Think back to your birthday morning as a child… That rush of anticipation as you leap out of bed and run towards the living room, your brain cycling through all the possibilities of what your Mom and Dad may have brought you. And as you turn the corner and catch your first glimpse of the presents in all their glory, what’s the first thing you do? You take inventory: how big are the boxes and which ones should I open first? As far as children are [...]
What if every executive gave up this year’s annual bonus and shares to help keep their people employed? Iconic entrepreneur Richard Branson made headlines this week with the announcement of a $250 million package aimed at saving his employees. With major revenue streams coming from air travel, cruise lines, hotels, travel bookings, and aligned industries, Branson’s Virgin Group and its 70,000 global employees have already been greatly affected by the chaos caused by the coronavirus. To stop the bleeding, Branson unveiled his plan to save [...]
When was the last time you spent the day with one of your customers? If the answer is “I don’t know” or “never,” you’re missing out. Interacting directly with those who buy your products or services is an invaluable opportunity. An incredible chance to come face-to-face with a human being and better understand their wants, needs, desires, and everything else that ultimately affects their decision to buy from you. Spending the day with your customers is like receiving a treasure map. They’ll show you where [...]
We’ve all been there. Sitting in that dreary room, feeling as though the minute hand on your watch has gotten stuck. Time seems to stop, and you’re left hoping – even praying – that it’ll all be over soon. That you can escape the beige prison that currently encases you. The terror I am referring to? Why a typical corporate meeting, of course! Unfortunately, meeting and presentation dread has become a common occurrence at offices around the globe. What should be treated as a collaborative, [...]
"I find it touchingly poetic to think that as our technology grows more advanced, we may grow more human." (Diane Ackerman, The Human Age) Remember when robots couldn't walk? I do. Yet, very few of us would be impressed or even scared by a walking robot today, not when we've seen one execute a backflip. Remember when the idea of A.I. face recognition would have overwhelmed most? I do. Yet, now, A.I. can generate deep fakes that are so convincing, we've built entire corners of the internet dedicated [...]
I'll never forget the first time we met. (Like any good Disney story, there always must be a great "Once upon a time" intro, right?) He was a young Senator at the time, and I was lucky enough to give him his first pair of custom Mickey Mouse ears. Little did I know that this interaction would be the first of many wonderful stunts that we would collaborate on. And now, again we are about to add another event to our list! President Barack Obama [...]
Let’s be honest. Diversity quotas are the single most frustrating thing about workplaces today. The reasoning for having a quota is well-intentioned, but, ironically, it’s the quota itself that is getting in the way of diversity, every single day. Because of this, companies are wasting the talent they have hired and don’t even know it, because it’s never crossed their minds to do more than simply hire a candidate and check off the “diversity” box. Hear me out. The problem is that companies hire diverse [...]
Can you remember the top 15 companies of 2000? How about 2010? Last year, even? If you were to sit down to try and rank just the top five companies globally by earnings alone who would you include? Apple? McDonald’s? Coca Cola? Ford? Disney? Take a minute and watch the following video clip that ranks the top 15 best global brands by year, starting in 2000 all the way through 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQovQUga0VE Done? What did you notice? The usual characters like IBM, Microsoft, [...]
Imagine yourself backstage at a theatre. The Production Assistant has just finished clipping on your microphone, and the Stage Manager has given you the one-minute warning. Beyond the curtain, you hear the muffled sounds of the audience taking their seats. Pacing back and forth, you review your opening line over and over in your head. But this rehearsal doesn’t last long. Before you know it, the house lights dim, the stage lights go bright, and you’re given the cue. You walk out, face the crowd, [...]
Artificial Intelligence will likely eliminate fifteen percent of the global jobs market in the next decade, according to an extensive study on the future of work by McKinsey and Company. You may shake your head in disbelief, but this is not an exaggeration. It may well be an understatement. We're about to face the most disruptive decade yet. Technology like blockchain will lead to more transparency, and Artificial Intelligence is getting smarter by the day. We all want to make the most of the technology [...]
