Blog – Howard Mann | Business Strategist, Coach, Author & Speaker https://www.howardmann.com Business Transformation For Seasoned Entrepreneurs Tue, 29 Jun 2021 20:49:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.7.2 Keep Pulling The String https://www.howardmann.com/2021/06/28/keep-pulling-the-string/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=keep-pulling-the-string https://www.howardmann.com/2021/06/28/keep-pulling-the-string/#respond Mon, 28 Jun 2021 13:07:17 +0000 https://www.howardmann.com/?p=865 “All the roads you regret for not going to the end represent the alternative lives you have missed!” – Mehmet Murat ildan   As the perfectly bound book slid out of the envelope, I noticed the stamped silver foil name of the prestigious investment bank that had sent it to me on the cover. I […]

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]]> https://www.howardmann.com/2021/06/28/keep-pulling-the-string/feed/ 0 He Who Pays, Says. https://www.howardmann.com/2021/05/11/he-who-pays-says/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=he-who-pays-says https://www.howardmann.com/2021/05/11/he-who-pays-says/#respond Wed, 12 May 2021 02:32:06 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1916336.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=833 Over 25 years ago I was sitting in the office of the CEO of one of my clients and behind him was an embroidered pillow that simply said “He who pays, says.” I was reminded of that saying when, last week, entrepreneurial darlings Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson decided to make some sweeping cultural […]

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]]> https://www.howardmann.com/2021/05/11/he-who-pays-says/feed/ 0 The Broken Places https://www.howardmann.com/2020/12/21/the-broken-places/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-broken-places Mon, 21 Dec 2020 15:45:26 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=806 “The world breaks everyone and afterward many are stronger at the broken places.” — Ernest Hemingway I wish I could remember where I first heard the above quote but it is one that I remind myself of and have shared with countless friends and clients over the years. As I thought about the year 2020 has […]

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]]> Profit Leaps https://www.howardmann.com/2020/11/23/profit-leaps/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=profit-leaps Mon, 23 Nov 2020 14:39:43 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=789 “When everyone in my firm gets a bonus between $3 and $5 million this year, how am I going to keep them motivated?” This was the question asked, 20+ years ago in the YPO group I used to belong to, by a member who founded a hedge fund/finance business. I have never forgotten it. Not just because […]

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]]> Business Survival and Revival https://www.howardmann.com/2020/03/23/business-survival-and-revival/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=business-survival-and-revival Mon, 23 Mar 2020 13:45:58 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=572 “Choices are the hinges of destiny.” – Edwin Markham   This current Coronavirus crisis is my fourth such recession/shock/crash I have been through in my career (Makes me feel a bit old writing that). Many people are correctly writing and speaking about how we will get through this together (We will) and how everything will […]

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]]> The Sculpture (Re) Trapped Inside Your Business https://www.howardmann.com/2020/02/23/the-sculpture-re-trapped-inside-your-business/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-sculpture-re-trapped-inside-your-business Sun, 23 Feb 2020 19:20:26 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=569 You probably have heard what Michelangelo believed about his sculpting process. He believed that the statues he carved were already inside the blocks of marble. his job, as the sculptor, was to simply remove the right marble that would set the statue free. It is a lovely image to consider but, in my experience, the […]

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]]> Gag Me With Your BHAG https://www.howardmann.com/2019/05/06/gag-me-with-your-bhag/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gag-me-with-your-bhag Mon, 06 May 2019 15:01:20 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=551 Business is supposed to be fun to run. This core truth has been the through-line for most of my work and career. Through the ups and downs of businesses I have run and for the many clients I have worked with. Just like in a marriage or relationship that has lost its fire, not feeling […]

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]]> The High Value of (Faster) Answers https://www.howardmann.com/2019/03/25/the-high-value-of-faster-answers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-high-value-of-faster-answers Mon, 25 Mar 2019 11:54:48 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=542 In the movie Molly’s Game the principal character, Molly, (Played by Jessica Chastain) was a hopeful Olympic mogul skier before she tripped on a stick during trials. Her life evolves (or devolves, depending on your point of view) to becoming the creator of a high stakes poker game for the rich and famous in LA and then […]

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]]> “Hey, Dad? Want To Have A Catch?”​ https://www.howardmann.com/2018/12/21/hey-dad-want-to-have-a-catch%e2%80%8b/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hey-dad-want-to-have-a-catch%25e2%2580%258b Fri, 21 Dec 2018 15:56:07 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=515 The final scene of the movie Field of Dreams (1989 ) chokes me up no matter how many times I see it. You know the scene, Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) realizes all of his work has brought him face to face with his father when he was a young man (Brought back to life via the […]

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]]> Your Winning Sales Conversation https://www.howardmann.com/2018/12/03/your-winning-sales-conversation/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=your-winning-sales-conversation Mon, 03 Dec 2018 15:12:44 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=512 What if you threw out everything you currently use for sales and marketing? I am talking about a totally blank slate. Freed from all the ways you have been selling and trying to get noticed. What if you threw out every proposal, RFP template and your library of presentation decks? If you think I am asking […]

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]]> Believe. Innovate. Be Unique. https://www.howardmann.com/2018/11/10/believe-innovate-be-unique/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=believe-innovate-be-unique Sat, 10 Nov 2018 16:32:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/believe-innovate-be-unique-0 This was the first post I ever wrote for this blog back in 2005. Given all that is going on in the economy and in your business world I thought it was appropriate to publish it again. Now is the time to challenge your thinking, embrace a different...

