Blog
What Would Peter Drucker Think of Your ICP?
TL;DR Investors’ first question is always your Ideal Customer Profile (ICP). If you can’t answer crisply, nothing else matters. Most teams treat ICP as one question, but it’s really three: WHAT do you provide? WHO must have it now? WHY do they choose you over alternatives? Mis-alignment on any leg stalls growth—marketing targets the wrong … Continue reading What Would Peter Drucker Think of Your ICP?
Use the IntelliVen Operations Advisor GPT to GET CLEAR and ALIGN
IntelliVen Manage to Lead tools now run on AI. Meet the IntelliVen Operations Advisor (IVOA) GPT. Tap into your familiar Mandate, WHAT-WHO-WHY, and Change Framework tools right inside ChatGPT—guided by our AI-trained Manage to Lead logic. It’s free for now—try it today: Go to: intelliven.com and open the RESOURCES menu tab. Select: IVOA (you may … Continue reading Use the IntelliVen Operations Advisor GPT to GET CLEAR and ALIGN
Don’t go to the conference stupid!
While it’s possible that a qualified sales prospect might be seated next to you at a conference session or visit your booth, relying solely on chance encounters isn’t a smart strategy. The odds are just too slim to make random interactions a primary reason for attending. The true value of attending an industry conference multiplies … Continue reading Don’t go to the conference stupid!
Timeless Leadership Lessons for Success
Certain principles stand out as fundamental to achieving sustained success in leadership and team performance. They offer practical guidance to help leaders, teams, and organizations reach their potential to perform and grow. Here are ten such principles to apply for long-term growth and performance: Complement your strengths with those of others. No one achieves much … Continue reading Timeless Leadership Lessons for Success
Selling Your Company: Ten Lessons for a CEO-Owner
While selling your company can be exhilarating, it’s also fraught with potential missteps. A savvy CEO-owner understands that careful preparation and discipline are crucial in turning a potential triumph into a true success, rather than a costly disappointment. These ten tips, distilled from years of experience on both sides of deals, won’t guarantee success—but they … Continue reading Selling Your Company: Ten Lessons for a CEO-Owner
Why It’s Hard to Keep Three Things in Mind at Once—and How W-W-W Makes It Possible
Leaders and teams often juggle multiple priorities at once, but maintaining focus on three completely different things simultaneously—especially for extended periods—is much harder than it seems. This challenge isn’t just anecdotal; it’s rooted in how our brains process information. And this is precisely why frameworks like W-W-W (WHAT-WHO-WHY) are so critical, yet often underutilized. The … Continue reading Why It’s Hard to Keep Three Things in Mind at Once—and How W-W-W Makes It Possible
W-W-W and Go-to-Market Fit: Essential Partners for Success
As organizations grow, leaders are often faced with strategic questions that may seem similar but address different parts of the business. One question that often comes up is whether frameworks like W-W-W (WHAT-WHO-WHY) and concepts like go-to-market fit are two ways of addressing the same challenge, or if they are fundamentally different. Given the increasing … Continue reading W-W-W and Go-to-Market Fit: Essential Partners for Success
Understanding Two Perspectives: Differentiating the MtL WHY and Sinek’s Why
In business and leadership, understanding your “Why” is pivotal for success and meaningful connections. This newsletter compares two distinct perspectives—the MtL WHY and Simon Sinek’s Why—that drive your organization’s purpose and strategy. The MtL WHY: Understanding Your Customer The Manage to Lead (MtL) WHY is based on the principles outlined in the book Manage to … Continue reading Understanding Two Perspectives: Differentiating the MtL WHY and Sinek’s Why
How to run a meeting.
Effective meeting management increases organization performance and efficiency. Conversely, poorly managed meetings drain resources and hinder progress. This post explores the three stages of a successful meeting, outlines key meeting roles, and provides strategies to develop and implement a robust meeting plan that enhances the likelihood of success. Stages of an Effective Meeting All meetings … Continue reading How to run a meeting.
Business Writing Tips
Collected from various sources over a lifetime, these tips will help you write clearly and avoid misunderstandings: Writing Style Use present tense. Avoid words ending in -ing, -ly (e.g., really), or -y (e.g., very). Avoid words with a “z” (e.g., utilize). Do not use contractions. Frame points positively. Avoid hedging language like “possibly,” “perhaps,” or … Continue reading Business Writing Tips
Contract & Govern: The Keys to Leadership Success
A leader’s success hinges on two critical responsibilities: Achieving clarity about what they want from each team member. Effectively communicating their clarity. Too often, leaders neglect to take the time to define their expectations, leading to confusion and misalignment within the team. Stephen Covey’s principle of “Begin with the End in Mind” underscores the importance … Continue reading Contract & Govern: The Keys to Leadership Success
Ensuring Progress on Strategic Initiatives Amid Daily Pressures
A common challenge faced by leaders is the struggle to advance strategic initiatives due to the overwhelming demands of day-to-day responsibilities. This issue often arises because initiatives are viewed as discretionary tasks rather than integral components of job roles. Addressing this requires a shift in perception and management strategy to ensure that strategic objectives are … Continue reading Ensuring Progress on Strategic Initiatives Amid Daily Pressures