Tag Archives: HR

Enemies of Effective Company Cultures — Ideas from James Heskett

Effective Company Cultures are Vital Building effective company cultures are vital, particularly in success over a long-term and in the creation of  longstanding, defensible moats of competitive advantage.  I enjoy writing about company cultures because they are so important to a company’s success, but also… Continue reading

To Increase Your Personal and Business Prosperity: Exchange More

A Business and Personal Prosperity Secret? What is the secret to creating value in the world for yourself and others?  Exchange is the best and shortest answer I would give today.  Exchange, or the act of giving one thing and receiving another in return, creates prosperity. … Continue reading

Is It Better to Make Employees Fit Roles or Roles Fit Employees?

Employee Role Playing Over a grill this past weekend, a debate arose among friends about whether it is better to help employees change to fit the role you envision for them, or change their role to fit their strengths.  The VP of Sales in a… Continue reading

Nature and the Great Outdoors: Important Aid to Business Owners

A Productivity “Exercise” for Business Owners A walk in nature is the most productive activity I do.  It is so easy to forget this and forge ahead with work indoors, but each time I hike or walk (most often through the Marin Headlands or Mt… Continue reading

Have Your CEO (and Management Team) In Place (To Sell or Not to Sell Your Business — a series)

Selling Your Business: To sell your business, I recommend that you present the deal with a CEO and management team in place through the first few years post-transaction. Simply put, this can be done in two ways: you are the CEO and you agree to… Continue reading

Company Culture a Superman-Strong Competitive Advantage

In a very difficult environment for small vocational schools recently, the National Holistic Institute, one of the best massage schools in the country where I am a co-owner, is surviving and thriving.  A key reason behind the organization’s success is its unique, palpable company culture… Continue reading

Three Cheers to the Lazerows and Buddy Media

I love my job (if you can call it that) because I get to work with excellent entrepreneurs and business owners.  They are inspiring people with the optimism to improve the world, the bravery to double down on the roller coaster of the inevitable ups… Continue reading

Competitive Advantage, Company Culture, and Simon Sinek

Competitive Advantage as Company Culture A powerful competitive advantage, even though it is intangible, can be built through a unique company culture.  I have seen it in action, and it is powerful.  It works particularly well today because many people prefer to work at a company and make purchases… Continue reading

Berkshire Week 2012: Predict Stephen Burke as next Berkshire CEO

First, a little extraneous caveat about this prediction.  I have not spoken to anyone at Berkshire about this.  Frankly, I do not know anyone who works at Berkshire.  And, I have no special knowledge about this at all.  It is just a pure guess (maybe a… Continue reading

Berkshire Meeting Week: Berkshire CEO After Warren Buffett

I believe the next CEO of Berkshire Hathaway is hiding in plain site.  There is a person that is very obvious, but no one (as far as I have read) has mentioned him as a potential candidate.  Tomorrow, I make my prediction.  Today, I have fun… Continue reading