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]]> Don’t Boil Like A Frog https://www.howardmann.com/2018/11/05/dont-boil-like-a-frog/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dont-boil-like-a-frog Mon, 05 Nov 2018 14:25:03 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=502 You probably know the fable of the boiling frog.  A frog dropped in boiling water will immediately leap out but if you put that same frog in cool water and sloooowly bring it to a boil it will stay in the water until it dies. I had two initial conversations with 2 established business owners […]

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]]> Look Better Naked https://www.howardmann.com/2018/10/29/look-better-naked/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=look-better-naked Mon, 29 Oct 2018 13:18:17 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=500 Look Better Naked. “Look better naked” was the tagline for The David Barton Gym that opened in New York City over 20 years ago. It remains one of the best taglines I have ever come across.  It’s not great because it has some shock value.  It is great because every other gym in New York (If […]

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]]> Go Slow To Go Fast https://www.howardmann.com/2018/10/22/go-slow-to-go-fast/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=go-slow-to-go-fast Mon, 22 Oct 2018 13:41:05 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=490 I never thought that I had any aerobic capacity. I have worked out with weights for years but had become convinced that I had smaller lungs or some other lie I told myself enough to believe it as truth. Last year, I decided to follow my own FYP advice and start running. For myself. At first, the […]

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]]> What’s Your Craft? https://www.howardmann.com/2018/09/04/business-as-craft/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=business-as-craft Tue, 04 Sep 2018 16:31:40 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=485 “If it’s flipping hamburgers at McDonald’s, be the best hamburger flipper in the world. Whatever it is you do you have to master your craft.” – Snoop Dogg Have you ever learned about a knife maker who lovingly creates every blade by hand?  Have you ever watched a video about someone who painstakingly builds custom bikes that may take months […]

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]]> Doing Harm To Your Business On Purpose https://www.howardmann.com/2018/08/22/doing-harm-to-your-business-on-purpose/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=doing-harm-to-your-business-on-purpose Wed, 22 Aug 2018 18:09:44 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=481 “Decisions. We can think about things, turn them over in our minds a million times, play out possible scenarios, but really when it comes down to it, you have to go with your heart and move forward. Maybe things will go well. Maybe they’ll turn out poorly. Every decision brings with it some good, some […]

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]]> Reliably Attracting New Business – Part 1 https://www.howardmann.com/2018/07/30/attracting-new-business-part1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=attracting-new-business-part1 Mon, 30 Jul 2018 14:15:46 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=475 Now that we have started to focus on getting our profit margins to the right levels, let’s discuss how you reliably attract the right business to engage with you (Next week we will talk about how to close/sign all the new business you will attract). It is 2018 and I doubt if most of you are […]

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]]> Profit Matters https://www.howardmann.com/2018/07/23/profit-matters/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=profit-matters Tue, 24 Jul 2018 03:25:37 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=472 Last week, we talked about a more simple formula to reliably grow profit. This week, my temptation was to focus in on how to attract and sign new business. I bet it was what you would like to focus on too. Not yet. Once you get a reliable attract and sign system in place, nothing will do more harm than […]

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]]> Profit Is Your Freedom Metric https://www.howardmann.com/2018/07/16/profit-is-a-freedom-metric/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=profit-is-a-freedom-metric Mon, 16 Jul 2018 13:30:15 +0000 http://wordpress-555684-1881407.cloudwaysapps.com/?p=464 When I ran a $150+ million business, I always felt like the guy in the circus that was spinning plates. Worse, I thought the solution to making the business more profitable was to do more and offer more to the market (i.e. add more plates). In the 18 years since I sold that business, I […]

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]]> I Quit. You Need To Go. https://www.howardmann.com/2018/02/13/i-quit-you-need-to-go-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-quit-you-need-to-go-2 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:24:12 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/2018/02/13/i-quit-you-need-to-go/ People leaving your company, because they quit or you let them go, is the least discussed and most disruptive aspect of business ownership. So, let’s discuss it! Regardless of the scenario, replacing someone (if you do it correctly) eats up an enormous amount of time and energy. If you are not involved in the hiring, it will […]

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]]> I Am The Luckiest Guy In The World https://www.howardmann.com/2018/02/13/i-am-the-luckiest-guy-in-the-world-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=i-am-the-luckiest-guy-in-the-world-2 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 10:22:45 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/?p=178 I have a son who has a generous heart, a gentle soul and a sense of humor that is wicked smart. He makes me smile with the type of smile that builds from deep inside like nothing else in my life. I get to live in, arguably, one of the greatest cities in the world and feel […]

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]]> The Power & Glory Of Asking For Help https://www.howardmann.com/2018/02/02/asking-for-help/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=asking-for-help Fri, 02 Feb 2018 20:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/asking-for-help Everyone talks about doing the right things to minimize the risks of their business. But here is the problem, owning a business is risky. And the risks that become real are never the ones that we plan for. So, as they say, shit happens to business...

