David A Fields

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

A consultant asked me the following question: My business really isn’t strong yet. How can you afford to say No to projects that are not perfect for you when you need to stay afloat, at least in the short term? Here’s the answer I gave the consultant: Let’s be practical. You have to keep the lights on, so take work that keeps your business running… as long as: 1) it’s work you are good at; 2) it’s work you can do very efficiently; and, 3) it doesn’t take up more […].

Consulting 195

Consulting Efficiency 195

Tom Spencer

JANUARY 31, 2016

(Source: Flickr ). If you have gone through the consulting interview process and are not offered a position with your target firm, then you should find out why. There are two reasons this is important. Firstly, getting specific feedback on your performance is the only way you can learn and improve. Secondly, you may discover that the firm has formed an inaccurate opinion of you.

How To 60

How To Interviews Consulting Management 60

Strategy+Business

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Companies with a record of sustained success may seem very different from one another, but they all have a common focus: using their distinctive capabilities to close the gap between strategy and execution. Our study of 14 such enterprises -- including Apple, Danaher, Frito-Lay, Haier, IKEA, Lego, Natura, Qualcomm, and Starbucks -- found that they all rely on five acts, which are contrary to conventional business practice.

Strategy 73

Strategy Strategy Strategy& Enterprise 73

Chad Barr

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Reflection Point: What would you say is one of the key differences between a mundane experience and a memorable one? I believe that words have the awesome power to create such a distinction. There is a video on YouTube showcasing the late Steve Jobs during one of Apple’s product announcement keynotes. The typical three-hour video was reduced to less than two minutes to demonstrate the powerful adjectives Jobs and his team used to describe their revolutionary products.

Video 52

Video Energy Productivity Groups 52

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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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David A Fields

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Once in a blue moon a consulting prospect will sign a proposal without asking for any changes or concessions. When the moon is white, yellow, green or invisible to the eye, you’ll probably have to negotiate to win the project. Below, in their barest form, are 15 best practices that will help you close more projects at higher values with more clients. 15 Negotiation Best Practices for Consultants I had a few more best practices in mind, but I want to hear from you to fill out the list.

Consulting 177

Consulting 177

Strategy+Business

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Businesses are finally ready to help close the gap between digital strategy and execution. Capabilities architecture planning is a vehicle for doing so. It takes digital technology out of the IT function and aligns it to a company's strategy.

Enterprise 44

Enterprise Strategy Strategy Strategy& 44

MishTalk

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

It's been a long run, but I am leaving Google Blogger for a new home on WordPress. Please bookmark my new site: [link] Why Leave? My needs outgrew blogger. The top reason is that I wanted a multi-page layout, with a different home page than the detail pages. Most of the top financial sites are organized that way. It's impossible with Blogger. In addition, WordPress offers additional features that Blogger doesn't.

Tools 41

Tools Financial Development Management 41

Martinka Consulting

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

As many of you know, for the last dozen years I’ve been involved with overseas Rotary projects putting technology and training into schools in developing countries. Maybe it’s because my mom was a teacher but I feel education is the answer to economic growth and income equality (without taking from the successful to give to others). It’s not just overseas.

Education 40

Education Construction Sales Training 40

Consultants' Consultant

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Consultants Consultant: It’s not the first one who’s the leader… The post Leading and following appeared first on Consultants' Consultant.

Consulting 40

Consulting 40

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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

How To

Strategy+Business

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Companies with a record of sustained success may seem very different from one another, but they all have a common focus: using their distinctive capabilities to close the gap between strategy and execution. Our study of 14 such enterprises -- including Apple, Danaher, Frito-Lay, Haier, IKEA, Lego, Natura, Qualcomm, and Starbucks -- found that they all rely on five acts, which are contrary to conventional business practice.

Strategy 44

Strategy Strategy Strategy& Enterprise 44

MishTalk

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Manufacturing in January continues its dismal track record with the latest ISM reading. Econoday reports. Employment sank the ISM index in January which could muster no better than a 48.2 for what, following annual revisions to 2015, is the fourth sub-50 reading in a row. This is by far the worst run for this closely watched indicator since the Great Recession days of 2009.

Report 41

Report Trends Productivity Data 41

Gina Abudi

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Every initiative – regardless of its size or complexity – requires a communication strategy. Certainly the more complex the initiative, the more complex the communication strategy. However, a smaller initiative can utilize a simpler communication strategy. Your communication strategy should cover the following key items: A list of your stakeholders and the impact the initiative [.].

Strategy 36

Strategy Strategy Strategy& Management 36

Seth Godin Blog

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Of course it is. The definition of a thrill is temporary excitement, usually experienced for the first time. It's thrilling to ride a roller coaster. The fifth time you have to ride it, though, it's more than a chore, it's torture. The definition of the thrill is that it's going to be gone soon. You might have been thrilled to go to your first job the first day.

