CEO Blog

JANUARY 4, 2011

The Leadership Pipeline - How to Build the Leadership Powered Company by Ram Charan , Steve Drotter and Jim Noel was awesome. I think promoting from within also keeps knowledge within the company. At this stage, the leader needs to penetrate 2 levels of the company. It is a must read for any aspiring leader at any level.

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CEO Blog

APRIL 3, 2017

A friend then asked me how to keep leadership ego in check: “Leadership ego is what kills most companies.” EG - every time I travel to larger cities, I marvel at how large the companies are by comparison to mine. In my last post, I spoke about leadership ego. 2 - Look at those much larger and more successful than you.

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CEO Blog

APRIL 3, 2017

A friend then asked me how to keep leadership ego in check: “Leadership ego is what kills most companies.” EG - every time I travel to larger cities, I marvel at how large the companies are by comparison to mine. In my last post, I spoke about leadership ego. 2 - Look at those much larger and more successful than you.

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Leadership Comparison Travel Learning-by-Doing 100

CEO Blog

NOVEMBER 15, 2010

CEO Blog - Time Leadership Monday, November 15, 2010 Early Exits Angel investors and VCs all like to sell one of their portfolio companies. And he has succeeded in a very tough industry in growing a $100M+ company. This is called the exit. Yes - the title includes the maybe not VCs part. of what is pawned is stolen.

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CEO Blog Blue Ocean Strategy Exit Strategy 189

CEO Blog

JUNE 11, 2014

The biggest mistake most companies and programmers make that I see is programming before planning. I also see a failure of many companies to sell. The greater the complexity, the greater the chance of error, the more difficulty to make changes and the less scalable things become.

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Tips Planning Books Technology 159

CEO Blog

JULY 23, 2018

I am coaching a newer company on how to produce high quality products. Insatiable curiosity if the mark of a good company. I figured it was easier to write this blog entry where it might have use to other people than just send it in an email to them. One lesson I learned years ago by going through ISO9000 certification is closed loop.

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CEO Blog

SEPTEMBER 26, 2013

I was speaking to a friend who is looking at acquiring a company. In particular, people and companies often think "new owner has money" so we can make up for all those years where we underpaid someone. Just because someone works for the acquirer does not mean they are better than the person in the acquired company.

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Tips Due Diligence Press Release Short-term 140

CEO Blog

APRIL 15, 2012

It seems logical he would know a thing or two about leadership not just because he runs his own company but as a recruiter, he would have seen hundreds of leaders. 2 - Purpose - This is the true enabler of any company. If the company does well, the people should do well. If the company does well, the people should do well.

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Leadership Short-term Long-term Learning-by-Doing 171

CEO Blog

JULY 21, 2012

Tony Hsish (CEO of Zappos) commented "Lots of companies have core values, but they usually end up on posters on the wall that nobody ever looks at. Zappos has 10 core values and we make sure everyone in the company has those core values, and lives them." Company cultures have huge inertia. Company cultures have huge inertia.

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CEO Blog

DECEMBER 27, 2010

I read an awesome and inspiring book - Wiki Brands - Reinventing Your Company in a Customer-driven Marketplace by Sean Moffitt and Mike Dover. Companies need a keen awareness that what they do will be reported on. Companies do not own their brand, consumers in the internet age do. Just blowing and digging out.

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CEO Blog

JULY 19, 2012

And the creative marketing idea of the day goes to one of my investee companies - Soletron. Steigman, is a chess master and he has challenged billionaire chess master Peter Thiel to a $1,000,000 invest in my company match. Does not have the same poetic ring to it but I suspect it will have better results. The founder/CEO, A.

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Video Energy Course Marketing 180

CEO Blog

AUGUST 5, 2014

As a customer, what is most important to you about us - that we sell more ABC than all other companies combined or because we ship faster than other companies? (so the customer says "I did not know you sold XYZ). The more customers say good things about you - even in a survey, the better they think of you.

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CEO Blog

FEBRUARY 17, 2013

It has a series of 2 page company profiles of companies that do good business. They highlight the things the companies do and their unique cultures. I was struck by how many of those companies profiled had written books about their culture (Zappos, Whole Foods, Motley Fool, The Container Store etc).

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Welch Sports Review Books 138

CEO Blog

APRIL 17, 2013

His company has done extensive research and come up with tools on how to measure individual values and beliefs and company values and beliefs. He has impressive statistics on the success of companies that are high alignment compared to others. He talks about a hierarchy - similar to Maslows from basic needs through goals.

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Maslow Motivation Learning-by-Doing Follow-up 113

CEO Blog

JUNE 12, 2013

Of course any company will implement something that saves money. So being a "good", "clean" company protects brand. EG - a hardwoods company will have not hardwood if they are not buying sustainably grown product (Like UCFP ) 3 - New Business. She laid out 4 plausible cases: 1 - Save Money. So do the analysis.

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CEO Blog

OCTOBER 11, 2015

This is a plea for companies to think long term (one of the things I am actually good at). The same is true of companies. . + Some articles that might interest: HBR has a good article saying best start up entrepreneurs are not college kids but seasoned business people. A call for people to think long term.

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CEO Blog

MAY 9, 2016

All things a company can work on. Murphy agrees that companies that "serve" the world thrive. Successful companies are great places to work. Or worse yet, I would have to smile. Fortunately, Murphy is more practical than soft platitudes. He talks about "good" culture being welcoming, curious, social and thoughtful.

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CEO Blog

SEPTEMBER 8, 2018

This fact alone should make you very selective about the company you keep. I read this article on it in Fast company. —author unknown Did you know that the four people with whom you spend the most time are who you become in the future? Scary, isn’t it? Think about the individuals with whom you spend your leisure time.

