Archive for April, 2008.
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
While the security aspects of intellectual property (”IP”) are often sacrificed for speed to market considerations in today’s world of mash-ups and knock-offs, I believe when it comes to IP it is possible to have your cake and eat it too. The protection of all forms of intellectual property (”IP”) should constitute common sense and require no real explanation, however the courts are littered with case law precedent that has been decisioned against some of the largest and most sophisticated companies on the planet. What should be routine business 101 protocol, can easily turn into major financial and operational debacles if you don’t have a solid grasp of IP law. In today’s post I’ll discuss the basics of identifying and protecting your intellectual property.
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
In today’s post I want to focus on the acquisition of knowledge gained through reading. While there are certainly numerous other ways to learn (experience, classroom instruction, digital learning, etc.) I am a huge fan of the benefits of professional development gained from good old-fashion reading. Someone once said “you are what you read” and while I think there is far more to the equation of our individual make-up than our choice of reading material, there is also an element of truth contained in the aforementioned quote.
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Is your business built around customers or clients? Are you simply a purveyor of products and services to your customers or do you enlighten, add value, inform, advise, counsel, and advocate on behalf of your clients? There is not only a definitional difference between the terms customers and clients, but there are also tremendous strategic, operational, and philosophical differences between companies who sell customers and those that serve clients. In today’s post we’ll go beyond semantics and definitions to get at the core of some principles that can radically improve your business, your brand, and your future…
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Intraday News Alert – Apparently the Economy is getting worse at a much more rapid rate than I thought. It is rare that I’ll make an intra-day post, but I felt it would be irresponsible not to report on some of today’s economic news. I have been stating for quite some time now that we are clearly in a recession while many academics are still debating the issue. However the real issue is not are we, or aren’t we, but rather how bad is it really going to get…
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Surely I jest…A law firm that gets it? I have been waiting to be able to make this statement for most of my professional life, and to be candid, I actually thought I would be dead and buried long before I found a firm that would wake up and smell the roses. No single industry has been guilty of lagging behind the times more than the legal profession. In fact, I think it is fair to say that no industry is more adverse to change than our venerable friends in the practice of law. In today’s post I’ll refer you to a law firm in Chicago that is going to revolutionize the way attorneys conduct business in the future…
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
If your public speaking ability is a bit rough around the edges, then today’s post is written for you. If you’re a CEO or CXO you will be called upon to speak on a fairly routine basis…You better get used to it, and you better get it right. The downside of public speaking is that nothing has the potential to highlight your flaws like the spotlight of being center stage. In today’s post I’ll share some of the most common mistakes made by executives and entrepreneurs who either voluntarily or involuntarily find themselves hooked up to the microphone…
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By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
So, what’s your story? If your personal or corporate brand doesn’t tell a story, then your brand is lacking the very essence of what makes a strong brand…The story. There is no denying that everybody loves a good story, and there is a reason why…think about novels you’ve read, movies you’ve watched, speeches you’ve listened to, ads that have hooked your interest, or virtually any other message delivered by any other medium and it’s the story that either seals the deal, or leaves you feeling cheated. In today’s post I’ll discuss the value in creating a strong brand story…
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
The impact of your associations on Personal branding should not be taken lightly by executives in today’s world. Your long-term success as a top CEO or senior executive will be heavily influenced by the strength and character of your personal brand. The perception of your personal brand by key constituencies such as your board of directors, investors, the media, key employees, customers, partners and other key stakeholders will not only have an impact on your current role, but future roles as well. In today’s post I’ll address what is becoming more and more of an issue with regard to your personal brand, which is the conclusion people draw about you based upon the company you keep…
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Innovation is definitely hot…Yesterday’s blog on innovation tools sparked an avalanche of inquiries asking for more posts on the topic of innovation. It seems as if each time I address the subject of innovation it triggers a Pavlovian response from our readers crying out for more information. While there is an innovation category on this blog containing several posts, and one of our more popular webcasts is focused on innovation and change, in today’s post I thought I’d go back to basics and discuss what innovation is, and is not…
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Innovation seems to be at the top of the list for many CEOs as they attempt to maintain their competitive edge, drive sales growth, and increase brand equity. Today’s Myatt on Monday’s question comes from an intuitive CEO looking for a bit of help with where to start. The question he submitted asked: ”Are there any toolsets that can be used to streamline the innovation process?” There was a time in the not too distant past when the answer would have been no, but that’s not the case today…in the text that follows I’ll provide a list of vendors who offer solutions in the rapidly proliferating arena of idea and innovation management…
