Blog:
The Competitive Advantage
March 29, 2023
Want to Win Your Clients’ Trust? Change 1 Word in Your Vocabulary.
I was having a conversation with a client last week – the president and his senior staff. We were talking about their business objectives for the year and the kinds of marketing and sales efforts they would need to achieve them.
As I was laying out a number of strategies and tactics that could help them reach their goals, the president interrupted me, and said, “Steve, don’t tell us what we could be doing… tell us what we should be doing.”
Continue ReadingOctober 20, 2020
Should You ‘Pivot’ During the Pandemic?
If your firm is like 99% of all other firms, your business in 2020 is not what you thought it would be when you were planning for it a year ago.
Clients are placing a ‘hold’ on projects or canceling them altogether. Some of your clients might have gone through layoffs and are not spending a dime. Perhaps you work in a certain industry vertical that has taken a real hit this year (travel, restaurants, etc.).
And when that happens, as business leaders and managers, we are obliged to take a step back and ask, “Should we pivot and be looking outside of our core business for other opportunities?”
Continue ReadingJuly 5, 2019
I just published my 400th blog post!
Yeah… it’s a little hard to believe, but this is the 400th blog post I’ve published since Harpeth Marketing opened its doors a little over 7 years ago. And it’s not just the blog posts… we’ve also published a dozen eBooks, numerous Tip Sheets, as well as delivered several conference presentations and a bunch of webinars.
There’s a ton of time and [some] money rolled up in all that content. Has it been worth it?
The answer is a big, unequivocal “YES!” And here’s why…
Continue ReadingFebruary 14, 2018
Do you celebrate your successes?
I went to a party last night. It was the one-year anniversary of the opening of a small business – the place where I get my hair cut. Lots of food & beverages, nice decorations, live music (it is Nashville, after all). It was great!
And it got me to thinking… do we (as businesses and business owners) do enough celebrating of our important moments? Do we recognize our employees and their achievements? Do we boast (a little) about our successes?
Think about all the things we have to celebrate as businesses…
Continue ReadingOctober 10, 2017
My son quit his job to pursue his dream!, Part 2
Three months ago, I wrote a post about my son, Alex… quitting his job in Dallas to pursue his dream in New York City. Not only did he want to relocate to a city where he had no real network of contacts, he also wanted to change industries – from healthcare to music – again, with no real connections. But he had a dream!
Continue ReadingJuly 11, 2017
My son quit his job last week to pursue his dream!
For the last two years – since graduating from college – my son has been working as a financial analyst for a healthcare consulting firm in Dallas. And it’s a great firm… fast-growing, profitable, a leader in its niche, beautiful offices, takes great care of its employees, and so on.
But he hasn’t been happy… he wants to be in New York and he wants to change industries (from healthcare to music/entertainment). So, he’s saved his money, quit the firm and is moving north! Next week!
Continue Reading