Ideas that Matter

The Idea:  Bain and Company’s recent consumer products analysis stated that the biggest hindrance to CPG’s success in the digital era is the reluctance to be agile in an increasingly fast-paced world.  Leaders in the industry have distinct characteristics: they... read more

The Idea: On a recent episode of the always thought provoking podcast, “Hidden Brain,” productivity expert and researcher Cal Newport explained that the biggest similarity of great creative minds – Twain, Einstein, and even Tolkien – is their habit of... read more

The Idea: In a recent Inc magazine article, CEO David Walker spelled out his favorite interview questions for understanding a candidate’s potential fit, but one of the questions wasn’t like the rest: “What were the characteristics of the best boss... read more

The Idea: We live in a world of exaggeration, hyperbole, aggrandizement and stretching the truth. In other words, lying is alive and well in our culture. And yet, truth-telling remains the only way of protecting long term partnerships and relationships.... read more

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.” — Albert Einstein The Idea:  Adrian Ward pointed out an emerging problem in Scientific American. He stated that “on average, people spend 60 percent of conversations talking about themselves—and this... read more

“There is nothing less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all.” – Peter Drucker The Idea: I like to start many of my forum events with a challenge: “there will be a lot of important ideas... read more

The Idea: How would you grade the quality of your partnerships with your top customers?  Does your team outperform more than half of your competitors? Are you perceived as the standard in your sector? Bain & Company surveyed over 300... read more

The Idea: All communication disconnects are essentially power struggles. Who’s in control? Who’s right? Who has the strongest voice? Communication is a continual balancing act, juggling our own needs with the unstated needs of others. How does it feel to... read more

The Idea:  So you think you are knocking it out of the park.  Chances are you may not be delivering on the promise. Even the highest achievers are vulnerable to a few bad habits and self-delusion.  What's the secret to... read more

The Idea:  Like a bad divorce, the fallout of the Amazon acquisition of Whole Foods has inspired many top retailers to draw a line in the sand, encouraging their manufacturing partners to “pick a side.”  Are we entering a new... read more