Americans are back in the office, but lunch crowds haven’t returned. In fact, fewer lunches were bought in 2024 than during the pandemic peak. What does this quiet shift say about consumer behavior, workplace culture, and economic caution? Possibly more than you’d expect.
The Brown-Bag Lunch Index: Quirky Economic Insights from the Lunchroom Read More »
Most business partnerships don’t fail because of poor strategy. They fail because of value collisions—when partners hold fundamentally different beliefs about what matters most. One partner wants rapid growth; the other prioritizes craftsmanship. One sees employees as human capital; the other sees them as a community.
These silent collisions erode trust, slow decision-making, and often lead to costly breakdowns. Clarifying core values early, building decision frameworks, and revisiting alignment regularly isn’t optional—it’s essential.
When Business Partners Collide: How to Resolve Conflicts Over Core Values Read More »
“You can’t water dead flowers back to life.” As business owners, we’re driven by optimism. We see potential in every idea, client, and strategy. But sometimes, that optimism can become a trap. We find ourselves pouring time, money, and energy into things that aren’t delivering results—hoping they’ll turn around. But the truth is, you can’t
Stop Watering Dead Plants: Recognizing When It’s Time to Let Go Read More »
“Getting results isn’t just about staying informed—it’s about taking that information and turning it into decisive action. The following research from Stacked Marketer offers valuable insights, but the key is to determine how it applies to your business and then commit to acting on it. By doing so, you’re not just staying ahead but positioning yourself
Holiday Edition: Shopper’s Attitudes Toward Price Increases Read More »
Standing still isn’t just risky—it’s a recipe for getting left behind. The most successful business owners understand that what got them here won’t get them there. They must continually evolve, adapt, and, most importantly, learn to stay ahead. Continuous learning isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the secret sauce that transforms challenges into opportunities and good
3 Myths About Learning That Are Holding You Back Read More »
Introduction “Perfection is the enemy of progress.” – Winston Churchill As a business consultant, I’ve seen firsthand how the fear of starting can cripple progress. One of my clients, Sarah, had a brilliant podcast idea. She spent months planning, tweaking, and revising but never hit the record button. Sarah’s story is not unique; many entrepreneurs
7 Tips For Escaping The Planning Trap: Turning Your Plans Into Action Read More »
Marketing myopia was coined by Harvard Business School professor Theodore Levitt in 1960. It refers to the tendency of businesses to focus too narrowly on their products or services rather than on the needs of their customers. This can lead to businesses becoming complacent and failing to adapt to changing market conditions. One famous example
What is Marketing Myopia and How to Avoid it Read More »
A recent study by The Workforce Institute of UKG revealed that 69% of individuals attribute their managers as having the most significant impact on their mental health, comparable to their partner’s effect. This impact was reported to be greater than the influence of doctors (51%) or therapists (41%). These findings emphasize the significant role that
The Critical Role of Managers in Employee Mental Health Read More »
In her beautiful book about the Los Angeles Public Library fire, Susan Orlean captures the magic of what libraries can offer. She describes walking through the empty library in Downtown L.A., not a soul in sight, and feeling connected to all the different voices represented on the millions of pages surrounding her. “A library is
Les Mckeown preaches that finding a profitable and sustainable market is the most critical task for any founder. The clearer we understand our target customers or clients, the more efficiently we can market our products and services to them in their preferred language, style, and method. One person who got this right was not a
The Path to Growth: Targeting the Right Customers Read More »
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