Evaluation and Control Program Best Practice 2 – Measure Against Excellence

In this hyper-competitive business world there are no points for second place. Companies not achieving excellence in key performance areas as defined by their chosen market often find themselves driven to irrelevancy by competitors and in danger of going out of business. Subsequently, organization leaders must know how their company performs against standards of excellence in the key areas to be able to make the investment decisions necessary to remain competitive.


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The Chinese Currency Debate – What is behind the concerns

Politicians and economists have long worried about the global trade implications of China’s practices to control the value of their currency. This PBS Newshour video, hosted by Business and Economics Correspondent Paul Solman, explains why Chinese currency controls are of concern to the Unites States, Europe, and South American countries.

Click here to access a full transcript and mp3 audio file of this video.

Doing ‘Different’ Right: Ten Big-Time Difference Makers and How They Made Some Serious Dough Thinking Outside the Box, part 1 of 2

If you’re looking for ways to set your business apart in this economy, look no further. There has never been a better time to be different. Here are ten companies that have done ‘different’ better than the rest.

In today’s business world, ‘business as usual’ is likely to put you out of business. If you’re using the same old marketing strategies today because they brought in business in years past, you’re in danger of being pummeled by your competition. In order to keep your customers happy (and happily spending!), you have to get their attention, and that means your typical tried-and-true marketing tactics aren’t going to cut it anymore. To beat your competition, you have to stand out and find ways to be you – uniquely!

With all the noise in your clients’ and potential clients’ daily lives, it certainly hasn’t become any easier to attract attention and appeal to your target market. But for your business to survive, you have to find ways to cut through that noise. Attracting attention often means that you have to step outside of the current norms and stand out.

If you aren’t sure where to get started, take a cue from other companies that have taken innovation to heart and used it to successfully win and keep customers.

Read on for some innovation inspiration from companies that found ways to make their customers take notice – while sticking with their values:


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About the Author

Maribeth Kuzmeski, MBA, is the author of five books, including …And the Clients Went Wild!: How Savvy Professionals Win All the Business They Want (Wiley, 2010) and The Connectors: How the World’s Most Successful Businesspeople Build Relationships and Win Clients for Life (Wiley, 2009). She is the founder of Red Zone Marketing, LLC, which consults with businesses from entrepreneurial firms to Fortune 500 corporations on strategic marketing planning and business growth. Maribeth has personally consulted with some of the world’s most successful CEOs, entrepreneurs, and professionals. An internationally recognized speaker, she shares the tactics that businesspeople use today to create more sustainable business relationships, sales, and marketing successes.

Executive Vision – Leading in an Interconnected World: Transportation

Executive Vision is a five part series created by CNBC and sponsored by Credit Suisse. Within each episode, Melissa Francis, Simon Hobbs, and a group of distinguished guests discuss what it takes to be a visionary leader; guiding their companies to success within the rapidly changing global marketplace.


Distinguished Guests

  • Robert Crandall, Former CEO, American Airlines
  • Tony Fernandes, CEO, Asia Air
  • John Krafcik, CEO, Hyundai Motor America
  • Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra
  • Elon Musk, CEO, Tesla Motors
  • David Neeleman, Founder, JetBlue
  • Dr. Beverly Scott, CEO, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority

Leadership Inspirations – The Will to Prepare

“The will to succeed is important, but I’ll tell you what’s more important – it’s the will to prepare.”

Bobby Knight

  • nicknamed The General, his teams won 902 NCAA Division I men’s college basketball games – more than any other head coach;
  • his Indiana Hoosiers won three NCAA championships, one National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championship, and eleven Big Ten Conference championships;
  • coached the USA men’s Olympic team to a gold medal in 1984 – becoming one of only three basketball coaches to win an NCAA title, NIT title, and an Olympic gold medal;
  • named National Coach of the Year four times and Big Ten Coach of the Year six times