Category Archives: Leadership & Coaching

Is Apple’s Secret Culture Really the Way to Go?

Source: Hachette Book Group

Apple has such a wonderful reputation and so much cool marketing that I was shocked to read details about its secretive corporate culture.

It flies in the face about everything I’ve been taught, believe and have seen work during my business career.

Consider these insights from Adam Lashinsky and his new book, Inside Apple:  How America’s Most Admired – and Secretive – Company Really Works.  Lashinky’s book excerpt recently appeared in Fortune. Continue reading

You Can Do It – Kipling’s Prescription for Success

I was recently introduced to Kipling’s “If” poem, and its theme is apropos for my last post of 2011.

So, I’ll spare you the predictions and Top 10 lists that you can get everywhere else.  Instead, watch this short video and draw out what makes sense for you in your professional and personal life about perseverance, leadership, inspiration, and as my Little League baseball coach Mr. Jim Ake used to preach, The Three Ds:  dedication, desire and determination.

Best wishes for a healthy and terrific 2012.

Headline

Don’t wait until the end of each year to engage in a bit of personal assessment and introspection.

Harvey Chimoff is a marketing and general management executive who defines and develops marketing capabilities in changing environments, particularly for marketing organizations in transition. He is a pragmatic go-to-market strategist and planner who delivers real implementation in B2B and B2C operations. Contact Harvey at hchimoff@gmail.com.

3 Innovation Thought-Starters

If you really want to challenge thinking and promote new ideas, get in the habit of asking ”Why” and “What If” more often.

iStockphoto.com

We’ve all been there.  Nothing pops the balloon of creativity and enthusiasm faster than hearing some version of these dreaded words:  ”that’s the way we’ve always done it.”  Of course it’s infuriating.  More importantly, most of the time the result is a stifling of idea generation and the development of the “I’ll just keep that to myself” way of doing things.  The next time you’re in that situation, try to respond with Why or What If.

Here are three ideas that can help overcome the “we’ve always done it this way” syndrome, and better yet, foster a forward-looking, innovative culture and mindset. Continue reading

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council Publishes H. Chimoff Article

The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council is dedicated to high-level knowledge exchange, thought leadership and personal relationship building among senior corporate marketing leaders and brand decision-makers across a wide range of global industries.

Harvey Chimoff’s articleMake Strategic Changes from Position of Strength, Not Weakness, is featured in the August issue of Marketing Magnified, the CMO Council’s monthly online journal. Continue reading