Mike Boysen, via Effective CRM.
Are you and your organization still looking to build and reinforce relationships with a tight group of loyal customers? It’s time to rethink your strategy and spend more time taking a hard and impartial look at the numbers. 10-1 says the clients you think are your most profitable aren’t. Mike’s done a great job of arguing the need for an audit of your customers and their profitability.
Via TED
Most organizations are far too agreeable, choosing to avoid conflict at all cost. In this video, Margaret Heffernan highlights the value of picking a good fight to move big ideas forward.
Looking at your business, it’s critical to ask if you’ve built one big echo chamber or an environment where vigorous debate flourishes.
Via Engine Yard
Ilya Pozin, via Inc.
When we built 45 Robots we decided on a flat organization. No managers. No bosses. No meaningless titles for the purpose of ego. Just a team united around our customer. Ilya Pozin has recently transitioned his business in a similar way and has been kind enough to share how he made the shift.
As climber’s and all around outdoor fanatics, Yvon Chouinard has been on our radar for years. Countless books about his exploits line our bookshelves and Patagonia holds a special place in our hearts as a company at the forefront of the outdoor industry. Respected not only for pioneering products but for a business culture that places equal value on profit, community, people and the environment. Patagonia has redefined what a successful company can look like and most would agree it charts a course that is more appealing than one that places pure profit above all else.
Pioneers from the start, it would seem that Yvon’s most important leadership role is just getting started. With companies like Levi’s, Nike and Walmart taking up the challenge, the rest of us would be well advised to pay attention.
There are plenty of articles on getting started with Ruby but most assume the reader has some programming knowledge. Marc Gayle has written a great article that starts with the basics and builds from there. Combine this with Chris Pine’s excellent Learn to Program and one of the great online resources like Code School or Michael Hartl’s Ruby on Rails Tutorial and you’re well on your way.
Here’s the thing. You are a creative person and to compete in this economy, in this world, you need to embrace design. Here’s a great site to get you started.
Via The University of the Arts
Neil Gaiman gives an inspirational talk about being creative, loving your work and learning by doing. Business stands to learn a great deal from Neil’s "screw the rules" and "just do it" attitude.