Course 29

Course 29

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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.

Consulting

Strategy+Business

JANUARY 31, 2016

Just like political views, people's perception of business morality is tied to deep cognitive sources. To Jonathan Haidt, the founder of Ethical Systems, the solution to business misdeeds is to rely not on business or government, but on ingrained habits driven by the design of everyday practices.

Interviews 44

Interviews Ethics Government System 44

MishTalk

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

"Blue Chip" Optimism The Atlanta Fed initial GDPNow Forecast for first quarter 2016 starts off with an anemic 1.2% whimper. "The initial GDPNow model forecast for real GDP growth (seasonally adjusted annual rate) in the first quarter of 2016 is 1.2 percent on February 1. " First Quarter 2016 GDPNow Forecast The Atlanta Fed "Final" GDPNow Estimate for the 4th Quarter was posted on January 28.

Construction 40

Construction Data Report Management 40

Gina Abudi

FEBRUARY 4, 2016

It is easy to believe that all leaders practice self-management, but that is not always the case! Self-management is a component of emotional intelligence. It is about the actions you take, or do not take. Self-management is focused on your ability to use your awareness of your emotions to stay flexible and ensure your behavior [.]. The post Self-management: How well do you do it?

Emotional Intelligence 31

Emotional Intelligence Management Development Leadership 31

Seth Godin Blog

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

David Bowie left behind an estate worth about $100 million. And there were perhaps five hundred musicians of his generation who were at least as successful. From Brown to Dylan to Buffet to Ross, there were thirty years of big hit makers. That's the top of the pyramid. Lots of people tried to make it in the music business, and there were many thousands at the top, hitting a jackpot.

Real Estate 28

Real Estate eBook Exercises Industry 28

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.

Methodologies

Strategy+Business

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

An appreciation of Japan's demographic trends suggests analysts are overestimating the country's capacity for generating growth and inflation.

Trends 44

Trends 44

MishTalk

JANUARY 31, 2016

China's manufacturing extended its long slump according to the Caixin China General Manufacturing PMI. Chinese manufacturers signaled a modest deterioration in operating conditions at the start of 2016, with both output and employment declining at slightly faster rates than in December. Total new business meanwhile fell at the weakest rate in seven months, and despite a faster decline in new export work.

Trends 38

Trends Government Operations Data 38

Gina Abudi

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

On larger, global initiatives consider one area of responsibility for team leads is to be a communication link between the management team and the team’s leads direct reports. The larger an initiative, the more individuals involved in it; which requires more effective communication to ensure success of the initiative. By having the team lead function [.].

Report 31

Report Management Leadership 31

Seth Godin Blog

FEBRUARY 4, 2016

Canny negotiators know that people respond to anchors. If you tell me that your baseball card is for sale for $18, I'm unlikely to offer you $3. Your offering price anchored the conversation. The thing is, we do this outside of negotiation, whenever we ask for insight. If someone says, "can you review this slide deck?" there are a bunch of anchors already built in.

Sales 28

Sales Consulting Strategy Strategy 28

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Case studies are proof of successful client relations and a verifiable product or service. They persuade buyers by highlighting your customers' experiences with your company and its solution. In sales, case studies are crucial pieces of content that can be tailored to prospects' pain points and used throughout the buyer's journey. In marketing, case studies are versatile assets for generating business, providing reusable elements for ad and social media content, website material, and marketing c

Case Study

Strategy+Business

FEBRUARY 4, 2016

A new study finds that the design of new products can help move a company's stock -- especially if those products appear to be very useful.

Study 44

Study Productivity Company 44

1 to 1

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

In today's connected world, it's important for organizations and their leaders to adopt a social networking and collaboration mindset. CEOs, in particular, play an important role in telling their companies' stories via social. The very act of telling them influences their organizations' discussions and engages both employees and customers. With the exception of some influential social players (Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Richard Branson), it's no secret that there is a shortage of "big name" CEOs

Company 28

Company Media Strategy Strategy 28

Leadership Vision Consulting

FEBRUARY 3, 2016

Many years ago, I heard a teacher say the best way to identify counterfeit money, is to always hold the real thing. The more you get to know the texture, markings, and overall quality of authentic dollar bills, the more acutely aware you are of counterfeit. As I begin my transition to the Leadership Vision team , this image has once again come to mind.

Leadership 23

Leadership Consulting Development Tools 23

Seth Godin Blog

JANUARY 31, 2016

It's pretty clear that the design of the egg carton isn't going to change the flavor of the omelette. Except, of course, it does. It does because people can't judge the eggs until they eat them, but they can judge the packaging in the store. And if they choose someone else's product, you never get a chance. Not only that, but the placebo effect creates a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Efficiency 26

Efficiency Course Productivity 26

Advertiser: ZoomInfo

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.

Strategy