Strategic execution is the secret sauce of success
If I were to identify one book pivotal to my company’s success, it would be “Execution” by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan. Simply put, it shows how to get the job done and deliver results … whether you are running a company or in your first management job — plus, it is chock full of […]
How to protect your interests when selling a business
Every day, small business owners make mistakes by failing to disclose issues when selling their businesses, risking potential legal entanglements. “Selling a business is not unlike selling a house. In California, there is a duty to disclose. Although a broker representing the buyer or seller has fiduciary obligations, by law, the onus of disclosure falls […]
Paul Witkay: Five steps you can take to instill clarity and courage
I’ve read hundreds of great quotes from amazing leaders describing “leadership.” One of the simplest comes from Fuchan Yuan, who identified three essentials: “humility, clarity and courage.” Humility seems to be a character trait that people either have or don’t. Although many people perceive CEOs to have large egos, great leaders know that leadership is […]
David La Piana: How focusing on early adopters, who are ready for change, strengthens your efforts
Most organizational change efforts, large or small, life-saving or mundane, are destined to fail. Generally, they don’t fail because of a weak concept but because of poor execution, often stemming from a lack of buy-in from the people who have to actually change their attitudes or behavior — your employees. In this inaugural column on […]
Staying ahead of the curve: Innovation has been a core part of Lundberg Family Farms since it was founded
After witnessing the Dust Bowl’s impact on the Midwest, the founders of Lundberg Family Farms decided they needed to take care of the soil and treat it as a living organism when establishing the Sacramento Valley business in 1937. “When they arrived here, they started to farm using cover crops that would produce nitrogen from […]
Perseverance pays off for pair of pet lovers pitching benefits of pet insurance
Chris and Natasha Ashton risked a lot to get Petplan off the ground. “Two years of funding the business on credit cards and taking cash out on the credit cards to pay off student loans at Wharton,” says Natasha, the pet insurance company’s co-founder, co-CEO and CMO. “Two years of sleepless nights. But it proved […]
How businesses can benefit from banking with smaller institutions
Finding a bank for your business is different than applying for a car loan. Instead of just needing a source of capital, you also need a partner that can help your business grow. “You’re looking for a relationship that will allow your business to prosper,” says Andrew M. Phillips, vice president, relationship manager at Bridge […]
Why now is the time to get your team up to speed on what analytics can do
Ask 10 practitioners to explain analytics and you’ll get 10 different answers. The field is still evolving as people come at it from different backgrounds. But at its core, analytics is about replacing gut-based decisions with ones that are fact-based. The challenge is that today’s “facts” are buried in enormous data sets. Leaders must work […]
Roger Vozar: ShareThis made its mark by separating from the pack
“The most innovative ideas come from conditions that are constrained or set.” I’ve always thought of myself as more of a task manager than an innovative, creative person, and those words from ShareThis CEO Tim Schigel, subject of this month’s cover story, resonated with me because not knowing where to start is a familiar experience. […]
Roger Vozar: The Mütter Museum has public interested in medical science
When considering what to showcase for the new “Uniquely Philadelphia” feature in Smart Business Philadelphia, the Mütter Museum instantly came to mind. It’s known worldwide and certainly has many items that can be considered unique. But, as Communications Director J. Nathan Bazzel is quick to point out, the Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians […]