tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-105479702024-03-18T23:34:13.526-04:00Canadian Entrepreneur<b>... Innovation and business ideas from Rick Spence: business writer, speaker & content marketer, and former editor/publisher of PROFIT Magazine.</b>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.comBlogger1457125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-1770113790049153662024-02-14T23:55:00.001-05:002024-02-14T23:55:14.828-05:00Robot writes blogpost, does a pretty good job<p><span style="font-family: georgia;">So today I asked <a href="https://chat.openai.com/" target="_blank">ChatGPT</a>: "<span style="background-color: white; color: var(--text-primary); white-space-collapse: preserve;">How will generative AI help entrepreneurs manage their businesses? Please go into detail with examples, and provide sources for your examples."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--text-primary); white-space-collapse: preserve;">Its answers look pretty useful. How could some of these ideas impact your business?</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">ChatGPT reported back:</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Generative AI can provide entrepreneurs with valuable tools and capabilities to enhance various aspects of business management. Here are several ways in which generative AI can be beneficial for entrepreneurs, along with examples:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2rYnsWJqE-jpBMgFYS4Hh-eUn_fwv8e1OPoiY6FiJi5ev4nJclCqOiD6zkAR6Xx81cZMjya9RX__ED9Tbbv_8gaYDP-XE9iYv7UVlHmAXwip2QmwuRDmx9qYSXxZ8zxVnxOH96-11DEhelqaH4nW4778FN152-rbpAYqouollaZ1Oi766tVa9Hw" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2rYnsWJqE-jpBMgFYS4Hh-eUn_fwv8e1OPoiY6FiJi5ev4nJclCqOiD6zkAR6Xx81cZMjya9RX__ED9Tbbv_8gaYDP-XE9iYv7UVlHmAXwip2QmwuRDmx9qYSXxZ8zxVnxOH96-11DEhelqaH4nW4778FN152-rbpAYqouollaZ1Oi766tVa9Hw=w160-h200" width="160" /></a></div>Data Analysis and Decision Support:<p></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Generative AI algorithms can analyze large datasets to identify patterns and trends, providing entrepreneurs with insights to make data-driven decisions. For instance, machine learning algorithms can analyze customer behavior data to predict future trends, helping entrepreneurs tailor their strategies.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Personalized Marketing Campaigns:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> AI-powered tools can generate personalized content and recommendations for marketing campaigns. For instance, ChatGPT, a generative AI model, can be used to create personalized email content, social media posts, or product recommendations based on customer preferences.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Chatbots for Customer Support:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Generative AI-driven chatbots, like those built on models such as GPT-3, can handle customer inquiries, provide information, and even assist in the sales process. These chatbots can improve customer service efficiency by handling routine queries, leaving entrepreneurs and their teams with more time for complex tasks.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Automated Business Processes:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Robotic Process Automation (RPA) powered by generative AI can automate repetitive tasks such as data entry, invoicing, and inventory management. This automation streamlines operations, reduces errors, and increases overall efficiency.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Market Research and Competitive Analysis:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Generative AI tools can analyze market trends, customer reviews, and competitor data to provide entrepreneurs with comprehensive market research. This information can inform product development, marketing strategies, and positioning in the market.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Communication:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> NLP capabilities in AI can improve communication with customers and employees. For instance, AI-driven virtual assistants can handle inquiries, schedule appointments, and provide information, freeing up entrepreneurs' time for strategic tasks.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Predictive Analytics for Financial Management:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> Generative AI models can predict future financial trends based on historical data, helping entrepreneurs make informed decisions about budgeting, cash flow management, and investment strategies.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Supply Chain Optimization:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> AI can optimize supply chain management by predicting demand, identifying potential disruptions, and recommending inventory levels. This helps entrepreneurs streamline their supply chain processes and reduce costs.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Human Resources and Talent Acquisition:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> AI-powered tools can assist in the recruitment process by analyzing resumes, conducting initial screenings, and even predicting candidate success based on historical hiring data. This accelerates the hiring process and improves the quality of talent acquisition.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-bold); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 600; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Content Generation for Marketing:</span></p><p><em style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Example:</em><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> AI models like GPT-3 can be utilized to generate creative and engaging marketing content, including blog posts, social media updates, and advertising copy. This can save entrepreneurs time and resources in content creation.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It's important to note that while generative AI offers these benefits, ethical considerations, data privacy, and responsible use are crucial aspects that entrepreneurs should prioritize. Additionally, staying informed about the latest developments in AI and understanding how to integrate these technologies effectively into business operations is essential.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Sources:</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Brown, T. B., Mann, B., Ryder, N., Subbiah, M., Kaplan, J., Dhariwal, P., ... & Agarwal, S. (2020). Language models are few-shot learners. arXiv preprint arXiv:2005.14165.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">GPT-3: </span><a href="https://www.openai.com/gpt-3/" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-top: 1.25em; text-decoration-line: none; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_new">https://www.openai.com/gpt-3/</a></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">RPA in Business: </span><a style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--link); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-top: 1.25em; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_new">https://www.uipath.com/rpa/robotic-process-automation</a></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: var(--tw-prose-body); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; white-space-collapse: preserve;">AI in Marketing: </span><a style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; border: 0px solid rgb(227, 227, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: var(--link); font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 1rem; margin-bottom: 1.25em; margin-top: 1.25em; white-space-collapse: preserve;" target="_new">https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/ai-in-marketing-the-time-to-act-is-now</a></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-87921928369400500212024-01-28T01:57:00.004-05:002024-01-28T02:00:30.871-05:00How startups drive job growth and productivity Interesting new story on the importance of entrepreneurs and startups in the <a href="https://hbr.org/2024/01/how-the-pandemic-rebooted-entrepreneurship-in-the-u-s" target="_blank">Harvard Business Review</a>. <div><br /></div><div>Authors Kenan Fikri and Daniel Newman, researchers at the Economic Innovation Group, start by noting the strength and resilience of entrepreneurs: “While some data sources on entrepreneurship operate on a lag, so far it appears that the entrepreneurship surge is real and likely to lead to greater job creation and productivity in the U.S. over the long run.” </div><div><br /></div><div>Startup entrepreneurs don't get much love nowadays, but as the authors note, startups are important because they drive both employment gains and productivity growth.
The news is good: in October 2023, three and a half years after the pandemic began, Americans were filing 59% more applications to start new businesses than they were before the pandemic. And that, as the authors note, occurred despite “recession fears, labor and supply-chain constraints, the highest inflation rates in a generation, and rapid interest rate hikes.” </div><div><br /></div><div>The problem: the 2010s was a good decade for a few tech giants, but not for startups. “Every year in the decade running up to the pandemic, the U.S. economy was missing around 100,000 new firms and the approximately half million new jobs that would have been associated with them each year — a partial but significant explanation for the grindingly slow pace of recovery from the Great Recession.” </div><div><br /></div><div>The authors discuss lots of economic reasons for the current startup surge (including higher household incomes during COVID, lockdown-related innovation, and the willingness of many working Americans to make a job change during such a trying period). But I think they missed an important reason. </div><div><br /></div><div>The more society changes, the more entrepreneurs come to the fore, meeting new needs and serving new markets.
Advancing technologies in multiple fields certainly create new opportunities, from AI-fuelled production houses to singer-songwriters on TikTok. But as lifestyles evolve and change – with a big push from Covid’s impact – entrepreneurs at the forefront of personal, cultural, financial and lifestyle changes are emboldened to start new businesses and serve these new markets. And new technology is continually simplifying and empowering that process. </div><div><br /></div><div>In other words, a confident, pluralistic society advancing on all fronts is a startup-generating machine. </div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhY7VwIGUFoBfxifEz-C1UUcja1HIcV1ukV2byfEByvVawiIwYJLVZslqj-_6YbtSVD40vXavZ_yORcsvNJl-zgUhq7cHMoBmpwyN5Otn7Z5RduZRFvEm5IQk0gKUsZzRFlVVbVv0szAqjNa00lrLTipM3EYN3pCp5TW1KHHT7ow_Uh6n0EZvUrw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="979" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjhY7VwIGUFoBfxifEz-C1UUcja1HIcV1ukV2byfEByvVawiIwYJLVZslqj-_6YbtSVD40vXavZ_yORcsvNJl-zgUhq7cHMoBmpwyN5Otn7Z5RduZRFvEm5IQk0gKUsZzRFlVVbVv0szAqjNa00lrLTipM3EYN3pCp5TW1KHHT7ow_Uh6n0EZvUrw=w230-h400" width="230" /></a></div>The authors offer a few prescriptions on how governments can promote new business growth. Don't mess with success, they say: “Don’t make it harder to start a business than it already is.” They also support proposals for helping people save more for retirement (“de-risking entrepreneurship in the process”), and curtailing the use of non-compete contracts that block aspiring entrepreneurs from starting businesses that compete with their current employers. </div><div><br /></div><div>For non-Americans, the problem is that the surge the authors identified can't be found in most other countries (see chart). They assess Canada’s post-covid startup gains at 10% -- less than a third of the U.S.’s 34%. And way behind Belgium (up 25%), France (23%) and even the U.K. (16%). </div><div><br /></div><div>The federal government hasn’t done much for Canadian entrepreneurs in decades. Perhaps it’s time for them to revisit the best job-creating machine we have. Reforming HST (which turned micro-businesses into involuntary tax collectors) would be a good place to start.<br /></div>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-56328819588919593072023-12-08T12:07:00.002-05:002023-12-08T12:09:41.080-05:00'Tis the season to be present<p> A blast from the past. "Presence" is about putting your best self forward at every opportunity. The ebook of Amy Cuddy's book "Presence" is currently on sale for just $1.99 at Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.</p><p>My 2015 interview with Amy Cuddy, from the Financial Post:</p><h1 class="article-title" id="articleTitle" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; font-family: "PT Sans", "PT Sans-fb", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 1.1; margin: 0px 0px 0.5rem;"><span style="font-size: large;">How adopting Wonder Woman's power pose might change the outcome of a meeting, or even your destiny</span></h1><p class="article-subtitle" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: "PT Serif", "PT Serif-fb", Georgia, serif; font-size: 1.25rem; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px 0px 0.75rem;">Harvard professor Amy Cuddy’s message is simple: 'Our bodies change our minds. Our minds change our behaviour. And our behaviour changes our outcomes'</p><div class="article-meta" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: "PT Serif", "PT Serif-fb", Georgia, serif; font-size: 0.8125rem; line-height: 1.2188;"><div class="published-by" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><div class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Author of the article:</div><span class="published-by__author" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;"><a href="https://financialpost.com/author/rickspence" style="box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">Rick Spence</a></span></div><div class="published-by" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><span style="color: #191919; font-size: 16px;">You’re sitting in a waiting room, about to meet somebody important. It might be a job interview, or an important sales call. You know you should have prepared more, and you’re worried. But, you figure, sitting low in your chair, hunched over, arms folded across your chest, maybe they won’t notice.</span></div><div class="published-by" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin-bottom: 0.75rem;"><section class="article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content-start / content-end;"><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">If you go into a crucial meeting slumping like a student who didn’t do his homework, you’ve set yourself up for a fall. But if you change your body language, you may change the outcome, even your destiny.</p></section><section class="article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content-start / content-end;"><div class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Article conte<a class="more-topic__item--no-image" href="http://financialpost.com/entrepreneur/with-all-the-competition-out-there-accidental-entrepreneurs-face-a-big-challenge-for-2016-survival?__lsa=2aaf-4189" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; display: inline-block; font-weight: 700; text-transform: uppercase;"><div class="more-topic__item-text h3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; color: white; display: inline !important; font-family: Roboto, Roboto-fb, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1rem; height: 6rem; line-height: 1.25; margin: 0px; padding: 0.5rem 1.5rem; text-decoration: inherit;"><span class="more-topic__item-text-clamp" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-line-clamp: 4; box-sizing: inherit; display: inline !important; overflow: hidden;">al</span></div></a></div><section aria-labelledby="moreTopicLabel1426251758591603289273662733025280" class="more-topic" data-aqa="embed-more-topic" data-carousel-component="ts-ready" data-carousel-icon-button="" data-carousel-type="list" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.5rem 0px 0.5rem; position: relative;"><button aria-hidden="true" class="more-topic__button-next" data-carousel-next="" style="border-color: transparent; box-sizing: inherit; cursor: pointer; height: 7rem; margin: 0px; opacity: 0; padding: 0px; position: absolute; right: -1rem; top: 2.25rem; transform: initial; transition: opacity 0.3s ease-in-out 0s; width: 2.125rem; z-index: 2;" tabindex="-1" title="next" type="button"></button></section></section><div class="js-widget-content article-content__widget-group article-content__widget-group--content-slot6" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content-start / content-end;"></div><section class="article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content-start / content-end;"><div class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Article content</div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">That’s the promise of Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges, a recent book, and theory, from Amy Cuddy, a social psychologist at Harvard Business School who suddenly found herself a body-language guru. You may be one of the 38 million people who watched Cuddy’s 2012 TED Talk, in which she gains strength and stature simply by standing tall, hands on hips, like Wonder Woman. Cuddy’s message is refreshingly simple: “Our bodies change our minds. Our minds change our behaviour. And our behaviour changes our outcomes.”</p><figure class="embedded-image" data-aqa="embed-image" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 1.5rem 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;"><picture class="embedded-image__ratio" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; width: 564px;"><source data-srcset="https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/financialpost/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/amy.jpg?w=564&quality=90&strip=all&type=webp&sig=mFHCq5GVRrmur4MXwm1dQQ,
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https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/financialpost/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/amy.jpg?w=576&quality=90&strip=all&type=webp&sig=Gcg39J2EDTqj6rgZcbprmA 2x" style="box-sizing: inherit;" type="image/webp"></source><img alt="Handout" class="embedded-image__image lazyloaded" data-src="https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/financialpost/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/amy.jpg?w=288&quality=90&strip=all&sig=k_mE3sQaEerxmo44TZcCfg" data-srcset="https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/financialpost/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/amy.jpg?w=288&quality=90&strip=all&sig=k_mE3sQaEerxmo44TZcCfg,
https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/financialpost/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/amy.jpg?w=576&quality=90&strip=all&sig=L_Tn4Xk6TcrbMx5RckQd-g 2x" height="465" loading="lazy" src="https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/financialpost/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/amy.jpg?w=288&quality=90&strip=all&sig=k_mE3sQaEerxmo44TZcCfg" srcset="https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/financialpost/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/amy.jpg?w=288&quality=90&strip=all&sig=k_mE3sQaEerxmo44TZcCfg,
