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Zack Oates of Ovation on Building Business Connections through Digital Storytelling
Soliciting feedback from customers often seems like a daunting task. However, Zack Oates and his team at Ovation have cracked the code with a proven strategy that not only encourages guest feedback, but also establishes a personal connection for exceptional results.Zack Oates and the guest feedback platform Ovation have taken a radically different approach to hearing from customers, which stems…
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How The NBPA and a Top African University Are Building Player Legacies Off the Court
The bridge between the African continent and the NBA was first built by legends like Hakeem Olajuwon and the late Dikembe Mutombo — trailblazers who not only dominated on the court but gave back to the communities that shaped them.Today, that legacy is expanding. Earlier this summer, the National Basketball…
How to Know If Your Business Is Ready for an In-House Hire
Every business owner hits a point where they think, I just need someone dedicated to me. Someone who gets it. Someone who's all in on this business. And the natural next thought? It's time to hire someone in-house.The logic makes sense. When you're deep in the weeds, wearing every hat,…
I Had Customers, Revenue and Momentum — And Still No Cash. This Is the Fix I Wish I’d Known Sooner
When I started my first business, I had everything going for me — or so I thought. I was young, confident and raised on grit. Growing up on a farm in Idaho taught me how to work hard from the time I could walk. By college, I already had industry…
Siblings With Self-Funded 8-Figure Brand Share Business Tips
Rae and David Liu, the brother-sister co-founders behind luxury leather accessories brand Leatherology, "had the entrepreneurial bug" from a young age — but they didn't make the leap to business ownership right away.Image Credit: Courtesy of Leatherology. David and Rae Liu. Originally from Dallas, Texas, the siblings' early work experiences…
How to Stop Burnout From Torching Your Business
Running two alcohol brands isn't exactly a recipe for chill evenings at home watching Netflix. Between late nights and nonstop hustle, Joey Angelo, founder of SipMARGS and Su Casa Mezcal, has a lot on his plate—and in his cup. "I don't suffer from burnout," Joey says. "But I fear it."Angelo…
How I Built a Board That Makes My Business Smarter
I'm going to divulge one of the biggest secrets to building your business. Ready? The more you know, the more you'll grow. That's it. While it may sound trite, the truth is that knowledge is power, and knowing how to leverage that information will be one of the biggest assets…
The One Trait That Separates Great Leaders From Everyone Else
One trait consistently separates those who thrive from those who stall: a growth mindset. At its core, this mindset is less about raw intelligence or flawless execution and more about adaptability, resilience and the ability to transform setbacks into strategic stepping stones.Growth-oriented leaders don't see failure as defeat — they…
Why Entrepreneurs Should Stop Obsessing Over Growth
Most business owners obsess over growth. More customers. More features. More revenue. But private equity (PE) investors focus on something different: capital efficiency.They ask a sharper question: Where is our next dollar best spent? This isn't just a finance exercise. It's a mindset. And it's one every business owner can…
He Went From $471K in Debt to Teaching Others How to Succeed
Joe Crisara didn't set out to be a business coach. Like most tradespeople, he started with a toolbox, some hands-on skills and the dream of working for himself. But six years into running his own company, he found himself $471,000 in debt and on the brink of bankruptcy. That's when…
Marketing Online Can Be Overwhelming For Small Businesses — But It Doesn’t Have to Be With These 6 Strategies
Small business owners often feel overwhelmed by the prospect of engaging with digital marketing techniques. The ever-growing range of expensive tools, platforms and agencies can be intimidating, but the shift to digital marketing actually provides small businesses with unique opportunities. With carefully focused strategies, small businesses can expand their marketing…
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Creative Ways Startups Can Earn Funding in Tough Economic Times
In a declining economy, startups face an uphill battle when it comes to securing funding.…
I Asked AI to Create a Plan for a Fake Company — The Results Blew Me Away, But Not in the Way You Might Think
With all of the recent news about artificial intelligence (AI), it got me thinking about…
Ideas To Transform You From Good To Better To Best
A while back, I took a couple of my grandchildren on a tour of the…
5 Crucial Challenges Startups Must Overcome
Startups face numerous challenges on their journey to success, and failing to overcome any one…