Innovative Solutions for Complex Challenges

Central Valley Economic Recovery Focus Group Luncheon

April 10th, 2012 in Events by External.Resources

Last Central Valley Economic Recovery Focus Group Luncheon on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 During the meeting, we will identify the available resources, services, and solutions that External Resources, community leaders, public and private sector agencies, and organizations can deliver to begin the Central Valley Economic Recovery. Please feel free to invite an industry colleague to [...]

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Stop looking at Your Market Through a Keyhole

April 5th, 2012 in Articles by Joe Heaney

You’ve always positioned yourself as a provider of specialized solutions — a niche you had successfully defended for many years because of the high quality of your offerings. But much larger competitors are rapidly encroaching on your space. More troubling, competitors are also masterfully shifting the conversation — away from any focus on the kinds [...]

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The 3rd Annual San Joaquin Entrepreneur Challenge

February 14th, 2012 in Events by External.Resources

For more information, and to access application and audience registration forms, go to www.sjchallenge.com.

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Are you in the CEO Seat or the CEO Weeds?

January 20th, 2012 in Articles by Joe Heaney

As the CEO, you’re the one responsible for the success or failure of your company. A lot rides on your shoulders — operations, marketing, strategy, financing, creation of company culture, human resources, hiring, firing, compliance, sales, PR, etc. At times, it can feel overwhelming. Some days, you feel just like a “one-armed paper hanger.” Everyone [...]

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New Year……New Opportunities

January 9th, 2012 in Articles by Joe Heaney

“2012 is going to be a recovery year… and it’s going be a year of economic expansion in the U.S.,” states Alan Beaulieu, the CEO of the Institute for Trend Research (ITR). Alan and his brother Brian Beaulieu, the President of ITR, gave a positive outlook on America’s economy from 2012-2013 during a Dec. 16 [...]

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Dare to Go Against the Grain: Move Up When Times are Down

January 4th, 2012 in Articles by External.Resources

Being a leader requires emotional perseverance. That has never been clearer than it is now. The overall morale at many companies is low due to the threat of layoffs and cost-cutting that has stymied raises and bonuses. A great leader is one who can restore optimism when it is most needed. If a company is [...]

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Nothing Lasts Forever: Five Questions That Should Shape Any Change Program

December 14th, 2011 in Articles by Joe Heaney

Most organizations will shrink or disappear in the long term. It’s not uncommon for great companies to be humbled by what the Austrian economist Joseph Schumpeter called the forces of “creative destruction.” The most common reason their business models are under pressure is because they’re dependent on outdated distribution technologies even while their core products [...]

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Five Powers that Get Ideas off the Ground

November 23rd, 2011 in Articles by Joe Heaney

Getting ideas off the ground often require a power surge. In years of observation of successful leaders I’ve seen that getting the credibility to reach important goals comes from uplifting actions that increase five personal and organizational powers. Showing up: the power of presence. There’s a well-known saying that 90% of success in life comes [...]

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Creating Your Brand without a Big Budget

November 10th, 2011 in Articles by Joe Heaney

Does it take millions of media dollars and dramatic Super Bowl commercials to create a Brand? NO!! When we think of the word “brand” we often think of Chevrolet, Budweiser and McDonald’s, but seldom consider the brand message created by our experience with the corner hardware store, the local dry cleaner, or our neighborhood restaurant. [...]

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The Skinny on Performance

October 26th, 2011 in Case Studies by External.Resources

Most managers like giving performance reviews about as much as getting a root canal surgery. Early in my career, I was charged with developing a new performance appraisal system for a regional bank. The current system was not working: it demoralized people; it did not measure performance that was related to the business of banking. [...]

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