by Peter Engler   In my many years of coaching mid- and late-career executives to seek ”work, not just a job,” I have been mystified by an almost universal response on the part of candidates when they are rejected in favor of another executive for a position they really desired. These executives, who are highly qualified, talented, and motivated, simply ”take no for an answer” and move on to other opportunities. …Read More

by Stephanie Fierman     I was in a client meeting last week when an earthquake shook New York City.  We all stared at each other for a few seconds and waited for the building to fall down. When it didn’t, we went back to business. Back to the same agenda, for sure, but not before the New Yorkers in the room had conjured 9/11.  The few, quiet comments didn’t turn into …Read More

by Christopher Rollyson You have undoubtedly heard of TOMS Shoes, the company that gives one pair of shoes to a barefoot child for every pair bought.  Its entrepreneurial founder, Blake Mycoskie, created a simple yet innovative business model and launched the company in 2006.  What you probably don’t know is that social enterprise sensibility and strategy could well apply to your brand.  Mycoskie makes a convincing argument that giving can …Read More

by Richard Sellers     Do you want to get hired, promoted, or ”just” keep your job?  The two secret words to achieving these objectives are ”uniquely useful.” Useful is fairly obvious:  can you do what needs to be done? Think of this as a pass-fail test. I admit the test isn’t always executed fairly. We all know some quietly competent people whose contributions have been overlooked.  And we all also know …Read More

by Peter Helmer     Fred has just left the corporate world and is looking for consulting assignments.  He wants to meet Fortune 1000 CMOs. Searching for prospects and referral sources, he decides to go to a local chamber of commerce event.  He meets a seemingly endless parade of mortgage brokers, financial advisors, insurance agents, graphic designers, small business bankers, chiropractors, massage therapists, and business coaches. He quickly discovers something : They …Read More

by Pat Allen  I have bought quite a few cars over the years, despite knowing very little about them.  Thanks to Toyota and Honda, I’ve been able to assume that the car I liked would come with a reliable engine.  This approach left me to do my due diligence on the important stuff as my car requirements have changed from insisting on a door for my glove compartment (I’d failed …Read More

by Richard Guha          Apple computer does not ask the consumer what he or she wants.  Nor did Thomas Edison or Henry Ford.  Cult brands, such as Apple, BMW, or Harley Davidson were not built by deliberate Social Marketing.  Most brands never will be.  Many of the most successful businesses do not rely on the ”technology” of Marketing.  Over the past twenty years marketers have seen an explosion of tools …Read More

by Sarah Miller Caldicott          How long can you tread water? Would sixty months be unreasonable?  Marketers, get yourselves in shape for the long haul.  Marketing budgets will once again receive scrutiny in the wake of fallout from the debt ceiling crisis and the U.S. credit downgrade, and marketers must be ready to respond. What is the magic behind sixty months?  That’s the length of time a panel of experts sponsored …Read More

by Drew McLellan     You’ve heard all the stats: 179 million Americans watched online videos each month of 2010. Over 88 million people watch an online video on a given day. Online video is currently 40% of consumer Internet traffic. YouTube is the #2 search engine, right behind Google.  75% of C-suite executives watch work related videos weekly. While Google Plus, mobile marketing, and QR codes are garnering a great deal …Read More

by Annette DiSano     Much of my day is spent talking with executives from all industries and disciplines…many are employed but now are beginning to look around. Some have told me, ”I have never had to look for a job before.  In the past, the jobs have always come to me.” So in thinking about how bestto begin, I realized that the real work in looking for your next job is …Read More