If You Want Potential Customers to Be Honest, Ask Open-Ended Questions

Three years ago, I was coaching a successful company that was very confused about the failure of a recent product launch. When I was first hired, they told me they were convinced they had done everything by the book. Before developing the product, the company held five focus groups with potential customers to make sure … Read more

The Financial Services Expert Trap

For the past 60 years the financial services industry has been booming. Since 1980, year over year growth rates tripled and large entities flourished as smaller competitors crumbled. With low interest rates and new regulations, banks grew quickly as the rest of the marketplace piggybacked off their success. Savvy and risk-averse business men and women … Read more

Strategic Thinking: The Power of Questioning Your Assumptions

Many of our daily actions are habitual, meaning they are performed automatically and without conscious thought. It’s a useful way for us to save mental energy and streamline tasks that are performed frequently. These automatic actions are often based on our learning mental models, which are the assumptions, beliefs, and frameworks that we use to … Read more

Why aren’t we more curious?

While growth only occurs in a state of curiosity, it’s equally important to acknowledge that it’s not effortless to get into a state of curiosity through the fixed mindset and a growth mindset. In fact, if we aren’t mindful about it, we can find ourselves in various states that inhibit growth: 1. Apathy or Complacency: … Read more

The Reverse Resume: A counterintuitive way to measure our growth

When it comes to life’s trajectory, most of us spotlight our wins. But what if we began viewing our growth through the lens of opportunities we consciously sidestepped? In our hustle and bustle world, almost everyone has a résumé. It’s that trusty document, detailing our proudest moments, like a passport stamping our professional journeys. But, … Read more

Storyboarding Success: The Art of Crafting Unforgettable Events

The role of meeting planners is quickly evolving from individuals who orchestrate gatherings to those that curate experiences.  And in an era of ever-evolving audience expectations and shortening attention spans, it’s time to expand the role to include “experience designers”. It’s not just about meeting logistics anymore; being a guest speaker for corporate events is … Read more

Innovators don’t have excuses!

They recognize that every excuse, no matter how valid it may seem, is a self-imposed roadblockon the path to transformative change. Rather than getting bogged down by challenges or setbacks, innovators harness them ascatalysts for creativity and adaptability. They maintain an unwavering belief in their vision for organizational growth and development, knowing that for every … Read more