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]]> Nobody Cares About Your Why https://www.howardmann.com/2018/01/15/nobody-cares-about-your-why/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nobody-cares-about-your-why Mon, 15 Jan 2018 13:26:17 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/?p=186 With apologies to Simon Sinek, nobody really cares about your “why.” They want you to care about theirs. Most every business I talk to has figured out their “why” (And cannot WAIT to tell me all about it), but they are no better, and usually worse, at clearly articulating why someone should buy their product or service. […]

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]]> Reaching The Top 3% Of Your Industry https://www.howardmann.com/2018/01/12/reaching-the-top-3-of-your-industry-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reaching-the-top-3-of-your-industry-0 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 01:20:11 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/reaching-the-top-3-of-your-industry-0 Put all those business books down, throw all the textbooks away and just do the 1 thing that will never let you down. After many years of listening to businesses, experiencing the service they provide and working with them to get things done I hav...

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]]> Your 36 Month Year https://www.howardmann.com/2018/01/08/your-36-month-year/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=your-36-month-year Mon, 08 Jan 2018 13:25:11 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/?p=184 How would you run your business if your year was 36 months long instead of 12?  While you consider that question, let me explain why I am asking… Right now, you are thinking about the end of your business year. You are likely in a mad dash to make or break your Q4 numbers and your […]

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]]> Why Business Owners Need a Player-Coach https://www.howardmann.com/2017/10/12/the-player-coach/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-player-coach Thu, 12 Oct 2017 20:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/the-player-coach What happens when a business owner wants more, is no longer having fun, and is feeling the truism of the phrase, "It???s lonely at the top???? If you dig under the rationalizations, excuses and other superficial factors, not enjoying their business an...

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]]> eBook: Don’t Perfume The Pig https://www.howardmann.com/2016/03/05/new-ebook-dont-perfume-the-pig/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-ebook-dont-perfume-the-pig Sat, 05 Mar 2016 18:03:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/private/ldAdJEaqes When you are ready to sell your business, will your business be ready to sell? Selling my business 11 years ago taught me many lessons that I learned in the process and in the years since. Distance from "the hurricane" of running a business has ma...

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]]> Yes, You Should Dumb It Down https://www.howardmann.com/2016/03/03/hit-the-blue-up-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hit-the-blue-up-0 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 12:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/hit-the-blue-up-0 UPS has over 94,000 delivery vehicles, 282 airplanes (the 8th largest fleet in the world) and over 425,000 employees across the globe. Over the years they have developed one of the most sophisticated hand held devices ever devised. There are well ...

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]]> Burgers, Fries and Shakes https://www.howardmann.com/2016/02/18/burgers-fries-and-shakes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=burgers-fries-and-shakes https://www.howardmann.com/2016/02/18/burgers-fries-and-shakes/#comments Thu, 18 Feb 2016 18:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/burgers-fries-and-shakes-0 The Diner in my somewhat sleepy town is painfully empty. It is as painfully empty as most any store or restaurant you walk by these days. No doubt this change causes incredible stress to the owner of each business leaving them way too much time to...

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]]> https://www.howardmann.com/2016/02/18/burgers-fries-and-shakes/feed/ 1 Panhandler Marketing Strategy https://www.howardmann.com/2016/02/04/panhandler-marketing-strategy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=panhandler-marketing-strategy Thu, 04 Feb 2016 18:18:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/panhandler-marketing-strategy-0 Panhandlers. Beggars. People who spend their days asking the age old question "Brother, can you spare a dime?" Every big (and some small) city has them and their approach is always the same... "Excuse the interruption. I lost my job, have no place...

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]]> The Simplicity Of A Light Switch https://www.howardmann.com/2015/12/17/the-simplicity-of-a-light-switch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-simplicity-of-a-light-switch Thu, 17 Dec 2015 19:02:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/the-simplicity-of-a-light-switch Virtually every network we have, the water network, the telephone network and the electric power network has enormously complex components that are hidden from consumers. Consumers have rather simple devices that access these enormously complex ne...

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]]> The Man In The Glass https://www.howardmann.com/2013/10/17/the-man-in-the-glass/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-man-in-the-glass Thu, 17 Oct 2013 13:32:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/the-man-in-the-glass When you get what you want in your struggles for selfAnd the world makes you king for a day,Just go to a mirror and look at yourselfAnd see what that man has to say. For it isn't your father or mother or wifeWhose judgment upon you must pass,The f...

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]]> Life Is Too Short To Be A Boring Company https://www.howardmann.com/2012/11/08/life-is-too-short-to-be-a-boring-company/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=life-is-too-short-to-be-a-boring-company Fri, 09 Nov 2012 00:08:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/life-is-too-short-to-be-a-boring-company Spotted this on the blog of Dustin Curtis and thought it was a great find. Despite Groupon getting clobbered in the public markets, the sentiment and approach to how they think about their business and the purpose they want it to serve is terrific...

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]]> Innovating Around Your Customer Waiting Time? https://www.howardmann.com/2012/08/30/innovating-around-your-customer-waiting-time-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=innovating-around-your-customer-waiting-time-0 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 19:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/innovating-around-your-customer-waiting-time-0 I just finished re-reading Tom Kelley's excellent book: "Ten Faces of Innovation." It remains one of my favorite business reads. There is a section towards the end of the book that focuses on "the subject of waiting - an unavoidable element in mos...

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]]> The Mind Of A Leader https://www.howardmann.com/2012/07/25/the-mind-of-a-leader/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-mind-of-a-leader Thu, 26 Jul 2012 02:31:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/the-mind-of-a-leader The mind of a leader must be free???a mind that can dream and imagine. All new things were born in dreams. A leader must have the courage to be a nonconformist, just like a scientist. He must dream, even if he dreams alone or if people laugh at him....