https://smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital/financialpost/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/amy.jpg?w=576&quality=90&strip=all&sig=L_Tn4Xk6TcrbMx5RckQd-g 2x" style="box-sizing: inherit; display: block; height: 423px; max-width: 100%; object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; transition: filter 1s ease 0s; width: 564px;" width="620" /></picture><figcaption class="image-caption" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: Roboto, Roboto-fb, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8125rem; line-height: 1.2188; margin-top: 0.5rem; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "PT Serif", "PT Serif-fb", Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></figcaption><figcaption class="image-caption" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: Roboto, Roboto-fb, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8125rem; line-height: 1.2188; margin-top: 0.5rem; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "PT Serif", "PT Serif-fb", Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">After her recent speech at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, I got to ask Cuddy about what her research means to entrepreneurs. The answer: everything.</span></figcaption><figcaption class="image-caption" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #555555; font-family: Roboto, Roboto-fb, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 0.8125rem; line-height: 1.2188; margin-top: 0.5rem; max-width: 100%;"><span style="color: #191919; font-family: "PT Serif", "PT Serif-fb", Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;">Entrepreneurs tend to be defined more by their passions and ideas than by the resources they control. Most of the meetings they go to tend to be with people who have more money, stature or power than they, as well as something they want. Using Cuddy’s notions of “presence,” entrepreneurs can level the playing field by boosting their confidence level, thereby encouraging others to think more highly of their capability and clout.</span></figcaption></figure></section><section class="article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content-start / content-end;"><div class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Article content</div></section><section class="article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content-start / content-end;"><div class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Article content</div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">Cuddy urges everyone to maximize their presence by consciously recalling their best, most charismatic self. “Most people have in their minds an idea of who they are at their best,” she says. “It’s usually a combination of feeling powerful and generous. But often, they don’t know how to get back to that self when they need it. And as they get fearful, they get further away from their best self.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">Cuddy’s solution: “As you develop presence, you get closer and closer to being who you are, and you’re not afraid that a rejection is going to knock you down forever.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">For Cuddy, “presence” is more than the mindfulness, or self-awareness, people strive to find today. It’s feeling present and powerful. As she writes in her book, “Presence is the state of being attuned to and able to comfortably express our true thoughts, feelings, value and potential.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">Cuddy has researched body-language literature and conducted experiments to discover that good posture — whether you simply sit up straighter, or adopt Wonder Woman’s power pose — changes the chemical balance in your body. Leaning back, stretching out your arms and legs, extending your body so you take up more space, all reduce your level of cortisol, the “stress hormone” that puts you on edge and prepares you for “fight or flight.” At the same time, Cuddy says, posing raises your level of testosterone, the “assertiveness hormone” that develops strength and is associated with dominance behaviours.</p></section><section class="article-content__content-group article-content__content-group--story" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #191919; font-size: 16px; grid-column: content-start / content-end;"><div class="visually-hidden" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; clip: rect(0px, 0px, 0px, 0px); height: 1px; margin: -1px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; width: 1px;">Article content</div><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">So, raise your arms to the sky, like a victorious sprinter or Sidney Crosby scoring the golden goal in the Vancouver Olympics. If you can’t dance around your prospect’s office to release your best self, sit up and take slow, thoughtful breaths (in yoga, they’re called “victory breaths”). Sing, even to yourself. Puff out your chest. Uncross your legs. Stop touching your neck, hiding your face, or otherwise trying to look small. Lean back. Adopt the poses and postures of powerful people.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">Cuddy began studying presence after encountering research results from videos of entrepreneurs pitching for venture capital. The evidence indicated that the winners from among 185 presenters were the entrepreneurs with the most authentic levels of confidence and enthusiasm — not the ones with the best pitch or value proposition.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">But as Cuddy has since learned, being “present” also helps you hear your own voice and rediscover your purpose.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">Although her book hit No. 3 on the New York Times best-seller list, and her “presence” exercises are being adopted by companies, sales departments and sports teams, Cuddy says she doesn’t want her work to become a business. Having just stepped off the tenure track at Harvard Business School, her interest now is in starting a research centre, and working not with CEOs and entrepreneurs, but more marginalized communities (such as abused women, homeless people, prison inmates) who have even greater need to retrieve their past, best selves.</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;">“I don’t want this to be part of an app,” Cuddy says. “It’s a process, not a product.”</p><p style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 1.5rem; max-width: 100%;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit;">Rick Spence is a writer, consultant and speaker specializing in entrepreneurship.</em></p></section></div></div>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-17267256254315602022023-09-14T12:37:00.007-04:002023-09-14T12:39:06.883-04:00When Friends Fall Out<p> I talked to an entrepreneur the other day who was very excited about but his business, but disappointed in his friends.</p><div style="outline: none;"><div style="outline: none;">It seems that the more successful this entrepreneur became in his business, the more some friends shrank back. They didn't share the excitement of his success... In fact, some seemed to resent it.</div><div style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div style="outline: none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqjzYZJt0ZhlcFuVfCNv7xU7GMrPAA3dTrHDnyf6PpPIWlO3jnwvPNT1VLTjYMO1EM0Kyfq8s6iWNazsDZH0PbUad8YtvCx7tIff3AqzlJzNHFuMNUkVxZGV20HEwl9TMgo6x2dBR5thwEtD7Bi64VkSgXVpgAYRU97s6RcdWvroITlnjlstARKw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img data-original-height="507" data-original-width="760" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiqjzYZJt0ZhlcFuVfCNv7xU7GMrPAA3dTrHDnyf6PpPIWlO3jnwvPNT1VLTjYMO1EM0Kyfq8s6iWNazsDZH0PbUad8YtvCx7tIff3AqzlJzNHFuMNUkVxZGV20HEwl9TMgo6x2dBR5thwEtD7Bi64VkSgXVpgAYRU97s6RcdWvroITlnjlstARKw=w200-h133" width="200" /></a></div>This type of behavior concerns me, on multiple levels. Entrepreneurs run on adrenaline and confidence. They need positive energy, from within and without, to keep going. When friends don't align their energies with yours, you slow down. It's like running on broken ground.</div><div style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div style="outline: none;">There's no one cause for this lack of support. Some friends may begrudge the time and attention you're lavishing on your business. They may feel left behind. Others may feel jealous of your success. Some might even feel they could have had the same success, maybe more, if they had only stepped up to the plate as you did. Human emotions are complicated.</div><div style="outline: none;"><br />As entrepreneurs, we have to stay focused and reduce the negative energies around us. But that doesn't mean cutting off friends who are less than supportive. Here are two things you might try:</div><div style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div style="outline: none;">* Reach out to any friends who seem to have become more distant lately. Find time to spend with them. Don't talk about business. Make sure you're talking about <i>their </i>lives, their successes, their challenges. Really listen. Show that nothing has changed, you're still you, and this personal relationship really matters to you.</div><div style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div style="outline: none;">* If someone is being overtly negative, call them out. Let them know you value their friendship, and how important it is for an entrepreneur to feel supported by their social group. Doubts, resentment, negative energy are all lethal to entrepreneurial gusto, so let these friends know you really appreciate their positive support. </div><div style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div style="outline: none;">Lots of so-called experts will advise you to cut negative people out of your life. I'm not an expert, so I won't tell you that. But do talk to them. Let them know you care. Let them know how important it is for you to have the support and confidence of your friends.</div><div style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div style="outline: none;">Business will eat up as much of your time as you let it. Make sure to consistently make time for yourself and your friends. The break will do you good, and the positive vibes will strengthen you.</div><div style="outline: none;"><br style="outline: none;" /></div><div style="outline: none;">Entrepreneur or not, be the best friend you can be.</div><div style="outline: none;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; outline: none;" /></div></div>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-74479192257508669732023-08-28T14:25:00.005-04:002023-08-28T14:37:03.742-04:00The 25 Strengths of Great Entrepreneurs<p> I sat down to ask myself, "What makes a great entrepreneur?" </p><p>What skills, attitudes, learnings and outright gifts can most help people to build good products and successful companies?</p><p>Here's a list of 25 essential skills and traits I came up with. Only the top 10 are in any sort of priority order.</p><p>Which of these do you think are most important? Which other skills/attitudes would you add? </p><p>And which of these strengths should you be actively working on? </p><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Vision and creativity, to see things that aren't there, but could be.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Communication skills</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Leadership</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Stamina</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Confidence </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Optimistic</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ability to plan </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Project-management abilities (all businesses start as a project)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Financial literacy</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Resourceful; scrappy </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Budgeting skills</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Influence and persuasion</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sales and marketing skills</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Trustworthy</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Empathy</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ability to focus</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ability to delegate</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ability to make good decisions</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hard work ethic; hustle</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Able to ask for help</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Sociable</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Able to assess other people, see their potential </span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Open mind + ability to be decisive</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Ability to manage income uncertainty</span></li><li><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Resilience</span></li></ul></div>
<p class="MsoNormal">Feel free to add other skills and traits in the comments.</p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-3353830394482893432023-08-19T23:21:00.003-04:002023-08-21T16:57:18.509-04:00A very imperfect phone call<p><b>What you can
learn about communication from listening to Trump’s 2001 call with Georgia
election officials</b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSUJa8ribA2WLZIqNFBlY3MLAYlVmvPSyA-LluCQNJ1iODXAv-CuTqhLJMnJPth8kKZkmvaDSI6JUgqXeIN20DybjIkmXOHXZRVeJKe8mEVtjF0PuQZYRhc2ajd6wTq6cEmGSgE8Pd8LswiDOzm1acB9We6Q-Ib-fA5dSOCF2slzcwvqr66juG4w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1078" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgSUJa8ribA2WLZIqNFBlY3MLAYlVmvPSyA-LluCQNJ1iODXAv-CuTqhLJMnJPth8kKZkmvaDSI6JUgqXeIN20DybjIkmXOHXZRVeJKe8mEVtjF0PuQZYRhc2ajd6wTq6cEmGSgE8Pd8LswiDOzm1acB9We6Q-Ib-fA5dSOCF2slzcwvqr66juG4w" width="320" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b>I just
listened again to <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW_Bdf_jGaA">Trump’s Jan. 3, 2001 phone call </a></b>with the Georgia Secretary of
State to discuss voting irregularities in November 2000’s presidential election
– won by Joe Biden.<p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This
hour-long call, recorded by the Georgia side, preserves live evidence of Trump’s
lies about the election, his disregard for protocol, his arrogance, and his willingness
to bully and threaten any honest administrators who stand in his way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And now we
know the call will likely end up being key evidence in Trump’s upcoming
criminal trial in Georgia for his efforts to overturn the election results.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But the
call is also a faithful record of a neurotic fraudster hard at work, used to
getting his own way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As a professional communicator, here are my observations about Trump’s historic call. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">When
trying to influence other people’s behaviour, you should listen hard to what
they say, and work diligently to earn their trust. Trump, by contrast, probably
spoke for 50 minutes of the 60-minute call, offering examples after examples
(all unproven and unsupported by any evidence) of Democratic cheating and
ballot-box stuffing. His Big Lie: “Everyone knows I won the state by hundreds
of thousands of votes.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">When Georgia Secretary of State </span>Brad
Raffensperger tried to get a word in edgewise, Trump would simply interrupt, pointing (without details) to all the official sources and YouTube
videos that supposedly prove his charges. He never bothered to listen. He never
asked Raffensperger to explain what steps Georgia had taken to assure the
legality of the election. He had become too used to dictating outcomes.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->A phone call with Trump can be very
intimidating. With his booming voice and confident air, he’s a hard man to
argue with. He runs roughshod over your assertions the same way he owns the
media, by ignoring your arguments and pressing his own talking points again and
again. His sources are always “Everybody says,” “very smart people say,”
“everybody knows this,” and “you know this is true.”</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt;">“It’s very simple,” Trump kept
repeating. “We won the election.”</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Now you
know it.” </i>To support his case. Trump told a number of horror stories, about
cheating by Dominion voting machines, Democratic vote dumps, ballot-fixing by
one election worker, and even a dump of military and overseas votes that Trump argued
should have all gone to him. “Maybe you didn’t know that,” he said, “but now
you know it.” This suggests that Trump still believes, despite his reputation
as a serial liar, that when he states something, that’s equivalent to it being
an unqualified fact – or at least should be perceived that way. His
self-confidence is admirable, but his ability to delude himself is somewhat
less so. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Of course, what works in a press scrum or at a Trump
rally isn't as effective when dealing with sophisticated, articulate
professionals. Trump kept punching, but he wasn’t smart enough to land a single
blow. Georgia election officials had already re-counted the ballots and
reviewed supposed irregularities, and they stood by their statement that Biden
won the state fairly. Finding himself facing ethical people who knew their
stuff, Trump had no idea what to do except… up the ante.<span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·</span><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Trump aimed threat after threat at the Georgia
officials. “You're approving an illegal election… Georgians know it … the
people of Georgia are so angry…. They will hate you.” He also suggested that
they should change the result soon, to avoid angering state Republicans who
would be voting in two senate runoff votes a few days later. (Both seats were
won narrowly by Democratic candidates, crucially shifting the balance of power
to the Dems).” The final threat: that both Raffensperger and his lawyer, who
was also on the call as a voice of reason, could face legal jeopardy for supporting
an illegitimate election outcome. Defending Biden’s victory, he warned darkly,
“could be very costly in many ways.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p>Had Trump tried to reason with the Georgia
team rather than threaten them, how might history have changed? The Senate
elections a few days later might have gone different ways: the Democrats won
one election by just 1% of the vote and the other election by just 2%.</p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·</span><span style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">The Georgia team remained calm and steadfast. “Mr.
