It’s one of the most retold moments in the Apple story. Steve Jobs, compelled by the Apple Board of Directors to recruit John Sculley, heir apparent at Pepsi at the time, does the greatest reframe of all time with the words,”You can come with me and change the world, or stay at Pepsi and […]
I’m just leveling off at 34,000 feet after running a workshop with a great team from a major consumer products firm. It is very satisfying to hear during the debrief of a Right Project session that the senior leader in the room is positively surprised by the ability to draw out significant new areas […]
We read the headlines every day: large, well-respected companies are investing in waves of programs that have a low return on the investment it takes to get them into your hands. The decisions being made in strategy sessions today about products and services will be in the earnings headlines for the next 24 months […]
I often have the opportunity to speak with high-potential, mid-senior level leaders who are part of my “Growth Leaders” coaching program. Through these talks, I’ve discovered an emergent trend that I believe will have great value for mid-level leaders and their senior management team: Middle managers play a large role in developing the right growth […]
Let’s start with some statistics: not tending the future has big consequences. According to author and researcher Richard Foster, 75 percent of the S&P 500 will be replaced by 2027. In working with a C-level client this fall, I’m reminded that today’s hard-driving operational environment leaves precious little time for future building. I see […]
It’s fourth quarter and in conference rooms worldwide, plans are being locked in for new growth programs. Even as this activity takes place, one of the most frequently asked questions in my workshops and coaching sessions is: How do you go about diagnosing the reasons for a stalled innovation team? To answer this question, let’s […]
In helping a firm on a new strategy project, one of the challenges that quickly emerges is finding a great group of internal participants to work on the project. This is an example of the Right Team portion of the triad we have discussed that must be in place for authentic growth work to […]
In preparing to kick off a big client strategy project with a growing international firm in the building products space, I was reminded that the best work is always developed with well thought out collaboration. I’ve been reflecting on what it takes to have a great outcome, and this is true not just for me […]
I enjoy consuming lots of audio during my travels, the most recent of which was the latest installment of Chris Brogan’s Podcast on Stitcher. On the show, he did a delightful interview with two winsome ladies who have started a new health and fitness movement around the idea that you need to do what you […]
I was talking recently with a C-level R&D leader in a larger public company. By all external measures this company is quite successful, yet they were asking what it takes to build an innovation culture that has sustained momentum. By momentum, he was asking what steps he might take to have more consistent output from […]