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]]> Seek Defining Moments https://www.howardmann.com/2012/06/23/seek-defining-moments/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=seek-defining-moments Sat, 23 Jun 2012 21:18:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/seek-defining-moments "Instead of setting goals, seek defining moments. Those are the real tests, because you have to be willing to fail in a pressure situation in front of other people. That fear holds all of us back, and that's the toughest thing about aging. With ag...

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]]> Connected? https://www.howardmann.com/2012/04/23/connected-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=connected-0 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/connected-135 The longer ("Extended mix") of the piece I wrote for Seth Godin's ebook - "What Matters Now" There are thousands (probably hundreds of thousands) of businesses making many millions a year in profits that have still never heard of twitter, a blog o...

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]]> Double Down or Batten Down? https://www.howardmann.com/2012/01/31/double-down-or-batten-down-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=double-down-or-batten-down-0 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/double-down-or-batten-down-0 To read the papers, blogs and listen to TV news is to get lost in a sea of contradictions. "Now is the time to double down!" some will say as they name the great businesses that were born in past turbulent times. "Batten down the hatches!" others ...

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]]> Mr. Ford and Mr. Jobs https://www.howardmann.com/2012/01/18/94856864-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=94856864-2 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:39:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/private/IxemDyzhqz ???If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.??? - Henry Ford With respect to Mr. Ford, I don't think he asked the right question. How can you properly evolve your company and innovate with value if you have no idea wh...

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]]> Greatness and Uniqueness Are Symbiotic https://www.howardmann.com/2012/01/10/greatness-and-uniqueness-are-symbiotic-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=greatness-and-uniqueness-are-symbiotic-0 Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/greatness-and-uniqueness-are-symbiotic-0 A pre-requisite for a course I was involved with is the Kolbe "A" Index test that reveals one's instinctual abilities. From the site... "What people can do usually has little in common with what they actually end up doing. The reason? People have ...

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]]> Here. Forward. https://www.howardmann.com/2011/12/12/here-forward/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=here-forward Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/here-forward Many clients I talk to are apprehensive about how to approach 2012. I have two words of advice: Here. Forward. It???s only natural: how we view our past experiences shapes how we tackle future opportunities. We can???t help being informed by the past....

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]]> The Little Book of Business Jokes – Vol. 1 https://www.howardmann.com/2011/11/01/the-little-book-of-business-jokes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-little-book-of-business-jokes Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:44:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/the-little-book-of-business-jokes Why? Because times are hard for nearly everyone, business has become a place of too much stress and laughter is still the best medicine. Everything in this little eBook is intended to be funny not offensive. Please do not take it any other way. If...

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]]> Most Entrepreneurs, Aren’t. https://www.howardmann.com/2011/10/25/most-entrepreneurs-arent/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=most-entrepreneurs-arent Tue, 25 Oct 2011 18:30:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/most-entrepreneurs-arent I hate it when people call themselves ???entrepreneurs??? when what they???re really trying to do is launch a startup and then sell or go public, so the can cash in and move on. They???re unwilling to do the work it takes to build a real company, which is...

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]]> Democracy Is Overrated https://www.howardmann.com/2011/09/17/democracy-is-overrated/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=democracy-is-overrated Sat, 17 Sep 2011 08:52:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/democracy-is-overrated Group think and getting everyone to have their input is all well and good. But at some point the debate has to be over and decisions have to be made. And they do not have to be popular to be right. Seems obvious when you read it but how many leade...

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]]> The Basics. Always. https://www.howardmann.com/2011/08/26/rock-the-basics-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rock-the-basics-0 Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/rock-the-basics-0 The current economic situation sees a lot of people talking about the power of returning to the basics. (Hooo....rayyy!) Get inspired to do it yourself by reading the posts linked below and then set aside a few hours (or a day) and figure out what...

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]]> Beat “Business Bonk” https://www.howardmann.com/2011/08/24/beat-business-bonk-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beat-business-bonk-0 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/beat-business-bonk-0 The constant refrain I hear from almost every business owner I meet is "Get us to the next level." Ah.. the illusive "Next Level" and the very real feeling of stuck. What it means is different for every business but many of the factors that block ...

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]]> Purpose Powers Scale https://www.howardmann.com/2011/08/18/purpose-powers-scale-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=purpose-powers-scale-0 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/purpose-powers-scale-0 While up in Portland Maine not too long ago I had dinner at The Flatbread Company. In addition to truly amazing pizza, I noticed a great sign hanging over the bar: Flatbread Company is growing. Are more restaurants bad? Not if we follow our purpos...

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]]> 10 Perfect Touch Points https://www.howardmann.com/2011/08/05/10-perfect-touch-points-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-perfect-touch-points-0 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/10-perfect-touch-points-0 Customer touch points. It is a concept that is often mentioned but rarely focused on as an opportunity for persistent innovation and impact. Trying to consider the big question of "How do I improve our customer service/experience" winds up being t...

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]]> What Is Your Business For? https://www.howardmann.com/2011/08/02/what-is-your-business-for/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-your-business-for Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:20:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/what-is-your-business-for-0 You may disagree but I don???t think you really get to understand your business till you know EXACTLY WHY you???re doing it. Knowing why is harder than it looks. Learning is expensive. Making innovation work to grow your cash account comes from this e...

