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The Mindsets That Move Small Businesses Forward

By Sue Foley and Jordan Wood | July 24, 2026 |

Strategy, systems, and processes make up much of what a business is and can become. However, they are not the only factors. It’s also shaped by mindsets. The way leaders think, respond, communicate, and make decisions directly impacts how the rest of the organization functions. This is especially true for small and mid-sized businesses, where…

How to Build Problem Solvers Instead of Problem Reporters

By Kevin Chern | July 16, 2026 |

In a high-stakes legal firm, a junior associate approached the managing partner with a problem: a client’s contract contained a clause that could expose them to financial risk. The associate explained the issue in detail and waited for instructions. Instead of giving an immediate answer, the managing partner responded with a simple question: What do you think?…

Why Quiet Innovation Gives Businesses an Edge

By Kevin Chern | July 15, 2026 |

When people think of innovation, they often imagine something loud or flashy. But that isn’t always the case. Some of the most impactful ideas and strategies are quietly developed behind the scenes. These subtle yet powerful innovations help businesses thrive, adapt, and seize opportunities without making a big show. This is what we call innovation undercover: the…

When Strategic Guidance Becomes a Business Necessity

By Kevin Chern | July 14, 2026 |

“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” — Helen Keller Vision is a tricky thing. Sometimes it comes in the form of a sharp idea, a clear goal, or an ambitious mission. But other times, especially when you’re knee-deep in operations, hiring chaos, and margin pressure, it slips quietly…

Stop Paying Your Vendors Early To Make More Money

By Jordan Wood | July 8, 2026 |

Business owners spend a lot of time thinking about profit, but far fewer stop to examine how money actually leaves the business. Recently, Michael Greene and Caleb Coke of ClearView Spend Solutions joined Kevin Chern on the MindShare podcast to discuss payment strategy, a costly blind spot for many small and midsize companies. Their message…

ICP First: The Strategic Foundation for Smarter Growth

By Sue Foley | June 24, 2026 |

“Don’t count the people you reach; reach the people who count.”— David Ogilvy In the rush to launch, many founders skip the most foundational step: build an ICP (your Ideal Customer Profile). It seems obvious, almost too simple. But ignoring it means misalignment that can become impossible to unwind. Working with companies navigating product-market fit,…

Evolve or Go Extinct: Legacy Thinking Could Be Holding You Back

By Kevin Chern | June 15, 2026 |

In the wild world of business, staying still is like wearing concrete boots in quicksand. It’s only a matter of time before you’re stuck, sinking, and surpassed by faster, more agile competitors. Legacy thinking, the practice of sticking with outdated methods just because they used to work, is the T. rex of the corporate world:…

Scaling Smarter: How to Grow Without Draining Your Team

By Kevin Chern | June 12, 2026 |

“Growth is never by mere chance; it is the result of forces working together.”— James Cash Penney, Founder of J.C. Penney I once advised a tech company that had just crossed $50 million in annual recurring revenue. On the surface, everything looked stellar. Investors were satisfied, customers were renewing, and the team was expanding. But…

Decision Paralysis in Business: How to Choose the Right Vendor and Keep Your Company Moving Forward

By Kevin Chern | June 4, 2026 |

In the world of business, the stakes are always high when it comes to choosing strategic partners and vendors. A wrong decision can lead to significant financial losses, operational inefficiencies, and reputational damage. But what happens when the fear of making the wrong choice becomes so overwhelming that business owners and decision-makers find themselves frozen,…

Hang on. That’s not a growth strategy.

By Sue Foley | June 3, 2026 |

Field Note 01: When plans look confident, I look underneath. I’ve spent close to 30 years working inside marketing, sales, product, partnerships, customer retention, revenue systems, and executive decision-making. Scary to write that number down (and also rude of time, if I’m honest). Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the patterns I’ve seen. The…

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