President, you have people that submit information, and we have our people that
submit information, and then it comes before a court. And the court then has to
make a determination. We have to stand by our numbers, we believe our numbers
are right.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">Trump’s rebuttal: “Your numbers aren’t right,
they’re really wrong. And they’re really wrong, Brad… Ultimately, I win,
because you guys are so wrong, and you have treated the population of Georgia
so badly.” Then he went on to complain about what a mistake it had been to
endorse Georgia’s governor in the last election… proof that if you let a
blowhard talk long enough, he will usually just lose his focus and his way.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -24px;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">Of
course, Trump also played the party card. Knowing he was dealing with
Republicans, he added, </span><span lang="EN-CA" style="text-indent: -18pt;">“Why
don't you want to find this? What’s wrong with you?” It’s a clear insight into Trump’s
belief that loyalty to party should rank above one’s obligation to the public
or democracy. (Unless, of course, he’s the one being disloyal to the party.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">When Trump saw his bullying wasn’t working, he
resorted to bargaining. “Brad, what are we going to do? We won the election,
and it’s not fair to take it away from us like this.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">How his lawyers must have squirmed when Trump
pleaded, “I just want to find 11,780 votes” (the difference between his vote
count and Biden’s). </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">At the end, the lawyers on the call agreed to
meet again the next day to review the evidence on both sides. But it was clear
Georgia’s officials weren't going to budge. Trump tried to play the statesman
by saying, “Brad, we just want the truth. It’s simple.” But then Trump revealed
that only he gets to define what is the truth. “The truth is that I won by
400,000 votes.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">**** </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I’ve always maintained that Trump’s narcissism, ego and
lack of self-awareness make him the opposite of a successful entrepreneur.
Great leaders tell the truth, listen to others, prize reputation over ambition, and guard their integrity. With none of those virtues, Trump will go
down in history as a historic loser.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">PS: Kudos to <b>Georgia Secretary of State </b></span><b>Brad
Raffensperger</b>, who defied Trump, party interests and the MAGA mob to defend the
truth. Just the other day he tweeted: "</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="background: white;">The most
basic principles of a strong democracy are accountability and respect for the
Constitution and rule of law. You either have it, or you don’t.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(I just learned that Raffensperger
graduated from engineering at the University of Western Ontario. </i><i>Go Mustangs!)</i></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-53652163364546809442023-07-06T11:53:00.000-04:002023-07-06T11:53:00.350-04:00Top 10 ways to hire and retain top talent<p>Busy times here at Canadian Entrepreneur, so here's another blogpost written by my AI friend, ChatGPT. Don't forget to use it yourself when pondering new strategies, evaluating new markets, or wrestling with any problem.</p><p><span style="color: #343541; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;">Today's question: </span></span><span style="color: #343541; font-size: 16px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Based on university level research, what are the best strategies businesses can use to hire and retain top talent?</b></span></span></p><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: #f7f7f8; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 0px 0px 1.25em; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Hiring and retaining top talent is crucial for businesses to maintain a competitive edge. Based on university-level research and industry best practices, here are some strategies that businesses can employ:</p><ol style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: #f7f7f8; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; counter-reset: list-number 0; display: flex; flex-direction: column; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; list-style: none; margin: 1.25em 0px; padding: 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;">1. <b>Employer Branding: </b>Develop a strong employer brand that showcases the company's mission, values, and unique attributes. Highlight employee success stories, career growth opportunities, and a positive work culture. A compelling employer brand helps attract top talent who align with the organization's values.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>2. Targeted Recruitment: </b>Implement a targeted recruitment strategy to identify and engage with high-potential candidates. Utilize multiple channels such as online job boards, social media platforms, professional networks, and industry events to reach a diverse pool of candidates. Leverage data analytics and applicant tracking systems to streamline the recruitment process.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p></p><b></b></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>3. Competency-Based Assessments: </b>Utilize competency-based assessments during the hiring process to identify candidates with the skills, knowledge, and attitudes necessary for success in the role. These assessments can include interviews, work samples, case studies, and psychometric tests.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>4. Competitive Compensation: </b>Offer competitive compensation packages that align with industry standards and reflect the value the organization places on its employees. Consider additional incentives such as performance bonuses, profit-sharing, stock options, and comprehensive benefits packages to attract and retain top talent.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>5. Professional-Development Opportunities: </b>Emphasize professional development and growth opportunities to showcase the organization's commitment to employee advancement. Offer training programs, mentorship initiatives, conferences, workshops, and tuition reimbursement to foster continuous learning and skill enhancement.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>6, Flexible Work Arrangements: </b>Recognize the importance of work-life balance by offering flexible work arrangements such as remote work options, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks. Such flexibility can help attract and retain talent, particularly those seeking a better work-life integration.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>7. Employee Recognition and Rewards: </b>Implement a comprehensive employee recognition and rewards program to acknowledge and appreciate top performers. This can include regular feedback, public recognition, performance-based bonuses, promotions, and opportunities for challenging assignments or leadership roles.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>8. Strong Leadership and Communication: </b>Develop strong leadership capabilities within the organization to create a positive work environment and foster effective communication. Encourage open and transparent communication channels, solicit feedback from employees, and provide regular updates on company strategy and goals.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>9. Employee Engagement Initiatives:</b> Implement initiatives that promote employee engagement and foster a sense of belonging within the organization. This can include team-building activities, employee resource groups, social events, wellness programs, and community-involvement opportunities.</p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><br /></p></li><li style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; counter-increment: list-number 1; display: block; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 28px; padding-left: 0.375em;"><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px;"><b>10. Continuous Feedback and Performance Management</b>: Establish a robust performance management system that includes regular feedback and performance evaluations. Provide constructive feedback, set clear goals, and offer opportunities for career growth. Regular check-ins help employees stay motivated, aligned with organizational objectives, and identify areas for improvement.</p></li></ol><p style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(69,89,164,.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 transparent; --tw-shadow: 0 0 transparent; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: #f7f7f8; border: 0px solid rgb(217, 217, 227); box-sizing: border-box; color: #374151; font-family: Söhne, ui-sans-serif, system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"; font-size: 16px; margin: 1.25em 0px 0px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">It's important to note that every organization is unique, and these strategies should be tailored to align with the company's culture, values, and specific talent requirements. Regularly evaluating and adapting these strategies based on feedback and market trends will help businesses stay competitive in attracting and retaining top talent.</p><p>Thanks, ChatGPT. Ask it <a href="https://chat.openai.com/" target="_blank">your questions here</a>!</p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-17428548034737272022023-05-10T11:55:00.007-04:002023-05-10T12:09:18.733-04:00How can cities encourage entrepreneurship and innovation?<p>As big companies shrink their workforces, cities have to work harder to support and promote economic growth and good jobs. Luring companies away from other cities is a zero-sum game. That's why cities have to get serious about leveraging the talent and imagination of all their own residents. Entrepreneurs develop new business ideas, create jobs, help each other, and inspire creative and economic resurgence. </p><p>There are many ways to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. Here's ChatGPT's menu of 10 ways your city can
foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem:</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1. <span> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Establish
Supportive Infrastructure:</b> Cities can invest in creating a robust
infrastructure to support entrepreneurs and innovators. This includes providing
access to affordable office spaces, co-working spaces, research and development
facilities, and technology incubators/accelerators. These spaces can facilitate
collaboration, idea exchange, and access to necessary resources.<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Foster
Collaboration and Networking: </b>Encourage networking events, workshops, and
conferences that bring together entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and industry
experts. Creating platforms for collaboration enables entrepreneurs to share
knowledge, form partnerships, and seek guidance from experienced individuals.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">3. <b> </b><b>Provide
Financial Support:</b> Establish funds and programs to provide financial support to
entrepreneurs. This can include grants, loans, and tax incentives for startups,
especially in sectors aligned with the city's economic development goals.
Facilitating access to capital helps entrepreneurs overcome financial barriers
and pursue their ventures.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBZFa-PzHxbeuJLs2Ihz_Qw-FaC6Vilsw8HJHWJt9jHoZMEStni8RlvGFlgoqlv5gRK6Wd_NI3qrL8e5W1bA_LRUgk8lNyJ3i2tmBbCNvplbKo3oYHfJibc0nSKI-DPVIJHVZR9P2gs25bf8lusO28JKj4OHE0GRMvJgmjozIe7p5QcVNacZ4" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="700" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBZFa-PzHxbeuJLs2Ihz_Qw-FaC6Vilsw8HJHWJt9jHoZMEStni8RlvGFlgoqlv5gRK6Wd_NI3qrL8e5W1bA_LRUgk8lNyJ3i2tmBbCNvplbKo3oYHfJibc0nSKI-DPVIJHVZR9P2gs25bf8lusO28JKj4OHE0GRMvJgmjozIe7p5QcVNacZ4" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Develop
Entrepreneurial Education: </b>Collaborate with educational institutions to develop
entrepreneurial education programs and courses. These initiatives can equip
aspiring entrepreneurs with essential skills and knowledge, covering areas such
as business planning, marketing, finance, and technology. Workshops and
mentorship programs can also help entrepreneurs build their capabilities.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> <b>
</b></span></span></span><b><!--[endif]--></b><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Streamline
Regulatory Processes:</b> Simplify bureaucratic procedures and regulations related
to starting and operating a business. Reducing barriers and complexities in
licensing, permits, and registration processes can encourage more entrepreneurs
to establish ventures. Establishing a dedicated agency or office to support
entrepreneurs and guide them through the regulatory landscape can be
beneficial.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Promote
Public-Private Partnerships:</b> Foster collaborations between the public and
private sectors to drive entrepreneurship and innovation. Engage with local
businesses, corporations, and investors to provide mentorship, funding, and
market access to entrepreneurs. Public-private partnerships can leverage each
other's strengths and resources to create a conducive environment for startups.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Encourage
Diversity and Inclusion</b>: Promote diversity and inclusion in entrepreneurship by
supporting underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, and
individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. Create programs that provide training,
mentorship, and funding specifically targeted at these groups. Encouraging a
diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem leads to a broader range of perspectives,
ideas, and innovations.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Support
Research and Development: </b>Collaborate with universities, research institutions,
and industries to foster innovation. Encourage the commercialization of
research outcomes and provide support for technology transfer and intellectual
property protection. Promote collaborations between academia and industry,
facilitating knowledge exchange and the development of innovative solutions.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">9.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Market
the City as an Entrepreneurial Hub:</b> Implement marketing campaigns and branding
initiatives to showcase the city as a vibrant entrepreneurial hub. Highlight
success stories, local startups, and the overall ecosystem to attract talent,
investors, and resources from outside the city. Developing a positive image of
the city's entrepreneurial ecosystem can create a magnet effect for
innovation-driven individuals and organizations.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">10.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Embrace
Digitalization: </b>Embrace digital technologies and platforms to facilitate
entrepreneurship and innovation. Support the development of digital
infrastructure, high-speed internet access, and platforms for online
collaboration. Encourage the use of digital tools, such as e-commerce platforms
and online marketing, to help entrepreneurs reach broader markets.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">By implementing these strategies, cities can create an
environment that nurtures entrepreneurship, encourages innovation, and attracts
talent, ultimately driving economic growth and development.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i>Why not send this list to your local city council/mayor/economic development office. Ask how many of these things they are doing. </i><i>Then ask how many of them they are doing <b>well</b>!</i></p><p><br /></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-75745644416797409442023-03-28T20:08:00.002-04:002023-03-29T01:35:18.127-04:00The climate revolution is already here<p>As regular readers may know, I do a lot of writing on sustainability
and climate change for a unique Canadian magazine called Corporate
Knights. I am proud to be associated with the world’s flagship magazine of “Clean
Capitalism.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This is an exciting time to be writing about business and sustainability.
