Insights

Strategies for Growth & Success

Winning Pitch Competitions

Winning Pitch Competitions: Success Beyond the Prize

As I gear up to lead a series of workshops to prepare entrepreneurs for an upcoming pitch competition, a critical question keeps bouncing around in my head. What defines success in winning pitch competitions? While the temptation of a prize or recognition is strong, is that the ultimate aim? This

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Delivering Value for Small Business Growth

Value Over Volume: The Importance of Delivering Value for Small Business Growth

A poignant critique by Howard Schultz highlighted a significant shift at Starbucks from creating meaningful customer experiences to focusing on transactional efficiency. These reflections underscore a crucial lesson: the importance of delivering value for small business growth. By emphasizing deep, emotional connections over mere volume, businesses can build lasting relationships

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customer-intimacy-small-business

The Power of Customer Intimacy: Building Products That Matter

Explore the transformative power of customer intimacy in small business success. Discover how deep connections with customers can lead to products that not only meet but exceed expectations, fostering loyalty and driving business growth. Learn practical strategies for integrating customer intimacy into your product development for standout results.

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Product Thinking for Small Business

Unlocking Small Business Success: The Power of Product Thinking

Discover how product thinking can transform your small business into a thriving enterprise. This article explores essential strategies for aligning your products with customer needs and business goals, enhancing profitability and growth. Learn why product thinking is a game-changer for small businesses.

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RAGBRAI 2023

Entrepreneurial Insights from 530 Miles of Bicycling Across Iowa

Discover Entrepreneurial Insights from a 530-mile cycling journey across Iowa in RAGBRAI 2023. This article delves into key business lessons learned on the road, blending adventure with strategic thinking. Explore how endurance, adaptability, and strategic positioning in cycling offer valuable parallels to overcoming challenges and achieving success in entrepreneurship. Join

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Worst Case Scenario

There are Plenty of Possibilities on the Good Side of the Worst Case Scenario: Exploring the Alternatives to Disaster in Your Business

Explore the vital lessons on mental health and well-being for entrepreneurs drawn from a simple yet enlightening experience during RAGBRAI. This article delves into the recuperative power of taking breaks, rewarding oneself, and finding balance, illustrated through a refreshing root beer float break. Learn how strategic pauses, small rewards, and

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When You Sign Up for an Adventure, You Don’t Always Get the Adventure You Signed Up For: Navigating Entrepreneurial Unpredictability

Explore the theme of ‘entrepreneurial unpredictability’ in this insightful article that draws parallels between an unexpected storm during RAGBRAI and the ever-changing landscape of entrepreneurship. Discover how the unpredictable nature of starting and running a business mirrors the challenges faced on an adventurous bike ride across Iowa. Learn key strategies

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Root Beer Float

Never Underestimate the Recuperative Power of a Root Beer Float: How a Root Beer Float on a Hot Day Illuminates Entrepreneur Mental Health

Discover the surprising link between a root beer float and entrepreneur mental health in our latest article. Learn how simple pleasures like enjoying a cold treat on a hot day can teach valuable lessons in self-care, stress management, and maintaining balance—critical components for sustaining mental wellness in the high-pressure world

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The Strategic Use of Free: Offering Free Services to Grow Your Business

As a solopreneur service provider, navigating the complexities of business growth while upholding the value of your services is crucial. While I typically advise against undervaluing your offerings, there are instances where providing services for free can advance your business. In this article, we’ll explore how to effectively use complimentary

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The 5 Pillars of Product Management for Small Businesses

Understanding the basics of product management Product management is the process of overseeing the development, marketing, and selling of a product or service. It includes understanding customer needs, defining product features, and working with various teams to bring the product to market. Here are the basics of product management: Understanding

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From Goal to Strategy to Results with GOSPA

I’ve always felt the biggest challenge in strategic planning isn’t coming up with an excellent strategy. The real challenge is bridging the gap between strategy and execution. The GOSPA planning framework solves that problem.

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Get On (a) Board

It’s that time of year again. Time for the Arts & Business Council of Greater Nashville Board Matching program. This program combines training with a matching event where participants meet with representatives of local arts organizations who need board members. The training introduces the arts industry and covers topics such

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Interviewing 5: Making the Decision

The interviews are over. Now you have to decide. Who do you hire? Do you hire anyone? How do you combine the feedback of the many people who took part in the process? How do you compare the performance of the candidates across all the dimensions you are considering and

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Interviewing 3: Asking The Right Questions

You have a great job description that articulates both the functional and non-functional requirements for the job you are filling. You’ve narrowed down the 250 resumes to the half-dozen you want to interview. Now you have a candidate in front of you and you get to ask questions to determine

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Interviewing 2: On the Problem of Resumes

Resumes. You’ll see a lot of them when hiring. You’ll see good ones. You’ll see bad ones. I can’t tell you how many resumes I’ve looked at over the years. In this article, the second in a series, I tell you how I approach resumes and what I look for

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Interviewing The Knowledge Worker — A Guide for Practitioners

My younger brother emailed me recently. He was preparing to hire two new employees in his department and was soliciting advice from his family on interview questions. So I created this series of articles on interviewing. In these five articles, I dig deeper into five important topics on interviewing and

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Strategy is…

Not long ago I led a session on strategy as part of the Arts and Business Council of Nashville’s Arts Nonprofit Nuts and Bolts program.  I really enjoy these sessions because they give me the opportunity to connect with people passionate about making a difference in the world and who

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5 Reasons You Need A Business Plan for Your Creative Business

Do you have a business plan for your creative business? Do you need a business plan for your creative business? Many most businesses rely on a business plan to secure a loan or attract investors. These probably aren’t activities you will undertake in your creative business. But that doesn’t mean

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Four Types of Goals For Creative Businesses

As the calendar turns over, people often turn their thoughts to what they want to achieve in the new year. What do you want to achieve this year? What do you want to accomplish in your creative business this year? When I meet with a new client, I always start

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Should Your Brand Take a Stand?

Should your creative brand take a stand? I am confident you have a stand on many issues about which people are talking. But does your creative business have a stand on those issues? Should it? A new report by the PR firm Edelman, addresses that question, looking into the behaviors

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Nisolo CEO on Measuring Their Impact

One of the things that impress me about creative makers is their desire to have a positive impact on the world. They don’t just want a successful business, they want a successful business makes a difference. In classes, workshops, or when working with individuals, I often bring up Nisolo as an

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Made in America

The Seven Percent Solution: The Value of Made in America

In the creative economy, the label “Made In America” is frequently an important element of the brand. The artists and artisans with whom I work, and who are making their art and their products in their studios or workshops, are definitely making in America. Most of the fashion brands with

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