Sky Stack 
As an entrepreneur or business leader, your primary goal is to create an organization that not only survives but thrives at the highest level of excellence. However, many companies plateau at mediocre performance, unable to reach exceptional status. According to organizational psychologist Adam Grant, one key differentiator is identifying and cultivating “giver” employees – those … Read more
There’s a company in California with a unique approach to leadership that seems to be bearing results: Morning Star. Morning Star produces over two million tons of tomato products each year, from tomato sauce and ketchup to diced, whole peeled, and crushed canned tomatoes. But what really sets the company apart is its unusual corporate … Read more
Have you ever sat through a meeting that felt frustratingly circular? People rehash the same points, get lost arguing emotions instead of facts, or fail to generate any fresh ideas. Meanwhile, the clock ticks and you leave without making a decision. Edward de Bono felt your pain. That’s why the lateral thinking legend invented the … Read more
When Devon first started as a marketing manager at Carter Software Company, he noticed a need for more communication between teams that hindered productivity and output. The sales department often promised clients features and timelines the engineering team couldn’t deliver. Frustrated engineers would then blame marketing for overpromising without checking in with them first. To … Read more
In the early 2000s, Apple and Apple Corps, the company founded by The Beatles, engaged in a lengthy legal dispute over trademark rights related to Apple Computers and Apple Records. The conflict originated in 1981 when Apple Computers was a young startup. As they began achieving commercial success, The Beatles’ company Apple Corps filed a … Read more
The rise of e-commerce in the late 1990s and early 2000s ushered in a major shift in consumer shopping habits and revolutionized retail. As more people began shopping online, brick-and-mortar chains struggled to keep pace with the demand for internet retail. Many were unable to effectively adapt their business models for the digital age. Walmart … Read more
Running a business is like learning a new language – call it “Corporatelese.” Navigating the world of business has its own dense lexicon that must be decoded to foster effective communication between entrepreneurs, managers, and stakeholders. Though corporate jargon often perplexes the uninitiated, taking the time to unpack these concepts is essential for any aspiring … Read more
Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner and the Genius of Reverse Engineering When Boeing set out to design the 787 Dreamliner in the early 2000s, they wanted to create an airplane that would provide exceptional passenger comfort and long-range capability at greater fuel efficiency than any previous wide-body aircraft. Essentially, they asked – what would the ideal next-generation … Read more
When Indra Nooyi returned to her native India in 2007, newly appointed as PepsiCo’s CEO, she noticed something deeply moving. At every turn, people congratulated not Indra herself but her mother, recognizing her role in nurturing Indra’s journey to success. This awakened something in Indra. She realized that behind every leader, there are often unseen … Read more
What is a Chairman…and is it Something I Want? If you’ve been following me for any amount of time, you will know that I am constantly discussing how to become the Chairman (or Chairwoman, but for purposes of keeping this blog succinct, let’s use the term Chairman) of your business. However, for many business owners, … Read more