With a slight shift in thinking, you can become an even more global citizen. Since technology connects us more than ever, it is easier to think beyond our local community, take ethical action to help and commit to using our advantages to help others.    For many, the difference between passion and drive is blurred. Through reflection for self-awareness — rooted in values and integrity — intentional action becomes possible. The impact you want to have, the participation in something bigger...

Business longevity results from tenacity, small wins that compound, and saying “no” decisively. When you shape your decisions with nonnegotiables providing constraints, there is less to evaluate with regard to removing overwhelm and freeing up time to spend doing the real deep work necessary to build a thriving business.    Effective communication is necessary to maximize the compounding effect of your choices. That comes from clearly articulating and sharing more than the vision, including...

Adapt! Change! Evolve! These are the three things necessary to create a lasting business. The fuel for success is determining your business purpose — that as the company develops and evolves, it continues to be fulfilling even as customers and technologies change.    The insight that reflection brings is highly undervalued. Many of us use data to reflect on what happened before and where we are now, and how we look forward is based on numbers. What about you? Your team? Your customers?    ...

Leading your team requires a variation of the skills you’ve developed to lead yourself. Communication becomes exponentially important — not only to create expectations about how to do the work, but also to celebrate success and meet each person where they are at (i.e., so they understand their goals align with the company’s). Tim Fortescue, Founder at 40 Watt Coaching, talks about knowing what you will do to achieve your goals — and helping your team do the same. Reflection is often...

It is important to understand the fundamentals of accounting to be able to make good business decisions. This includes having an outside set of eyes that are honed from the manner in which technology is changing the way CPAs work.    Data is necessary to know where you’ve been so you can make the most informed decisions possible. That means collecting data — the right data — and using it to optimize the evaluation of several good ideas. Risk is always a part of good ideas, and the cost of...

It's incredible how often we can hold ourselves back from growth by not doing the critical work. But the truth is, with intention, awareness, and conscious choice, we can cultivate effective decision-making and become true leaders. Knowing ourselves and our team can unlock our full potential and achieve great things.    Surrounding yourself with individuals who have your business' best interest in mind — who also complement your thinking processes — not only offers support in making sure...

The disparity between the desired and actual image may limit business growth, making office changes essential for real revenue change. Elevating your office/work space attracts the clients you want to attract for real business growth.    Entrepreneurs and healing arts practitioners must recognize that the story being told is crucial for connecting with their ideal clients. While scary and even intimidating, specialization is the journey necessary to find the unique market space to be of the...

Embrace repetition. It changes more than your own perspective (clarity!) with understanding. Your business goals have a higher chance of completion with higher quality outcomes when everyone is moving in the same direction.   Measurement and results directly relate to how well you, and your team, understand the goal. Intentional and inevitably repetitive communication is a reminder of the direction everyone is going — together. Listening, working through obstacles, and recommitting to the...

Regardless of company size and growth goals, your ability to make conscious choices about investing in the long-term versus getting to market, knowing what is a priority versus what is disguised as one, and your strengths and weaknesses will directly influence your success.    Growth is difficult. The more understanding and clarity you have about your situation, the more insights you will have to make the best decision for right now. Every decision will reinforce or update the way you do...

While discipline is crucial, the unwavering consistency propels you towards your goals. Prioritizing the right work becomes a cornerstone — building, learning, growing, and managing energy converges in how your plan becomes a reality with the time, energy, and money you have to invest. How you align expectations with the reality of your situation is key.    Growth doesn’t have to be complex — and yet, at times, it will be difficult. Your ability to comprehend the way work is done within...

At the core of our ability to lead ourselves effectively is a set of values that drives our decision-making. By understanding and embracing these values, we can make intentional choices that align with our personal and professional goals. This includes having the courage to say no when necessary and saying yes to opportunities that align with our values and aspirations.   Even when faced with tasks we may find difficult or unpleasant, we can push through and stay focused on our objectives...

Time is a precious resource, and how we spend it reflects our priorities to the rest of the company. The decisions we make based on the data we collect and analyze significantly impact the performance and credibility of our organizations.    By intentionally setting aside time for reflection, assessment, and evaluation, we gain greater clarity on what truly matters for our organization's success. Aligning our priorities with strategic initiatives requires a strong sense of discipline,...

