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When the Founder Is the Rainmaker: How to Scale Without Losing the Spark
In many founder-led businesses, the founder isn’t just the leader—they’re also the best (and often only) rainmaker. They land the big deals. They have the trusted relationships. They know the pitch inside and out because they are the pitch.
It works—until it doesn’t.
As the business grows, this model creates a bottleneck. Every new opportunity depends on one and only person. And it’s the same person every time. But there’s a downside. When that person is also responsible for running the business, mentoring the team, and shaping the vision, something eventually gives.
Top 10 Digital Marketing Missteps
Thu, Aug 1, 2024 — Today digital often seems like the easy way to expand a company’s prospect and lead pool. After all, it takes just minutes to set up an ad account on Google or Facebook. Then you’re good to go, right? Not necessarily. In reality, it’s not as easy as many people think. Marketers are often under intense pressure to get campaigns to work without adequate leadership support or understanding as to how to successfully test digital channels. Others hire agencies without clear knowledge of the strategies and tactics required to drive success and therefore have difficulty holding their agencies accountable.
Defining the Future of C-Level Fractional Support
Thu, Aug 1, 2024 — In the latest CEO Growth Talks episode, Pete Hayes interviews Ellen Wood, CEO, founder, and president of VCFO. Ellen reflects on her 28-year journey pioneering the virtual CFO concept. She discusses the company's growth, overcoming initial skepticism about the fractional model and its acceptance as an industry standard. See full video here.
AI Marketing Trends Every CEO Should Know
Tue, Jul 16, 2024 — As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms the marketing landscape, companies can deploy smarter, faster, and more efficient marketing strategies. With AI tools and capabilities evolving at a breakneck pace, staying on top of the latest trends is crucial for CEOs looking to gain a competitive edge. Based on HubSpot's AI Trends for Marketers report, here are the top AI trends shaping the future of marketing for companies of all sizes and stages.
Hiring at the Right Level: Fractional or Full Time?
Wed, Jul 10, 2024 — Finding the right leadership talent isn't just about filling a title; it's about matching skills and responsibilities to an enterprise's needs. The importance of strategic hiring decisions cannot be minimized. However, putting the right person in the correct position is critical, and sometimes, that may mean something other than a permanent, direct hire.
Creating Compelling Assessments that Drive Value
Tue, Jul 9, 2024 — Does your business need a health checkup? Just as you would not wait for symptoms to turn into a full-blown illness before seeing a doctor, savvy leaders understand the value of regular assessments to keep their organizations healthy and thriving. Assessments are a vital diagnostic tool, revealing strengths, weaknesses, and hidden issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. Much like preventive healthcare, they provide early warnings, allowing leaders to address concerns before they escalate into crises.
99 and Counting Backwards
Tue, Jul 2, 2024 — Out for a walk on a cool May morning, I saw a pickup truck pull alongside. It was Ray from up the street. “Are you around May 31st?” he asked. “I’m having a 99th birthday party.” That’s funny, I thought, Ray can’t be much over 70. “Yep, this one is my 99th. Last year’s party was my 100th. Figured there’s no way I’d ever live to be 100, and I really wanted to have a 100th birthday party. So I did!
The Importance of Customer Empathy in Journey Mapping
Thu, Jun 20, 2024 — In today's hyper-connected world, the customer journey has evolved into a multifaceted landscape shaped by many influences and access to extensive information. As personalization and marketing sophistication continue to advance, it becomes increasingly vital for businesses to acknowledge that understanding the customer journey extends beyond mere assumptions. To navigate effectively, businesses require a nuanced approach that recognizes the inherent complexity of consumer behavior and actively engages in empathetic journey mapping.
What to Do When Your Sales Team Isn’t Delivering – Advice for CEOs
Tue, Jun 11, 2024 — It’s one of the most challenging questions you’ll ever have to ask as a business leader – “why isn’t my sales team delivering the results we need?” Putting a microscope on your team sometimes yields some unpleasant truths, but this exercise is critical when revenue numbers are lacking and the sales pipeline is drying up. Changes need to be made. But before addressing the problem, you need to identify the root causes.
The Untapped Powerhouse: Why CEO Social Media Presence Matters
Fri, Jun 7, 2024 — In today's digital age, consumers and potential employees are increasingly turning to social media to understand the companies they interact with. This extends beyond just a catchy company bio and curated product photos. For private CEOs, social media offers a powerful, yet often underutilized platform to build brand awareness, establish thought leadership, and connect with your target audience on a deeper level.