Exceptional leaders often excel as skilled storytellers, and for good reason. Once a company hits a certain level of organizational complexity, one of the most important tasks the CEO has is to craft intellectually coherent and captivating narratives about the firm, its purpose, and its performance. Failure in this task means undermining the very existence of the company; a sin…
 
															We're trained to avoid failure like it's a contagious disease.At school, failing wasn't just about getting a bad grade — it was about getting labeled. If you didn't pass, you weren't just "behind," you were branded. Pulled into extra classes, singled out in front of your peers and whispered about…
Not long ago, I was at a dinner event — the kind with monogrammed name cards, three forks and someone at the front delivering what sounded like a polished, TED-ready speech. The person could have spent hours carefully preparing their remarks — but the table chatter that followed went straight…
This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Marissa Cazem Potts, a Bay Area-based Intuit financial advocate* and financial literacy professional. The piece has been edited for length and clarity.Image Credit: Courtesy of Intuit. Marissa Cazem Potts.Want to read more stories like this? Subscribe to Money Makers, our free…
Every business decision reflects a value system, even if it's not named outright. When sales drop, do you cut costs or beef up your sales team once you've confirmed your sales strategy still works? That choice reveals where you put your weight, i.e., what you prioritize when resources are constrained…
As entrepreneurs know, running a business is both exciting and challenging. With markets constantly growing and changing, it can be difficult to stay ahead of the curve and competition. This is why many consider hiring a business coach to lean on for guidance and support.If you're thinking about hiring a…
This as-told-to story is based on a conversation with Shanaz Hemmati, COO and co-founder of ZenBusiness, a $1.7 billion company that provides an all-in-one platform helping small businesses become official, stay compliant, manage finances and more. Her co-founder is Ross Buhrdorf, who serves as CEO. The piece has been edited…
In my conversation with Robert Dippell, CEO of Morning Brew, I wasn't looking for a polished pitch or a viral soundbite — I was looking to understand how someone leads a media company in 2025 without getting swallowed by noise, distraction and industry cliché. What I got was a grounded…
Tough economic times are scary for businesses and consumers, but the solution isn't to take your foot off the gas. I opened the first Roof Maxx dealership in 2019, just one year before the Covid-19 pandemic. Today, it's a nationally recognized residential roof restoration brand with an annual revenue of…
On a recent work trip and unable to sleep, I was flipping through the channels when I stumbled upon Late Night with Seth Meyers, who happened that night to be interviewing the show's former host, the legendary Conan O'Brien. As a fan of the tall, goofy comedian, I paused my…
Every day, business owners encounter large and small decisions that could significantly influence their company's health and growth. Having the right tools and technology can be just as crucial as building a strong team, particularly as more resources become accessible to businesses of all sizes. That's one reason AI adoption…
In a declining economy, startups face an uphill battle when it comes to securing funding.…
With all of the recent news about artificial intelligence (AI), it got me thinking about…
A while back, I took a couple of my grandchildren on a tour of the…
Startups face numerous challenges on their journey to success, and failing to overcome any one…
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