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1-Minute Business Tip
One small idea can make a giant difference in your success
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We’re a sophisticated society with more information at our disposal than ever before, yet we’re…
We’re a sophisticated society with more information at our disposal than ever before, yet we’re…
As the cosmetics founder of Revlon, Charles Revson, famously said — “In the factory we make cosmetics; in the drugstore we sell hope.”
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jul 13, 2021
The purpose of branding is to 1) connect with your customers in a meaningful way and 2) make your…
The purpose of branding is to 1) connect with your customers in a meaningful way and 2) make your…
If Martians were to come down to earth and look at a Nike shoe, all they would see is some rubber, plastic, nylon, and suede material. But…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Mar 15, 2021
As an architect, you’d think I’d say that the most important sense is that of the eye.
As an architect, you’d think I’d say that the most important sense is that of the eye.
When we experience Déjà vu — the feeling we’ve lived through a present situation before — we assume it comes from seeing a place we’ve…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 19, 2021
Whenever I hear an executive say their company doesn’t have any competition, I know there’s…
Whenever I hear an executive say their company doesn’t have any competition, I know there’s…
No matter how successful and dominant a company might appear, every product has an alternative. It’s not a question of if there’s a…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 18, 2021
Consumers claim they want convenience and low prices, but something else emerges after getting…
Consumers claim they want convenience and low prices, but something else emerges after getting…
Some people want to hang out at the coffee shop. Others might want to stroll down the high street. And some folks just want to have a…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 16, 2021
There’s a fierce battle going on between companies to win customers every day.
There’s a fierce battle going on between companies to win customers every day.
To help tilt the scale, companies need to focus on what their tie-breakers are. Many companies use price, service, or sales incentives as…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 15, 2021
Businesses are like relationship fences: We’ll break our routine to go on one date with a new…
Businesses are like relationship fences: We’ll break our routine to go on one date with a new…
After a few dates, we might decide we’d like to hang out with the brand more often because we enjoy their personality (2nd fence) and…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 12, 2021
Most managers rarely want to let staff go, even in tough times and downturns.
Most managers rarely want to let staff go, even in tough times and downturns.
Instead of asking your managers who to cut, ask them to place employees into one of four buckets:
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 11, 2021
After working with hundreds of companies in various industries, I can simplify most management…
After working with hundreds of companies in various industries, I can simplify most management…
1) supply-side thinkers, and 2) demand-side thinkers.
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 9, 2021
For the last two years, the headlines declaring that physical retail is dead have bombarded us —…
For the last two years, the headlines declaring that physical retail is dead have bombarded us —…
The terrifying news that “X” would replace “Y” has existed throughout my career as a constant threat. The fears of “X” have shut down…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 8, 2021
Most industries have an official organization that aims to help members get better at what they do.
Most industries have an official organization that aims to help members get better at what they do.
These best practices help companies save time by steering them to the right way of doing things faster. However, when too many businesses…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 6, 2021
How are you perceived at work?
How are you perceived at work?
Being aware of your perception can help explain how you’re valued and treated by leaders. And it can make a big difference in what access…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 5, 2021
No matter how great your company may have been in the past, and no matter how loyal your customers…
No matter how great your company may have been in the past, and no matter how loyal your customers…
What’s the solution?
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 3, 2021
Why do so many “successful” businesses struggle to make a profit?
Why do so many “successful” businesses struggle to make a profit?
Despite our firm’s impressive client list, increasing fees, and in-demand status, I’d look down at the bottom line at the end of every…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Feb 2, 2021
Will there be a place for restaurants, stores, gyms, universities, and symphonies in the future?
Will there be a place for restaurants, stores, gyms, universities, and symphonies in the future?
Outside of the pandemic, there are many explanations of why places are collapsing, but the fundamental issue is the value proposition…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 29, 2021
“No matter how hard we work, we can’t beat them,” Ernie said.
“No matter how hard we work, we can’t beat them,” Ernie said.
While Ernie’s store had unique products, he didn’t have all the resources, buying power, and investment capacity of an international…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 28, 2021
The gravitational laws of why big companies fail to innovate:
The gravitational laws of why big companies fail to innovate:
All company divisions have a mutual attraction and pull on what the other divisions are doing.
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 27, 2021
Many companies have an outside-in approach to branding.
Many companies have an outside-in approach to branding.
What today’s customers want is an inside-out approach. They want companies to reveal what they care about and are willing to fight for on…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 26, 2021
One common problem my team and I’ve observed in working with hundreds of companies over the last…
One common problem my team and I’ve observed in working with hundreds of companies over the last…
Successful companies don’t view their brand as icing but the cake. And they consider all the other organizational departments and…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 25, 2021
Entrepreneurs need a confidant — someone they can share private, sensitive, and confidential…
Entrepreneurs need a confidant — someone they can share private, sensitive, and confidential…
But where can leaders go to find this help?
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 24, 2021
Management teams like to get the brand set up once and not bother with it again for 20 years.
Management teams like to get the brand set up once and not bother with it again for 20 years.
There are two fundamental questions companies should ask themselves often:
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 23, 2021
On my desk sits a plaque that declares: “No good market lasts for long!”
On my desk sits a plaque that declares: “No good market lasts for long!”
No matter how brilliant and innovative your last idea was — if it succeeds at attracting customers — it will be studied, analyzed, and…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 22, 2021
When my partner and I started our firm in 1992, I loved coming into work.
When my partner and I started our firm in 1992, I loved coming into work.
I kept hiring the best talent I could find. But with big talent came big egos. I no longer worked for my clients but my staff. And this…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 21, 2021
No matter what idea you’re trying to get across to customers—family, community, freedom, or…
No matter what idea you’re trying to get across to customers—family, community, freedom, or…
There’s no idea in your head that didn’t first come through one of your senses. Thinking with our senses first is how we make sense of the…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 20, 2021
I’m in the innovation business, which sounds sexy and exciting, but is more like pulling teeth out…
I’m in the innovation business, which sounds sexy and exciting, but is more like pulling teeth out…
Deep in the roots of management thinking is this obsession with efficiency and the assembly line model. But this efficiency model works…
Kevin Ervin Kelley, AIA
Jan 19, 2021
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