This year marks our 75th Anniversary. To celebrate, we’re publishing 75 stories about members of our community. Linda Gorchels has served as a CPED instructor for the past 30 years teaching in the marketing and …
Finance, Business Acumen & Supply Chain
What’s More Important than Profit?
By: Dan Topf Cash is the life blood of any business. Cash matters. Cash is King. Cash may be more important than profit. According to a New York Times article on the cause of business failures, …
Take a Strategic Approach to Evaluating Your Sales Ecosystem
By: Harvey Bergholz One lesson I’ve drawn from working with over 40 different sales organizations is the importance of sales execution in a well-developed business ecosystem. Picture a glass bubble with a fully enclosed habitat …
Costs of Innovation Must be Weighed Against Standing Still
By: Mike Mitchell When faced with the decision of whether or not to invest in an innovative idea, managers often measure the cost of the incremental investment. That is, the cost of investing in the …
Why It’s Critical to Have Sound Financial Acumen
By: Ann Martel Warren Buffet once said, “It’s only when the tide goes out that you learn who’s been swimming naked.“ This advice from an American business magnate and investor is a pretty valid reason …
You Won’t Survive as a Commodity. Differentiate on Value!
By: Dan Topf It’s been several months since State Fair season. By now my waistline is back to normal. However, I was inspired as I ate State Fair Squares, Cornbrats, Tiramisu on a Stick, and …
Know the Relationship Between Price and Volume
By: Dan Topf “Wow! That’s sticker shock!” Who hasn’t felt sticker shock when shopping these days? It’s almost like some merchants are insulting you with their prices. Recently, I paid as much for a single …
It’s More than Profit – The Circuit of Capital
How Business Acumen Can Deliver Real Business Impact By: Dan Topf Recently, a friend invited me to join a meeting of the Practical Farmers of Iowa. Being an Iowa farm boy, I thought I would …