Right now, we are at the tipping point for renewable energy the clean energy transition.
<a href="https://www.corporateknights.com/category-finance/global-clean-energy-investing-tops-us1-trillion-for-first-time-ever/">As
I wrote in a story earlier this month:</a></p>
<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwl2GhpAHnInHQwp1XCi-2QdAErXsnNEs5JMWLu5FLBaFr2stcQ9ZX5d_0HdRQ3xQlcYlg7KdUPiHLH3gtOILBAmF6Eu6fsI2O85XP0lEuu9llW8B5EDGLxP3-UfWJRvQWO7VvTZHMcoglMDRBZh8c1okX3q_I9l-PkB4GGI3jbKrWsHGk5I/s986/CK%20Front%20Page%20March%2027%202023.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="986" data-original-width="753" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTwl2GhpAHnInHQwp1XCi-2QdAErXsnNEs5JMWLu5FLBaFr2stcQ9ZX5d_0HdRQ3xQlcYlg7KdUPiHLH3gtOILBAmF6Eu6fsI2O85XP0lEuu9llW8B5EDGLxP3-UfWJRvQWO7VvTZHMcoglMDRBZh8c1okX3q_I9l-PkB4GGI3jbKrWsHGk5I/w404-h530/CK%20Front%20Page%20March%2027%202023.png" width="404" /></a></div><o:p> </o:p>“A new report from climate statisticians at
BloombergNEF (BNEF) says global investment in the low-carbon energy transition
totalled a record $1.11 trillion (all figures in U.S. dollars) in 2022 – up 31%
in a year. F<b>or the first time, global investment in green energy technologies –
such as renewable energy, electrified transport and energy storage – has
reached parity with the total capital deployed to produce new fossil fuels.</b><p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p> </o:p><span style="background-color: white;">“Report author Albert Cheung raved
about the results, saying, “Our findings put to bed any debate about how the
energy crisis will impact clean energy deployment.<b> Investment in clean energy
technologies is on the brink of overtaking fossil fuel investments, and won’t
look back.”</b></span></p></blockquote>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 14.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 14.4pt;"></p><span style="color: black;">The best part is, the clean energy
transition will not just cut carbon emissions that are choking our planet. It
will result in cleaner, greener cities, better health, and lower energy costs. <o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 14.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 14.4pt;"><span style="color: black;">All we have to do is <b>slap down the
oil companies</b>, who are determined to stymie and delay the energy transition
until they have sold every ounce of their oil and gas reserves – a prospect
that would cook our planet to life-threatening levels. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 14.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 14.4pt;"><span style="color: black;"><b>This week, I had three key stories on the Corporate Knights home page chronicling key aspects of
this business/lifestyle revolution.</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><a href="https://www.corporateknights.com/sustainable-economy-intelligence-dashboard/sustainable-economy-intelligence-companies-earn-triple-the-returns/"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Companies
that invest the most in green growth earn triple the returns</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This story chronicled
new research that indicates <b>the best stock market returns come from companies
actively embracing the clean-energy transition</b>. Corporate Knights’s <span style="background: white; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: major-fareast;">Sustainable Economy Intelligence</span><span style="background: white;"> database tracks more than 2800 </span><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">public companies, based on
the percentage of revenues and spending they derive from the green economy. </span><span style="background: white;">In the most recent three-year period, the companies in
the SEI’s top 20% outperformed the most prominent index of global companies,
the MSCI All-World Index, </span><a href="https://www.corporateknights.com/sustainable-economy-intelligence-dashboard/sustainable-economy-intelligence-companies-earn-triple-the-returns/"><span style="background: white;">by a factor of three to one</span></a><span style="background: white;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 19.5pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; mso-vertical-align-alt: auto; punctuation-wrap: hanging; text-autospace: ideograph-numeric ideograph-other;"><b><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="color: black; font-size: 15.5pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="https://www.corporateknights.com/category-finance/canadian-pension-funds-are-starting-to-embrace-the-green-transition/?utm_source=CK+Weekly+Roundup&utm_campaign=a8265ff1d2-FEBRUARY+1+2023+ROUNDUP_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6d0ad574a6-a8265ff1d2-23">Canadian
pension funds are starting to embrace the green transition</a></span></b><b><span face=""Helvetica","sans-serif"" style="font-size: 15.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A new report finds that pension funds’ support for the
green transition is growing, but still nowhere near the pace required to meet
Canada’s global net-zero- targets. The second annual Canadian Pensions
Dashboard for Responsible Investing identifies the latest progress inside the
sector, <a href="https://www.corporateknights.com/category-finance/canadian-pension-funds-are-starting-to-embrace-the-green-transition/?utm_source=CK+Weekly+Roundup&utm_campaign=a8265ff1d2-FEBRUARY+1+2023+ROUNDUP_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6d0ad574a6-a8265ff1d2-23">whose
investment clout must fuel this transition</a>. </p>
<p style="background: white; margin-bottom: 14.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; margin: 0cm 0cm 14.4pt;"><a href="https://www.corporateknights.com/category-climate/insurance-industry-failing-to-warn-clients-of-climate-risks/" style="background-color: transparent;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />Insurance industry
failing to warn clients of climate risks</span></b></a></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white; color: black;">The Insurance
Bureau of Canada (IBC) says that due to the increase in extreme weather events
driven by climate change, Canada is increasingly becoming “a riskier place to
live, work and insure.” Translation: Prepare to pay more for property
insurance. But I wrote that insurers aren’t doing much to warn Canadians about
these impending risks. “</span><a href="https://www.corporateknights.com/category-climate/insurance-industry-failing-to-warn-clients-of-climate-risks/"><span style="background: white;">We have to do a much better job of elevating this
issue,”</span></a><span style="background: white; color: black;"> says IBC
VP Craig Stewart.</span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-62996373796745906312023-02-05T10:39:00.005-05:002023-05-12T08:18:39.211-04:00“7 reasons why AI will never write as well as you do”<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Yep, here's another lazy blogpost generated by the ChatGPT artificial intelligence tool. So many organizations and businesses are using AI to write create content now that I was curious how the system would assess its own potential. </i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So I asked it:<b> "W</b></span><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #343541; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">rite an essay with 7 reasons why artificial intelligence will never write prose as well as a human being.</span><span style="color: #343541; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: medium;">"</span></span></span></b></i></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>As you will see, its answers are lifeless and repetitive. If I had asked for 15 reasons, I suspect it would not have covered any new ground.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>Still, if the rise of AI results in a new respect for human creativity, imagination, insight and humour, I think it's a worthwhile exercise. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM_omDqYd8TqwtqrY30HnfMTxj8M7gy-u1UZjee7e_ENxB9gLfTv2OJqREcHqsxzwc1v0VgjOS8xZ83DW_CJVsSVgy6bpTfFD3fGMvbDBN3ZvvIXnWI_luA-tK_XfZIUEyrAFvmYPCkPyL7HsEDpGSI_1WCaYbFiRdr-UO5OyuD_ftdoTKj0s" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjM_omDqYd8TqwtqrY30HnfMTxj8M7gy-u1UZjee7e_ENxB9gLfTv2OJqREcHqsxzwc1v0VgjOS8xZ83DW_CJVsSVgy6bpTfFD3fGMvbDBN3ZvvIXnWI_luA-tK_XfZIUEyrAFvmYPCkPyL7HsEDpGSI_1WCaYbFiRdr-UO5OyuD_ftdoTKj0s" width="240" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made remarkable
advancements in recent years, but it still falls short when it comes to writing
prose that matches the quality and creativity of a human being. Here are seven
reasons why AI will never write prose as well as a human being</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: 18pt; padding: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">1. Lack of Emotions: Prose writing is an emotional and creative process, and AI lacks the ability to understand and convey emotions in writing. A human writer has the ability to tap into their own emotions and experiences and use them to add depth and meaning to their writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: 18pt; padding: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">2.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Inability to think abstractly: Human beings have the ability to think abstractly, to consider philosophical and ethical questions, and to imagine new worlds and characters. AI, on the other hand, lacks the ability to think beyond what it has been programmed to do and can only produce writing that is limited by its data set.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: 18pt; padding: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">3.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>No Cultural Understanding: Human beings bring their own cultural experiences and perspectives to their writing, which adds depth and meaning to their prose. AI, on the other hand, does not have the ability to understand culture, and its writing is limited to the data it has been trained on.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: 18pt; padding: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">4.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>No Originality: AI can generate writing that is based on patterns and data it has been trained on, but it lacks the ability to create something truly original. Human beings, on the other hand, have the ability to be creative and imaginative, producing writing that is unique and original.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: 18pt; padding: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">5.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Lack of Ambiguity: Prose writing often contains elements of ambiguity, and human writers are able to use this to add depth and complexity to their writing. AI, on the other hand, is limited by its programming and can only produce writing that is straightforward and lacks the subtleties of human writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: 18pt; padding: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">6.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span>Inability to Evoke Empathy: A key aspect of prose writing is the ability to evoke empathy in the reader. Human writers are able to do this by tapping into their own emotions and experiences and using them to create characters and situations that the reader can relate to. AI lacks the ability to understand and convey empathy in its writing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: 18pt; padding: 0cm; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">7.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> N</span>o Personal Connection: Human writers often bring a personal connection to their writing, whether it be their own experiences, beliefs, or values. This personal connection makes their writing unique and adds depth and meaning to their prose. AI, on the other hand, does not have the ability to form a personal connection to its writing, and its prose will always be limited by its programming and data set.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: none; margin-left: 18pt; padding: 0cm; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: 0px;"> </span>In conclusion, while AI has made remarkable advancements in recent years, it will never be able to write prose as well as a human being. The emotional, creative, and cultural elements that make human writing unique are simply beyond the reach of AI.</span></p><p><span face=""Segoe UI", "sans-serif"" style="font-size: 7.5pt;"></span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-53106380811794550752023-01-16T12:15:00.002-05:002023-01-18T18:21:12.408-05:00Five Top Reasons for Business Failure<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So I asked ChatGPT today, "<span color="rgba(52,53,65,var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">What are the five most common reasons for the failure of small businesses?"</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span color="rgba(52,53,65,var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Here they are.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span color="rgba(52,53,65,var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The AI platform strikes me as being much like a lot of consulting firms I know: It knows what all the problems are, but has no idea how to fix them.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, it spelled "differentiation" wrong.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span><span color="rgba(52,53,65,var(--tw-text-opacity))" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Five Top Reasons for Business Failure</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">1. Lack of capital: Many small businesses fail because they do not have enough money to cover their expenses, especially during the early stages of the business. This can be due to a lack of investors, loans, or savings.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">2. Poor management: Small business owners often lack the experience or knowledge needed to effectively manage their operations, which can lead to poor decision-making, lack of organization, and financial mismanagement.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">3. Insufficient market research: Starting a business without conducting proper market research can lead to a lack of understanding of the target audience and competition, resulting in poor sales and ultimately, failure.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">4. Poor cash flow management: Small businesses often struggle to keep track of their cash flow, resulting in unexpected expenses, such as unpaid bills, that can lead to financial collapse.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-weight: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">5. Lack of differentiation: Many small businesses fail because they are not able to differentiate themselves from their competitors, resulting in a lack of customers and revenue. This could be due to a lack of unique products or services, or poor branding and marketing.</span></span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-8988653238163129362023-01-15T02:25:00.001-05:002023-01-16T10:28:03.745-05:007 communication habits every business leader should be working on <p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>1.<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></b></span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>Active listening: </b>This means giving your full attention to the
person speaking, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback to ensure
