http://blog.magnt.com Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 25 May 2010 12:28:20 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Every company has the thing they think they're doing, and then the thing they're actually doing. The most classic example are the train companies at the turn of 20th century who thought they were in the train business. Turns out they were in the transportation business. That new-fangled ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/04/what-business-are-you-really-in/ People want to be led. I don't know exactly why. Perhaps it goes back to some weird tribal thing in our DNA. Get us humans in any social setting and we're looking around for the person in charge. I think we get a sense of security ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/03/stand-up-and-lead/ If you work with a team of people conflict is unavoidable. You had expectations of how something would work and those expectations go unmet. Someone makes an insensitive remark that stings just a little too much. A team member does that thing that drives you absolutely bonkers... again... ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/03/conflict-management-rule-1-talk-to-the-person/ There's an old latin inscription that reads "Nemo vir est qui mundum non reddat meliorem." To those of you who don't speak latin that means "What man is a man who does not make the world better?" At Magntize we wonder the same thing about businesses. That's why ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/02/help-us-help-haiti/ Macaroni Grill has their chefs out front so everyone can see their artistry. Certain Japanese grills also make your food right in front of you - complete with knife and fire breathing tricks. The best Starbucks' baristas spin the caramel bottles and shout out orders as they prepare your coffee. ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/02/business-as-theater/ If you're like me, the first thing you do when you get to work in the morning is check email. Nothing morally wrong with this. Most of us do it. However, it's a surefire way to get distracted by the urgent and miss what's most important. ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/02/productivity-tip-start-with-something-big/ The number one unspoken rule at most companies is don't mess up. I agree that you can't run a business with a bunch of people screwing up all freaking day. However, I'd suggest we move this rule down a notch or three. I think this unspoken rule stems ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/01/corporate-rule-1-dont-mess-up/ Most organizations start out lean and mean. They're willing to take risks and try new things. It doesn't take forever to make decisions or change directions. As the market fluctuates and shifts they're nimble enough to go with the flow. They're fighting guerilla warfare style. ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/01/never-grow-up/ Sometimes we think we know what we're trying to communicate when the reality is we don't have a clue. Our speech is titled "Making Money off Social Media" but the reality is that we spend about 30 brief seconds mentioning that and the next thirty minutes passionately describing the in's ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/01/clarity-is-key/ I was chatting with a friend about how this past year I'd noticed the brilliance of the folks around me. They had these insights and moments that were such gold, I would just sit there awestruck. People are like that sometimes right? Beautiful, insightful, thoughtful, creative, and ... http://blog.magnt.com/2010/01/ugly-beautiful-people/