2020: Something to be grateful for

Everyone keeps telling us we’re grieving about the way life used to be but there’s much more to 2020 than grief. Of course, this year brought uncertainty, fear and inconvenience, but it also brought stillness, resilience and gratitude. Take a moment and think about the positive things that happened to you in 2020 that you didn’t

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Thank you, COVID-19

There’s no question this past year has had a profound impact on many of our businesses, and lifestyles, as a result of the coronavirus. Companies downsizing (or going out of business completely), work/school-from-home protocols and procedures, social distancing, facemasks, loss of friends and family, not to mention political and social unrest. Enough already! The German philosopher

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Jim Marshall
Managing change on your sales team

2020 was the year. Your company was going to experience exponential growth. The plans had been meticulously prepared and presented, blessed by your board and applauded by all business unit leaders around the table. Your team and processes were in place, the market was ripe and opportunities seemed limitless. But then, the entire selling landscape

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Jim Marshall
How to do something instead of saying, ‘Let me know if there’s something I can do’

Please know all offers, and intended kindnesses, are appreciated. They are. This is not a message of shame or criticism. Rather, from an etiquette perspective, coming from a person who just experienced being in a position where things being done for me were wonderfully welcomed here’s what I have gathered, learned and want to share.

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Community leaders share how they are stronger than stigma

In my new book, “Stronger Than Stigma. A Call to Action: Stories of Grief, Loss, and Inspiration,” I share the connection several leaders in Tampa Bay have to mental illness, grief, loss and addiction. Writing this book, and knowing the amazing people featured in it, has been one of the most impactful experiences of my

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The 5 Ws of transparency: Meeting audience expectations

It should be obvious, at this point, that we live in a time where consumers and audiences expect brands to be transparent. The idea of transparency, and authenticity, for communications, is at the core of establishing and fostering, relationships that keep your business or brand strong. What does being transparent mean and how does it

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Support early learning to achieve long-term economic recovery

Business leaders are ready to return to work. As we adapt to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines, and welcome back employees and customers, the place childcare holds in our economy should be top of mind. COVID-19 has brought into clear focus how important childcare and early learning are to the business community.

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3 signs your employees are afraid to talk to you 

Consider me your millennial whisperer. It’s official, those of us between 22 and 38 make up the majority of today’s workforce. Pretty soon, the “Zoomers” (Generation Z) will be following close behind. As bold and “woke” as some of us claim to be, we are still riddled with fear; we still need your help. Thankfully,

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Avoid overcorrecting in times of crisis

If you’re a business leader, or sales manager, chances are the occurrences over the past several months were not in your original business plan. Many of us, in fact, probably cannot wait for 2020 to come to an end. The word “crisis” has been on everyone’s lips for quite a while now, but crisis points both to a

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Jim Marshall
The case for an independent cancer care advisor

By Lea Ann Biafora How does one plan and prepare for the aftermath of a cancer diagnosis? Aside from doing your best to live a healthy lifestyle, and retain adequate health insurance, few options exist. Whether you are a patient or a caregiver, the stresses brought on by cancer can overwhelm even the most organized,

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What does your morning routine have to do with your legacy?

When I think about legacy—the impact we have on the world, on our communities, our businesses and our families—it seems so big and all-encompassing. A lifetime of effort, successes and failures, accumulation and preservation of wealth, vision and execution.  Legacy is what we have to show to ourselves, and others, at the end but what

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How to keep your sales organization focused

During this time, when many of us are directly or indirectly dealing with issues related to the global COVID-19 pandemic or, perhaps, financial pressures on the personal and organizational levels, many sales leaders are struggling with the issue of keeping their teams focused. It’s not at all surprising that sales teams can become distracted. The

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Jim Marshall