that you fully understand their message. Active listening helps to build trust
and respect, as it shows that you value the other person's perspective.</span></span></p><p><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>2. Clarity and conciseness: </b>Being able to articulate your ideas and
thoughts clearly and concisely. This means being able to express yourself in a
way that is easy for others to understand, and being able to convey your
message in a way that is appropriate for the audience.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsiJ7MCLXMFVlwiPtuG5V9j8Nmj9rjPB-Dn3aqf6Xcsr-vqZK8FwDyMYlFHb3a_bNNuVg8xt2JMJ3jFWXz0lctDTWDs7iqGbkuACNUTO_7vfcKBlm8QfggVBDGf8aJNtfjKDUMP5d-4nDU-_jycgz3GuIAOQEN0t5_3Hb4JRJ-eR3yH4f1kP8" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="849" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgsiJ7MCLXMFVlwiPtuG5V9j8Nmj9rjPB-Dn3aqf6Xcsr-vqZK8FwDyMYlFHb3a_bNNuVg8xt2JMJ3jFWXz0lctDTWDs7iqGbkuACNUTO_7vfcKBlm8QfggVBDGf8aJNtfjKDUMP5d-4nDU-_jycgz3GuIAOQEN0t5_3Hb4JRJ-eR3yH4f1kP8" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>3. Adaptability:</b> Being able to adapt your communication style to different situations and audiences. This is important as it ensures that your message is received effectively.</span></span></p><p><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>4. Nonverbal communication:</b> Being aware of the nonverbal cues that you are sending, including body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions. Nonverbal cues can have a significant impact on how your message is received, so it is important to be aware of them and to use them effectively.</span></span></p><p><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>5. Conflict management: </b>Being able to manage conflicts and disagreements in a constructive way. This means being able to identify and understand the underlying issues, and to find a solution that is acceptable to all parties involved.</span></span></p><p><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>6. Empathy: </b>Being able to put yourself in the shoes of the person you are communicating with. This helps you to understand their perspective and to tailor your message accordingly.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><b>7. Leadership: </b>Being able to lead a team effectively. </span><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">This requires the ability to clearly communicate goals and expectations, and to provide feedback and support to team members. Good leaders also need to be able to create a positive work environment, where team members feel valued and respected.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;">(<b>Note:</b> <b>I did not write this blogpost</b>. I asked<a href="https://openai.com/blog/chatgpt/"> ChatGPT</a> the question, "</span></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">What 7
habits should business leaders develop in order to communicate more
effectively?" The AI algorithm did the rest.)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(I find this article written, in a dull, simplistic Grade 4 style. Some people will tell you that's the best way to communicate. but I disagree. Yes, clarity is important, but sharing information effectively and memorably requires more than simple declarative sentences: e.g., vary your sentence structure and rhythm; use more vivid, direct language; and share examples of the issues you are talking about.)</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The AI platform fails my first rule of communication: <b>"Never Write a Dull Sentence."</b> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: 13.5pt;">Still, I'd give the program a grade of B- for this article. What would you give it?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-indent: -18pt;"><br /></span></span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-22614564852912734732023-01-05T00:33:00.007-05:002023-01-05T12:10:51.124-05:00Entrepreneurship is not a job or a business, but a way of seeing...<p>Quora.com, the crowdsourced question-and-answer website, asked me to take a crack at answering their question, "<span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; text-align: inherit;"><b>What are the signs that indicate that entrepreneurship is the best way of living for us?</b></span><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: inherit;">"</span></p><p><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: inherit;">I don't know where that question came from, but I took a crack at it. </span></p><p><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: inherit;">What do you think? </span><span color="inherit" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: inherit;">What would you add? </span></p><div class="q-box qu-mb--medium qu-mt--small" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #282829; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; 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box-sizing: border-box; display: flex; width: 602.038px;" width="100%"><div class="q-inlineFlex qu-mr--small qu-alignItems--center" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-flex; margin-right: 8px;"><a class="q-box Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 dFkjrQ puppeteer_test_link qu-display--inline-flex qu-color--gray_dark qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline" href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Rick-Spence-3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background-color: transparent; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; color: #282829; cursor: pointer; display: inline-flex; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><div class="q-inlineFlex qu-flex--none" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-flex; flex: 0 0 auto; position: relative;"><div class="q-inlineFlex" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-flex; position: relative;"><div class="q-inlineFlex qu-overflow--hidden qu-borderRadius--circle" style="border-radius: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-flex; overflow: hidden; position: relative;"><div class="q-box qu-bg--white__ignore_dark_mode qu-borderRadius--circle" style="border-radius: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; inset: 1px; position: absolute;"></div><img alt="Profile photo for Rick Spence" class="q-image qu-display--block qu-size--36 qu-minWidth--36" size="36" src="https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-thumb-35433221-50-iixietatmrtamriwgghjpcuhdtlfpoqw.jpeg" style="border-style: none; box-sizing: border-box; display: block; height: 36px; max-width: 100%; min-width: 36px; position: relative; width: 36px;" /><div class="q-box qu-borderRadius--circle qu-borderAll qu-borderColor--darken Photo___StyledBox-sc-1x7c6d3-0 hniIRb" style="border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06); border-radius: 100%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; inset: 0px; position: absolute; transition: background-color 150ms ease 0s;"></div><div class="q-absolute qu-fullX qu-fullY qu-borderAll qu-borderColor--darken qu-borderRadius--circle BadgeWrapper___StyledAbsolute-kazm88-0 bhmOme" style="border-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.06); border-radius: 100%; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; box-sizing: border-box; inset: 0px; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; z-index: 1;"></div></div></div></div></a></div><div class="q-box qu-flex--auto" style="box-sizing: border-box; flex: 1 1 auto; margin-top: -1px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"><div class="q-box qu-pr--medium" style="box-sizing: border-box; padding-right: 16px;"><span class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="q-text qu-dynamicFontSize--small qu-bold qu-color--gray_dark qu-passColorToLinks" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: calc(13px * var(--dynamic-font-scale, 1)) !important; font-weight: bold;"><div class="q-inlineFlex qu-alignItems--center" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-flex;"><a class="q-box Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 dFkjrQ puppeteer_test_link qu-color--gray_dark qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline" href="https://www.quora.com/profile/Rick-Spence-3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background-color: transparent; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><div class="q-inlineFlex qu-alignItems--center qu-wordBreak--break-word" style="align-items: center; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-flex; word-break: break-word;">Rick Spence</div></a></div></span></span></div><div class="q-text qu-dynamicFontSize--small qu-color--gray qu-passColorToLinks qu-truncateLines--3" style="-webkit-box-orient: vertical; -webkit-line-clamp: 3; box-sizing: border-box; color: #636466; display: -webkit-box; font-size: calc(13px * var(--dynamic-font-scale, 1)) !important; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis;"><span class="CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 AbstractSeparatedItems___StyledCssComponent-sc-46kfvf-0 kBzlwk">Former Editor and Publisher at <span class="q-text qu-wordBreak--break-word" style="box-sizing: border-box; word-break: break-word;">PROFIT Magazine</span> (1990–2002)</span><span class="CssComponent-sc-1oskqb9-0 AbstractSeparatedItems___StyledCssComponent-sc-46kfvf-0 ytbFj"><span class="q-text qu-whiteSpace--nowrap" style="box-sizing: border-box; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="q-box" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-right: auto; pointer-events: auto;"><a class="q-box Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 dFkjrQ answer_timestamp qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline" href="https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-signs-that-indicate-that-entrepreneurship-is-the-best-way-of-living-for-us/answer/Rick-Spence-3" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background-color: transparent; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_top">Just now</a></span></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="q-text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #282829; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; max-width: 100%;"><span class="CssComponent__CssInlineComponent-sc-1oskqb9-1 UserSelectableText___StyledCssInlineComponent-lsmoq4-0"><span class="q-box qu-userSelect--text" style="box-sizing: border-box; user-select: text;"><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none;">Entrepreneurship is about living life in service to others, using tools such as hard work, innovation and personal expression. It takes passion to be an entrepreneur - there is no 37-hour workweek, no consistent quitting time. But you get to solve the problems you want - for the people (market) you serve - in whatever way best fits your education, skills and values. In other words, when you do what you love to do, it rarely feels like work!</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclp34wvOX2W8WkNfSUlgc1_peimmTPNFB9RUhvCTZ4LuXTZYFdALmAM3IgnOz9uvYriJG3NyF663VlQg-H0Ukpo4tjkwWKxWEZjljR0dj4q3-Aq87IcEz0MozZ8YbaHXhP5Mp3haXmq5yFdzRnUBXgQg4wVJDVvYN6F3SwocOOGH5C2D1Alo/s727/entship.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="727" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclp34wvOX2W8WkNfSUlgc1_peimmTPNFB9RUhvCTZ4LuXTZYFdALmAM3IgnOz9uvYriJG3NyF663VlQg-H0Ukpo4tjkwWKxWEZjljR0dj4q3-Aq87IcEz0MozZ8YbaHXhP5Mp3haXmq5yFdzRnUBXgQg4wVJDVvYN6F3SwocOOGH5C2D1Alo/s320/entship.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: initial;">Not every day will be perfect. You’ll face problems, setbacks and heartaches. People will let you down. But this can happen to anyone, especially those who work for other people or big corporations. Of all the ways there are of making a living, entrepreneurship is the one that most insulates you from having to work with people you don’t like or in conditions you abhor.</span><p></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none;">As you become successful in one area, you will see other problems to solve and spot new business opportunities. Entrepreneurship is not a job or a business, but a way of seeing… a way of life. Your challenge will be to manage all of your ideas. But when you put your heart into our work, you attract like-minded people, with similar values. And they will help you meet the challenges you have set for yourself - and give you the strength and resources to tackle new ones.</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none;">Entrepreneurship is hard work. But it offers choices, rewards creativity, and will take you places you can’t imagine yet.</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><br /></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block qu-wordBreak--break-word qu-textAlign--start" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;">If you enjoy dreaming up new ideas, finding new solutions, helping other people, working very hard, and being your own boss, you’ll find entrepreneurship provides everything you need for a creative, prosperous and rewarding life. </p></span></span></div>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-67857144019783347882023-01-02T10:10:00.001-05:002023-01-02T10:16:04.485-05:00New Year, New Words<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy New Year 2023!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">To ensure this year doesn't ski into the mediocrity of the past few years, I have adopted three words to guide my priorities in 2023:</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFSBKzFW7GAj3yGlmca6LwJMWgIroz9Gr_J29h__3kFOcGJajNa8kRSaOZqnVK3s_GBqdbxzf0AMhDFv_whqjE--fl2P0dX0qyk0JJIPluL9s26h8-u_ab8vvwqTJ-155OrbNaluv_BE-Nx5a58mHNRgK6t7is1NzrM7ooN2DIHP3kbqaA6Tw" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="380" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhFSBKzFW7GAj3yGlmca6LwJMWgIroz9Gr_J29h__3kFOcGJajNa8kRSaOZqnVK3s_GBqdbxzf0AMhDFv_whqjE--fl2P0dX0qyk0JJIPluL9s26h8-u_ab8vvwqTJ-155OrbNaluv_BE-Nx5a58mHNRgK6t7is1NzrM7ooN2DIHP3kbqaA6Tw" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Care.</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Dare.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Share. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">In longer words: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">* Work with passion. Do what matters to you. Change something for the better.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">* Think bigger. Take more (smarter) risks.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">* Invite more people into your sphere, and ensure that all share the resulting benefits and impact. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Former Toronto-based entrepreneur <a href="https://www.bykunal.com/" target="_blank"><b>Kunal Gupta</b></a> (Polar Mobile, etc., now living and working in Portugal) has gone me one better. He chooses just one word a year to <span style="background-color: white; color: #030303; white-space: pre-wrap;">serve as his North Star and guide the ways he approaches life. Last year, his word was "Open." (You can <a href="https://www.bykunal.com/post/build" target="_blank"><b>read here</b></a> how that worked out for him.) For Kunal, this year's word is "<b>Build</b>."