Seth Kahan

Competitive differentiation is a form of innovation that is all about getting a bigger buy from your customers. It works by separating yourself from your competition in ways that cause customers to choose you. It is a little more nuanced than it sounds. Here is an example to illustrate. If you are a hardware store […]

Whether your company is international with key relationships in several countries, a global enterprise with worldwide reach, or a local organization interested in doing business beyond your borders, there are a number of countries that deserve your attention. When people talk about international expansion, they are quick to distinguish countries as developed, transitioning, or developing.

An inflection point is a dramatic and decisive shift in your relationship with the market for better or worse. It can be positive, increasing your success, or negative, as you fall out of favor. Because it springs from your relationship to the market, this change comes about one of three ways: (1) you move in

In my upcoming book, Getting Innovation Right, I detail seven activities that give an edge to leaders who want to succeed in the market (who doesn’t?!). One of them is gathering business intelligence, a service I have provided to executive clients since 2000. A good friend of mine, Ken Garrison, is the former CEO of

Last time I wrote I told you how I go off into the wild blue yonder with my son, Gabe every summer. It’s a special time when we both let down our hair so to speak. Except this time I cut my hair off… well, most of it. Ever since I can remember I have

Almost every morning I get up around 6-6:30am. Today I got up at 11. It was the first time in a few years. Some days you’ve just got to take a break. This Thursday I go off into the wild blue yonder with my son, Gabe. I first took him camping when he was two.

Every business owner knows the market can shift on a dime or a headline. Positive inflection points are sometimes generated in response to these changes in market conditions. For innovation to thrive, your foundation must provide both the stability required to weather change as well as the flexibility to jump at sudden advantage. In 2010

A retreat is a quiet or secluded place where you can rest and relax. As I write this I am staying at the Holy Wisdom Monastery just outside Madison, Wisconsin. I came here to work with the woman who is helping me to midwife my next book, Sarah White. She lives close by and we

Take a look at your business from a variety of angles. This includes seeing your operation as your customers and key partners see it. It will help you know what is non-negotiable and what you can change. Shifting perspective is about understanding why people do business or join forces with you. If you do not

Being innovative in today’s environment means taking adverse conditions and finding ways to use their momentum to your advantage, harnessing their movement and direction to fuel your growth. Imagine if you could take all the frustration and time spent coping with and literally harness it to propel you to a new level of performance. Wouldn’t