Getting better at getting better is what Rise With Drew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we at PCI are doing on our quest to earning a spot on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
1: What’s the (not so) secret formula to building a great workplace culture?
Last … continue reading
1: The technology team at IMVU agreed to a hard deadline: Six months—180 days—to launch the startup’s product and attract its first paying customers.
“It was a grueling schedule, but we were determined to launch on time,” writes Eric Ries in his book The Lean Startup. As the company’s Chief Technology Officer, he was responsible for meeting the deadline and delivering the app, which would allow users to create … continue reading
The year is 2004. A seventeen-year-old girl is sitting in the office in front of a computer. A group of anxious entrepreneurs is standing behind her. They work for IMVU, a start-up technology company that allows people to create avatars when Instant Messaging.
The girl chooses her avatar and customizes it, deciding how she will look. She says, “Oh, this is really fun,” IMVU’s Chief Technology Officer Eric Ries… continue reading
1: Imagine. We are starting a new company. What are the key ingredients to ensure success? Thorough market research? A good plan? A solid strategy?
“In earlier eras, these things were indicators of likely success,” writes Eric Ries in The Lean Startup. “The overwhelming temptation is to apply them to startups too, but this doesn’t work, because startups operate with too much uncertainty.”
Startups live in a VUCA world: Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity.
“Startups … continue reading
1: Chad Willardson smiled as he read the email. There was a big fish on the line. Actually, not a fish. A whale.
Chad was the founder and CEO of Pacific Capital, a premier, values-driven wealth management firm in Southern California. One of his clients was reaching out with a huge referral.
The prospective client had just sold his business, netting him over $100 million. “For most financial advisors, … continue reading
1: We have three basic psychological needs related to our work:
o Autonomy in how we do our work
o A sense of competence
o Positive and meaningful relationships
These needs are at the heart of what psychologists call Self-Determination Theory.
“Social environments that support these three needs create high levels of intrinsic motivation, psychological and physical wellness, and enhanced performance in all of their people,” write Dan Sullivan… continue reading
Getting better at getting better is what Rise With Drew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we at PCI are doing on our quest to earning a spot on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For.
1: Back in 1999, at PCI, we put forward our long-term vision: One day, … continue reading
“Jer, please tell my new assistant your story.” The Costco buyer made this request to start the meeting.
Jerry Swain, CEO and founder of Jer’s Chocolates, smiled at his VP of Sales. It was done: They were going to land distribution in Costco, one of the biggest whales in all of retailing. Put a fork in it. Book it.
How did Jerry know? Because they weren’t being asked about … continue reading
