What’s in a moment? That was the subject when I spoke recently at the “Compete Through Service Symposium” presented by the Center for Services Leadership in cooperation with the ASU W.P. Carey School of Business.  During our session, attendees learned that moments are everything and that they hold the key to excellent service. Here’s how… Read the rest of this entry »

While I am not proud of how some of the leaders at Penn State chose to cover up the wrongdoing of Jerry Sandusky, who during my time as an undergrad there was a pillar of the community, I am proud of how the university is taking the medicine issued by the courts and the NCAA.  It’s not easy to see our beloved Nittany Lion logo next to the words “scandal” and “sanctions” and “ban” and “failure,” but it is what it is. Read the rest of this entry »

I am a fan of sports and always have been, I haven’t always been a fan of basketball, but ever since I moved to Arizona I have been fascinated with the Phoenix Suns.  More specifically, I am fascinated with Steve Nash. To me he exemplifies all of the reasons why people should involve themselves in team environments, whether we’re talking sports, work, school or just life in general.  To me, he’s an excellent athlete, role model, in essence, he is a winning brand unto himself. Here’s what I mean. Read the rest of this entry »

I was never really a big fan of “America’s Got Talent,” and with a 4 and 6 year old, I don’t have much time to watch television. However, I am a fan of Howard Stern, so I was finally compelled to watch.

As I watched a recent episode of “America’s Got Talent,” there was a split second after one of the performances in which Howie Mandel leaned over to Sharon Osbourne and said, in all sincerity, “Now that was a moment.” Howie’s comment got me thinking about “moments.”  What is a moment? Read the rest of this entry »

In light of the news of Steve Jobs’ death, and as I have read more about the “purpose-driven” work environment he created at Apple, I got to thinking about other companies that inspire their employees to a “higher purpose,” like Apple. Are they out there?

For some of you the term “higher purpose” may be a foreign one. What I mean by this is “a reason for being greater than yourself.” In the workplace, it’s feeling like you can’t wait to get to work in the morning to start your day and make a difference. It’s feeling like you want to work harder, contribute more, and challenge yourself to become a better you because it matters.   Read the rest of this entry »

I grew up hearing the verse, “Where your ‘treasure’ is, there your heart will be also,” and I think about this often.  Treasure can mean different things to different people; however, I think many people would replace this word treasure with time and/or money.  I value both of these assets and go to great lengths to protect them for myself, and others.  So much so that when I hear the word FREE my ears perk up like a dog and I search for more details.  This word FREE motivates and excites me as much as saving money with a coupon.  For me, it is a natural high when I can save money on something I like. What surprises me is when great offers, great sales promotions fall flat. Why is that especially during an economic downturn?

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The three key tenants of Heart & Mind® Branding apply to the Apple founder.

With Steve Jobs announcing he is stepping down from his role of CEO of Apple, people are speculating about what made him so powerful, so successful and so iconic. Everything from his off-the-charts intelligence, his insane attention to every detail, his intensity and his relentless micromanagement just to highlight a few.  But I’ll say it is all of these and none of these at the same time. That’s putting too much emphasis on the micro aspects of a macro human being, a total person. Read the rest of this entry »

Call it the product of 20 years of marketing experience. Or maybe it is the clarity that comes only from being a part of great success stories, but I’ve discovered the four keys to success with any marketing program, maybe even any business. They are simple. And unless you possess all of them, your marketing and your resulting growth will be marginal at best, regardless of what ad agency, PR firm or graphic designer you choose. Even a branding company like HEASLEY&PARTNERS can’t bring to fruition the full potential of a company that is missing even one of these vital key success factors. Read the rest of this entry »

Ever wonder what it takes to have a great company—the kind that accomplishes not just great things, but exponentially more great things than other companies year after year?  It just seems like those companies have the magical ingredient, and I would argue, they do.  They have executed on a simple rule that guarantees success.  Yes, guarantees it. Here’s the rule: In every chair, people who care.

Can it really be that simple?  Of course it is.  The hard part is actually creating an environment where people care.  But read on because this article is your pathway to a caring—winning—culture within your company. Read the rest of this entry »

There are days when I wonder what kind of leader I am and whether I’ve found the sweet spot. Everyone is a leader in some aspect of their lives, whether we care to admit it. Even those who shun it because they see it as yet one more responsibility or don’t feel they are up to the challenge.

But the fact remains; life calls on all of us to brazenly take charge and call others to action (particularly in our workplaces). There, leadership comes in the form of things like managing a project team, selling in a new way of doing business, and what often appears the biggest leadership challenge of all–leading a company. But in reality none of these challenges are any harder or easier, bigger or smaller, than another to the person leading. The responsibility feels quite the same regardless.

No matter the level of our leadership or the relative importance of it, within the tasks is the opportunity for greatness. What I mean is that as leaders we have the power to not just get the job done or get our way, but also the power to shape lives. I believe this should be the fundamental charge of any leader because in shaping lives, you get results for the very long term. Read the rest of this entry »