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CEO Blog

JANUARY 28, 2011

The best way to find out what makes a company successful is to look at the top. They are the founders and daily drivers of their companys corporate cultures. The singular characteristic that they all share is their companys success. Nowhere is this saying more true than in todays corporate world.

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CEO Blog

JUNE 2, 2014

Her company name - Love and Quiches. I know Susan and have toured her company and heard her speak. Her response was "we are a private company and do not share our details". She had a friend, Jill, who she talked to and they decided "lets start a food business". So they did. The naivety that made for interesting times.

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Airlines Audience Magazine Books 138

CEO Blog

APRIL 17, 2017

Many companies know who their target customers are. 10 - Connect to everyone else in their company on Linkedin that you can. In many cases their targets are limited. For example - at Danby Appliance , we might target appliance stores. There are only so many of them. So the key is persistence. 3 - stop in for tea. 6 - Call them again.

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CEO Blog

JUNE 25, 2011

And I am doubly inspired by the short period of time these companies have emerged. Companies like Acer, Honda, Toyota etc all really came into their own in the past 35 years. And it tracks major companies and their growth. Often the companies are assisted by the government.

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Succession Travel Industry Books 160

CEO Blog

MAY 30, 2012

. ++ Book review - Sales Growth - Five Proven Strategies from the World's Sales Leaders My experience in business is that sales can make or break a company. The book is written by three McKinsey and Company partners so the analysis is clean and full of good data but dry.

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McKinsey Marketing Travel Strategy 133

CEO Blog

JULY 18, 2016

I always say more companies and people fail from perfection than speed. And yes, I invested in the company. + Of course for some things, like surgery, I want perfection. Lack of perfection can cost time. For example - Danby sells about 2,000,000 appliances per year. It is a real story of intrigue. 2 videos on the topic here and here.

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CEO Blog

JULY 7, 2015

One of the books I was recently asked to review was the Stay Interview - A Managers Guide to Keeping the Best and Brightest by Robert Finnegan People leave managers - not companies. We can learn from those who leave to ensure less of that happens.

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CEO Blog

JUNE 7, 2011

His first "real company" was LinkExchange that he sold to Microsoft for $265 million. He views himself to be in the "customer service business" - not just a shoe sales company which is how they started. They have a company library. All great companies had great cultures. And all great companies had a higher motive.

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Library Seminar Training Energy 140

CEO Blog

OCTOBER 17, 2011

I read a good book on fear in companies - Breaking the Fear Barrier - How Fear Destroys Companies from the Inside Out and What To Do About It by Tom Rieger. I like to have a company that has a high tolerance for failure. I agree with some of the views put forward (many CEOs are outrageously overpaid).

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CEO Blog

MAY 15, 2011

I thought it was odd that a self proclaimed Christian centered company like Now Foods would publish a book on gambling but it is not. I feel a connection to the company since one of the companies that I had invested in (Purity Products) sold to them several years ago. Still a tiny company even adjusting for inflation.

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Books Productivity Products Tools 133

CEO Blog

MARCH 25, 2013

Canrock had a guest speaker today as part of our ongoing training for all of our companies. He made the point that the most important things companies can do is to have empathy - say "I am sorry" and "Thank you". The speaker, Dave Kerpen was awesome. Charismatic. Good story teller. And really knew his stuff.

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Media Brand Cost Training 140

CEO Blog

JUNE 18, 2015

I have been on the board for a few years so have high level familiarity with the company. From a recent Danby job posting: Danby is a proudly Canadian company with a rich history spanning over 65 years. Danby’s goal of being the largest compact and specialty appliance company in North America is already being realized.

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CEO Blog

MARCH 4, 2015

For those interested in pursuing a career in the field, however, “Creative Anarchy” is definitely a must-read. ++ There is an interesting article on companies co-founding startups. Starting a company with a company as a co-founder would bring competitive advantage. This makes logical sense to me.

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Conflict of Interest Competitive Advantage Creativity Construction 100

CEO Blog

MARCH 4, 2015

For those interested in pursuing a career in the field, however, “Creative Anarchy” is definitely a must-read. ++ There is an interesting article on companies co-founding startups. Starting a company with a company as a co-founder would bring competitive advantage. This makes logical sense to me.

Conflict of Interest 100

Conflict of Interest Competitive Advantage Creativity Construction 100

CEO Blog

APRIL 17, 2017

Many companies know who their target customers are. 10 - Connect to everyone else in their company on Linkedin that you can. In many cases their targets are limited. For example - at Danby Appliance , we might target appliance stores. There are only so many of them. So the key is persistence. 3 - stop in for tea. 6 - Call them again.

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COO Follow-up Reference Politics 100

CEO Blog

DECEMBER 12, 2012

I love great companies. One of the ones SEO Pledge is working with is an email marketing company (with permission of course). I find just being around good companies inspires me. And the list goes on. Try writing down your perfect day. It will help you have more perfect. + Likely part of my perfect day.

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Stress Blog Environment Course 138

CEO Blog

JANUARY 1, 2013

I read a book - the Story of Purpose - the Path to Creating a Brighter Brand, a Greater Company and a Lasting Legacy by Joey Reiman. The book makes a point that successful companies stand for something greater. I was taken aback that Coca-Cola was one of the companies cited with having purpose. Purpose precedes goals.

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Blog Goal Report Books 100

CEO Blog

APRIL 15, 2013

Exciting and I will do it again if asked. ++ And this is a good article on procrastination at work you can read later. ++ One of the Canrock companies Organimi has a blog post up on what they do for org charts. Interesting company.'

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CEO Blog

JUNE 27, 2011

Some VCs take the approach that you need to invest in a lot of companies to find a winner. They do limited due diligence on the theory that it does not help them find winner companies. Analysis of the company itself. Analysis of the industry in which the company operates.

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