customers and how your company or solution can help them be successful in their business. Asking the 'So What?" question from your customers' perspectives - then using those advantages as the platform for your marketing messages can make the difference between grabbing audience attention and keeping it, or losing them before you ever get a chance to communicate.

So You Want to be a Consultant? - Click To Read Article
I've been consulting successfully for over 20 years now. That makes me an old-timer in many folks' perceptions. Friends and associates often come to me for advice on how to start their own consulting business - mostly around how to position themselves as an expert in the market. Here are the thoughts I share.

Sales is Discounting Again - Click To Read Article
How many times have I heard this cry from clients? Always makes me wonder if corporate citizens understand and appreciate how hard selling can be - especially if you have little air cover and not much ammunition. The fact is that if sales is discounting it means the company, and particularly marketing, hasn't done its job. I'm not trying to pass blame - just pointing out a 'relative' truth.

Revenue is Down, Let's Fire Sales - Click To Read Article
Cutting back on your source of revenues is something that needs to be done with a precision scalpel - not a chainsaw.

Right and Wrong in the Eye of the Beholder - Click To Read Article
Do we stretch our own ethics to remain competitive?

Put the Competition in the Rear View Mirror - Click To Read Article
Competitive assessment is one of the most powerful tools we have in our quiver. Yet IMHO so few companies actually assess the competition in a way that works. We spend time evaluating our competitor's technology foundations, comparing feature against feature. We look for every detail that we can use to prove that our technology is far superior to that of others. Too bad that having the best technology doesn't mean you win....or that having the most features doesn't guarantee customer success. If the best technology won, then today's industry giants wouldn't be so, um, giant, now would they? Don't get me wrong. Understanding your competitor's technology and its capabilities is a worthwhile exercise. As long as you don't fall into the trap of defining your solutions based on their features - and become a follower.

Reading Between the Lines is for Dating - Click To Read Article
Forcing your audience to read between the lines to understand your value is ineffective at best. You'll lose your listener before you ever connect.

Positioning Basics - Click To Read Article
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to strategy and positioning. Anyone who says there's a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn't get it. Strategic positioning is more art than science. And each and every client is a new canvas. Great positioning is as unique as every situation. You have to be flexible, nimble. My ‘methodology' is more a way of thinking about things. I don't really have a checklist or set of step-by-step instructions.

Positioning Statements That Work - Click To Read Article
Why is it that marketing folks tend to think that simply streaming popular buzzwords and ‘chest thumping' adjectives together results in a powerful positioning statement? And by the way, we all know we do it, we kid about it, poke fun at the other guys doing it -- and then turn right around and do the same thing.

Parley Vous Customer? - Click To Read Article
Pay attention to the words customers use to describe their business. That's the language you want to learn - and use.

Positioning for Success - Part I - Click To Read Article
Positioning is probably the most important thing you'll do in your consulting or entrepreneurial business life. People come to you because of their perceptions, and perceptions are created through positioning stories. The right positioning and focus will attract prospects and customers to your door, and keep them coming back.

Profit at Any Cost? - Click To Read Article
Has the economy pushed us so far, the need for profitability grown so strong, that we are willing to sacrifice customer focus? Are we willing to ignore customer safety to avoid a deeper exploration of our business practice that might impact revenues, or force the recall of an unsafe product?

Powering Momentous Market Launches - Click To Read Article
Successful market launches are more than a single Lightning Bolt announcing availability. Great launches are all about building momentum, creating buzz and ultimately, announcing success. That's what Rolling Thunder is all about.

Objectivity is a Beautiful Thing - Click To Read Article
Objectivity is a beautiful thing. Unfortunately, all too often we lose the very objectivity that helps us create business value. We simply get too close.

Nothing Lasts Forever - Click To Read Article
When we embrace change, we embrace our potential. We eagerly step into exciting new opportunities and challenges, stretch to learn new things, try new approaches and expand our horizons. With each change we get better, and better again.

May the Abilities Rest in Peace - Click To Read Article
The bottom line is that to truly communicate with our audiences, we need to stop using the same words that everyone drags along, and start thinking creatively, originally and most of all - think and talk like a customer.

Mine's BiggerThan Yours - Click To Read Article
Is anyone else sick of all the hype?

Marketing Has Left the Building - Click To Read Article
Since when did Marketing become a corporate headquarters role that never leaves the building? Even in tough economic times - we have phones and web conferencing and a video camera in every laptop and the network bandwidth to drive it. Come on - We have Skype!

