Tue.Sep 19, 2017

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Is Consulting Staff an Expense or an Investment?

David A Fields

When you hire staff—be they full time employees, subcontractors or temporary partners—to work on your consulting projects, are they a cost or an investment? Your answer to this question affects many aspects of your consulting firm, including its growth trajectory.

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Three Ways to Accelerate Your Lean Journey

Markovitz Consulting

I spent two days in St. Louis last week at the Global Lean Leadership Conference. It’s a small conference—only about 150 people—consisting of companies that have embraced Paul Akers’s 2 Second Lean philosophy. Companies that wanted to join the conference were required to have the president attend (although there were many other people from those companies as well).

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In Wake of Slumping Car Sales, Ford Will Idle 5 North American Plants: What? No Hurricane Bounce?

MishTalk

As initially reported by the Census Department, motor vehicle sales were 1.2% in July following a 0.9% gain in June. At the time, I commented, “This is unbelievably bizarre in the face of actual auto sales reports.”. The Census Bureau revised sales estimates much lower in September as noted in Retail Sales Unexpectedly Decline, Huge Negative Revisions in June and July: Reflections on “Bizarre” Sales Reports.

Sales 51
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Selling confusion

Seth Godin Blog

Over the last few decades, there's been a consistent campaign to sow confusion around evolution, vaccines and climate change. In all three areas, we all have access to far more data, far more certainty and endless amounts of proof that the original theories have held up. The data is more accurate than it's ever been. Evolution is the best way to explain and predict the origin and change of species.

Data 54
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PowerPoint Best Practices for Creating Stellar Presentations

Mastering data visualization in PowerPoint will help accelerate your career because it positions you as someone who can present data that drives business decisions forward. think-cell's PowerPoint Best Practices eBook was created specifically for professionals aiming to master the art and science of data-driven storytelling. What’s inside: Practical Insights: Uncover valuable tips for crafting engaging and persuasive presentations.

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We Shouldn’t Always Need a “Business Case” to Do the Right Thing

Harvard Business

I’ve been a consultant for almost 20 years, advising companies on complex challenges in ethics, risk, and responsibility. Each year several clients raise the same issue: the need to get buy-in from a skeptical senior executive in order to demonstrate a concrete benefit that will follow a proposed investment in an ethical business initiative or function.

Ethics 53

More Trending

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What Hurricanes Harvey and Irma Can Teach Leaders About Engagement

Leadership Planning with Liz Weber CMC

The destruction caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma is shocking. Millions have been impacted, thousands left homeless, and hundreds of thousands are now trying to identify how to move forward. As I watched from afar, Mother Nature first overwhelmed Houston and Eastern Texas and then in another display, aimed her furry at the Caribbean, the Florida Keys and then the state of Florida.

How To 40
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AfD In 3rd Place in German Election Polls: Unhappy Political Marriages

MishTalk

German federal elections are Sunday, September 24. The most likely outcome of the election is another “Grand Coalition” but it will be a much-weakened coalition. And If that coalition forms again, the rightwing AfD party is poised to become the largest opposition party. (more…).

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Never Let a Disaster Recovery Go to Waste

Strategy+Business

Rebuilding after a weather event is often harder than the initial response, and business has a big role to play.

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Starting a Business Can Increase Older Workers’ Quality of Life (Even When It Doesn’t Pay Well)

Harvard Business

Photo by Roman Kraft. As a result of declining birth rates and increasing life expectancy, the average age of the global population is increasing. This demographic trend has important implications for the labor market. Aging individuals are not always able to find satisfactory outlets for their abilities. Moreover, finding sufficient funds to maintain the current level of pension and health-care benefits is a major concern for many countries.

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How to Stay Competitive in the Evolving State of Martech

Marketing technology is essential for B2B marketers to stay competitive in a rapidly changing digital landscape — and with 53% of marketers experiencing legacy technology issues and limitations, they’re researching innovations to expand and refine their technology stacks. To help practitioners keep up with the rapidly evolving martech landscape, this special report will discuss: How practitioners are integrating technologies and systems to encourage information-sharing between departments and pr

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Spanish Government Fearmongering: “Catalonia Faces Brutal Impoverishment If Leave Wins”

MishTalk

On October 1, Catalans head to the polls to vote yes or no on separation from Spain. The Spanish government and constitutional court claim the referendum is illegal but 700 Catalonia mayors say the vote will take place. Today Madrid launched a major fearmongering campaign: Catalonia Faces ‘Brutal’ Impoverishment If It Leave, Spain Warns. (more…).

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Gordon Ramsay’s Secret Ingredient to Sustained Success - SPONSOR CONTENT FROM HBX

Harvard Business

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay shares his advice for achieving and maintaining success. When Gordon Ramsay opened his first restaurant in London, his goal was to win three Michelin stars. He was successful in doing so, but he soon realized that winning them was the easy part. How do you maintain success once you have achieved it? For Ramsay, he needed to develop the team that would run the kitchen when he wasn’t there.

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AfD In 3rd Place in German Election Polls: Unhappy Political Marriages

MishTalk

German federal elections are Sunday, September 24. The most likely outcome of the election is another “Grand Coalition” but it will be a much-weakened coalition. And If that coalition forms again, the rightwing AfD party is poised to become the largest opposition party.