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]]> The Lost Cachet of Air Travel https://www.howardmann.com/2011/08/02/the-lost-cachet-of-air-travel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-lost-cachet-of-air-travel Tue, 02 Aug 2011 07:20:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/the-lost-cachet-of-air-travel-0 Do you remember when flying on a big airliner (and with a major airline) was exciting?Only 10 years ago I was a very loyal United fan. I told everyone how much I enjoyed flying them, my frequent flier points often bumped me to business class and I...

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]]> Not Everything Should Be Shared https://www.howardmann.com/2011/07/19/not-everything-should-be-shared/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=not-everything-should-be-shared Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:52:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/not-everything-should-be-shared Love this quote from Ari Emanuel answering a Q&A about how he could not be on social media sites: I don't need your influence. I don't want your information, so you don't get mine. Not everything should be shared. If somebody wants to share their ...

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]]> Are You Fascinated By Your Clients? https://www.howardmann.com/2011/07/12/are-you-fascinated-by-your-clients-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=are-you-fascinated-by-your-clients-0 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/are-you-fascinated-by-your-clients-0 From Tim Sanders "The Likeability Factor." In it, he paraphrases a line from Dale Carnegie's "How To Make Friends and Influence People"... "You will win more friends in the next 2 months developing a sincere interest in 2 people than you will ever...

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]]> What if the sales process was fun for everyone? https://www.howardmann.com/2011/07/07/what-if-the-sales-process-was-fun-for-everyon-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-if-the-sales-process-was-fun-for-everyon-0 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/what-if-the-sales-process-was-fun-for-everyon-0 Almost every business I have come across sells in a similar way. Call, meeting, live presentation, written proposal, negotiate and... pray. It's a tedious and painful process I am certainly guilty of trying to follow the same path. Boy does it suc...

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]]> Business Should Be Fun to Run https://www.howardmann.com/2011/07/06/business-should-be-fun-to-run/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=business-should-be-fun-to-run Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/business-should-be-fun-to-run Business is supposed to be fun to run. It felt that way when you got started, right? But somewhere along the way, stress and complexity buried all the fun. Getting through the day became the focus in- stead of realizing your business???s true potent...

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]]> Don’t Sell. Inspire! https://www.howardmann.com/2011/06/21/selling-via-rallying-cry/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=selling-via-rallying-cry Wed, 22 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/selling-via-rallying-cry The imagery is great but the copy is incredible: "Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules, and they have no respect fo...

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]]> Buy The Premise….Buy The Bit https://www.howardmann.com/2011/06/14/buy-the-premisebuy-the-bit-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=buy-the-premisebuy-the-bit-0 Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/buy-the-premisebuy-the-bit-0 The late, great Johnny Carson once said about comedy... "If you buy the premise..you buy the bit." It seems to me that when you dig all the way down, so much of the discussion on sales, marketing, buzz, tipping points, etc.. come down to figuring ...

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]]> You Are Not Groupon. Phew! https://www.howardmann.com/2011/06/03/you-are-not-groupon-phew/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=you-are-not-groupon-phew https://www.howardmann.com/2011/06/03/you-are-not-groupon-phew/#comments Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:46:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/you-are-not-groupon-phew There is much buzz, chatter and opionion over the announcement of Groupon going public (And this smart post from David Heinemeier Hansson should tell you why it is not as rosy as it seems). Much the same as so many that ogled over the previous dis...

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]]> https://www.howardmann.com/2011/06/03/you-are-not-groupon-phew/feed/ 1 Perfection = Nothing Left To Take Away https://www.howardmann.com/2011/04/05/perfection-nothing-left-to-take-away/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=perfection-nothing-left-to-take-away Tue, 05 Apr 2011 21:36:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/perfection-nothing-left-to-take-away "Have you ever thought, not only about the airplane but about whatever man builds, that all of man's industrial efforts, all his computations and calculations, all the nights spent working over drafts and blueprints, invariably culminate in the pr...

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]]> Shorter Lines – Disney Style https://www.howardmann.com/2010/12/28/shorter-lines-disney-style/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shorter-lines-disney-style Wed, 29 Dec 2010 02:40:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/shorter-lines-disney-style Compelling story in the NY Times about the focus Disney places on decreasing the amount of time their theme park customers wait in line (And the better experience they create while they are on line). For every business that have customers wait on ...

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]]> Too much of X and not enough of Y https://www.howardmann.com/2010/12/08/too-much-of-x-and-not-enough-of-y/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=too-much-of-x-and-not-enough-of-y Wed, 08 Dec 2010 22:46:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/too-much-of-x-and-not-enough-of-y In this great talk by, my hero, Tom Peters he references the book Enough. by John Bogle and says that you need only read the table of contents to get the (powerful) message about the times we live in. I say, totally true. I have posted it below. S...

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]]> Complaining Has Become Too Easy https://www.howardmann.com/2010/12/07/complaining-has-become-too-easy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=complaining-has-become-too-easy Wed, 08 Dec 2010 03:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/complaining-has-become-too-easy-0 Complaining is easy. In the end, it only provides some temporary relief from frustration. Figuring out and executing a smart solution is the hard part. One shouldn't come without the other. I worked with a company a few years back whose President ...

