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Outsider Insights | From Hustle to System: Why More CEOs Are Rebuilding Their Sales Function
Outsider Insights
Across Chief Outsiders, we talk to hundreds of CEOs every month. In this new series, we explore the trends and challenges we’re hearing from these discussions – and what you can do if you’re facing the same issues in your business.
Fresh CMO Insights: Why an Industry Outsider Might Give You the Inside Track
Thu, Sep 8, 2022 — By Paul Sparrow and Atul Minocha If you’re a CEO who paints the world with a well-worn brush and the same old can of flat white, this blog is for you. If you’re bemoaning the headwinds created by your industry and wondering why the same-old marketing plan (or lack thereof) has you stuck on “go,” read on. We would like to open your eyes to a way to improve your marketing effectiveness that only comes if you’re willing to try a fresh roller—and some new shades of opportunity—to color your balance sheets in hues of deep green.
The Great Resignation: Can Marketing Reverse the Trend at Your Company?
Thu, Sep 1, 2022 — If you, like me, are of a certain age, it’s easy to reflect on how different it was to get a job back in the day. Many jobs required an application and a resume, not to mention a one-on-one interview with the hiring manager. Shake his hand firmly, swallow your pride, spit out the answers – and hope that this interaction leads to a job with decent pay, health insurance, and a chance to sit at the big kid’s table someday. Working from home? Well, that was a one-way trip to the unemployment line. And culture? “Keep your mouth shut, listen to the boss, do what you’re told, don’t complain, and you’ll get a check every Friday. That’s our culture.”
Is There Any Role for Traditional Marketing Today?
Thu, Aug 25, 2022 — By Atul Minocha and Paul Sparrow As we try to determine whether old style, hand-to-hand, touch-it-and-feel-it marketing can compete in today’s switched on, always moving world, is it possible that a bird feather holds the key to the question posed in our headline? The answer requires a bit of insight into how we got to this seminal moment which by the way is a precarious place for the newspapers, billboards, mailers, radio and even TV ads comprising what is predominantly known as “traditional marketing.”
The Innovator’s Dilemma – Fast, Correct, or Both?
Mon, Aug 15, 2022 — Most people would say Tesla is an innovative company. Others would say maybe they push the envelope a bit, for example, with “self-driving” software that is truly amazing but is not yet fully “self-driving.” The other side of the coin is other companies who wait until an idea is thoroughly tested, I’s dotted, and T’s crossed, fully qualified but maybe at the cost of missing the market. Innovation is the lifeblood of growth in any industry or channel. Companies with high levels of innovation do better over time than companies that do not have it. So how to address the Innovator's Dilemma? Is it one or the other? Here are four ways to think about it:
Navigating Growth During the Economic Sugar Crash
Thu, Aug 4, 2022 — Everyone “knows” we’re in a recession except the economists. We feel the pain of collapsed 401k's, higher fuel and food prices, so isn’t that enough to declare a recession? And shouldn’t my business be hunkering down to ride this out? In today’s chaotic economy, we are more likely to react to news headlines and stock market trends than market insight. We might completely abandon a core strategy, or delay critical execution tactics, based on the sick feeling in our guts. One way to solve this is by tapping the reliable data and forecasts published by ITR Economics.
What Tech CEOs Get Wrong About Positioning
Thu, Jul 28, 2022 — If you are a CEO that is lamenting slowing sales and lagging growth at your company, it’s tempting to place the blame directly at the feet of the sales team – those well-intentioned front-line soldiers who are responsible to turn your solutions into the bucks that feed the company growth. Indeed, most CEO’s I talk to feel this way – when product and market fit is not happening with enough velocity, or visions of declaring leadership in their market are unrealized, the obstacle standing in the way is always sales.
3 Growth Strategies Healthcare Suppliers Must Get Right to Remain Relevant
Mon, Jul 25, 2022 — The healthcare sector has always been one of constant change, experiencing transformation in technology, policy, and practice on a near regular basis. But the level of uncertainty and complexity since the pandemic hit has put understanding how the business of healthcare has changed on life support. COVID-19 didn’t just make a lot of people sick across the country, it infected the entire U.S. healthcare system itself. In fact, a just released survey of 2,500 nurses shows that 64% are planning to leave the industry. That’s almost a 40% jump from one year ago. Why? 75% said they have experienced burnout since the pandemic began, and half of respondents suffer from trauma, extreme stress, or PTSD.
Why Manufacturers Need Socrates for Growth in H2 2022
Fri, Jul 22, 2022 — The last two years have been unprecedented turmoil for society and the U.S. economy. Supply chain issues, labor shortages, and changes in customer behavior plagued the manufacturing sector. Moreover, most CEOs ask themselves what changes they need to make with interest rate increases and potential economic “whiplash” events that could create significant ripples in the broader economy.
How Financial Services Companies Can Navigate the Expected Economic Downturn
Fri, Jul 22, 2022 — Fears of a recession are widespread as we enter the second half of 2022. Even the whispers of economic depression have started their ascent into the mainstream. This month, J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon told reporters that he still believes a storm of uncertain magnitude is coming for the economy. The risks, he said, "are nearer than they were before. The potential outcome ranges from a soft-landing to something much harder.”