Season 2

How to Avoid the Wrong Experts — But You’re Not Going to Like It

There are a few things in my industry that I get really fired up about. Near the top of that list is a sneaky little question that clients get asked all the time. And it’s actually the hallmark of an amateur. The question is: “Do you like it?” If you want to avoid the wrong…

Why Hire Experts: Growth

Marketing is the art and science of attracting people to buy our stuff. Seems pretty straightforward on the surface, but anyone who’s tried will tell you it is not that simple in practice. Hence why hire experts is a question. We all need help from time to time. When you are part of a growing…

Case Study: How We’ve Helped Businesses Like Yours

I don’t know about you, but when I’m thinking about change, it helps my brain to see how other people have done it. I hold a good case study up as an example of how I might benefit from similar services. For example, we changed project management software at the beginning of the year. This…

How to Get the Best Value from Your Software Tools

When you think about implementing new software tools, consider that software is 30% tool and 70% how it’s used in your organization. If you’ve worked in a corporate organization and had the pleasure, aka “misfortune,” of implementing new software tools, you probably understand that the consultants employed to implement those tools usually cost more than…

The Tools to Make Breakups Easier

Breakups are hard, and they can be even harder if you’ve left clothes in the closet, toiletries in the bathroom, and your favorite mug in the kitchen cabinet. In this episode of Leverage Your Spark, I’m talking about how to use technology, tools, and processes to make breakups easier so no one has to awkwardly…

Case Study: Stories of Parting Ways

All good things must come to an end, and parting can be such sweet sorrow. However you put it, when working with experts and external agencies, whether the experience was great or terrible, nothing lasts forever. In this episode of Leverage Your Spark, you’ll hear two stories of parting ways with clients. Listen to Season…

You’re Fired! Handling an Unexpected End to a Client-Expert Relationship

In life and in business, there often isn’t a happily ever after. People change roles; companies evolve, get bought, and go out of business; and experts get fired. In this episode, we’re tackling the uncomfortable topic of the unexpected end to a client-expert relationship. Listen to Season 2: Episode 22 Breaking Up Is Hard to…

When the Project Ends: How to Ensure a Smooth Hand-off

You hired the right expert, they were a great fit, they did the work you needed, and now the project is done…. What now? When the project ends, there are still some things to consider. Compared to ongoing consulting or retainers, the end of a project is the easiest and most natural close to an…

Don’t Schedule Unnecessary Meetings; Do This Instead

Unnecessary meetings and excessive emails are personally offensive to me because efficiency and effectiveness are two of my top values. You can avoid pointless emails and meetings when you do this instead. Your colleagues will thank you. Listen to Season 2: Episode 20 Unnecessary Meetings: The Bane of My Existence One of the reasons I…

Hiring the Right Expert (A Case Study)

Transformation is hard and uncomfortable. Sometimes, in the middle of the journey, we aren’t sure we still want to end up in the destination we set out for. It’s even more challenging if we’ve hired someone to help us. This case study is about a pet-focused brand with big aspirations and highlights how hiring the…