The Unexpected Obstacle Every Startup Faces (And How to Overcome It)

According to Exploding Topics (latest data in 2023), 90% of startups fail. Wait, let’s break it down.  “Nine out of every ten startups crash and burn. But, hang on! Wasn't the dream to be the next, dare I say it, Elon Musk, or Jeff Bezos?” Surprised? But this is just the start of our harsh and enlightening ride. Think about it. You have your perfect product in mind, the dream team lined up, your business plan readied, investors ready to shower you with their money, and you even have the departmental desk color scheme sorted (we all know that's important). Yet despite all this, you are more likely to fail than to succeed – hard pill to swallow, right? Grit your…

Are You a Self-Aware Leader? How To Cultivate Emotional Intelligence In The Workplace

Emotional Intelligence at Work: It Starts with Self-Awareness Given how AI and automation are rapidly taking over routine tasks, this new technological era is forcing us to redefine what makes us valuable at work. It’s no longer about who has the most experience or who can process data the fastest. As machines become better at completing tasks and brainstorming ideas, a new kind of currency is rising to the top: emotional intelligence. This is precisely what helps leaders to navigate stress, inspire confidence, and guide others through uncertainty with emotional steadiness. Emotional intelligence is so much more than being the "nice" or "polite" person in the room. It is the dynamic interplay between how well someone understand their internal world…

The Achievement Trap: Why We’re Wired to Want “More”

The Emptiness After the Big Win As the year comes to an end, this is the time when we reflect and take stock of everything we’ve accomplished. Yet, for many of us, we've certainly done a lot of work, but the outcome feels insignificant. It stirs a quiet unease: the sense that, despite the projects delivered, the milestones ticked off, we have this feeling that we still haven’t done enough. This is the arrival fallacy at work, the belief that once we reach a certain goal, we’ll finally feel complete. We chase goals believing they hold the feeling we’re missing, only to discover the feeling never stays. We continually chase more success, more recognition, more wealth, believing that the next…

Business Innovation With Disruptive Technologies: A Comprehensive Guide

Image by Michail Petrov on Shitterstock If you've ever wondered how technologies can significantly disrupt existing business models, you're in the right place! In our constantly evolving world, businesses need to stay updated and innovative. The beauty of disruption lies not in the turbulence it creates, but in the novel opportunities it provides for businesses to grow and prosper. This article aims to examine disruptive technologies and their role in fostering business innovation. Before we dive deep, let’s start with an overview of the concept of disruptive technology. "Disruptive Technology", a term coined by Harvard Business School professor Clayton M. Christensen in the late 1990s, refers to an innovation that significantly alters the way that consumers, industries, or businesses operate. These…

Is Sales Really Difficult? Are there Proven Methodologies for Success?

In today’s fast-paced business environment, organizations face numerous challenges, particularly when it comes to attracting and developing top sales talent. In this two-article series, we uncover overlooked strategies to boost sales performance, examining the impact of technology, strategy, leadership, performance management, and other critical factors that drive business success. In a recent interview, Professor Frank Cespedes shared his expert insights on effectively managing the sales function to enhance business outcomes. This interview is divided into two articles. This is Article 1, where we begin by exploring Strategic Approaches to Sales and Sales Talent. We’ll delve into foundational strategies and best practices for building a high-performing sales team. Article 2 will follow in two weeks, focusing on the Leadership Role in…

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