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How to Mentor a Narcissist

Harvard Business

No workplace is immune to the self-absorbed and self-important employee. You know the one. Preoccupied with status, appearance, and power, narcissists exude a palpable sense of entitlement, often overestimate skills and abilities (while devaluing others), and can be quite comfortable manipulating others for personal gain. They can be hard to spot at first; a sophisticated narcissist can create a terrific first impression.

How To 28
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Savings Consultants Are Needed in Today's Market More Than Ever

Savings Consultants are needed in today’s market more than ever. With an increase in expenses, businesses are looking for opportunities to save. Often unknown to businesses are savings in expense reduction, specialized tax savings, specialized savings including medical underpayments, health benefits cost reduction, zero cost processing, and more. Blue Coast Savings, with over 20 years in business, assists Savings Consultants in helping these companies move toward more profitable businesses.

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Spanish Government Fearmongering: “Catalonia Faces Brutal Impoverishment If Leave Wins”

MishTalk

On October 1, Catalans head to the polls to vote yes or no on separation from Spain. The Spanish government and constitutional court claim the referendum is illegal but 700 Catalonia mayors say the vote will take place. Today Madrid launched a major fearmongering campaign: Catalonia Faces ‘Brutal’ Impoverishment If It Leave, Spain Warns.

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FBI Negotiation Tips for Navigating High-Pressure Situations - SPONSOR CONTENT FROM HBX

Harvard Business

Your success at the negotiation table requires a blend of different techniques. Chris Voss, former lead international kidnapping negotiator for the FBI, spent his career navigating high-pressure situations. While most individuals will never be bargaining to save a human life like Voss did, each of us negotiates daily with colleagues, vendors, friends, and family members.

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In Wake of Slumping Car Sales, Ford Will Idle 5 North American Plants: What? No Hurricane Bounce?

MishTalk

As initially reported by the Census Department, motor vehicle sales were 1.2% in July following a 0.9% gain in June. At the time, I commented, “This is unbelievably bizarre in the face of actual auto sales reports.” The Census Bureau revised sales estimates much lower in September as noted in Retail Sales Unexpectedly Decline, Huge Negative Revisions in June and July: Reflections on “Bizarre” Sales Reports.

Sales 36
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The 5 Skills Employers Seek in Today’s Digital Economy - SPONSOR CONTENT FROM HBX

Harvard Business

Leading scholar Ernie Wilson on the surprising skills that employers look for when hiring and promoting employees. The global economic landscape is perpetually evolving, and companies are adjusting their hiring practices to better fit their needs. Are they searching for more engineers, data scientists, writers, or MBAs? According to research conducted by Ernie Wilson, Dean of the Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism at the University of Southern California, companies today are on t

Journal 28
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ABM Evolution: How Top Marketers Are Using Account-Based Strategies

In times of economic uncertainty, account-based strategies are essential. According to several business analysts and practitioners, ABM is a necessity for creating more predictable revenue. Research shows that nearly three-quarters of marketers (74%) already have the resources needed to build successful ABM programs.

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Record 65% Think Stocks Will Rise Over Course of One Year: Did the Bell Just Ring?

MishTalk

Hooray! The latest University of Michigan sentiment survey shows US Stock Market Bullishness Hit an All-Time High. (more…).

Course 41
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10 Predictions for the Future of Independent Work

MBO Partners

10 predictions for the next decade of independent work.

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Record 65% Think Stocks Will Rise Over Course of One Year: Did the Bell Just Ring?

MishTalk

Hooray! The latest University of Michigan sentiment survey shows US Stock Market Bullishness Hit an All-Time High.

Course 36
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Whiteboard Session: How Does Blockchain Work?

Harvard Business

The power of a distributed ledger.

Video 28
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TOOLS and METHODOLOGIES for developing DECISION SUPPORT PACKAGES

This White Paper targets opportunities for Management to develop proficiency in the Decision Framing and Analyses element of input to Decision, & Risk Analyses for Major Project Funding Decisions.

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Climate Change Hysteria in Tucson

MishTalk

This morning, I received an interesting email regarding a letter that someone sent to the Arizona Daily Star on climate change and how it may affect Tuscon. The letter is a hoot and so is the response from reader Craig.

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Should Employers Fire Employees Who Attend White Supremacist Rallies?

Harvard Business

In the aftermath of the recent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia , a social media campaign began circulating pictures of protestors in Nazi and Confederate regalia, asking the public to match names to the faces. As the protestors were identified, attention turned to their employers. These employers were faced with a question they probably never anticipated having to answer: Should we fire people who have been exposed as white supremacists?

Media 28
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Hypocrites All Around as Senate Republicans Reach a Budget Deal

MishTalk

Senators Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) and Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) reached a mutual agreement to set parameters for a tax overhaul. If you think the deal will do anything about the deficit, you are mistaken. (more…).

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Hypocrites All Around as Senate Republicans Reach a Budget Deal

MishTalk

Senators Pat Toomey (R., Pa.) and Bob Corker (R., Tenn.) reached a mutual agreement to set parameters for a tax overhaul. If you think the deal will do anything about the deficit, you are mistaken.

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ABM Success Recipe: Mastering the Crawl, Walk, Run Approach

Shifting to an account-based marketing (ABM) strategy can be both exciting and challenging. Well-implemented ABM motions build engagement with high-value accounts and drive impactful campaigns that resonate with your audience. But where do you begin, and how do you progress from crawling to running? Watch now as Demand Gen experts delve into the essentials of each stage of the ABM process.