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]]> Don’t Let Them Put Your Business In a “Bucket” https://www.howardmann.com/2010/12/04/dont-let-them-put-your-business-in-a-bucket-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dont-let-them-put-your-business-in-a-bucket-0 Sun, 05 Dec 2010 01:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/dont-let-them-put-your-business-in-a-bucket-0 We all seek to find powerful ways to differentiate our companies. We search for new ways to market, new strategies and the big new idea that will give power to our claim that our business is truly unique. We may be missing the most important road ...

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]]> Dear Business Book Authors and Publishers https://www.howardmann.com/2010/11/28/dear-business-book-authors-and-publishers/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dear-business-book-authors-and-publishers Sun, 28 Nov 2010 09:52:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/private/beGDurblCv We all have stacks of business books on our nightstands. We rarely read them and finish less. Why? 1) You can get the whole idea of the book in the first 25-30 pages but you insist on writing 300 pages more 2) You focus so much on the idea that yo...

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]]> People Just Don’t Read Anymore https://www.howardmann.com/2010/11/23/people-just-dont-read-anymore/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=people-just-dont-read-anymore Tue, 23 Nov 2010 07:43:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/private/hfGkjyBJnE Is this twitter, digital, frenetic short attention span world. Nobody will take the time to read anymore. I have said something similar a bunch of times in the last month. And, in many ways, it is true. But do you know what people are reading and ...

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]]> How Innovators Keep Winning https://www.howardmann.com/2010/11/15/how-innovators-keep-winning/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-innovators-keep-winning Mon, 15 Nov 2010 22:18:59 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/how-innovators-keep-winning Booz & Co. is out with their annual study on the top R&D spenders and it shows why innovative companies consistently outperform their peers. You can download the study here: An excerpt - The three types of organizations that consistently excel: Ne...

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]]> Wall Street Journal Headcuts https://www.howardmann.com/2010/11/10/wall-street-journal-stipple-drawings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=wall-street-journal-stipple-drawings Thu, 11 Nov 2010 03:55:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/wall-street-journal-stipple-drawings If you have ever noticed the unique headshot drawings that are a staple of the Wall Street Journal you may have guessed they are done with a computer or special Photoshop filter. Nope. Each one is drawn by hand taking from 2-5 hours each. Artisan.

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]]> Ralph Lauren 4D Light Show https://www.howardmann.com/2010/11/10/ralph-lauren-4d-light-show/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ralph-lauren-4d-light-show Thu, 11 Nov 2010 01:16:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/ralph-lauren-4d-light-show To celebrate its 10th year of e-commerce success, Ralph Lauren is launching a 4D light show at their flagship stores in London and New York. All produced by Netherlands based projection wizards, NuFormer. Here is a behind the scenes video of how i...

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]]> It’s What They Hear https://www.howardmann.com/2010/10/21/its-what-they-hear/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=its-what-they-hear Thu, 21 Oct 2010 18:54:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/its-what-they-hear ???It???s not what you say; it???s what they hear,???- Red Auerbach

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]]> Mrs. Fine https://www.howardmann.com/2010/10/14/mrs-fine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mrs-fine Fri, 15 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/mrs-fine My wife, a 5th grade school teacher, taught me about Mrs. Fine a number of years ago. There are always a number of kids in her class that, when asked how they are, always say "fine." It does not matter the day, week or month or if they just had an...

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]]> Begin by Beginning https://www.howardmann.com/2010/10/07/begin-by-beginning-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=begin-by-beginning-0 Fri, 08 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/begin-by-beginning-0 Ideas pouring in from every direction, internal/external problems to solve, the drive home filled with ideas/plans and a continual burning sensation that you should be doing more things to grow the business. Every business owner (including me), at...

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]]> Bring The Champagne https://www.howardmann.com/2010/09/16/bring-the-champagne/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=bring-the-champagne https://www.howardmann.com/2010/09/16/bring-the-champagne/#comments Fri, 17 Sep 2010 00:38:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/bring-the-champagne "The secret is respecting the consumer.You are interrupting their life. All advertising is unwanted, so if you're going to crash the party, bring some champagne with you." Bob Thacker, senior VP-marketing and advertising at OfficeMax

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]]> https://www.howardmann.com/2010/09/16/bring-the-champagne/feed/ 1 Your “Perfect Basic” https://www.howardmann.com/2010/09/09/your-perfect-basic-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=your-perfect-basic-0 Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/your-perfect-basic-0 Do AT&T executives experience dropped calls when they use their cell phones? Do travel agency execs ever try to book their own tickets online? Do Doctors go to a Doctor, wait in the waiting room for 30 minutes to receive 5 minutes of medical atten...

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]]> What Is The Personality Of Your Business? https://www.howardmann.com/2010/09/08/what-is-the-personality-of-your-business-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-is-the-personality-of-your-business-0 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/what-is-the-personality-of-your-business-0 Great businesses should posses the qualities/attributes of a great person. The kind of person that you want to be around. Everyone knows a person like that (I hope) but do you know a Company like that? Is it your own? People are intrigued and attr...

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]]> The Secret of Marketing https://www.howardmann.com/2010/08/18/the-secret-of-marketing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-secret-of-marketing Wed, 18 Aug 2010 18:43:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/the-secret-of-marketing Persistence. There, I just saved you months of marketing book reading and countless dollars as you burn through another group of marketing agencies that claim to have the next "secret sauce." Sure, you need to have a message that is rooted in a co...

