Holiday Wishes and Extraordinary Outcomes

Business Improvement, Operations, Planning

Happy Holidays! I really enjoy the holiday season. Friends, food, gifts – and the annual regathering-mash-up of the Doehring family diaspora. It’s nutty, hectic, stimulating, tiring – and much fun. What’s not to love?  [Also, I’m truly thankful for the underlying meaning – and true reason – for the season itself]. Meanwhile at work, this time of year is always crazy – a strange mix of busy (how will we get all this done)? – and not busy enough (just one more engagement and we’d hit bonus)! It’s this time of year that I’m reminded that all project schedules slip […]

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Wake-Up Calls! Change, Improvement, and the Fast Future Ahead

Business Improvement, Planning

Two weeks ago I delivered an all new presentation – Fast Future! Fifteen Uber-Trends that Will Rock Our World, and What Leaders Must Do to Survive and Thrive on the Road Ahead – at ACEC’s Fall Conference in Las Vegas. In it I review today’s economy and business context, outline the fifteen most important large-scale trends affecting our business and world, and map out a plan of response – for both individuals and organizations.  My goal is to shake things up – to provide a wake-up call, and a real sense of urgency for professional services firm leaders – to […]

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AEC Business Development – A Role, Not a Title

Business Development, Business Improvement, Planning

Have you ever thought about business development in the firm, using a simple equation like this: But if it’s this simple, then why – when you ask, plead, or demand the effort of others – does it rarely work? The answer lies in two parts.  First, it’s wrong to believe that “sales calls” will lead to prospects. It’s occasionally true – but most often not.  Initial calls with existing or new clients track first to leads – our one-way ideas and desires.  These leads must be further nurtured and developed before they become true prospects – opportunities where the interest […]

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AEC Leaders: Are You Moving Forward – Strategically?

Business Improvement, Leadership Development, Planning

Now is the time for leaders to move – with bold vision, aggressive plans, and inspired action – towards a successful, sustainable, and exciting future. That’s what I think. How about you? When the economy turned down in 2008 many leaders froze. Indeed, the magnitude and suddenness of the collapse was halting – and caught most of us by surprise. Stopping or slowing longer-term investments and initiatives made sense, was understandable and predictable, and was – for a time – even defensible. Staying afloat – to live and fight another day – became for many the modus operandi – and […]

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