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From Economic Insight to Growth Strategy: What CEOs Should Do Now
At our most recent CEO Growth Talks, I spoke with Taylor St. Germaine, Senior Economist at ITR Economics. The timing couldn’t have been better — the latest GDP numbers had just been released, and Taylor broke down what they mean for CEOs planning growth.
As always, ITR brought a clear and fact-based perspective. The economy is growing. Consumer spending is strong. And while some industries are facing headwinds, opportunities abound for leaders who are ready to act.
But the real question for CEOs isn’t just what the economy looks like. It’s: how do you prepare your business to grow in this environment — and the one coming next?
Growth Hurts. Let it.
Wed, May 14, 2025 — “Don’t Risk Too Little. Don’t Rescue Too Soon” – the growth lesson I learned outside the boardroom. My son once played striker in a school tournament. With minutes left and his team trailing, he broke through the defense and had a clean look at the goal. He hesitated, and the shot went wide.
The Revenue-Ready Marketing Playbook, Part 4: How a Shared Playbook Across Sales and Marketing Unlocks Value
Fri, May 2, 2025 — This is Part 4 of the Revenue-Ready Marketing Playbook, a 4-part series for mid-market CEOs who want marketing to move the needle. You’ve got a sharp Marketing team. An experienced Sales leader. Solid product-market fit. And yet, the customer experience feels disjointed. Campaigns generate leads that go quiet after handoff. Sales calls start from scratch, even when prospects have engaged with marketing content. Messaging shifts between touchpoints and the onboarding experience doesn’t match what was sold.
The Revenue-Ready Marketing Playbook, Part 3: How Marketing Can Deliver Predictable Outcomes
Fri, May 2, 2025 — This is Part 3 of the Revenue-Ready Marketing Playbook, a 4-part series for mid-market CEOs who want marketing to move the needle. In many boardrooms, the prevailing sentiment is "Marketing is a black box - effective in parts, but it's unclear which parts." That kind of uncertainty is surprisingly common. For many growth-stage businesses, marketing still feels like a gamble. You spend, you hope, you wonder if it worked.
The Revenue-Ready Marketing Playbook, Part 2: In a Noisy Market, Make Clarity Your Competitive Edge
Tue, Apr 22, 2025 — This is Part 2 of the Revenue-Ready Marketing Playbook, a 4-part series for mid-market CEOs who want marketing to move the needle. A CEO once said to me, “We know our product delivers real value. Our customers are happy. But when we show up in the market, it feels like we’re saying the same thing as everyone else.” That stuck with me, not just because it was honest, but because it’s common. In crowded markets, sounding the same is the fastest way to become invisible. Buyers tune out. Sales cycles drag. Margins shrink. And despite how strong your actual offering is, you keep getting boxed in as “just another option.”
The Revenue-Ready Marketing Playbook: Why Your Brand Is Your Most Powerful Compounding Asset
Tue, Apr 22, 2025 — This is Part 1 of the Revenue-Ready Marketing Playbook, a 4-part series for mid-market CEOs who want marketing to move the needle. Each chapter explores how to turn brand, positioning, operations, and customer experience into engines for measurable growth.
Waitflation: The Hidden Cost of Economic Paralysis
Fri, Apr 11, 2025 — The New Economic Fog We’re not in a recession. Not in a boom. Inflation isn’t gone, but it’s no longer spiking. And yet, everywhere you look—executives are hesitating. The markets are twitchy, customers are cautious, and leadership teams are frozen in Waitflation: the tense, uncertain space between reaction and resolution.
What Marketing and Sales Executives Can Learn from Each Other
Fri, Mar 28, 2025 — In too many organizations, marketing and sales operate in silos—sometimes friendly, sometimes not. But in today’s fast-moving business landscape, the best-performing companies know that the relationship between all revenue functions – typically the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Chief Sales Officer (CSO) - is not just important. It’s mission-critical.
The Power of the SKO (Sales Kickoff Meeting)
Thu, Feb 20, 2025 — It's that time of year again! A Sales Kickoff (SKO) meeting is a cornerstone for energizing your sales team and aligning them with your company's goals. It sets the tone for the year, fosters collaboration, and provides valuable insights to empower your team to succeed.
The Hidden Costs of Overwhelmed Sales Teams
Fri, Feb 7, 2025 — An alarming insight from Gartner: Overwhelmed sellers are 45% less likely to hit their quota. The culprit? Too many required skills and tech tools meant to "help." Overwhelming sales teams with non-sales tasks and excessive technology can significantly impact performance and profitability. Salespeople burdened with administrative duties and complex tools have less time for core selling activities, leading to decreased sales performance and lower conversion rates.