Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) products are everywhere. They are particularly common in the healthcare industry.
While some products may provide some relief when used properly, I believe the biggest problem created by the MLM industry is their blatant misuse and disregard for job titles.
Continue reading “199 (Potentially Dangerous) Titles Used by MLM and Direct Sales Reps”
We have the power to exert tremendous influence on others.
Sometimes, people use this power to take advantage of those who are vulnerable by exerting tremendous control on their choices and behavior.
Today I want to share some insights about why Multi-Level Marketing companies operate exactly like a cult and how to build risk intelligence to keep yourself safe.
Continue reading “11 Ways Multi-Level Marketing is Like a Cult”
Of the 10 kinds of business models, Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) is one of the most predatory.
MLMs can cause people to get sucked into a system over which they have no control, power, or decision-making ability. Someone who joins an MLM is a contractor (also called a “consultant” or “distributor”) who agree to sell products or services. She or he is totally at the mercy of the parent company; they don’t have any say if things change.
The PESTEL tool is used to evaluate various threats and opportunities in 6 key areas: Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal.
It is typically used as during long-term planning to get a macro (big picture) perspective on issues that could impact the organization. Combined with the SWOT Analysis, this tool can provide incredible insights for risk intelligent decision-making.
Facing the good and bad of the past year takes courage, especially in re-living painful experiences. But self-evaluating the highs and lows in your past year is just the first step.
Sharing your findings with the entire world takes it to a whole new level.
In this post, I’ll talk about the benefits and downsides of making your Year In Review public, and why we’re afraid to fail.
Continue reading “5 Reasons to Share a “Year In Review” of Your Business”
Your strategic plan doesn’t belong in a cabinet like a set of fine china. In my last post, I talked about the many benefits of using a Strategic Planning Framework:
This simple tool answers 3 important questions:
Within these questions are a variety of areas that should be included in your strategic planning process. Let’s look at each of them in more detail.
Continue reading “The Ultimate Strategic Planning Framework Tool: A Detailed Review”
My great-grandmother, like most women in the early 1900s, had two sets of dishes. One was a plain set for everyday family meals, and the other was a very fancy set that she only brought out on special occasions. Each plate, cup, and saucer was decorated with a design of delicate pink roses, curled ivy, and a beautiful gold inlay that encircled the scalloped edges.
She left the set to my grandmother, who then passed it on to my mother, who quickly discovered that fine china with gold detail is no match for the power of a modern dishwasher. The inconvenience of hand-washing every single item (and the risk of chipping or breaking the dishes) was too great. So those heirloom dinner dishes were hidden away in a china cabinet and only emerged on rare occasions.
As a strategic risk expert, I believe many leaders treat their strategic plan like a set of fine china. They know their plan is important; they invest time and money to create it. The final plan is detailed, logical, and beautiful.
Continue reading “The Ultimate Strategic Planning Framework Tool: Introduction”
When you hear the words “Dante” and “Inferno,” your initial thought is probably something like this:
Up until recently, that’s pretty much all I knew about this classic work. But what gems of wisdom are hidden in those lyrical texts? I decided to find out.
Continue reading “Dante’s Inferno From a Strategic Perspective”
A SWOT analysis is a strategic planning tool to identify and fix vulnerabilities in your organization. It allows you to review your company’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Read How Do I Make a SWOT Diagram? to get an overview.
When used properly, the SWOT provides insights about root causes that might be causing negative outcomes. However, it is often treated like a once-and-done process, without any further analysis.
You can get the most out of a basic SWOT Diagram by going deeper, using what I call the Super SWOT.
Watch the video, or read more below:
Continue reading “How Do I Make a Super SWOT Diagram? Using Real Examples [Video]”
The SWOT analysis is a simple tool to identify and fix vulnerabilities in an organization.
When used properly, it provides insights about root causes that might be causing negative outcomes. However, the SWOT is often used as a once-and-done tool without additional analysis and follow-up.
Watch the video, or read more below.