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]]> Edit and Amplify https://www.howardmann.com/2010/08/12/edit-and-amplify/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=edit-and-amplify Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:37:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/edit-and-amplify Loved this piece by Ellen McGirt on Nike CEO Mark Parker. It warms my heart to see a CEO of a giant corporation that balances the left brain AND the right. This bit summed that up nicely: He repeats a mantra I hear early and often: Edit and amplif...

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]]> Simple Is Clever https://www.howardmann.com/2010/07/22/simple-is-clever/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=simple-is-clever Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:51:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/simple-is-clever When it comes to marketing and messaging, why do we equate complicated with clever? All too often, taglines and communication messages have been analyzed and tinkered with so much that they could not possible be understood in the mere seconds when...

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]]> All Gas…No Brakes https://www.howardmann.com/2010/07/15/all-gasno-brakes-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=all-gasno-brakes-0 Thu, 15 Jul 2010 21:35:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/all-gasno-brakes-0 Two of my favorite sayings: "Big hat, big boots... No cattle" and the similar... "All smoke...No roast" It occurs to me that too many businesses suffer from my own variation: "All Gas... No brakes" The hurry to reach what realistically should be t...

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]]> Purpose Worksheet https://www.howardmann.com/2010/07/15/purpose-worksheet/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=purpose-worksheet Thu, 15 Jul 2010 08:50:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/purpose-worksheet Many thanks to all that attended my Executive Session at the CUNA 1 World Conference in Las Vegas earlier this week (and for getting up so early to do it). As promised, below is a link to download extra copies of the worksheet we used during the w...

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]]> An Uncommon Interview by A Smart Bear https://www.howardmann.com/2010/07/13/an-uncommon-interview-by-a-smart-bear/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-uncommon-interview-by-a-smart-bear Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:43:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/an-uncommon-interview-by-a-smart-bear Jason Cohen was kind enough to ask if I wanted to take part in his smart "Uncommon Interview" series for his blog. He asked great questions and I hope my answers did them justice. Please stop by his site and read the interview. I hope it helps spa...

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]]> It’s All Unimportant Until It’s You https://www.howardmann.com/2010/07/09/its-all-unimportant-until-its-you/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=its-all-unimportant-until-its-you Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/its-all-unimportant-until-its-you-0 I met with a client a few weeks ago and got into a debate about what it was like to be a client of their firm. As I kept banging my head up against their story... I persuaded them to humor me and try something new.... I asked the President of the ...

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]]> Keep Calm and Carry On https://www.howardmann.com/2010/06/29/keep-calm-and-carry-on/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=keep-calm-and-carry-on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:00:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/keep-calm-and-carry-on-36 Keep Calm and Carry On was a poster produced by the British government in 1939 to raise morale during Word War 2. It regained popularity in recent years but was never used for its original purpose. The phrase jumped into my head after hearing one ...

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]]> Michael Jordan “Failure” Nike Commercial https://www.howardmann.com/2010/06/18/michael-jordan-failure-nike-commercial/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=michael-jordan-failure-nike-commercial Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:47:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/michael-jordan-failure-nike-commercial-3 (via @bfeld)

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]]> The Man In The Arena https://www.howardmann.com/2010/05/21/the-man-in-the-arena-5/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-man-in-the-arena-5 Fri, 21 May 2010 05:18:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/the-man-in-the-arena-5 It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood...

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]]> On Big Ideas And Being Uncomfortable https://www.howardmann.com/2010/05/18/on-big-ideas-and-being-uncomfortable/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=on-big-ideas-and-being-uncomfortable Tue, 18 May 2010 23:52:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/on-big-ideas-and-being-uncomfortable-0 Found this great gem buried in the back of "Buzzmarketing:Get People to Talk About Your Stuff" by Mark Hughes. "Rule number one is, if you want big ideas, be prepared to be uncomfortable. Big ideas will always make you uncomfortable in some respec...

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]]> Miles Nadal’s 6 Rules of Partnership https://www.howardmann.com/2010/05/14/miles-nadals-6-rules-of-partnership/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=miles-nadals-6-rules-of-partnership Fri, 14 May 2010 18:48:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/miles-nadals-6-rules-of-partnership-0 So many mergers and acquisitions fail that I am surprised how so many look for it as the path to growth. One of the biggest reasons they fail is that the people involved did not figure out if they could work together well after the "marriage" was ...

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]]> Rise To The Top – Video Interview https://www.howardmann.com/2010/05/07/22902948-2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=22902948-2 Fri, 07 May 2010 19:24:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/22902948 David Garland understands the basics of doing an interview. After you watch this, do yourself a favor and go check out David's site for more of his RISE interviews. Thanks David!

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]]> 5 Ways To Get Paid Faster https://www.howardmann.com/2010/04/16/5-ways-to-get-paid-faster/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-ways-to-get-paid-faster Fri, 16 Apr 2010 23:54:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/private/rhAvjeBEey We have been here before. Economic downturns are not new, or, for this one, even that old. And while what we now face may be more severe, the reactions and behaviors of businesses feel all too familiar. One of the most insidious by-products of tim...

