Monthly Archives: September 2008

Second Opinions

One of my favorite books is “A Whack on the Side of the Head.”  It’s hard to believe that it’s 25 years old since the thought process it encourages is timeless.  I particularly like the notion of the second right answer.

Roger von Oech, the author, spends a good deal of time in the book disabusing the reader of everything we all learned in school about right answers.  His point is that while there may be a right answer in math class, there rarely is a single right answer in life.  The rest of the book features techniques to help you think a little differently and not to take the easy way out by thinking the “safe” answer is the only right one. Click to keep reading

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Filed under Thinking Aloud

The One Mistake You Can’t Make

It’s inevitable that we make mistakes in business.  I agree with Peter DruckerPeople who don’t take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. People who do take risks generally make about two big mistakes a year. Since the mistakes are going to happen, let’s push the envelope and move the enterprise forward.

But there is one mistake I don’t think you can make and we’re seeing it in action over the last few days. Continue reading

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Filed under Consulting, Helpful Hints, Reality checks

You’re Afraid Of…What?

Change is a bogeyman.  Change is, in many peoples’ eyes, a circle of Hell even Dante couldn’t fathom.   Business models are crumbling.  For years, the print business thought of advertising as gravy because the subscription revenue was so lucrative.  Charge for the content – what people will pay for it covers the cost of distribution.  Things were going along quite well.  Until they changed. Oh yeah – it gets better

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Filed under Reality checks, Thinking Aloud