I’m sure most company leaders want to be like Steve Jobs. They want to lead the industry and watch as everyone struggles to keep up. They want to constantly innovate. They want to create products that people line up for days before they’re released. But, if you’re a company or department leader, you know it’s… Continue reading »
Aug
20
14 ways to kill creativity
Do you feel like your company lags behind the competition? Do you feel like you’re struggling to keep up? I’d like to tell you about the secret key to innovation. It’s something that every company has: Employees! Specifically, your employee’s ideas are a great way to fuel innovation. Every company wants to think that their… Continue reading »
Jul
16
14 inventions that you could’ve thought of
“Why didn’t I think of that?” We’ve all asked this question at one time or another. We see a new product or idea that makes so much sense it’s surprising that we didn’t think of it first. I think the key to invention is how we perceive problems or inconveniences. Do you get frustrated and… Continue reading »
Jun
10
5 reasons to celebrate mistakes at work
According to the late Peter Drucker, those who never make mistakes, never do anything interesting. Yet, how many companies look at mistakes in this manner? I recently found that quote in an interesting article on positivesharing.com entitled, “5 reasons to celebrate mistakes at work.” The article challenges our perceptions of mistakes and suggests that without… Continue reading »
Apr
19
Dare to be different
I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon. Technological advancement varies greatly from industry to industry, but very little within an industry. It seems like the companies within an industry care more about matching their competition, and less about bettering the competition. Why? Industries without pressure to innovate usually stagnate. The thought process goes something like this: If… Continue reading »
Apr
12
How to leapfrog the competition
There are very few innovators these days. A few companies lead the way while everyone else tries to catch up. Take Apple and the tablet computer for example. As soon as Apple announces a product, everyone scrambles to push out the same thing. Do you think we would be deluged with new tablet computers if… Continue reading »
Mar
19
How to keep your employees focused and productive in a bad economy
I’ve heard this question presented many times in the last year: How do I keep my employees focused and productive in such a bad economy? It’s a good question. Your employees are no doubt dealing with more economy-related stress than ever, and nothing kills productivity quite like stress. Here’s a great article on Forbes.com with… Continue reading »
Mar
18
5 rules for the new business environment
The recession has altered the business landscape. But how will it affect your business? How can you take advantage of the new changes brought on by the poor economy? Here’s a good article on techrepublic.com entitled, “5 Rules for the New Business Environment.” Along with the ideas presented in this article, I have another bit… Continue reading »
Feb
12
Why the 12-month budget is bad for business
The budgeting process used by businesses today is fundamentally flawed. No, I’m not against budgets, far from it. However, the idea that a budget should refresh every 12 months wastes money, prohibits progress, and compromises decision-making. Let me explain: It wastes money When you near the end of the year with a budget surplus, what… Continue reading »
Jan
22
Are you complaining or doing?
The business landscape is changing for many industries, driven largely by the internet and new technology. Many companies are realizing something: What worked a few years ago no longer works today. What works today may not work in a few years. My question is this: What is your company doing about it? I’ve heard many… Continue reading »
About the author
Joe Stangarone is a 30+ year veteran of the IT industry and president of mrc—the software company behind the award winning development platform, m-Power. Joe shares his leadership and technology insights through the Cup of Joe Blog, focusing primarily on ways businesses can save time, money, and increase productivity using technology.
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