Archive for September, 2007
« Previous EntriesLeveraging Collateral Material
Wednesday, September 26th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
It has been my experience that most businesses fall into either one of two categories when it comes to marketing and collateral material…They either understand how to leverage collateral material to add value to the sales and branding process or they don’t. I’ve personally witnessed any number of companies that have very little, if any collateral material because it’s viewed as a frivolous expenditure of funds. Conversely I’ve observed other companies who massively over spend on the development of their collateral material only to suffer from under utilization, or worse yet no utilization at all of the material created. In today’s post I’ll provide some guidelines for getting the most bang for your buck with regard to your corporae collateral material…
Read The Full PostColumbia University…Round 2
Tuesday, September 25th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Today’s post is a follow-up to Friday’s blog regarding Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s invitation to speak at Columbia University (If you didn’t read the original piece start here). I hadn’t intended to follow-up on Ahmadinejad’s speech yesterday, but the combination of inquiries and post debate fall-out has inspired me to do just exactly that.
Read The Full PostThe Declining US Dollar
Monday, September 24th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Today’s Myatt on Monday’s question was posed by a business school professor who asked: “Do you think we should be worried about the devaluation of the US Dollar?” While the short answer is yes, the reasons underlying the answer are both far reaching and complex. In today’s post I’ll not only give you my thinking on the US Dollar, but also its relationship to more macro economic concerns that left unchecked could give way to the potential for a US recession…
Read The Full PostColumbia Univeristy
Friday, September 21st, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Let me begin today’s post with fair warning to those who read this blog for its business related content…While today’s topic has little to do with business, it is nonetheless something I feel compelled to address. The actions of Columbia University in inviting Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak to the student body are nothing short of irresponsible and in my opinion are borderline treasonous. So, if you’re in the mood for one of my infrequent but passionate rants I invite you to read on…If not, join me on Monday when we’ll get back to business as usual.
Read The Full PostSo, You Want To Be An Entrepreneur?
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
While every entrepreneur has their own motivation for going into business, based on my experience the following statements reflect a valid representative sampling of the most common reasons; to create more income; to create a better life for their family; to work their own hours; to be their own boss; to have economic freedom, and; to live the American Dream.
The reasons noted above are certainly good reasons, and, perhaps in an idealistic fashion, the right reasons to go into business. However while keeping these enthusiastic ideals in mind it is perhaps even more beneficial to examine the other side of what happens to many who embark upon the path of entrepreneurship.
Read The Full PostYour Biggest Asset
Tuesday, September 18th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
So, what is your biggest asset? Before the masters of the obvious respond by answering whatever asset holds the most value on the balance sheet I should state that I’m addressing this question to personal assets qualitatively measured as opposed to corporate assets being quantitatively accounted for. Even with this qualifying statement this is clearly a question that will spur vigorous debate. However I have come to believe the answer is obvious to those that have thought it through. While without question valuable and no doubt integral parts of your personal arsenal your biggest assets are not your personal brand, your talent, your keen intellect, your charisma, your character or other commonly thought of personal strengths or attributes. Rather your largest personal asset is the relationships you possess. In today’s post I’ll discuss the often unrecognized value of relationships.
Read The Full PostVision vs. Mission
Monday, September 17th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Today’s Myatt on Monday’s question was posed by a CEO who asked: “Can you define the difference between vision and mission?” Let me begin by stating that it is always refreshing to me when executives check their ego and ask clarifying questions (a characteristic of great executives by the way). Over the years I have witnessed many an executive confuse vision and mission to the detriment of their organizations because they simply wouldn’t take the time to stop and understand the differences. In today’s post I’ll clearly explain the difference between vision and mission…
Read The Full PostThe Impact of Trends on Business
Friday, September 14th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Trends have a significant impact on business. Does your business exploit trends or do they exploit your business? What was the latest fad chased or trend adopted by your business? Why did your management team jump on the band wagon? Has the trend or fad generated an increase in revenue or gains in efficiency and/or productivity? In today’s blog post I’ll examine the impact trends can have on your business.
Read The Full PostOrganizational Theory
Thursday, September 13th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Organizational theory is a hot topic these days so I thought I’d update a popular piece I authored some time ago on Organization Charts. Over the years I’ve seen every type of org chart in existence. Some have come and gone only to come again. Every year or two the latest revolutionary thinking in corporate organizational theory spawns a new form of charting. The dynamics of corporate organization are so revered by B-school professors and management consultants that an entire generation of corporate management has drunk the org chart Kool-Aid. These managers often rush to adopt the latest thinking without any consideration for whether or not the new form of structure is even appropriate for their business. So powerful is this dynamic that entire companies and numerous products have been built to support these latest trends. In the time it has taken to author this musing it wouldn’t surprise me if Visio had a new product release (Okay, I’m stretching a bit).
Read The Full PostIs It Worth It?
Monday, September 10th, 2007By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
In my last post I wrote about the characteristics of good process. In reviewing yesterday’s text it dawned on me that I didn’t touch strongly enough on the single biggest factor involved in creating bad process, which is process for the sake of process. While the Nike slogan “Just Do It” has become part of our pop culture, it may not always constitute the most sound business practice. Don’t get me wrong, I have always believed that a strong bias toward action is an essential quality to be possessed by leaders. That being said, it’s just that taking action solely for the sake of action may create more problems than it solves.
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