</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Kunal has also asked cavassed other entrepreneurs and leaders to identify the words most meaningful to them. If you're looking for a Word of the Year, (or maybe even three), you're bound to find your North Star on this list. </span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span face="helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Acceptance<br /></span>Action</div><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Authentic</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Awareness</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Balance</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bold</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Breathe</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Care</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Change</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Commitment</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Communication</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Compassion</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Confidence</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Connection</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Control</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Courage</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Create</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Discipline</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Equilibrium</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Explore</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Faith</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Fearless</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Fit</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Focus</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Form</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Fortitude</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Freedom</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Fun</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Generosity</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Giving</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Grace</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Gratitude</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Grounded</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Growth</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Harmony</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Heart</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Humility</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Integrity</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Joy</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Learn</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Lightness</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Love</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Mastery</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Open</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Ownership</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Partnership</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Play</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Positive</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Presence</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Relationships</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Relax</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="line-height: 24px;">Respect</span><br /></span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb">Responsibility</span></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Self Love</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Serve</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sincerity</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simplify</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Surrender</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Thoughtful</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Truth</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Trust</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Understanding</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Union</p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; font-family: helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><p class="yiv7274214248hb yiv7274214248jb" style="background-color: white; color: #030303; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: medium;">Which word is your favourite?</span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-71175293492336474192022-08-20T00:08:00.004-04:002022-08-20T00:13:12.885-04:0010 Characteristics of Growth Entrepreneurs (and how to market to them)<p>A few years ago, I did a deep dive into the personalities and motivations of the entrepreneurs behind Canada's Fastest-Growing Companies. </p><p>The following list should interest anyone who wants to try to emulate the business success of these focused innovators, or wants to market to them. Each paragraph contains a relevant insight about their strategy or tactics, and then a related pointer on how to grab the attention of these growth leaders. </p><p>1) These companies are
founded on <b>innovation</b>. They present
new solutions to their markets, not business as usual. <i>If you are offering products and solutions that are new and improved,
they’d better be genuine, because these firms have written the book on
innovation.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">2) These firms offer <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">real value</b> in the marketplace: new
solutions, better service, lower prices. (How else do you break into today’s crowded
markets?) Since these emerging companies create so much value for their clients,
they expect value from their suppliers in return. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They are most receptive to marketers who also put value and customer
benefit first.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkhjoOXsxFy2iY6FLdPZ6Ubw7vhMwwQfSY8Q4JXstY_f9PU9HZy28e7g17Jf1Tk0Xp05hS2mZAmTdD81mERZmMIhvXMDGO14CTKvU4-hSvl7dVSxuDdGDittxu8-h12Y84zapI-zmWr_PaFSuRR2Fr8QiWn47YA41gK3IVfpOKSmHfEA8P3Y/s1021/Team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="1021" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkhjoOXsxFy2iY6FLdPZ6Ubw7vhMwwQfSY8Q4JXstY_f9PU9HZy28e7g17Jf1Tk0Xp05hS2mZAmTdD81mERZmMIhvXMDGO14CTKvU4-hSvl7dVSxuDdGDittxu8-h12Y84zapI-zmWr_PaFSuRR2Fr8QiWn47YA41gK3IVfpOKSmHfEA8P3Y/s320/Team.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>3) Most of these companies succeed
through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">productive partnerships</b> with
other organizations. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These companies
understand win-win, and they expect you to, too.</i><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4) Their founders have <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">leveraged personal relationships</b> to get
where they are today. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They are innovative
dealmakers. And they expect no less from you.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">5) Being an emerging business
doesn’t mean you lack <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">experience; </b>many
of these entrepreneurs brought years of industry experience to the table. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Expect entrepreneurial clients to combine small-biz
focus with sophisticated business knowledge and toughness.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">6) <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deep personal interest in their products </b>or industry often helps
growth entrepreneurs persevere and succeed. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They
expect you to be as excited about your product as they are about theirs.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">7) Growth firms pour cash <b>back into the business</b>. However successful these businesses have become,
most of them are cash-poor, because they are always prototyping new products, services or markets. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Address their management's concerns about price</i>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">8) Growth firms operate
globally. For them, <b>borders are opportunities</b>, not obstacles. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They need solutions that will work around
the world. </i><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">9) These firms are keen to
keep growing. That means <b>their needs are always changing</b>. <i>And it means your products and services must be able to serve these
customers all along their growth path.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">10) These companies are on
missions. Many of today’s growth entrepreneurs believe their products and
services <b>really can make the world a better place</b>. <i>To connect with these entrepreneurs, your business brand, too, should stand
for something that matters.</i> <span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-70786091619884014752022-06-11T13:35:00.003-04:002022-06-12T02:56:03.835-04:00How to Win Arguments Without Making Enemies<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyBxnvh1EtE1AgUfoSJ4W7BKOrifozlrmAXVIVLktUpF7ICLQcCBukKxF4-q7m7DBbUbO-9WvuVWAlqWzw0ijx12ydZ90ClECEcMFAWIUmeE05FGAtyoCFvePikkSuv8wxJNtcizz4qqKx7BtHUhbdchB026fOMgTQUrzUgjOJtRQovmF4m5g" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="2405" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjyBxnvh1EtE1AgUfoSJ4W7BKOrifozlrmAXVIVLktUpF7ICLQcCBukKxF4-q7m7DBbUbO-9WvuVWAlqWzw0ijx12ydZ90ClECEcMFAWIUmeE05FGAtyoCFvePikkSuv8wxJNtcizz4qqKx7BtHUhbdchB026fOMgTQUrzUgjOJtRQovmF4m5g=w257-h171" width="257" /></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">This is a terrific #lifehack.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Instead of creating negative vibes and lengthening pointless debates, here's a way to get your team onside and make better decisions, together.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;">This tactic won't just help you win debates. You'll </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;">get more robust discussions, and ultimately better outcomes.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Here's the secret, in 17 words: </span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Make the best points you can for your opponent's case, and then undercut it with logical clarity.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">A great article from Inc. magazine: </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-win-arguments-without-making-enemies.html?cid=sf01001&sr_share=twitter">"How to Win Arguments Without Making Enemies"</a></b></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1419; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-win-arguments-without-making-enemies.html?cid=sf01001&sr_share=twitter">"To convince people they're wrong, you must first explain why they're right."</a></span></span></p><p><br /><br /></p><p><span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #0f1419; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-13509978182710411682022-05-26T00:44:00.005-04:002022-05-27T14:05:02.375-04:00It’s all about the benefits: Communicating for Results<p>How does your product or service help your customers win?</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">I’ve been doing some marketing consulting with a client
lately. When I asked them to describe some of their business-oriented products,
I was taken aback when they quoted a litany of specs and features.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">So I had to tell them they were putting the cart before
the horse. This was a marketing opportunity, and they responded with random product
details instead of customer benefits. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The next time they're asked to describe their products, I
asked my client to take a <b>Benefits-First </b>approach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such as: “Customers like you are usually looking to get more done
faster. Our product/service will help you get better results 20% faster, at
half the cost of the process you're using now.”</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">And then, instead of droning on, I suggested they ask their
prospect the all-important question: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Would you like to hear more?" or
"Can I tell you how it works?"</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">(I learned this long ago from Tom Stoyan, <a href="https://www.coachingandsalesinstitute.com/meet-tom/"><b>Canada's Sales Coach</b>.</a>
Don't talk too long, and always ask for permission to keep going. Otherwise, how do
you know you are answering the questions the prospect has in their head?) </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">This process enables you to assess the client's interest
level before you head too far in the wrong direction. You’ll get important
feedback, whether the prospect says “Yeah, that sounds really interesting,” or,
“No, that not what I need.”</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Either way, you get to lead with HOW YOUR PRODUCTS and SERVICES
CREATE VALUE FOR CUSTOMERS, rather than “here's how our products work.” Because
no one cares how a product works until they believe it can help them.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">BBF. Benefits before features. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>GET TO THE POINT!</b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">Why is BBF so important? </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Because </span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">business
communication is simple, yet also really, really hard. The simplest part is the
challenge we start with: managers and executives are smart people, but very busy
and time-challenged. That often turns into impatience. If they don't understand
a message, they are more likely to ignore it and forget about it than to take
the time to do more research or ask questions. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So it's essential
for business communications to <b>speak plainly and establish genuine connection</b> as
quickly as possible. Few business decision-makers have the time to offer you a
second chance.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The hard part,
then, is to find the right words with which to engage business buyers. Your language
has to be simple and comfortable, yet put together in a novel, disciplined way
that makes them insightful and compelling. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">The pressure is
always on business leaders to accomplish more with the same resources (or
less). So they are ALWAYS looking for better ways to get results. But
experience tells them that most vendors add <i><b>zero </b></i>value, so they work hard to screen
out every marketing claim they hear.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So our job is to
establish credibility, impress people with our talent and potential, and give
them a <b>precise estimate </b>of the benefits they can achieve by
working with us. To break through those screens, quickly and memorably. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The most valuable
benefits most business leaders seek are usually<b> cost savings, higher sales, performance
improvements</b>, or some combination thereof. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So every
client/prospect communication has to be about customer benefit: how much we can
save them, or how our products/services can increase their effectiveness or
capacity or profitability. You do this with a complex, ever-changing blend of research,
rules of thumb, stories and anecdotes, customer testimonials, and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p>It takes preparation and discipline. Product knowledge is important, but <i><b>customer </b></i>knowledge is crucial. </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Until we’ve
engaged prospects with our benefits promise, they're not even listening.
