Growth Insights for CEOs

From Recovery to Recession: A CEO’s Guide to Thriving Through Economic Shifts
When markets shift—and they always do—the winners are those who don’t wait to react. They move first, and fast. No matter which of the four cycles you’re currently experiencing, one constant remains true: waiting for things to be more favorable is a bad strategy. Additionally, doing nothing is not an option. Companies that anticipate, plan, and act in alignment with their current business phase can maintain resilience, capture opportunities, and outperform competitors who simply “wait it out.”
Recent Posts

5 Things You Should Know Before Spending on Marketing Execution
Thu, Nov 9, 2023 — Article 5 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen If you have been under pressure to tighten your marketing budget this year, you’re not alone. According to a survey, B2B companies' marketing spending in 2023 increased by only 2.3%. This growth rate is lower than the 3.7% inflation rate, impacting businesses and individuals.

7 KPIs That Should be in Your 2024 Growth Plan
Fri, Nov 3, 2023 — Article 4 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen For modern-day businesses, establishing measures is not just a good idea – it’s a downright necessity. In fact, a poll of executive leaders found a nearly unanimous agreement that key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential to gauge the pulse of broad business goals.

How to Establish a Strategic 2024 Growth Plan and Justify Your Marketing Budget
Wed, Oct 25, 2023 — Article 3 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen In an era characterized by rapid technological shifts, changing consumer behavior, and a volatile global economic landscape, successful businesses are those that look ahead, anticipate challenges, and seize opportunities. But when it comes to developing your own business growth strategy, are you prepared for all that 2024 will throw at your company? Or are you content on a “lather, rinse, repeat” approach to strategic business development?
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The Art of Value-Based Selling: Boosting Your Bottom Line
Tue, Oct 24, 2023 — Attention, bargain shoppers! In the realm of business-to-business (B2B) sales, blue lights, doorbusters, Black Friday sales, or penny pinchers don’t apply. That said, in our ever-evolving battleground, the age-old theory that "everyone buys a bargain" still holds.

Analyze Your Current Customers to Supercharge Your 2024 Annual Business Planning
Thu, Oct 19, 2023 — Article 2 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen When we ask our clients why customers buy from them, much of the time, they either don’t know, or are completely off-base about the reason. In an uber-competitive marketplace and with so much at stake, this inability to define why people should buy your product or service can be a fatal misstep.

The Importance of a Functional C-Suite in Challenging Economic Times
Tue, Oct 17, 2023 — I chuckled when I saw that memorable gummy bear commercial, featuring a board room filled with adult executives talking like toddlers about the chewy treats. Though achieving consensus-by-gummy-bear may work on television, we should be smart enough to know that the last place for petulant, child-like behavior is the C-suite. Yet I have seen my share of “Executive-Level Dysfunction” (ELD) in my years as a sales and marketing executive, and the results are predictable: Quagmires. Uneven results. Power struggles. And a tendency to retreat into separate corners, with the business hanging in the balance.

Why You Can’t Afford to Cut Your Marketing Investment for 2024
Wed, Oct 11, 2023 — Article 1 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen In an era dominated by rapid change and economic unpredictability, businesses often find themselves at the crossroads of making challenging decisions, especially when it comes to budgeting. One of the areas often eyed for potential cuts is marketing. But is this a wise move?

Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning
Tue, Oct 3, 2023 — Introduction: Take Action Now to Plan for Success By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen Temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing colors, and you can almost hear the sounds of the crowd cheering at the high school homecoming game. With these and other harbingers of the calendar’s fourth quarter, you’re likely about to sharpen your pencil, corral your executive leadership – and engage in your strategic business planning process for 2024.

Your Business Needs a Secret Sauce: Enter the 3 Uniques™
Tue, Sep 12, 2023 — Today, we’re going to whip up a secret sauce. Now, I can’t promise that this tasty combination will result in your anointment as a Kitchen Hero or the envy of Gordon Ramsay. But when basted upon your business, your clandestine condiment could unlock the kind of business success that will have your competitors salivating and your customers asking for seconds.