April 24th, 2025 Doug Thorpe
In today’s dynamic business landscape, small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) face unique challenges that require both effective administration and management. While these terms are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, understanding their distinct functions and how they complement each other can be crucial for business success, especially as we navigate the evolving business environment of […]
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April 23rd, 2025 Doug Thorpe
Have you ever asked someone to do something, walked away, and then returned to find the result wasn’t at all what you had in mind? Or maybe you’ve been on the receiving end – working hard on a project only to discover your boss or client had a completely different vision of the finished product? […]
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April 22nd, 2025 Doug Thorpe
In today’s rapidly evolving workplace, a new leadership paradigm is emerging—one that requires skills beyond traditional management approaches. I call this “orchestration leadership,” and like a conductor guiding a symphony orchestra, today’s leaders must harmonize a diverse ensemble of talents, including both human colleagues and artificial intelligence. The Conductor’s Perspective Think about what a conductor […]
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April 17th, 2025 Doug Thorpe
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, a profound shift is occurring that’s comparable to the industrial revolution – but at lightning speed. Artificial intelligence is no longer just a fancy tool or competitive advantage; it’s becoming a fundamental part of the organizational talent stack. For business leaders, this isn’t simply about adopting new technology – […]
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April 7th, 2025 Doug Thorpe
There’s a movement sweeping through business schools and investment firms. It’s called “Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition” (ETA). Young, ambitious MBA graduates and career-changers armed with investor backing are hunting for established small businesses to buy. They study spreadsheets. They calculate ROI. They create elaborate acquisition strategies and funding models. They attend workshops on how to find […]
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April 3rd, 2025 Doug Thorpe
Culture vs Strategy: A Guide for Business Leaders The late management guru Peter Drucker famously said, “Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” While this quote has become something of a business cliché, its enduring popularity speaks to a fundamental truth: even the most brilliant strategy will fail if your organizational culture doesn’t support it. However, Drucker’s […]
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April 2nd, 2025 Doug Thorpe
In today’s fast-paced business environment, it’s astonishing how many companies—from small startups to established mid-sized businesses and even some larger organizations—either ignore strategic planning altogether or treat it as a perfunctory exercise. Despite the clear benefits of looking ahead and creating roadmaps for future growth, many business leaders find themselves trapped in the cycle of […]
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March 25th, 2025 Doug Thorpe
There is an invisible wall in the business world. It’s the wall between management and leadership; being a good manager and becoming a great leader. People can spend an entire career and never break through that wall. The wall is not about equal opportunity, hiring practices, promotion or selection. Nor is it about gender or […]
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March 11th, 2025 Doug Thorpe
The news cycle is a relentless beast. Political debates rage, social tensions simmer, and the weight of “big picture” events can feel crushing. It’s easy to get swept away by the current of national discourse, to feel like a tiny boat tossed about in a vast, unpredictable ocean. The political climate, particularly in the United […]
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March 5th, 2025 Doug Thorpe
Where it all started I’ve always been that kid who needed to understand how things worked. Not just on the surface – I mean really understand. While other kids were content playing with their toys, I was the one with a screwdriver in hand, carefully dismantling them to see what made them tick. (And yes, […]
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