In your office, when you meet a client, at home with your family, or when you’re meeting up with friends… What kind of energy are you bringing with you into the room?

There's an approach that's been around for quite some time when it comes to writing business messaging and marketing copy – write it at a fifth-grade level. Does it really work, or is it just "dumbing-down" society? And furthermore, why does it matter?

Driving through the Twin Cities the other day, we passed by a ton of traffic. Most of it was forgettable and mundane. However, the one moment that stuck out and created something memorable was passing by a Poop 911 vehicle. Maybe it seems silly, but there is a valuable lesson here...

We’re going to keep this message short today for a good reason. We talked a bit the other day about the “B” word… busy. Today, we’re in the midst of a busy transition. The kids are back to school, schedules are readjusting, and as fall has arrived, there’s been new energy in the air. With that on our minds, we’re replacing the “B” word with the “C” word…

The word “pivot” has officially left the building. Remember when it was all we heard about for six months straight at the beginning of the pandemic? Businesses large and small were forced to pivot as their models were disrupted, and the marketplace was turned upside-down by lockdowns and COVID protocols. The art of the pivot, as this was happening, was all the rage. What about now? Now that the pivot has become the new normal, you should take a moment to self-evaluate with these three questions...

Truth be told, the true value of your network may have nothing to do with you at all – beyond you being a connector. Here's what we mean...

We've all heard it more times than any of us would like to admit, and many of us have used it. It's one of the most abrasive words we will hear or say… as well as being one of the most overused. It may have even come out of your mouth this week. And, if you didn't verbalize it, you probably thought it. "I'm so… Busy."

We all have our roles to play in an organization. Depending on the size of the company, you may wear many hats to cover several responsibilities. But, what if you need to put on a new hat, even just for a day?

What if what you thought was the front door, where customers are most likely to see and purchase your services or products, wasn't actually the best place for you to put your effort? What if you could get more business leading them around to enter through the back door instead?

“Leader” is a label that we have traditionally assigned to individuals in positions with some kind of influence. You’re a CEO, you’re a president, you’re a VP or director, you’re a manager… Those people are leaders. Yes, individuals with titles like those find themselves in leadership positions. But what about the people on our teams that don’t have “leadership” titles. Don’t they still have the ability to lead, even though their titles don’t scream “leader” in bold letters on their business card?