I’ve been wanting to write this article for a while, but I wanted to make sure I approached the topic accurately, practically, and in a way that's easy to understand, especially for leaders and business owners at smaller companies. A P&L can feel intimidating if you don't work in finance every day, but understanding the basics can dramatically improve your overall business knowledge and make you more comfortable discussing financial performance with a CFO, controller, or fina

I love Crazy Cartoons! For decades, companies have used college degrees as a shortcut for determining whether someone is qualified. Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred. But here's the problem: a four-year degree doesn't automatically make someone more qualified to lead a team, sell a product, build a business, manage an operation, market to a customer/consumer, or understand a customer. In many cases, requiring a degree may actually eliminate some of the bes

@Stew Darling posted this last week, and I had to expand on it from my opinion. One of the more uncomfortable truths in leadership is this: what many leaders call loyalty is often something else entirely. The phrase, “Loyalty is often fear, wearing a nicer jacket,” challenges a deeply rooted assumption in business. It forces CEOs, executives, and managers to ask an uncomfortable question: Are people truly loyal to your company, your leadership, and your vision… or are they s

Marketing teams, leaders, and the Board of Directors all love metrics. Dashboards are filled with colorful charts, trend lines, percentages, and engagement numbers. Weekly meetings often center on reporting these figures, and executives are bombarded with data points intended to show progress. The problem? Many organizations spend more time measuring activity than measuring business impact. While marketing metrics are important, they only have value when they help us understa

Every successful company has goals. Great companies, however, have strategic initiatives. A strategic initiative is a focused, measurable effort designed to move an organization toward a long-term objective. Unlike day-to-day tasks or routine operational activities, strategic initiatives are intended to create meaningful change, improve performance, solve major business challenges, or capitalize on opportunities. They serve as the bridge between a company's vision and the act