The early-bird rate for our 2nd annual CMOs Leading Innovation Conference (CLIC ’16) will end this Friday, April 15. This year, our conference happens at the historic Airlie Retreat Center in Warrenton, Virginia October 20-21 (just 45 minutes from Dulles Airport).

You will be joined by CMOs from Bozzuto, Informatica, Hilton, Gannett, NACD, and RES Software (to name a few). The 1 ½ day private conference features an evening reception, three panels, and a handful of top notch interactive sessions….

Blue Spirit Retreat Center embodies “pura vida.” The mantra – meaning “pure life” — has a deep meaning to the Costa Ricans. Marketing “pura vida” happens effortlessly at the Center. Your only method to reach Blue Spirit is a bumpy 3 hour shuttle crawl from Liberia Airport.

As you arrive at the Center, you are greeted by the haunting, guttural sounds of howler monkeys. Reception desk employees are warm, relaxed, and welcoming. You realize you have entered an alternate universe filled with mystery, beauty, and solitude….

 You will also hear Guy also share his latest interests and strong opinions on the most pressing social topics of the day–including the Apple-DOJ standoff. Over the years, Guy has endorsed my books, including “The Mindful Marketer” and “EnergizeGrowth NOW: The Marketing Guide to a Wealthy Company.”. Guy has inspired my work for over 13 years, and is one of a handful of leaders and experts who inspire my work.

Guy is one of the 6-7 leaders who have greatly inspired my work….

We brought together our CMO group “outlaws” on February 17 to show their ninepin chops at our annual “Bowl & Brew” in DC. These are the members of our private CMO peer groups and online community.

Who knew that Miss Acubed (aka Alicia A.) carried her own bowling shoes? Or that Sonny G. moonlights as a DJ (aka DLite?) Then there was The Edge (aka Stuart F.), illness who fought the good fight to take home first prize….

Here is an example of extreme product innovation I’ve witnessed recently. I met with the President of a struggling technology company. She is betting the company’s future on developing products that have not been validated nor tested with any customers. You could call them “extreme product innovators.” In other words, they are developing products that may pay off in 4-6 years in a market they have never pursued.

Meanwhile, their legacy products (which keep the lights on) currently face severe price pressures and market share erosion….

What are the innovation opportunities and challenges today’s marketing leaders face?

I was honored to be asked back for a second interview with Spiral Marketing, a podcast that helps current and future business leaders, marketers and entrepreneurs elevate their brand. (Their first return guest!)

Host Karl Boehm and I discussed the recently released 3rd Annual Energize Growth CMO Report, From Fledgling to Falcon: How CMOs Make the Leap from Order Taker to Innovator….

Are mindfulness programs a leadership fad?

This is the time of year when leadership teams announce new professional development programs and formulate their offsite planning agendas. Many companies are jumping on the bandwagon with Target, McKinsey, Royal Bank of Canada, and Google to incorporate mindfulness programs into their curriculum.

Sadly, mindfulness is dangerously close to joining the ranks of “corporate buzzword bingo.” Think back to the early days of LEAN, Six Sigma, Solution Selling, and the Total Quality Movement….

Follow me back 45 years ago, when my Mom invited me to skip school and visit Dad’s office at Litton Industries.

This represented a BIG adventure to me. I knew Dad was a mechanical engineer, but I never truly understood what his job entailed. This was my chance to get answers.

We pulled up to the four story, steel gray industrial building in West Hartford, Connecticut. As we exited the elevator, I spotted Dad in the conference room….

A few weeks ago, a doe-eyed workshop volunteer stopped me at the entrance to the crowded meditation room.

“Has anyone talked to you about our dress code?” she asked. “You see, we require you to wear white clothing from head to toe. Our teacher said that if you don’t have anything light to wear, you will have to sit out the next session and go home to change clothes. Another option is that you can buy some of our clothing in our upstairs room.”

Truthfully, I had no idea about any dress code….