Uncategorized Posts
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Blog / ChangeThis
The Silent Killer of Founder Owned Businesses
By D. Scot Hunsaker
"In the entrepreneurial world we have a silent killer. We don't talk about it very much, but it can put an end to a lifetime of hard work and planning. We owners take all of the risks and sometimes withering criticism and we start a business because we believe in what we and the business could accomplish in the world. Then, over time we build a thriving organization. It hums along, makes money, benefits everyone involved, meets customer demand, and helps the community grow and prosper. All good so far. But then we decide to make our exit, or the decision is made for us by health or family issues or other business interests. So, now what happens. Well, at least two thirds of the time, the business ceases operations, with all of the collateral damage that does. It happens because we never transition the company to the next generation of leaders, not because we don't know how, but because we never get around to it. As CEO's and entrepreneurs, perhaps we think it will never happen to us, that maybe we have discovered the fountain of youth.
Categories: changethis
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Blog / ChangeThis
One Room, One Team, Different Purposes
By Porchlight
"We preach collaboration, talk and train teamwork, but all the while organizations are optimized to manage, foster and reward individual effort. I'm not the first person to notice or write about this. Nonetheless, most approaches to team effectiveness aren't designed to directly confront this organizational paradox: Collaboration is second- or third-nature for a large majority of us and this predisposes us to consistently revert to our more selfish ways, especially where we're rewarded and recognized to do so."
Categories: changethis
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Blog / ChangeThis
Why You Don't Need VC to Build a Billion Dollar Business
By Porchlight
"Although the business press is filled with exploits of VC-funded ventures, the reality is that 94 percent of billion-dollar entrepreneurs took off without VC, and only about one in 10,000 entrepreneurs truly benefits from VC. Silicon Valley venture capital is like a very successful lottery. Yes, there is flash and dazzle and a few billionaires are created. But it is hit-or-miss, mostly miss. You would not recommend a career of buying lottery tickets to your children or pick it for yourself. Learn skills. Use smart strategies. You may succeed whether you win the VC lottery or don't For entrepreneurs who want to reduce the role of luck in their success and improve their odds, here are six reasons why you don't need VC to build a billion-dollar business."
Categories: changethis
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Blog / ChangeThis
The Teamwork Imperative
By Simon Mac Rory
"Teamwork is a (if not the) quintessential and critical element of organizational life. Over 90 percent of what we do in our work lives happens through collaborative effort. That makes teams and teamwork the most important means of output and productivity in the organization. I think most organizations and people would agree with this statement. So you would think that organizations would treat team performance as a strategic imperative, but most do not, preferring to muddle on with poorly performing teams and accepting mediocrity. There needs to be a big attitude change and it needs to be now. [. . . ] Only 10 percent of teams are high performing, a frightening 40 percent are dysfunctional and detrimental to members experiences and lives, leaving 50 percent which are performing—at best—with small incremental results. This is what most organizations accept. I consider this unacceptable, particularly when delivering high performing teams is not rocket science. But it does take effort, it does take strategy, it does take time, it does take budget and, critically, it takes persistence and commitment from the organization, leaders and team members.
Categories: changethis
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Blog / ChangeThis
The Case Against a General AI in 2019
By Byron Reese
"Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) is either possible or it isn't. The chasm that divides the two viewpoints couldn't be wider because it has to do with our core beliefs about the nature of reality, the identity of the self, and the essence of being human. There is no real way to bridge the gap on the question of AGI between those with different views on these questions. But we can at least understand why the views are so different."
Categories: changethis
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Blog / Book Giveaways
The 2018 800-CEO-READ Business Book Awards Narrative & Biography Book Giveaway
By Porchlight
This week, we'll be giving away the five books in the Narrative & Biography category of the 2018 800-CEO-READ Business Book Awards.
Categories: giveaways
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Blog / Editor's Choice
Love for Imperfect Things: How to Accept Yourself in a World Striving for Perfection
Book Review by Porchlight
Haemin Sunim's new book reminds us that we are all imperfect, that we all struggle in our life and work, and that we are all worthy of love.
Categories: editors-choice
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Blog / News & Opinion
Inside the Longlist: Narrative & Biography 2018
By Rebecca Schwartz
Company owner and CEO Rebecca Schwartz looks inside the covers of the top five Narrative & Biography books of 2018.
Categories: news-opinion, narrative-biography, publishing-industry, the-company
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Blog / Book Giveaways
The 2018 800-CEO-READ Business Book Awards Personal Development & Human Behavior Book Giveaway
By Porchlight
This week, we'll be giving away the five books in the Personal Development & Human Behavior category of the 2018 800-CEO-READ Business Book Awards.
Categories: giveaways
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Blog / Editor's Choice
Just Giving: Why Philanthropy Is Failing Democracy and How It Can Do Better
Book Review by Porchlight
Rob Reich looks at the landscape of modern philanthropy and wonders if it is as socially good as is generally assumed today.
Categories: editors-choice