Bow Ties and Strategy: The Impact of Intent
Bow Ties and Strategy: The Impact of Intent Insights on business strategy can sometimes be found in the unlikeliest places. I had a flash of insight at a breakfast meeting in Buckhead a few weeks ago when discussing, of all things, bow ties. Until about two years ago, my thoughts on bow ties were generally […]
Siriusly, XM? Brand Loyalty Despite the Process
Siriusly, XM? Brand Loyalty Despite the Process Brand loyalty isn’t always easy. Sometimes it’s like watching a frustrating relationship on some hyper-emotional cable network movie. One person is deeply in love and committed to the relationship, while the other is apparently too self-centered to even notice, much less address anyone else’s needs. Have you ever […]
Magic, Management, and Logistics
Magic, Management, and Logistics When I spoke at the National Logistics and Distribution Conference earlier this year, I was interviewed by Bob Bowman of SupplyChainBrain.com for an Executive Briefing video. The interview was recently published and they gave me permission to share it with my viewers on my YouTube channel. If you’ve ever wondered why […]
The Atlanta Braves, Cobb County, Leadership, and Unforced Errors
The Atlanta Braves, Cobb County, Leadership, and Unforced Errors Leadership is a risky business. Leadership is a risky business. Sometimes you march through a rain of opposition, only to come out stronger and more connected to those you lead and your former opponents for having led with honor and grace. And sometimes, just as you […]
7 Magical Lessons You Should Have Learned In Business School
7 Magical Lessons You Should Have Learned In Business School Over the past few weeks we’ve discussed several principles from the world of magic and illusion that have meaningful application to the business world. Now that we’ve finished, here’s a handy summary of what we’ve learned. (You can click each item to go to the […]
7 Things About Magic That You Should Have Learned In Business School – #7
#7 – It’s not really misdirection – it’s direction. It’s often been said that “magic is simply misdirection.” One important lesson of magic that high-achieving performers learn is that the term “misdirection” is a misnomer. Yes, it’s sometimes important for the overall illusion to ensure that audience doesn’t see something happen. Having them look away […]
7 Things About Magic That You Should Have Learned In Business School – #6
#6 – Your props should be in great condition, but they shouldn’t be the star of the show, either onstage or in business. Unless you’re performing a theme act set in a junkyard, there’s not really an excuse for performing with props that are in disrepair. The poor impression they make will be a psychological […]
7 Things About Magic That You Should Have Learned In Business School – #5
#5 – When it comes to polishing your secret move, in magic or in business, smoother is usually better than faster. “The hand is quicker than the eye” is a useful misconception. One of the great myths of magic – and business – is that it’s all about speed. The very word “prestidigitation” means “fast […]
7 Things About Magic That You Should Have Learned In Business School – #4
#4 – Just because your process is boring to you doesn’t mean the result will be. The details of the process aren’t important to the audience, who only care about the end result. But the process is critically important to you, the producer of the effect. You have to be judicious about which methods are […]
7 Things About Magic That You Should Have Learned In Business School – #3
#3 – If it doesn’t look like magic, it still needs work. The most important thing to your business audience is not how hard you worked on the technique. The most important thing to your audience is not whether your back-office software is the coolest. The most important thing to your audience is not how […]
