Alanhargreaves

LATEST ARTICLES ( 172 )

• Perpetual Evolution

  The case for whatever works It’s almost half a century since Alvin Toffler published “The Future as a Way of Life” in Horizon magazine. The... Read more

  Posted on 02 April 2013 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• So You Want to Be Disruptive?

  

  Driving business evolution A share market index tracks a basket of stocks. We follow them to see where markets are heading. What we don’t follow so closely is... Read more

  Posted on 18 March 2013 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Getting Most of What You Want

  

  They are feeling the heat too What surprises me most in negotiations is when the other side folds. It comes out of the blue. It doesn’t seem to reflect the... Read more

  Posted on 04 March 2013 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Selling for Introverts

  

  The better half of salesmanship “He’s so gregarious. He’d make a great salesman.” It conjures up the positive, outgoing personality who always gets the order. I... Read more

  Posted on 18 February 2013 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Nobody Knows

  

  Predictions are usually wrong It’s February. We’ve made it through another prediction season. We now know what to expect in 2013. Or do we? Read more

  Posted on 04 February 2013 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Three Things Not to Think About

  

  The advantage of doing nothing Neuroscientists say our brain can only handle about half a dozen things at a time. That’s why our best thinking does not happen a... Read more

  Posted on 11 December 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• What's in the Garage?

  

  Ways to do more with what you’ve got. We were about age nine when my neighbour and I decided to explore the local creek. This required a boat. Read more

  Posted on 27 November 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Three Rules to Stress Test Your Great Idea

  

  Someone is already doing it. Annoying but true. Whenever you come up with a truly great idea, it’s a 99% certainty that someone, somewhere got there before... Read more

  Posted on 12 November 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Reframe Your Business Thinking

  

  The lever you need to press is attitude. We often think we are letting go of old ideas when in reality we are just adjusting our grip. Our lateral notion of... Read more

  Posted on 29 October 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Timing and Luck

  

  Are successful people right, lucky or both? In the mid-1980s, Nobel prize-winning finance professor, William Sharpe addressed the Hong Kong Society of Securitie... Read more

  Posted on 15 October 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• What I Learned at the Olympics

  

  Focus on the now, not the result. My daughter, an equestrian, rode for Australia at the London Olympics. Her campaign, however, started long before that. Read more

  Posted on 02 October 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, LIFE COACH, SPORTS

• Beer Mat Strategy

  

  A few ideas can be better than a lot. What was Steve Jobs first strategic call when he returned to Apple in 1997? According to biographer, Walter Isaacson, he... Read more

  Posted on 18 September 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Management and Regulation

  

  There’s a positive to compliance. A key part of assessing a business acquisition is the “due diligence” process. Few people will buy a... Read more

  Posted on 11 September 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• What You Are Thinking is Not What Will Happen

  

  The problems with planning. Do businesses turn out exactly like the business plan? None of mine did. Even my most sophisticated spreadsheets never produced... Read more

  Posted on 03 September 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Gold Medal Sponsorship

  

  Make it last longer and matter more Sponsorship chews up a lot of dollars. The London Olympic Committee raised around one billion dollars for the 2012 event. Read more

  Posted on 28 August 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Has Anyone Noticed the Good News?

  

  What is this historic stock market chart? It’s looks like a nice ride for any investor. It moves higher over time but not in a straight line. It does so with th... Read more

  Posted on 22 August 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• When You Don't Know What to Do

  

  Sometimes it’s better just to make a decision. We learn the theory of momentum early. Sit on a bicycle that’s not moving and it falls over. Pedal a little and i... Read more

  Posted on 07 August 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Surviving Tough Times

  

  Plus ca change…... Last week, I spoke to a father and son team who run a home furnishing store. Business is tough. There’s plenty of competition.... Read more

  Posted on 31 July 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• The Trouble with Values

  

  Here’s a quote: Good corporate governance practice is an important ingredient in creating and sustaining shareholder value, and ensuring that behavior is... Read more

  Posted on 24 July 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING

• Networking Vs. Network

  

  What does networking actually mean? For many it’s social purgatory; like standing around at a cocktail party feeling like a bunny in the headlights. Everyone... Read more

  Posted on 10 July 2012 BUSINESS, CAREER, ECONOMICS, MARKETING & ADVERTISING