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]]> Paul Rand on Logos https://www.howardmann.com/2010/04/14/paul-rand-on-logos/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=paul-rand-on-logos Wed, 14 Apr 2010 23:54:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/paul-rand-on-logos-0 I stumbled on to the web site for Uber designer Paul Rand the other day. Many amazing articles and I highly recommend the visit (Click here to visit the home page). I thought this excerpt from an article entitled "Logos, Flags, and Escutcheons" wa...

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]]> A Phrase To Lose Forever https://www.howardmann.com/2010/04/10/a-phrase-to-lose-forever/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-phrase-to-lose-forever Sat, 10 Apr 2010 21:44:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/a-phrase-to-lose-forever "That won't work in our industry" The biggest road block to breaking free from the gravity of past habits (yours AND your competitors) is to conclude that any new idea won't work without running through a quick gauntlet. Simply exhaust a discussio...

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]]> Is Your Brochure An Interesting Read? https://www.howardmann.com/2010/03/29/is-your-brochure-an-interesting-read-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-your-brochure-an-interesting-read-0 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:57:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/is-your-brochure-an-interesting-read-0 I recently received a catalog from Zingerman's market in Michigan. They are renowned for their customer service... they teach courses on it and released a book about it. What they also get right is making their marketing literature a fun and engag...

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]]> Find Your True Story https://www.howardmann.com/2010/02/12/find-your-true-story/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=find-your-true-story Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:28:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/find-your-true-story-0 There is a lot of talk about businesses discovering their ???story.??? What I don???t hear much about is how to decipher your true story from your false story. When I say ???false story,??? I am talking about the lies and rationalizations we tell ourselves ...

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]]> What Matters Now. A free eBook from Seth Godin https://www.howardmann.com/2010/01/08/what-matters-now-a-free-ebook-from-seth-godin-1/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-matters-now-a-free-ebook-from-seth-godin-1 Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:01:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/what-matters-now-a-free-ebook-from-seth-godin-1 "What Matters Now" is an e-book that was created and curated by Seth Godin as he invited writers, bloggers, thinkers and doers to contribute 20-200 words about what they were thinking about as we head into 2010.I was honored to have been asked to ...

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]]> Consumers Communications Bill Of Rights https://www.howardmann.com/2009/11/28/consumers-communications-bill-of-rights-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=consumers-communications-bill-of-rights-0 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:07:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/consumers-communications-bill-of-rights-0 Spotted an article in Crain's NY (Free reg. required) highlighted the new hiring spree going on at many of New York's advertising agencies. What really caught my eye was the image associated with the article. It lists Wunderman's top five "Communi...

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]]> Lose Your Story https://www.howardmann.com/2009/11/20/lose-your-story-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lose-your-story-0 Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:12:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/lose-your-story-1 Everyone has a "story." I am not talking about telling your story or telling a story. When I say "story" I am talking about the lies and rationalizations we tell ourselves that prove ourselves right or wrong about things that happen to us in life....

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]]> Is Your Web Site Alive or Dead? https://www.howardmann.com/2009/11/18/is-your-web-site-alive-or-dead-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-your-web-site-alive-or-dead-0 Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:08:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/is-your-web-site-alive-or-dead-0 Good morning everyone and thank you for coming today, Today is a big day in the evolution of blogs as a communication tool for every business in the world. Ironically, today I am here to announce the death of Blogs. (pause for audience gasp) It's ...

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]]> Eject From Your Desk https://www.howardmann.com/2009/11/12/eject-from-your-desk-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=eject-from-your-desk-0 Fri, 13 Nov 2009 01:10:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/eject-from-your-desk-0 Ever notice How great things happen every time you peel yourself away from your desk and meet with clients, prospects or partners? But how often do you feel able to do it? Like many business owners, my office has become a place to push paper and, ...

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]]> Tom Peters “Cool Friend” Interview https://www.howardmann.com/2009/09/09/tom-peters-cool-friend-interview-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tom-peters-cool-friend-interview-0 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:24:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/tom-peters-cool-friend-interview-0 I was honored to be selected as a "Cool Friend" by TomPeters.com. Really happy with how the interview turned out. Hope you enjoy the read. Howard Mann - "Cool Friend" Interview - TomPeters.com

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]]> Tell Them How It’s Made And Add Real Value https://www.howardmann.com/2009/08/01/tell-them-how-its-made-and-add-real-value-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tell-them-how-its-made-and-add-real-value-0 Sun, 02 Aug 2009 00:23:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/tell-them-how-its-made-and-add-real-value-0 A while ago I wrote about the impact an organization can make when they take the time to show the audience how something is made. We often forget all the work and thinking that goes into the products that we take for granted. (Original article is ...

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]]> Singles and Doubles https://www.howardmann.com/2009/03/09/singles-and-doubles-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=singles-and-doubles-0 Tue, 10 Mar 2009 00:26:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/singles-and-doubles-0 Profitable Growth is Everyone's Business, a great book written by Ram Charan, has a key section that gives a fitting name to the best business building strategy I know. It has become a mantra we continually preach to our clients and is at the core...

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]]> Lose Your Nemesis https://www.howardmann.com/2009/03/05/lose-your-nemesis-0/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lose-your-nemesis-0 Fri, 06 Mar 2009 01:23:00 +0000 http://brickyardblog.com/lose-your-nemesis-0 I have been fiddling around with something I call my "Nemesis Theory" for a few years now. The more business owners I work with, the more it seems to be a key impediment to getting to their unique truths, creativity and power. I believe that every...

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