In a world where consumers are bombarded with countless brands vying for their attention, what makes a brand truly stand out? It’s not just the logo, the catchy slogan, or the multi-million-dollar ad campaigns. It’s the people. As leaders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs, understanding the pivotal role your people play in brand narrative is essential. TheyContinue reading “The People Behind the Brand: Crafting a Compelling Narrative Through Talent”
Author Archives: Matthew E. Porter
Unacceptable vs. Undesirable: A Crucial Distinction
Over a decade ago, I found myself wrestling with a challenging business decision. A customer, experiencing rapid growth, requested additional services to scale their infrastructure. However, they could not immediately afford it, and they were not entirely sure they would ever be able to afford it. They were in the process of securing more fundingContinue reading “Unacceptable vs. Undesirable: A Crucial Distinction”
Entrepreneurship in My Hometown: Saint Louis’s Spirit of Independence and Neighborly Help
Nestled along the Mississippi’s graceful arcs lies Saint Louis, Missouri. A city I almost left, yet a city that tethered my heartstrings with invisible threads. My wife’s love of the city and the idea of raising a family (near our families) were driving factors in staying. Yet, the very duality I witnessed here – ofContinue reading “Entrepreneurship in My Hometown: Saint Louis’s Spirit of Independence and Neighborly Help”
Life’s Natural Rhythms: Expansion, Contraction, and Concentration
Recently, Gabe asked me if I had any advice before he headed off to college, a question almost every parent looks forward to. After reflecting for a moment, I told him to say, “Yes,” to as many things as possible as he was entering a stage of expansion. I shared with him a belief thatContinue reading “Life’s Natural Rhythms: Expansion, Contraction, and Concentration”
The Art of Writing Effective Board of Director Reports: A Future, Present, Past Narrative
A few years back, a peer saw a copy of a Board of Directors report I submitted as CEO of a company. A Powerpoint presentation accompanied the report, but the report itself had piqued her interest. She specifically wanted to know the reasoning behind the order of topics. Clarity and precision are paramount when communicatingContinue reading “The Art of Writing Effective Board of Director Reports: A Future, Present, Past Narrative”
Unmasking Dissent: Loyalty in Disguise
Breaking the Ice: Bridging Dissent and Loyalty If you’ve ever found yourself holding back a contrary opinion at work, or biting your tongue during a heated family dinner, you’re not alone. The idea of dissent is often shrouded in fear and misunderstanding. However, when I read Ozan Varol‘s telling of Netflix’s 2011 Qwikster saga regardingContinue reading “Unmasking Dissent: Loyalty in Disguise”
Rethinking the December Rush: Why December Strategic Planning Is Probably Ineffective & Lacks Compassion
Every year, the holiday season rolls around, and with it often comes the daunting task of annual strategic planning. Traditionally conducted in December, this practice, upon closer examination, may be less than ideal. Let’s dive into why a rethink may be in order (aka. Why I hate this practice and your team probably does, too.)Continue reading “Rethinking the December Rush: Why December Strategic Planning Is Probably Ineffective & Lacks Compassion”
Forgiveness and Apologies
You don’t wanna know my hurt, yeahLet me guess, you want an apology, probably – “Let You Down”, NF Recently, our family was having a conversation on forgiveness, earning an apology, and accepting an apology. I was making the case that these are related but not synonyms. It opened a discussion about what each isContinue reading “Forgiveness and Apologies”
Evolution of Why
I have read Simon Sinek’s book Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action and watched his Ted Talk a dozen times. The heart of Sinek’s message is that purpose drives people in an organization. Organizations succeed by clearly defining their purpose and deeply aligning people to that purpose. Despite the numerousContinue reading “Evolution of Why”
Prevalent Emotion During These Unprecedented Times
The world is on lockdown. The stock market is volatile. Unemployment has set multiple records and not in a good way. Politicians are acknowledging death. None of that might compare to the deprivation of human connection. We are socially distancing from people we love… or even like. We yearn for human connections beyond those displayedContinue reading “Prevalent Emotion During These Unprecedented Times”