If you ask 10 CEOs why businesses fail, you’ll probably get 10 different answers. Funny thing is, there’s only one root cause and it’s ridiculously easy for any business leader to find. All you have to do is just get up and walk over to the nearest mirror. There it[…] Read On
It seems that every content generator on Earth has banged out a post with 10, 20 or 50 reasons to start your own business. You know, you get to be your own boss, work when you want to, that sort of thing. The only problem is every single reason is self-serving.[…] Read On
Back in the ‘90s, I took a job at a Dallas-based microprocessor company named Cyrix. Anyone who visited us understood our mission, thanks to the tombstone prominently displayed in the lobby. Engraved on its marble surface was the famous Intel Inside logo, followed by three foreboding letters: RIP. That was[…] Read On
When I ran marketing, public relations strategy was relatively straightforward. There weren’t that many influential analysts, pundits and media powerhouses, so the PR folks built relationships and didn’t bug them unless we had real news to pitch. And we followed the old axiom: If the WSJ covers it, the others[…] Read On
I’ve been an officer of several public and private companies, run a Silicon Valley startup, been involved in two IPOs, cofounded a boutique management consulting firm and worked with countless founders and VCs. It’s been one hell-of-a ride, but you know what? I’m no entrepreneur. There are two reasons for[…] Read On
A few years back, I headed off to San Francisco International Airport on eve of July 4th, concerned about warnings of possible terrorist attacks the likes of which we hadn’t seen since 9/11. The day was thankfully uneventful, but it brought back personal memories of the most devastating attack on[…] Read On
It was an ungodly early hour on the West Coast when Yahoo’s CEO announced a new strategic plan live on CNBC. I was making cappuccinos when my wife came into the kitchen, looked up at the screen, and said, “Is that Marissa Mayer? She looks terrible.” “You would, too,” I[…] Read On