Sat.Aug 15, 2015 - Fri.Aug 21, 2015

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Will Clients Need You Over and Over Again? Yes, If…

David A Fields

Two laws govern your ability to win projects from clients today and in the future. The Law of the Amazon and The Law of the Amazon.com. Both laws relate to the “Need” pillar in the Six Pillars of Consulting Success The Law of the Amazon.com is: If you want a juicy passion fruit you type “passion fruit” in the search bar, press a couple of buttons and a dozen arrive in two days.

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Thinking Like a Consultant – Communicating Core Values

Management Consulted

Welcome to the next installment of our “Thinking Like a Consultant” series, where we are exploring thoughts, behaviors and mindsets of successful consultants. If you have’t read Part 1 or Part 2 yet, make sure you catch yourself up before reading on. As a consultant, or as any skilled professional for that matter, you should be aware of the the environment you are creating for yourself, both internally and externally.

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When, Where and How Do you Sell Your Own Business

Tom Spencer

One of the great things about starting your own company is that you may be able to sell it in the future for a massive profit. Depending on how much you sell it for, you may never have to work again to secure your financial future. This could allow you to spend more time with your family or invest in other businesses that you believe in. However, if you are going to sell your business, you need to do it properly.

Sales 78
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Congratulations! Chicago Just Leapfrogged 4 Cities to America's Highest Sales Tax rate; Graft Chicago Style

MishTalk

Listen to the chants from Chicago: We're Number 1! We're Number 1! We're Number 1! Chicago just leapfrogged past several other cities with the passage of a Cook County sales tax hike of one percentage point to 10.25%. With that hike, Chicago Now has America’s Highest Sales Tax. Chicago has long had a steep sales tax, but a vote by Cook County commissioners Wednesday night made the city’s rate the highest of any major city in the nation.

Sales 61
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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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How Do You Establish the Fees for a Consulting Project?

David A Fields

A consultant asked me the following question: I am working with a prospect and as part of the Context Discussion, we agreed on the risk adjusted value of a project. Now, how do I go about establishing a fair price for the project? Do I charge 10% of the value? Do I estimate the number of days and multiply by a daily rate? What would your advice be to this consultant?

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Value Chain Analysis

Tom Spencer

(Source: Flickr ). Value Chain Analysis is another tool that may prove useful during the consulting case interview. It can be used to analyse the cost structure of a company as part of a declining profitability case, or to analyse the supply chain as part of an operations case. To understand which activities provide a company with a competitive advantage, either through cost advantage or product differentiation, it is helpful to separate operations into a series of value-generating activities re

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Tsipras to Resign, Call Snap Elections; Sweeteners Before the Screws; Campaign Promise You Can Believe In

MishTalk

In the wake of the world's largest ever renege on campaign promises in the shortest period of time, Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras' Syriza party splintered. Tsipras lost his ruling coalition and would likely have not survived a vote of confidence. Instead, and as widely expected, Alexis Tsipras to 'Step Down and Call Snap Elections'. The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, has decided to step down and call snap elections for 20 September, government officials said.

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11 Ways to Promote Your Business Online

Chad Barr

This week’s reflection point: The question of how to promote your business online is a recurring theme I hear quite often. Three years ago, I wrote the article How To Promote Your Website when I shared 21 ideas of doing so. Today, I am going to change the angle slightly and focus on how to promote your business online. Here are my recommendations: Update your blog often since it is the ultimate repository of your intellectual property where you are able to share your insights, success stories an

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The Value of Using Project Management to Get Work Done

Gina Abudi

Think about it. Much that you do each day is, effectively, a project to be completed. These “projects” may be simple or more complex, but regardless of what role you have within the organization – managing projects is likely to be one of the things you have to do! In order to effectively support the [.]. The post The Value of Using Project Management to Get Work Done appeared first on Gina Abudi.

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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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Four P’s Analysis

Tom Spencer

(Source: Flickr ). Four P’s Analysis is a framework that may prove useful for solving consulting case questions. It can be used to evaluate the marketing strategy for a product. 1. Price. The pricing strategy that a company employs will affect its market share and profitability. There are three key pricing strategies to consider. Competitive pricing: How do prices compare with the competition?

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Another Round-Trip in Crude; Search for Inflation; Another Bout of Asset Deflation Hell Coming Up

MishTalk

Crude prices are back to where they were in 2004. Before that, crude previously topped near $41 in September of 1990! Recall the hyperinflation talk in June of 2008 when crude hit $147? Cries of massive price inflation again became talk of the town when crude rebounded to a secondary high of $115 in April of 2011. It's been yet another round trip in crude.

Apparel 58
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Grow from Your Strengths

Strategy+Business

The only sustainable way to capture new opportunities is to remain true to what your company does best -- and use those distinctive capabilities as a platform for expansion. You do this by combining in-market growth (seeking out new growth opportunities among your existing customers) with near-market growth (pursuing adjacencies that leverage your current prowess) and capabilities development.

