3 Things We Often Miss During Strategic Conversations
When most people think of strategic planning, they usually think of some sort of periodic gathering where a group of people engage in a ritual of deciding where the future
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Why You Need to Put Your Life First
For much of our adult life, we spend more time at work than in any other area of our lives. As a result, we often plan our life around our
The Changing Landscape of Philanthropy
It’s that time of year when we think of giving back – to those we love and to those in need. As I reflected on this topic myself, I was
Generosity of Spirit – A Defining Characteristic
Helping people is at the core of everything Murray Neilson does. A value is a thing or condition people act upon to get and to keep. A value is a vector, a
Word of Mouth is the Most Powerful Form of Marketing
How do you become known? In a digital world, what is marketing? Most people view marketing as a cost. A good approach to marketing starts with the impact you make on
How To Have Effective Networking Conversations
You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want. —Zig Ziglar To get what we want in life, we all need to
The Network Effect
Networks are a major source of wealth creation. In the 20th Century, hierarchical companies dominated the economic landscape. The classic example was the automotive industry. Henry Ford redefined wealth creation
Why Financial Statements Are Important?
Financial management is critical to the ongoing health and vitality of a business. Financial statements are the vital life signs that tell how the business is doing. It is important for
The Blind Spot that Could End It All for Your Business
As trusted advisors, we often learn that many entrepreneurs are running their business cash on cash. It might surprise you to learn that the financial aspects of their business are
A High Performing Team Increases the Quality of Your Own Work
When you change the relationships in your life, you change your life. As a teenager, I played a lot of soccer. There was a period in my life when I would
Strategy Under Uncertainty
In what we call regular times, many of us fall for the “Illusion of Certainty.” Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Turkey Illusion provides the best example that comes to mind. He describes
Community Engagement – Ted Oyler Story
Helping people thrive is at the center of everything that Ted Oyler does. Ted has been a Covenant Group client since 2008. Over the years, we have seen Ted grow personally and
Prepare Yourself for the Post-Pandemic Shift
I’m afraid my children will remember COVID-19 as one of their favorite times because Dad was home. The statement above is etched in my mind as one of the stand-out moments of
Six Counterintuitive Ways of Achieving Your Goals
Goal setting is arguably the most important part of success. When we set goals, however, we often leave out the most crucial part—the process. Most of us don’t achieve most
Conversational Selling Matters More than Ever
Conversational Selling is about a lot more than good conversations, whether in person these days or on Zoom. Why? What's different about conversational selling in today's virtual world? I started in
Why Sales Is Not a Dirty Word?
For many, sales and acts of selling feel slimy. They imagine the stereotypical used car salesman. Other times they think of con artists like the one featured in The Wolf
Four Considerations for Working in a Remote World
Imagine walking through the streets of London at 11 o’clock in the morning. You look up at the towering buildings and they’re empty. They’re so empty you feel it. You
Curate Your Tribe
Each of us has a circle of trusted friends we turn to for advice. We all belong to at least one tribe. In our experience, high performers who are both
How to Thrive in Business and in Life
Networks are a primary source of wealth creation. How do you build a network that allows you to thrive in business and in life? Let me give you an example of
A Simple Question that Can Help You Get Unstuck
“What are you pretending not to know?” “I need to replace Nicole and Seth,” Bill said, without hesitation. With that, Bill articulated something he said he had known for two years. He
Creating Client Capital
For every business, large or small, one of the most important measures of business success appears nowhere on their Balance, Sheet, Income Statement or Cash Flow Statement. It is Client Capital. For
Baking Your Values into Your Business Helps You Bounce Back from Adversity
I was sitting in my new favorite coffee shop, Tampered Press, when the ambient noise typical of such a place was broken by a patron who was very upset with the
Client Satisfaction Is NOT the Most Important Measure
Recently, I took my car in for service. Afterwards, I was asked to complete a Client Satisfaction Survey. For any business, feedback with regard to how satisfied clients are with
Gifts Hidden in Darkness: How Will You Be Remembered, Post COVID-19?
“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” As Mary Oliver, Pulitzer Prize-winning poet points out,