My EnergizeGrowth NOW book project gave me an incredible opportunity to hobnob with today’s greatest CEOs, authors, and speakers.  Jim Cathcart falls squarely in that category.

When we recently connected, we learned that we shared something in common.  We both hear the same question from our audiences, prospects, and clients:  “What are you telling people who are having a tough time in the current economy?”…

What does the Presidential Inauguration Have to Do with Building a Wealthy Business? — Only Everything

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A journalist from a reputable New York based publication recently contacted me. He wanted to know my opinion about whether it was sensible for business leaders to allow their employees to watch the Presidential Inauguration. What would be the impact on workplace productivity?…

Here’s a quick post that demonstrates what happens when your strategic plan ignores your customers and market need.

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Check out the quotes from GM’s Rick Wagoner, Alltel’s Scott Ford, and Sirius’ Mel Karmazin.

http://blogs.bnet.com/ceo/?p=1607

What do these quotes have in common?  All three CEOs allowed their bravado to overshadow market need. …

Your brand is the sum total of all “touch points” and experiences that EVERYONE has when they interact with you.  Whether you lead a rapidly growing million dollar services firm or a mature, well established $14B bank, the need for branding is just as critical.

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The challenge is that it is often hard to read your own label (your brand) from

inside the bottle (your business).   …

The CEOs of Seventh Generation, Beryl Companies, SPUD, Zappos, and Jeld-Wen Development inspire me to help more companies increase their values by embodying their values.

Our business and personal values determine the way we run our lives and “how we do things” at work.  They are defined as the unique ways of being that guide our decisions, form family bonds, and define our communities.

Your values may fall into several categories, such as:
• Health and wellness
• Financial
• How we treat others (community, family, employees, suppliers, etc)
• Contribution (to community, family, planet, clients, etc.)
• Service (to community, clients, employees, church, etc.)
• Achievement
• Recognition
• Quality (products, work environment, communication style)
• Professionalism
• Fun
• Decision-making style
• Learning environment
• Sustainability

When I work with companies, I have discovered that the most effective organizations invest a significant amount of time establishing their values. …

2009 is going to be a breakthrough year for many of us. 

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The breakthroughs will not necessarily be about maximizing revenues, because getting rich is not every business owner’s ultimate dream. For some truly Wealthy Companies, improving our environment, fostering a great culture, maximizing cash flow, or creating more free time may have greater value than acquiring more material goods….