Because they are always busy thinking, <b>“Get to the point. What's in this for
me?”</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-80096272102498555212022-05-18T23:34:00.005-04:002022-05-18T23:40:42.835-04:00Your Future, Your Choice<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I wrote the words below in an email today to a friend in business.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Then I realized it could be a blogpost. Maybe the most important post I've ever written.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's about the green energy transition. It's about your future, and mine. The future of business, the future of the planet, and the stark choices ahead of us.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Transformation is always hard. But what people don't realize is that the transition has already begun. You can embrace it now, or watch the tide sweep away the wasteful "old world." </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's my email.</span></p><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I believe the climate issue is about to become BIG.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because it's not just about fear any more. It's about action. It's going to be more and more about heroes, not villains. Financiers and funds, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, technology geeks, authors, promoters, pioneers, champions. Building new systems and technology, creating jobs, saving the planet. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br clear="none" /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">THIS is what we've been waiting for. Action on every front. Doing, not undoing. Change rooted in passion and invention, not regulation.</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">It would be a shame if we're not ready. </span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-65579824045347781012022-05-11T12:58:00.007-04:002022-05-11T13:04:03.379-04:00Your story is your future<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;">I just finished a major journalistic project that involved writing brief profiles on 50 exciting up-and-coming companies.</span></span></p><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My job was to explain what each company does, who its customers are, and what has made the firm successful. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Our timeline was tight, so we we made hasty arrangements for interviews with some of the CEOs, but we depended wholly on the web for much of our information.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQFxJsfRpxd8dSMJoTkHvPbe8sr9dIMM5LyZTcVfDj87HTSMyCvPPatN1SYw9h4sW6Y-T6UlubtEzy-zk_Hs--U9JCyi1Sw24u7lsl-oLLtovsXVoIW2bn6WF-5P2N6Rxt2wnPRDY_7oimgfhjwknywNnlh2PZHV22m0KuWwaAx1G6FIRgteM" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="328" data-original-width="657" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQFxJsfRpxd8dSMJoTkHvPbe8sr9dIMM5LyZTcVfDj87HTSMyCvPPatN1SYw9h4sW6Y-T6UlubtEzy-zk_Hs--U9JCyi1Sw24u7lsl-oLLtovsXVoIW2bn6WF-5P2N6Rxt2wnPRDY_7oimgfhjwknywNnlh2PZHV22m0KuWwaAx1G6FIRgteM" width="320" /></a></div><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">That means not just scouring companies' websites for information, but also reading annual reports, financial statements, press releases, past interviews in print and on YouTube, customer reviews, industry reports, and whatever else we could find.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The disappointing part, and the concerning part, was to see how bad almost all of these companies are at explaining </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">to a general audience </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">what they do.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Sorry, "award-winning world-class solutions at scale" just doesn't cut it. </b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, a company that sells sophisticated electrical equipment needs to be able to communicate with sophisticated buyers of that kind of hardware. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">BUT, they also need to be able to communicate what they do to everybody else who might be interested in their story: employees and future hires, journalists, potential partners or investors, their local communities, possible suppliers, and all those potential customers who don't really understand which products they need.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>If you can't communicate with a general audience at an engaging, Grade 8 level, you're not communicating at all.</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My colleagues on this project were as surprised as I was by how bad most of these companies are at explaining what they do. Trying to understand their products, their strategies, or the needs of the marketplace is really difficult when companies talk only themselves in industry jargon.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>How can you tell if your company is guilty of selective communication? </b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Look up all the "About Us" information on your website or in your reports and sales materials. This includes company histories, "What We Do," mission and vision statements, and so on. Then round up your friends, your spouse, golf buddies, second cousins, any average group. Ask them to read this material, and then restate, in their words, what your business does. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ask them, too, what benefits you provide, how you do it, and who your audience is. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I predict you'll find that your explanations are nowhere near as clear as you thought.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>How do you fix this problem? </b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Find someone on staff who can write, and challenge them to tell your story better. Hire a marketing student, or an ex-journalist, or even a PR firm, to tell your story. Let them ask all the questions they like. Start with a blank slate, and you'll be able to see your company clearly for what it does, not what it looks like from the inside.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>These are the sorts of questions that your "About Us" company stories need to answer:</b></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">What does your company do? </span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Who are your customers? How do your products or services help them achieve their goals faster, more economically, or more powerfully?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">What's your one-sentence mission statement?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">Does your company have a purpose higher than merely selling more goods and services?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">How are your purpose and mission aligned?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">What's your best customer story? (A customer story explains how your products and expertise helped a client achieve its goals or exceed expectations. It's powerful because it explains what your company does from the customer's point of view, not yours.)</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">What's your vision for your industry? What are your own company's goals within that context?</span></li><li><span style="font-family: georgia;">What are your plans for making your customers experiences and outcomes even better in future? </span></li></ul></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When you answer these questions (and better still, engage all your people in discussing the answers), you'll be miles ahead as an organization. You'll have renewed purpose, and incredible alignment around what you do and your common objectives. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And you'll make customers a part of your journey and your future success. Not just puzzled outsiders, scratching their heads as they try to figure out what your world-class solutions can do for them.</span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2228;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><i>Further reading: </i></span></div><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212326; font-family: ShopifySans, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-feature-settings: "kern", "liga", "clig", "calt", "dlig"; font-kerning: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures contextual discretionary-ligatures; letter-spacing: -0.0207143em; line-height: 1.21429; margin-bottom: 0.3em; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://medium.com/dinahmoe/me-mocking-silly-vision-and-mission-statements-part-1-e4d2863aa92e" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">Me mocking silly vision and mission statements, part 1<br /></span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; letter-spacing: -0.5px;"><a href="https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/9-worst-mission-statements-all-time.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: normal;">The 9 Worst Mission Statements of All Time</span><br /></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.shopify.ca/blog/mission-statement" target="_blank">17 Best Mission Statement Examples (+ How to Write Your Own)</a></span></h4>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-50007720486811944112022-04-07T16:14:00.006-04:002022-05-07T16:27:19.836-04:00The 2030 Challenge: Prosperity or Despair?<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Society is reaching a tipping point.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">By 2030, we will have decided whether to embrace life on this planet, or death. We will have decided whether we support global growth, peace, equality, freedom, health and education, or a dog-eat-dog world where the "haves" choose to let half the world live in poverty and precarity.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This is a time when leadership will matter in every sphere: business, politics and community. As a leader, you must decide whether you stand with empathy, love and opportunity for all.</span></p><p><b>2030 is the turning point.</b> 2030 is “The
Year” that the United Nations has targeted for achieving its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It's also the year that countries and organizations are expected to achieve tangible progress in their plans to become carbon-neutral by 2050 - to save life on this planet from accelerated global warming and extreme weather events.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEict4FBmftA1INDnHqHdpSvCf9V47-ee2mElfmeuMgrtmWGTvbvsxohbCJ3Lpk94hK_lsD49cvR2A1G_4gR_490yFy-VgZqmDvO8qWIpNQfFWhZGVCUZIzba_Tn76_o-dURcR9FpiEUfviAgTIzP0HPeOG1KCRrqTKL_DUolA7c0yKSu1tlJL0" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1272" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEict4FBmftA1INDnHqHdpSvCf9V47-ee2mElfmeuMgrtmWGTvbvsxohbCJ3Lpk94hK_lsD49cvR2A1G_4gR_490yFy-VgZqmDvO8qWIpNQfFWhZGVCUZIzba_Tn76_o-dURcR9FpiEUfviAgTIzP0HPeOG1KCRrqTKL_DUolA7c0yKSu1tlJL0" width="320" /></a></div>2030 is also the year that the last of the baby boomers reach retirement age - giving businesses and other organizations a chance to reset their leadership visions around more contemporary values such as creativity, collaboration, and serving all stakeholder communities, not just dividend-hungry shareholders. <p></p>
<p><span color="inherit" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; white-space: inherit;">2030 must be a time when we celebrate the actions we have taken to clean the planet, encourage global growth, and end war, inequality, poverty, hunger and disease.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 33.5pt;">And as someone reminded me the other day, 2030 is just 400 weeks away.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 33.5pt;">Now is the time for business leaders to call a fresh start. How can we stop polluting the planet, and make it a better place? How can we evolve from serving customers to enhancing human life?</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 33.5pt;">It’s not just
about climate/sustainability, but building a more just planet.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>A number of the UN's SDGs aim straight at business: </b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>* </b>Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">* Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">* Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive
and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">* Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">* Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production
patterns.</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p>From now on, every decision you make should be looked at through <b>the lens of 2030</b>. Are you contributing to a cleaner, freer, more prosperous world? Or are you just acting in your own self-interest? </o:p></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 33.5pt;"><o:p>Because organizations that serve only themselves will increasingly be shunned. </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">A recent “HumanKind Study” study by marketing firm Leo
Burnett uncovered profound disconnects. In a poll of <span style="background: white;">4,633 Canadians, the study found that half of respondents are concerned they are “wasting their life” doing “unfulfilling work.” </span><span style="background-color: white;">A full 76% of Canadian
consumers said they don’t believe brands understand their problems.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Tahir Ahmad, Burnett Canada’s chief strategy officer, says
employers and brands need to address these disconnects. We must <b>find “a way
forward that focuses not solely on profit or product, but on people</b>, and how we
can lead more fulfilling lives.”</p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">PwC found similar disconnects in its
2021 Global Culture Survey. For instance, 63% of Canadian business leaders say their
organizations have developed <span style="background: white;">a distinctive culture that sets them apart from their competitors</span><span style="background: white;"> – but only </span><span style="background: white;">41% of employees </span><span style="background: white;">share
their belief.</span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="background: white;">Compared to American workers, the survey
found Canadians have much higher doubts about their employer’s ability to </span><span style="background: white;">adapt to change, </span><span style="background: white;">set a positive “tone from the top,” or “ac</span><span style="background: white;">t as role models for their
organization’s purpose, values and culture.</span><span style="background: white;">”
</span> </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>Companies that choose not to prioritize ecosystem interests, including the SDGs, will increasingly be seen as problems in a world desperate for solutions. </b>Which side will you be on? </p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Now is the time for
leadership. Executives must develop clear plans for their
organizations, and for their employees, products, and customer relationships.
They need to reconnect with their communities (not just “stakeholders”). As PwC
reports, Canadians </span><span face=""Arial","sans-serif"" style="background: white; color: #2d2d2d; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">want to see their leaders setting a clear path
towards building trust by giving their people a shared sense of purpose, while
also making sure they feel valued, connected and visibly supported.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 33.5pt;">For business leaders, 2030 is a global target date for achieving more human-centred
workplaces, more responsible production and consumption processes, and more sustainable
and inclusive growth. That means more innovation (in products, services, and
business methods), "decent work," and partnering with other
companies, around the world, to create more win-win relationships. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">Consider Tesla, which became the world's most valuable automaker simply because it saw the need for green energy sooner than its more established competitors around the world. </p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>This is a manifesto
for a new way of doing business – and new ways of thinking <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">about</i> business.</b> Redefining relationships with shareholders,
employees, customers and communities. Finding cost-effective energy solutions, decoupling growth from environmental
degradation, providing productive employment for all, building
better cities, and uplifting marginalized communities so all can share in the bounty of this planet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><b>The Government of
Canada puts its 2030 mission this way:
“Leave no one behind.”</b></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 33.5pt;">As the boomers' "greed is good" mentality fades from the boardroom, what values will replace it? How will your business get ahead of this transition? How can you find, attract and motivate new leaders who understand
these transformative times and your changing customer base? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">2030 is not just a deadline –
it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity.</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing">By embracing change now,
organizations will be in better shape to lead this transformation, become role
models, and take advantage of all the new opportunities, relationships and
regulations that will emerge as we move closer to 2030.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">2030 is not not just about the SDGs. It's about choosing community over self, long-term thinking over short-term, stakeholder rights rather than shareholders' rights, and prioritizing human need over greed.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing">And it starts with us all, right now.</p><p class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP-EjhUFffUuzbbbt_WdZLtu38MM3Imk6AlxjHQJRlBhxNior-Qw_K_uZizQEP1DvMxlbLF079u1bVxMwVWewwJ8QIh_5Esb8NutO017bJbnGOociNPN0FUGOFObGYNfyWLgGu8Lnfuv2mn0djRoI8XxRH3MZ8F94fh3yt-v0i8Nz50wpIgis" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1440" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgP-EjhUFffUuzbbbt_WdZLtu38MM3Imk6AlxjHQJRlBhxNior-Qw_K_uZizQEP1DvMxlbLF079u1bVxMwVWewwJ8QIh_5Esb8NutO017bJbnGOociNPN0FUGOFObGYNfyWLgGu8Lnfuv2mn0djRoI8XxRH3MZ8F94fh3yt-v0i8Nz50wpIgis=w474-h232" width="474" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-20666790878081817752022-02-21T13:59:00.009-05:002022-02-21T14:12:20.886-05:00What items can YOU put in your Proof Book?<p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">To sell more, you need third-party cred. Who have you (or your products/services) most impressed, and how?</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The best way to build trust is to have a mittful of testimonials or case studies. In my experience, however, most companies (or salespeople) mismanage this process. They don't keep a record of positive client feedback they've received, and they don't develop customer success stories
that they can insert into sales conversations at the drop of a hint.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">How
do you get better at this? My friend and mentor <a href="https://www.coachingandsalesinstitute.com/meet-tom/" target="_blank">Tom Stoyan</a>, “Canada’s Sales
Coach,” has an answer: </span><i style="text-align: justify;">Pull out your Proof Book.</i></span></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="tab-stops: 36.0pt 72.0pt 108.0pt 144.0pt 180.0pt 216.0pt 252.0pt 288.0pt 324.0pt 360.0pt 396.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq0gooVdKAYBqOG9shfKUsk1GuhVD06639O4vwuseNA04ghvBU7tYks1hV76DQeczEQvfJ2fRfN0sxd9ZK7lvEA1Ne9hu4shvHuuP0CJ25I1Cm632Kl7ggO4P9qzD4gtZj90iPU9M_QC5IlaMwWKe5TozyqLd04hb42fe1DJwkiXIxktaNKb4=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiq0gooVdKAYBqOG9shfKUsk1GuhVD06639O4vwuseNA04ghvBU7tYks1hV76DQeczEQvfJ2fRfN0sxd9ZK7lvEA1Ne9hu4shvHuuP0CJ25I1Cm632Kl7ggO4P9qzD4gtZj90iPU9M_QC5IlaMwWKe5TozyqLd04hb42fe1DJwkiXIxktaNKb4=w290-h163" width="290" /></a></span><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Stoyan says: “Since most of us don't like to buy on unsupported facts or claims, develop a
resource that can be used to prove the benefits of your product or
company. This could include testimonials, media articles, charts, statistics and
brochures.”</span></p><p class="MsoBodyText" style="tab-stops: 36.0pt 72.0pt 108.0pt 144.0pt 180.0pt 216.0pt 252.0pt 288.0pt 324.0pt 360.0pt 396.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; text-align: left;">When prospects ask tough
questions or express some doubt, hit ’em with your Proof Book: the body of
evidence that says you consistently create value for your clients and your community.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoBodyText" style="tab-stops: 36.0pt 72.0pt 108.0pt 144.0pt 180.0pt 216.0pt 252.0pt 288.0pt 324.0pt 360.0pt 396.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b><i>What items could you include in your Proof Book?</i></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Think back on all the evidence you've earned overt the years: emails, letters of appreciation, awards, positive media appearances, social media post, speaking opportunities, etc. Whatever documents your products success, or your own stature as a leader in your field. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Then, ask yourself, what additional stories could you tell if you went
back to satisfied clients and asked them for anecdotes or testimonials about
your relationship together?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Extra Bonus: If you're looking for a chance to do more work for past
clients, contacting them to ask for a testimonial, or some other evidence of the
benefits you've generated, may be your secret weapon in rekindling that relationship. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">One more note: sometimes customers have trouble describing their
satisfaction, or quantifying the value you've created. Or maybe they're just too
busy. Jump on this opportunity! Offer to write the testimonial for them, and
say you’ll run it by them for their approval.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Then write something up that you’d like them to say about you.
