Category: Personal Effectiveness

In recent news, Apple chief Tim Cook responded to criticism by megastar Taylor Swift within 24 hours, announcing that Apple would begin paying artists royalties on their music sales for all free introductory trials. And South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, within 24 hours of the shooting at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, took a stand and demanded that the legislature remove the Confederate flag from outside the capitol building.

Many business owners are not taking enough steps to protect their personal and family’s financial assets, according to a study of business owners and entrepreneurs by U.S. Trust. The survey also shows that business owners struggle with competing priorities across their work, personal, and financial lives, which can take a toll on their health.

An accepted wisdom in business is that being first-to-market with a product, service or a new wrinkle on an old idea is the optimal strategy. Intuitively, this makes sense—a new market is there for the taking. The early mover can capitalize on its inventiveness, win brand loyalty and fend off the copycats that follow. Now comes a series of provocative books declaring that being an early mover is fraught with danger, that the risk of failure for a first-to-market company is much higher than for the pack in pursuit.

“The First 100 Days” is an old political term coined in the days of FDR and used ever since as a bellwether for the effectiveness of a new president. While pundits and politicians have long debated the significance of this benchmark, the concept might be more appropriate for another type of leader: The CEO.

It’s not exactly like a slumber party or singing ’round the campfire, but when a bunch of CEOs get together and talk about what really gets their juices flowing and what keeps them up at night, they can reveal some pretty interesting stuff.

If you aren’t hearing any ideas or complaints from your employees, you may be operating in a culture of silence and missing critical knowledge in the process.