The key to productivity is to have a meaningful and optimal incentive system. Fear is unfortunately a powerful motivator so it might be tempting to try and change behavior through punitive measures for poor performance or bad behavior. But it is a short term play. You will lose talent. On the other hand, a positive incentive, bonus or “bribe,” can also be powerful for those who are ambitious and motivated. But overly generous bribes can quickly turn someone entitled. So what is the best way to … [Read more...]
TheUC 046: 5 Tactics that Increase Revenue
Companies of all stages struggle to increase revenue. This discussion lays out an easy, 5 tactic approach that leverages your company’s current customer base and core business to increase revenue. Identify Impediments to change. What’s keeping you from changing to a new unit of business or from achieving higher performance and increase revenue on the key metrics associated with an existing unit of business? In this part of the process, you want to remove the blinders that exist when … [Read more...]
TheUC 045: 2 Simple Strategies to Generate Revenue
The Unapologetic Capitalist relays 2 simple strategies to plant seeds for quick, low risk and profitable ways to generate revenue in your business. As industries, economies and marketplaces emerge and evolve, businesses can stagnate. Margins get squeezed, the shine of innovation wears off, and economies of scale can turn to dis-economies. In an attempt to generate revenues, many companies err in seeking strategies that seduce in the short term, but thwart generating revenues and value for the … [Read more...]
This Year Resolve to Be A Better Leader
What is it about the New Year that causes us all to feel obligated to ‘resolve’ to be better that somehow escapes us on the other 364 days of the year? The reality is that the New Year is just another day that ends in ‘y.’ Yet, somehow the flipping of the calendar to a New Year lights some sort of beacon summoning home the Prodigal Son. So we will all spend a few weeks making quasi-earnest attempts to eat better, exercise more, communicate better, etc. only to fall back into our pathetic abyss … [Read more...]
TheUC 041: What Kind of CEO Are You?
Are you a good CEO? What kind of leader are you? Many CEOs sink the value of their company by getting distracted by their own media. A good leader and CEO will prioritize the needs of the venture over their personal wants. It is important to learn what outlets and assets to properly leverage to build value in the venture rather than unwittingly destroying the company’s value by indulging in their personal megalomania. The 4 archetypes of CEOs: Naked Emperor/Megalomaniac CEO: Typically … [Read more...]
TheUC 034: Attract Customers and Earn Loyalty
Attracting new customers and earning their loyalty is hard and getting harder. Customers are fickle and overly informed. In today’s day and age of instant information overload, how can you effectively attract customers and earn loyalty? Technology and social media, have given discerning consumers a lot more to consider when they buy. This makes it very challenging to attract customers and demonstrate the value in paying for your product over the many other substitutes out there. The same goes … [Read more...]
TheUC 015: New Leadership and Paying for the Sins of Previous Management
As a new leader, you might be tempted to come into your new position and make a big splash to establish your mark and prove your worth to everyone by making some sweeping new measure. However, that’s a lot like going into another country and demanding everything be done the way of your native land. You aren’t being bold. You are just revealing how insecure you are in your leadership. It is important to practice patience in your leadership and management, even if you don’t think you have the … [Read more...]
TheUC 014: Company Culture, Is it Strategy’s Friend or Execution’s Foe?
Company culture drives more success and failure of a company than most CEO’s are willing admit. It is important to have an understanding of your company and its culture to be an effective leader. Culture is cultivated not contrived so you can’t simply forge a culture out of thin air, nor can you insert yourself into a culture and feign understanding. Leveraging your company culture is how you can execute effective strategy to keep things productively moving in the right direction to build value … [Read more...]