Try to write in their voice, from their point of view. Keep it simple and jargon-free;
customers use different language than you do. Be concise. Use strong, upbeat and professional language that will show you and your client in a good light. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Your contact will appreciate you doing
the work for them, and will likely approve whatever text you show them. Confirm that
you have permission to reprint this testimonial – and then stuff it into the
front of your Proof Book. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: georgia;"><o:p style="font-size: large;"> </o:p><span style="font-size: large;">The Voice of the Customer is golden.</span></span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-78311094965608813592022-02-02T19:49:00.007-05:002022-02-02T19:50:35.287-05:00The Secret of Networking.<p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>I belong to a pretty unremarkable online group on Alignable.com called "All About Networking."</i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>The reason I call it "unremarkable" is that the members display very little interest in networking. And almost no curiosity about how to get better at it. </i></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigBzYMMRtdmCzh3IwyjEVKlzOkD_pCpAhn3CmquwcrNpEX63Y4Bt2wI9UrO5UGMGBr3Bpgg9YneH7hssJ_zsq8EapnHrX9eAgifF8-KWLgM8ob0mT6kE_EfmMYwy7vjLcTP-Myg0CreSlNMFG45kI87F4OLnITeQxTxRHCvLdR1K8pXaob2s4" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="605" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEigBzYMMRtdmCzh3IwyjEVKlzOkD_pCpAhn3CmquwcrNpEX63Y4Bt2wI9UrO5UGMGBr3Bpgg9YneH7hssJ_zsq8EapnHrX9eAgifF8-KWLgM8ob0mT6kE_EfmMYwy7vjLcTP-Myg0CreSlNMFG45kI87F4OLnITeQxTxRHCvLdR1K8pXaob2s4" width="203" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>People join the network, tell us about what they sell, and then forget they were there. If they do remember, they will probably just conclude that since no one offered to buy from them, networking doesn't work.</i></span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>So I fired off a post to try to inspire them to aim higher.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><i>And I want to share it with you, too....</i> </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I am seeing lots of people joining this group to network and learn more about networking. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">So let's talk about successful networking.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Networking isn't selling. It's not even prospecting. It's not about telling a group what you do and waiting for someone to call.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Networking is about getting to know people. Not as prospects or customers, but as people. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you want to sell, get a targeted list and craft an incredible offer for them.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">If you want to network, demonstrate a genuine interest in other people and their welfare. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Tell us more about you, not your product.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Tell us about your interests, travels or hobbies, and let people know you would enjoy sharing thoughts and experiences with like-minded people.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Or offer to help. How could your expertise (or interests) benefit others in this group? </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Either way, get some great conversations going. Ask lots of questions. Let other people shine.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">You'll find yourself meeting cool, interesting people with infinite potential to enhance your life. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Networking is so much cooler than selling. <br style="box-sizing: border-box; outline: none;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Bottom line: Before you "get", you have to give.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 9px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Let people know you care about them, their problems, and helping them succeed.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b>That's the secret of networking.</b></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1; margin: 0px; outline: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-28513774238114816832022-01-15T14:27:00.002-05:002022-01-15T14:27:49.625-05:00The Secret of Success: Curiosity<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdph8buFi0IPdBcMdpmtq6FY1foccmOxhyZUdKPJoIJFXq9n_9sm1RooefpZZkULwZv10ROe_zd0yokd0gXqAnZ0nbtvLs-66c3U5tnVXXxtHqXkM81Lp5EpoyOq24zgOo4qS5Q/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdph8buFi0IPdBcMdpmtq6FY1foccmOxhyZUdKPJoIJFXq9n_9sm1RooefpZZkULwZv10ROe_zd0yokd0gXqAnZ0nbtvLs-66c3U5tnVXXxtHqXkM81Lp5EpoyOq24zgOo4qS5Q/" width="197" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-342592846306465782021-11-27T09:43:00.005-05:002021-11-27T09:50:26.538-05:00Keep it simple. Keep it short.<p><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I had a great coaching call with an entrepreneur yesterday. As he talked about some changes he's making in his business, I began to worry that he hadn't thought his new plan entirely through. So I asked him a question about how he intends to reach his new target market.</span></p><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998571375"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I wasn't interested in his detailed marketing plan. I mainly wanted to know if he discerned the same big differences that I did between his former target market and his new market. I feared that retooling his marketing strategy and messaging would be a bigger, more expensive chore than he was planning for.</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998571375"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998659858"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But it took me a long time to make that point. Because the entrepreneur mistook my question about his marketing plan as a request for more details about the plan. I tried to interrupt a couple of times when he was too deep into the weeds, but he was just getting started and didn't want to stop.</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998721335"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998721546"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Eventually I just had to say "Whoa." </span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998721546"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998721546"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You're missing the point, I said. By going into such detail and never once pausing for breath, I said, he was missing a really important learning opportunity.</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998721546"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998721546"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In all future business conversations, I suggested he start using a trusty best-practice sales tactic: when a prospect asks you a question, don't set off on a long explanation. Give the shortest, simplest explanation you can, and then say, "Can I keep going? Is it okay if I tell you more?"</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998837734"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998838497"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5JDxCbo7xE47iYYyRaU23NezxrQ2PuzrHeOXcsU5YeJRkzYDJ_nI4GVYlM1eSoCx0ps4FZGfTrfDbwaqP0rOQYexCP75sHcEUeXSm1of3fOBsvcNAGDdxlXkdyYOfWzWAw1AvQ/s2048/two_colleagues_discussing_work_in_a_meeting_room-scopio-0f688bd0-6e77-412b-bf8d-91956fe8975d.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5JDxCbo7xE47iYYyRaU23NezxrQ2PuzrHeOXcsU5YeJRkzYDJ_nI4GVYlM1eSoCx0ps4FZGfTrfDbwaqP0rOQYexCP75sHcEUeXSm1of3fOBsvcNAGDdxlXkdyYOfWzWAw1AvQ/s320/two_colleagues_discussing_work_in_a_meeting_room-scopio-0f688bd0-6e77-412b-bf8d-91956fe8975d.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: georgia;">That's the only way to be sure you're meeting your prospects' needs. Monitor their interest in what you're saying by asking for permission to tell them more. If you're off track, they now have a chance to say so (without seeming rude). And that gives you a second, better chance to engage them and make sure you're answering their most important questions.</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998971705"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998972338"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Every entrepreneur knows time is a resource. Few prospects ever give you enough time to say all you want. In fact, the bigger and more important they are, the less time they will likely have for you. So you have an obligation, to yourself and to your prospect/</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">client/</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998972338"><span style="font-family: georgia;">potential ally, to keep your messages as short, clear and simple as possible. </span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998972338"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637998972338"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When you're talking, you're not listening. And the most important part of any sales conversation is what your prospect wants to tell you about their problem or your solution.</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999093457"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999093976"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Keeping it short - and asking permission to keep going, if you truly think your answer deserves more explanation and context -- is the best way to make sure you address all your prospects' questions and concerns in the short time you have together. </span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999093976"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999093976"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've been on both sides of the sales dynamic, as seller and buyer, when the pitchers run out of time. It's always awkward. Prospects get frustrated because they haven't had a chance to express all their questions or concerns. Pitcher find themselves trying to save the situation by either suggesting a follow-up meeting or attempting to close too soon. Such blunders rarely result in successful deals. Mainly, they call into question the professionalism of pitchers who prefer hearing their own voice over that of their customer.</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999397001"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999397569"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Keep it simple. Keep it short. Check in often to make sure you're on the right track. Ask questions like, "Is this the sort of information you're looking for?" "Can I keep going and tell you more about this, or do you have other issues you'd prefer to discuss?" Questions like these, that ensure you're having a conversation rather than presenting a pre-packaged pitch, inspire confidence and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">build trust</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">.</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999397569"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999517424"><span style="font-family: georgia;">My entrepreneur friend was taken aback when I called him out on for excess talking. I had interrupted our pleasant conversation to pull rank and point out where his chatter went off the rails. At first I think he was shocked that I was being so tough on him. But he was professional enough to realize I was trying to refocus him for his own good.</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999517424"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999598409"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So I was quickly able to steer our conversation back to my main concern: the difficulties of adopting the entrepreneur's new marketing strategy. This time he gave me a concise, professional description of the potential pitfalls. And then, to my delight, he said, "Can I tell you more about how we're going to address these issues?"</span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999727882"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div id="yiv2157376373yMail_cursorElementTracker_1637999728362"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Maybe listening isn't a lost art after all.</span></div>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10547970.post-5477660184332631752021-08-28T01:08:00.004-04:002021-08-28T01:28:12.253-04:00Social Skills are the Root of Business Success <p><span color="inherit" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: large; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit; text-align: inherit;">I was once asked: </span><a class="q-box qu-cursor--pointer qu-hover--textDecoration--underline Link___StyledBox-t2xg9c-0 roKEj" href="https://www.quora.com/Why-should-students-learn-social-skills?no_redirect=1" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6); background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-radius: inherit; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: georgia; font-size: large; outline-offset: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_top">Why should students learn social skills?</a></p><div class="q-text" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #282829; max-width: 100%;"><span class="CssComponent__CssInlineComponent-sc-1oskqb9-1 UserSelectableText___StyledCssInlineComponent-lsmoq4-0 kghFzc"><span class="q-box qu-userSelect--text" style="box-sizing: border-box; user-select: text;"><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">I just rediscovered my answer. It's still worth reading, I think. Especially in these days as more and more people hide behind their phones and Covid has turned going out and meeting people into a lost art. </span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background: none;">Social skills are essential to anyone who believes that intera</span><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif" style="background-color: initial;">cting with others will be important to their personal or financial futures - which is just about everybody (except maybe lighthouse-keepers).</span></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW2zJFWIJ6Lm4qVzmtcXLLQuPTc9ic3dSTkk7S-mkNo5prw5oqv9_l-sVxItkGqHe4H1t75KaZ6e7P9jL7GSpLaciX2yhZ7mGHZliMpxMsAvqftDP_cEoBu5Ce5S-YRk0KYveXA/s2048/three_colleagues_discussing_work_in_an_office-scopio-1a6b9b4b-62f9-49bb-9e78-e13fb46d59bd.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUW2zJFWIJ6Lm4qVzmtcXLLQuPTc9ic3dSTkk7S-mkNo5prw5oqv9_l-sVxItkGqHe4H1t75KaZ6e7P9jL7GSpLaciX2yhZ7mGHZliMpxMsAvqftDP_cEoBu5Ce5S-YRk0KYveXA/s320/three_colleagues_discussing_work_in_an_office-scopio-1a6b9b4b-62f9-49bb-9e78-e13fb46d59bd.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">I define social skills as the behaviours and attitudes that help people interact with each other. This includes showing interest in other people, knowing how to conduct pleasant (and productive) conversations, and understanding social norms (e.g., don't talk with your mouth full, hold the door open for people coming in behind you).</span><p></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">It also includes body language (smile more, slouch less), adapting your behaviour to your setting (e.g., you likely act differently at a business meeting than at the bar with friends), making people feel valued, and finding congenial ways to express your opinions or disagree with others without eroding your personal relationships.</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Social skills are essential to success in your career and your personal life. If you go around being rude or missing social cues, you can't expect many friends to hang around. If you are good at getting along with a wide variety of people – colleagues, bosses, subordinates, customers, suppliers, etc. – then you can expect to thrive in most professions.</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Indeed, those who master social skills are likely to find themselves more popular and more successful than those who practice these skills half-heartedly. It’s the thoughtful gestures – offering to help someone, sending a thank-you note, or making people feel welcome in new environments – that get you noticed as a leader.</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Based on old Hollywood movies, you might think that most business leaders succeed through greed and cunning. In truth, most people advance to the top by displaying social skills – acknowledging individuals’ contributions, making people feel part of a team, and continually extending their network of contacts.</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px 0px 1em; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Social skills alone won't get you to the top. But you’ll never get there without demonstrating empathy and respect for others.</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">Open your eyes, open your heart, and always open doors for other people.</span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="q-text qu-display--block" style="box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; padding: 0px; word-break: break-word;"><span style="background: none; font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;">(See also: </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 22px;"><a href="https://canentrepreneur.blogspot.com/2019/04/every-person-is-adventure.html" target="_blank">"Every person is an adventure"</a>)</span></p></span></span></div>Rick Spencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09147840937518662183noreply@blogger.com0