Leave Your Ego at the Door, Please - Click To Read Article
It can take years to develop a relationship based on trust and loyalty. In this case it may have only taken one phone call to diminish years of partnership.

Leaders - Make the Tough Calls! - Click To Read Article
Popularity is not part of a CEO's job description. Be a leader and make your decision. Listen to all the input, take the feedback and then decide on a strategy. That's why you get the big bucks...to be a leader and make the tough calls.

Less is More - Click To Read Article
The web and digital marketing has given us the chance to deliver more content than ever before. Content that our audience can use to get to know us, our products and our value. That's great news. At least it should be. The problem? We overwhelm our audience, giving them too many options, too many different aspects and angles - and we lose them. We just plain drown them in too much information.

Keep Your Eye on the Revenue - Click To Read Article
Regardless of how you choose to create your go-to-market strategy, how you execute your launch, how you drive momentum - there's one key to a great launch. Keep your eye on the revenue. That's your true measure of success.

It's the Little Things! - Click To Read Article
The next time we start cutting price to match the competition, slimming services to make up for the lost margin - maybe we should think again.

Is it a Big Opportunity? 4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before you Dive In. - Click To Read Article
So why is is that we'll sacrifice our corporate goals, push the boundaries right to the brink of losing money on a deal (and jump right through the boundaries if it's exciting enough)? Just to get a big deal that we can thump our chests about? Sure it's a huge opportunity. The question is - is it an opportunity for success or failure?

Is Your Baby Ugly - Click To Read Article
Holding on to products that have passed their prime is a key reason companies falter. It's hard to let go of something we've poured our energy into for years, even decades. That's true personally as well as in business. But that's exactly what we need to do to make forward progress.

If You Talk the Talk, You Better Walk the Walk - Click To Read Article
Walk your Talk. Someone will find out when you don't. Thanks to Web 2.0 - that bullet can be shared around the world. Besides, it's the right thing to do. Keep your integrity and do what you say. You may not win all the time, but you'll win more than most.

I'll Try - Click To Read Article
Commitments have become something we keep if they are convenient for us.

Focus Groups are for Lipstick, not Technology - Click To Read Article
You're launching a new product, so of course you test your messages with customers. After all, you want to make sure your customers' mouths water (and their wallets open) when they hear your story. More than that, you want to get to know your target market; learn to think like them, speak like them, understand how they react to your story. So you decide to run a focus group. That's what everyone does, right? Wrong. In my humble experience the high technology market does not lend itself to focus groups.

Don't Bet Your Business on the Numbers - Click To Read Article
Don't bet your business' future success just on the numbers. Numbers can't give you the gut feel that every executive, product owner and marketeer needs - especially if you're reinventing yourself and/or your company. Besides, as an old boss used to say, "Figures lie and liars figure".

Don't SWAG Your SWOT! - Click To Read Article
Don't SWAG your SWOTs! Those SWAGs become corporate facts and drive your destiny!

Do You See Opportunity or Crisis? - Click To Read Article
What if adopting a positive viewpoint changes our crisis into opportunity?

But They're Our BEST Customer! - Click To Read Article
A strong relationship with a customer is the Holy Grail we all seek. After all, once you have a Win/Win relationship, both businesses profit, right? Sometimes, but not always.

But the Other Guys Have It! - Click To Read Article
Market leadership is not about being just like everyone else. Leadership is about defining (or clarifying) who and what our companies are, what value we bring and why that matters. It's about doing things that are special for our customers. Market leadership is about being unique.

But We CAN'T - Click To Read Article
When "can't" enters the room - progress stops dead in its tracks.

Are we All on the Same Page? - Click To Read Article
To tell great positioning stories, we need to give everyone the same frame of reference. Before we even get into the story - right up front. We need to place that paradigm shift right there in the middle of the table for all to see, and understand. We have to set the stage for everyone in a very, simple way.

A Shiny Needle in the B2B Marketing Haystack - Click To Read Article
There's so much information available across the web. It's tough to find relevant content for your own B2B efforts, kinda like that proverbial hunt for the needle in the haystack.

Accentuate the Positive - Click To Read Article
We can choose to break free of fear. We can seek out new approaches that power innovation and opportunity - and share them with our audiences. We can focus on helping our customers find new opportunities, improve current practices and solve the problems they already recognize and care about. We can trust that our innovation and expertise will shine through the FUD.

2 + 2 = 3 - Click To Read Article
Quantitative evidence can be a great boon to companies. They prove the points we want to make. But they can also shoot our credibility in the foot - or even worse. I want to emphasize is the importance of understanding your numbers - and of spinning them to support your points in a reasonable and logical fashion.





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