In Alexander the Great’s conquest of Persia, the Macedonian King upset his military compatriots and childhood friends by marrying Roxana. Roxana was the daughter of a minor Persian baron. That is, she was not from Macedonia; she was not of Greek blood. This outraged Alexander’s men who...
THE BIG IDEA: Certain businesses excel at fostering undying, cult-like following among their customers. Our study of Cult Brands reveals seven rules any business can follow to attract loyal customers. ______________ Some customers have a religious devotion to a particular brand. They may go so far as...
How do you put archetypes to work? Start at the center. The center is unique for each organization. Your strengths hint at it. Your organization’s passions point you in the right direction. The forces that drive your customers to do business with you provide invaluable clues. This center should be expressed...
When you uncover your business’s archetypes you get to know the DNA of your organization. It is from these fundamental symbolic images that all of the desired behavior for employees and customers spring. When you know your archetypes, you can ensure consistency in your culture and your...
THE BIG IDEA: There are seven behavioral patterns that characterize distinct leadership styles. Becoming aware of all seven will help inspired leaders identify their strengths and provide additional options based on the context of the situation. __________________ You don’t have to spend much time in executive meetings...
Recently, I was consulting a CEO on strategic presentation skills, they tended to keep talking without stopping and needed some work to better connect with the people in the room. We talked about the importance of pausing during the presentation and asking a question to...
This could be called the first law of Cult Branding. Know thy Customer better than they know themselves. This could be called the Secret Law of Cult Branding. Customers Don't Know Why They Buy. This might be deemed the problem with the conventional market analysis. Don't Ask Why, Observe!...
“The best way to capture moments is to pay attention. This is how we cultivate mindfulness. Mindfulness means being awake. It means knowing what you are doing.” Jon Kabat-Zinn The truth is that many of us spend most of our time in the office. Think about how...
The letter BlackRock’s Larry Fink sent CEOs highlights ideas that are familiar to our readers. Here’s the insight: “Society is demanding that companies, both public and private, serve a social purpose. To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance but also show...
Building a culture of trust is mostly one-to-one in nature. Over time, simple interactions accumulate and help create rapport and friendship, which are critical ingredients for a high-performing workplace. Try to be present in the small moments; this will lay the foundation for a more...