The Economist Intelligence Unit has conducted a survey on the importance of prioritizing and funding the appropriate initiatives and projects for businesses to remain competitive.    The survey results have indicated that 86% of respondents believe that prioritizing and funding the right initiatives and projects is essential for companies to stay competitive. This information is crucial for business owners to understand and implement in your organization.    It raises some critical...

A workplace's culture is shaped by how work is done and how it connects different functions and individuals. When things don't go as planned, diving deeper and identifying what causes the undesirable outcomes is essential. The information you uncover can then be used to bring about positive change, which involves recognizing and unlearning certain assumptions.    One can start by observing what is happening and making necessary decisions to shift the workplace culture. Each role in the...

Discover the power of intentional sabbaticals in designing your company's next level of growth. Release yourself from stress and break free from what has been holding you back. Innovation requires stepping outside of our comfort zones and embracing new perspectives. Letting go allows us to see possibilities and opportunities we may have never imagined.    During a conversation with Jess Dewell, Tobin Lehman, President at New North shared his sabbatical experience. He discussed the steps he...

Developing mental flexibility is crucial for cultivating resilience in both personal and professional realms. One of the ways to build mental flexibility is by being fully present in the moment and avoiding distractions that may hinder our ability to adapt to change.    Taking a pause when faced with a challenging situation can also help us gain perspective and make better decisions. Following through with our commitments, even when faced with obstacles, can help us develop the resilience...

To achieve business growth, it is important to have a sharp focus on your industry, maintain good financial health, and adopt a growth mindset. Foundational decisions based on company values and work ethics play a crucial role in ensuring the longevity of your business.   Mental fog and decision fatigue are silent and dangerous to a business focused on growth. As a vision holder, two things are paramount to success: personal vitality and strategic clarity. Without those, becoming complacent...

The energy you bring determines your success. And then putting intentional effort into the 4 Cs, your self-care, and the ability to communicate creates your generative mindset to risk taking the next step.    Consistency sounds easy, and it is - at first. What makes it hard is the lack of certain results within a certain time, comparing yourself to others, and even surrounding yourself with the wrong people. Do yourself a favor and be thoughtful about the market and product you will offer,...

What’s your organization’s mantra? Can you see the understanding of this driving focus in the way your company makes decisions, its presentation in the marketplace, and the way the team does work? Both software and hardware technologies (including robotics and drones) are opportunities for your organization to remain competitive while achieving your biggest goals.    Technology always has and will continue to impact how we work. This can be exciting! It does require a desire to change when...

Formalized or not, we all seek points of view (maybe even validation) to check ourselves. Being on the right track, getting results, and making the best decisions are weighty responsibilities. By default, it is commonly thought that confidence comes from knowledge. In actuality, confidence comes from being tuned in.    How do you make the right decision at the right time? Have an outside set of eyes. This could be coaches and consultants asking the hard questions that enable you to develop...

The high performance begins with you. Putting a priority on getting to know yourself and reflecting (on failures and successes) allows you to choose what learning you consciously want to take forward.  The intersection of what makes you unique, the impact you want to make, and what drives you are the critical elements to the customized definition of what high performance is for your business. Once defined, this powerful tool allows you to navigate failure, what is out of your control, and...

Your business plan is a tool to know what not to do. This dynamic tool allows you to include core information about how you do your work, your company's impact, and what opportunities are the right ones to pursue.  Finding winfinity (win-win-win) is possible by shifting the lens you look through. Whether internal growth and development of people and processes or aggressively tackling initiatives to grow market share, knowing yourself is foundational. When you have a strong level of...

All you need are the right words that reach the right people at the right time. Easy, right? Yes, when you can provide the time for discovery and development when creating marketing messages and stories. Your customers are savvy, and to claim a spot in their crowded brain space requires diligence to maintain objectivity.    It is time to acknowledge you may be working in a silo, telling your existing and potential customers — instead of showing them — how your product helps save time and...

Recognizing the warning signs of decision fatigue, decreased work quality, and heightened stress can make all the difference in securing the success of your business.  Staying focused and committed to achieving your goals takes discipline and determination. The crucial lesson to be learned is to trust your instincts as part of the decision-making process, remain open to new opportunities, and embrace the challenges of change. In this inspiring conversation, Jess Dewell speaks with Kiley...