Despite delivering many a presentation through the years, I am constantly struck by how many people come up to chat afterward and tell me, in so many words, how smart I am. No braggadocio intended. It’s a function of viewing the person in the front of the room as the font of all wisdom. As […]

Three generations have been forever changed because of my dad’s childhood at the orphanage and because of this we’re a family obsessed with peanut butter. I picture my dad, about the age of 10, looking skyward and making a promise that he will one day eat as much peanut butter as he desires.  This likely […]

Employees today are demanding total transparency from their organizations. No longer is it good business to hide information from employees—even if you think you need to protect them from bad news. Today’s employees want to know it all—the good and the not-so-good news. I know this makes many managers nervous– not because they have something […]

In a county of 500,000, the chamber has been an active, valued participant in the community, but they have been operating on autopilot. With a member retention rate of 70%, and events feeling more revenue-driven than member-focused, this chamber has undeniable room to improve. It had been years since the chamber seriously asked, “What do […]

Membership organizations are usually very happy to see a member’s renewal check (or today, their online payment). What they should be really happy about is seeing a member ascend to a higher tier or level of investment. It’s a win for the member and for the membership organization. Here’s why. When a member joins your […]