Don’t we all have an aspiration? I believe we all do. Perhaps many. But we can deny them. Sometimes we ignore them, to believe they really don’t exist. Sometimes we allow them to be, but refuse to act because we think the aspiration is unrealistic. Most often, we see our dreams or aspirations as something we [...]
Tag Archives | Nilofer Merchant
“Bullet-Proof” Conversations
Dear friend: I realize i was quite anxious to see you last week and that surprised me a some level but as I reflected on it, I realize that I’ve wanted to show up with our conversations about what is next, with bullet-proof clarity. From many comments you’ve made to me over time, I’ve come [...]
Fem-nomics? Or Leadership?
I don’t know many women entrepreneurs who haven’t already read Penelope Trunk’s post on women entrepreneurs and how they can’t be successful because… they want to have children. The sexist title alone that TechCrunch put on the original article made it a sure read to all of us women entrepreneurs. On top of it, it plays [...]
What Now?
When change comes a knocking, what do you do? I got a disturbing letter on Friday that shifted my world. Things would never be the same as a key member of my community moves on to a new role; the organization involved could suffer, it might grow, but for sure it will be …changed. Change [...]
We Are Always 2
To deny one’s past and only focus on aspirations is to be flighty. To only focus on what you’ve already done is to bounded by history. To neglect aspirations is to deny our ability to create. To forget our humble beginnings is to deny our heritage. We are always 2: both our past and our [...]
“Lifing” the Summer Away
I killed my company to find my life. Yes, I led a multi-million dollar consulting company that I loved. I loved the CEOs and leaders I worked with. I loved the amazing companies and their technologies. I liked to imagine the next marketing making move and to put that into motion. I loved publishing the [...]
The Critic Must Die
When product lines fail, product managers feel responsible. When children steal, parents often feel like they haven’t taught ethics and self-control well. When a business team doesn’t want to work together, isn’t the leader to blame? The line from GI Jane: “Remember, there are no bad teams, only bad leaders” reinforces this point. And as [...]
Reinvention Really Sucks
To all those leaders I have worked with to reinvent their companies, you can now smack me. Hard. Forget that Reinvention is the right thing and all that other crap I told you and that it is necessary to move forward. I’ve changed my mind. Reinvention sucks. Reinvention was once delightful. Besides helping many a [...]
Standing on dot of ted dot com!
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The 5 Structural Elements of Strategy: Decision-Making
Strategy has 5 Structural Elements – power distribution, decision-making, idea generation, ideas, process and people. Miss tuning one and you’ll fail. Add items that don’t blend and you’ll fail. Decision-Making The way decisions are made in organizations determines how ideas are generated, and which ideas get considered. The way decisions are made also influences how [...]