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Marketing Lessons From Woodstock

The Woodstock Music Festival, held in August 1969, is remembered as a pivotal moment in rock-n-roll history and the most iconic event to represent the counterculture movement of the 1960’s. I recently had a chance to visit Bethel, NY (where the Festival took place) to check out the site and attend a concert.  Prior to my trip I started to wonder: How the hell did 500,000 people get enough info to make their way to the Woodstock Music Festival without, Facebook, Instagram, email, Ticketmaster or Uber? So, after a little research, I concluded that Woodstock is a shining example of

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Chaos to Control: Time to Hire a COO

Running a small business often feels like wearing multiple hats at once. As a founder or CEO, you juggle the roles that span from daily operations  to strategic planning. This hands-on approach is typical in the early stages, but if growth is your goal, this structure  has to change. To really grow, you need to hire a competent #2 person or Chief Operating Officer (COO). Why a Strong #2 Matters You may think a Chief Operating Officer is a fancy corporate title and only fits in for large corporations.  But it can have other names and in reality, it is

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Why Finding Talent is Harder Than Ever

The current labor market has a lot of folks confused. On the one hand, we have historically low unemployment rates but on the other hand many small and large businesses are finding and retaining key talent has become extremely challenging. This situation has perplexed employers and HR professionals, leading many to reconsider traditional hiring and retention strategies. There has been a ripple effect from the pandemic and the priorities of job seekers has changed. This requires shifting our hiring focus from rigid job descriptions to skill-based assessments, in line with Jim Collins’ philosophy of “getting the right people on the

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Sizzling Summer Growth Strategies

When we think about the Summer, we think sun, vacation and relaxation. But did you know,  it’s also a golden opportunity to grow your business. Whether you’re in professional services, hospitality, retail, IT, personal care, or any other industry, the summer months provide a unique opportunities to grow. Here are some great strategies to help position your business for growth. Seasonal Promotions and Discounts Everyone loves a good deal, and the summer season is the perfect time to offer special promotions and discounts. Create limited-time offers that cater to the summer lifestyle. For example, if you run a cleaning service,

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Rocket Fuel

“Rocket Fuel” by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters provides a blueprint for businesses that want to get to the next level of growth by creating a dynamic partnership between the CEO of the business (The Visionary) and the COO (The Integrator). The clear delineation of roles and responsibilities between the CEO and the COO will provide the “Rocket Fuel” to maximize the skills of these two positions.  Even though it is only 178 pages, it is packed with real work examples and clear strategies to get you on the way. Understanding CEO and COO Relationship At the heart of

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