40 Strategy Blog

Do you ever feel like YOU are the bottleneck preventing growth within your organization? Unfortunately, it’s a common mistake business owners make every day: getting stuck in the weeds, becoming the “linchpin,” and slowing down growth.    But there is a better way — one that gets you back into the strategic leadership seat, and that gets your organization back on track. Our guest this week is an expert in helping business owners make that shift (and she’s had to do it herself, too). Isabelle Mercier-Turcotte is a “no-nonsense” dynamo, born to catapult heart-centered entrepreneurs and business leaders to build impactful brands, business and lives. She’s also one of the few repeat guests on the Measure Success Podcast.   Listen to the full episode for more on how to build a strategy that will get you from where you are now to where you want to go, how to establish a deeper “why” for your goals, the art and science of delegation, and why Isabelle swears by a “gambling fu...

If you’ve ever had a strategic initiative fail at your organization and thought to yourself, “What am I doing wrong as a leader?” this episode is for you.  The truth is, most leaders end up with several failed strategies under their belt. The trick is to stop making the same mistakes and lean into some best practices for strategic planning that *actually* work.  There’s no one better to teach leaders how to build that foundation and grow through strategy than our latest guest. Jim Gitney, the Founder and CEO of Group50® Consulting has 45 years of corporate and consulting experience working with over 200 companies in guiding them toward double-digit top line and bottom line growth.  Listen to the full conversation for more on the top mistakes business owners make when it comes to successful strategic initiatives, what the “business hierarchy of needs” is (and what CEOs can learn from it), the downsides of having too many goals, how to align compensation structures in a ...

Our latest guest, Ken Hannaman, certainly hasn’t gone down the “traditional” route in life. Even though he was a decent student as a teenager, he dropped out of high school. But it’s what he’s done in the years since — moving all the way up to corporate leadership positions at some of the most recognizable names in restaurants — that makes his journey unique.    Ken is the Founder and Possibility Mindset Coach at Ungraduated Living, as well as a corporate executive leader of 400+ restaurants.    Listen to the full conversation for more on Ken’s journey after dropping out of high school, why a business’s success will almost always hinge on one specific metric, the top reasons people don’t reach their goals, how to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, and more.   Here’s a Glimpse of What You’ll Learn:    How Ken has not followed the “typical life pattern,” including his journey to “abundance” after dropping out of high school  ...

Corporate gift giving can often feel stale, depersonalized, and obligatory. But our latest guest, President, co-founder, and Chef Lucia E. Robles, is on a mission to change that — and help companies build better relationships with those they work with. Lucia also knows a thing or two about building great client relationships through top-notch customer service. As the owner of a luxury B2B gourmet gift company, it’s a cornerstone of her business.    Lucia is a pastry chef turned business owner, a Le Cordon Bleu graduate, who is the president and co-founder of the high-end luxury B2B gourmet gift company, Lucia & Co. Her firm makes consistent client appreciation gifting possible with their customizable auto done-for-you gift plans, and specializes in working with professionals who have compliance sending and spending regulations.   At 40 Strategy, we’re also a client of Lucia & Co. — we can vouch for their excellent customer service and gifts with a personalized...