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Virtual Teams: Celebrating the Successes

Gina Abudi

Team leaders leading virtual teams need to find ways to celebrate team successes even if the team never gets together in one location. When the team leader takes the time to celebrate the team successes, enables for more cohesive teams and keeps the team motivated and morale high. Consider any of these best practices to [.]. The post Virtual Teams: Celebrating the Successes appeared first on Gina Abudi.

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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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The interim strategy

Seth Godin Blog

We say we want to treat people fairly, build an institution that will contribute to the culture and embrace diversity. We say we want to do things right the first time, treat people as we would like to be treated and build something that matters. But first. first we say we have to make our company work. We say we intend to hire and train great people, but in the interim, we'll have to settle for cheap and available.

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Oil Crash Continues: West Texas Crude Below $40, Brent Near $45; Floating Oil Carry Trade in Review

MishTalk

The crash in oil prices continues. Here are a couple charts to consider. West Texas Crude Brent Crude West Texas Intermediate broke the $40 barrier to the downside today but is slightly above that level now. WTI last broke $40 to the downside in 2008 but has not had a monthly close below that level dating back to 2004. Brent is near the $45 mark. Floating Oil Carry Trade Review In 2008, hedge funds and other big money stockpiled oil in floating ships in the $30s waiting for a rebound.

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s+b Trend Watch: 20 Years of strategy+business

Strategy+Business

To see what 20 years of management coverage looks like, we charted keywords representing the range of categories we've written about since 1995. Mainstays such as "strategy" and "leadership" have consistently topped the chart, while new favorites including "innovation" and "diversity" have displaced old stalwarts such as "reengineering.

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Virtual Teams: Providing Training Opportunities

Gina Abudi

Providing virtual teams training requires a bit of creativity. Although if you can, getting the team together in one location is a great idea, it is not always possible. Many times, especially in today’s economy where companies are working to reduce expenses, virtual teams are going to remain just that – virtual. This doesn’t mean [.]. The post Virtual Teams: Providing Training Opportunities appeared first on Gina Abudi.

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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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Glow in the dark

Seth Godin Blog

Some people are able to reflect the light that lands on them, to take directions or assets or energy and focus it where it needs to be focused. This is a really valuable skill. Even more valuable, though, is the person who glows in the dark. Not reflecting energy, but creating it. Not redirecting urgencies but generating them. The glow in the dark colleague is able to restart momentum, even when everyone else is ready to give up.

Energy 41
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Mish with Max Keiser in Chicago, Discussing Chicago Economics and Pizza

MishTalk

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert, downtown Chicago. On the lakefront, in a very informal chat, we discussed the sorry state of affairs regarding Chicago finances and education. Max released the video yesterday. There is nothing new in the video for Mish readers, but I had a fun time doing a couple segments with Max.

Video 58
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Delight Customers with (Deceptively) Simple Experiences

1 to 1

In today's hyperconnected, always-on world, the value of a simplified experience can't be overstated. People are busier than ever and demand products and services that deliver pain-free experiences. Most businesses understand the impetus behind this trend, however many still struggle to meet their customers' expectations. There’s more… To read the rest of this blog posting click here or visit www.1to1Media.com/weblog.

Trends 40
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Are You Where You Wanted to Be?

Leadership Planning with Liz Weber CMC

Are you where you wanted to be at this point in the year with your business? Are your sales where you wanted them to be? Are your teams performing the way you wanted them to perform? Are your customers engaging the way you wanted them to engage? The post Are You Where You Wanted to Be? appeared first on Weber Business Services, LLC.

Sales 40
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Why You Need to Use Case Studies in Sales and Marketing (and How to Start Now)

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

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Agreeing on the problem

Seth Godin Blog

Please don't tell us it's complicated. Organizations, scientists and individuals always do better in solving problems that are clearly stated. The solution might be complicated, the system might be complex, but if we don't agree on the problem, it's hard to find the resources and the will to seek out a solution. For a business, the problem might be that: there aren't enough customers. gross margins are too low. word of mouth is poor. hiring sufficiently talented people is too difficult. competit

Talent 39
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"Out of the Blue" Plunge in New York Region Manufacturing; Optimism Persists

MishTalk

Out of the Blue Plunge Last month, the Empire State Manufacturing report eked out a small gain, giving economists grounds for optimism in the manufacturing sector. This month, the index plunged nearly nineteen percentage points to -14.92, well below the lowest Bloomberg Econoday Estimate of 3.0. Out of the blue, the Empire State index has plunged deeply into negative column this month, to minus 14.92 in August vs plus 3.86 in July.

Report 57
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Making Room for Mr. Mom

Strategy+Business

Working fathers are placing more importance on their familial obligations, and companies must react to this societal shift.

Company 44
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Everybody’s Now an Exit Planner

Martinka Consulting

The post Everybody’s Now an Exit Planner appeared first on Martinka Consulting.

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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.