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Category: Lessons Learned

Tenacity Is Inneffective Failure

November 11, 2018 Matt Sparks

Tenacity is ineffective failure. That is, if we keep pushing and working hard on our projects until we’re successful, paradoxically…

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Understanding Is a Spectrum

November 10, 2018 Matt Sparks

Understanding is not binary, yes or no, understood or not understood. Understanding exists on a spectrum with many shades of…

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Put Session Info on Your Business Cards

November 9, 2018 Matt Sparks

When presenting at a conference like SXSW, make business cards with your session info on them, including the session title…

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Love Is Not a Zero-Sum Game

November 8, 2018 Matt Sparks

Natalie Portman recently gave an inspiring speech in which she said: Many men are behaving like we live in a…

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Jobs Are Always Side Hustles

November 7, 2018 Matt Sparks

Never be duped into thinking that working for another person is a good, reliable, long-term option. We’ll never be that…

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Always Have a Project with Your Partner

November 6, 2018 Matt Sparks

In order to maintain a strong relationship over the long-term, always work on a project together. Raising a child is…

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Everyone a CEO Hires Wants to Be CEO

November 5, 2018 Matt Sparks

Every person a CEO hires wants their job. They all think they could do a better job and deserve to…

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Influence Is More Important than Authority

November 4, 2018 Matt Sparks

Influence is more important than authority. Sure, we can tell subordinates what to do, but can we influence, educate, and…

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What Can We Fix for $1000?

November 3, 2018 Matt Sparks

It’s good to periodically ask our employees what we can fix for $1000 or $10,000. They’ll nearly always have ideas…

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Hiring is a Long-Term Commitment

November 2, 2018 Matt Sparks

Hiring is a long-term commitment. Don’t hire without a long-term commitment, even if we have a strong short-term need. Further,…

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People Leave Managers

November 1, 2018 Matt Sparks

People don’t leave companies. They leave managers. If we want to understand why people are leaving our company, we need…

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We’re the Villain

October 31, 2018 Matt Sparks

When we wonder why no one is on board with our idea or plan, it’s because we’re the villain. We’re…

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Mentors Don’t Look Like Mentors

October 30, 2018 Matt Sparks

We often have a low opinion of our mentors when we first meet them. We might not recognize them as…

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People Aren’t Resistant to Ideas

October 29, 2018 Matt Sparks

People aren’t resistant to ideas, they want to be heard. If we’re trying to convince or persuade someone, we can…

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Minimize the Trauma Effect

October 28, 2018 Matt Sparks

All change of any kind results in a trauma effect. The effect could be as mild as someone saying to…

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Presenteeism Costs More Than Absenteeism

October 27, 2018 Matt Sparks

Presenteeism is far more costly than absenteeism, as measured in terms of lost productivity, damaged relationships, infesting company culture, and…

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The Best Way to Prepare a Talk

October 26, 2018 Matt Sparks

The best way to prepare a talk is to provide the information you want to tell yourself three years ago.

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There Are No Ordinary Moments

October 25, 2018 Matt Sparks

We can learn from any experience, even the most ordinary of moments. This is because there are no ordinary moments.…

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Positive Messaging with the Theory of Negativity

October 24, 2018 Matt Sparks

The Theory of Negativity for marketing is like the law of attraction plus reverse psychology. It’s where a company’s brand,…

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Frequency Affectation for Online Marketing

October 23, 2018 Matt Sparks

Sales gurus often claim it takes seven touch-points to make a sale for many real life sales transactions (as opposed…

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