Bold Business Minds

The Digital Transformation Decision: Your Options and Their Costs - A Critical Guide to Building Your Digital Strategy The six chapters I've outlined dissect the strategic crossroads companies face when embarking on digital transformation. Each path offers distinct promises and pitfalls.  The "best of breed" approach risks complex integration woes, while outsourcing exposes you to cultural friction and potential quality compromises.  Hiring digital experts can run into issues with internal resistance, while consultants should be catalysts, not permanent fixtures.  The allure of replicating competitors holds hidden customization costs, and building an in-house software department demands a careful assessment of your willingness to accept the risks inherent in developing a non-core competency.  It's a crucial decision, and there's no single "right" answer for everyone. Chapter: The "Copycat" Approach – Shortcuts and Risks Mimicking the competitio...

Not all of these movies cast the sales profession in the best light. Few of them tie directly to the work we do today of engaging prospects and building relationships in the digital space. But as you watch these heralded classics, you’re bound to come away with some insight and food for thought. At the very least, you’ll have a stomach full of popcorn and candy. Now there’s an easy sell. The movie " Trading Places ", a classic comedy from 1983, is not just a source of entertainment but also a treasure trove of lessons for sales professionals and business strategists. The film's plot revolves around a bet that leads to the swapping of lives between the street-savvy Billy Ray Valentine and the affluent Louis Winthorpe III. As the story unfolds, it offers insights into the world of trading, sales, and the importance of adaptability in business. Here are some key sales lessons from "Trading Places": Understand the Market: The climax of the movie showcases a brillia...

The Digital Transformation Decision: Your Options and Their Costs - A Critical Guide to Building Your Digital Strategy The six chapters I've outlined dissect the strategic crossroads companies face when embarking on digital transformation. Each path offers distinct promises and pitfalls.  The "best of breed" approach risks complex integration woes, while outsourcing exposes you to cultural friction and potential quality compromises.  Hiring digital experts can run into issues with internal resistance, while consultants should be catalysts, not permanent fixtures.  The allure of replicating competitors holds hidden customization costs, and building an in-house software department demands a careful assessment of your willingness to accept the risks inherent in developing a non-core competency.  It's a crucial decision, and there's no single "right" answer for everyone. Chapter: Building In-House – The DIY Temptation The idea of creating your own software d...

This article outlines an open book outsourcing model focused on transparency and cost-effectiveness. Our approach meticulously calculates overhead costs and distributes them equitably across productive resources. By combining this with transparent accounting of direct monthly costs and a standard markup, we deliver pricing that accurately reflects operational efficiency. This open book methodology fosters trust and accountability in our outsourcing partnerships, empowering clients to make informed decisions based on clear, data-driven insights. Intro The cost-plus methodology is a pricing strategy that businesses use to ensure all costs are covered while also securing a profit margin. This method involves adding a standard markup to the sum of direct costs, which include materials and labor, and overheads, which encompass all other operational expenses. The markup percentage is typically predetermined and reflects the desired profit margin. By using this approach, a company can set pri...

The Digital Transformation Decision: Your Options and Their Costs - A Critical Guide to Building Your Digital Strategy The six chapters I've outlined dissect the strategic crossroads companies face when embarking on digital transformation. Each path offers distinct promises and pitfalls.  The "best of breed" approach risks complex integration woes, while outsourcing exposes you to cultural friction and potential quality compromises.  Hiring digital experts can run into issues with internal resistance, while consultants should be catalysts, not permanent fixtures.  The allure of replicating competitors holds hidden customization costs, and building an in-house software department demands a careful assessment of your willingness to accept the risks inherent in developing a non-core competency.  It's a crucial decision, and there's no single "right" answer for everyone. Chapter: The Outsourcing Mirage Faced with digital complexities, outsourcing appears all...

Not all of these movies cast the sales profession in the best light. Few of them tie directly to the work we do today of engaging prospects and building relationships in the digital space. But as you watch these heralded classics, you’re bound to come away with some insight and food for thought. At the very least, you’ll have a stomach full of popcorn and candy. Now there’s an easy sell. The movie "Wall Street" is not just a cinematic experience but a source of valuable sales lessons that can be applied in the real world. The film's portrayal of the high-stakes financial world and its charismatic characters provides a backdrop for understanding the complexities of sales and the importance of ethical considerations. One of the key lessons from "Wall Street" is the significance of training and continuous development . The character Gordon Gekko, despite his questionable methods, emphasizes the need for relentless pursuit of knowledge and skill enhancement. This se...

Not all of these movies cast the sales profession in the best light. Few of them tie directly to the work we do today of engaging prospects and building relationships in the digital space. But as you watch these heralded classics, you’re bound to come away with some insight and food for thought. At the very least, you’ll have a stomach full of popcorn and candy. Now there’s an easy sell. "Jerry Maguire" is more than just a memorable film from the '90s; it's a treasure trove of lessons for sales professionals and anyone looking to succeed with integrity in the business world. The movie follows the journey of a sports agent who learns that personal relationships, passion, and ethical conduct are the cornerstones of a successful career. One of the key takeaways from Jerry Maguire's story is the importance of knowing oneself and building personal relationships . The character Dicky Fox famously says, "The key to this business is personal relationships." Th...

The Digital Transformation Decision: Your Options and Their Costs - A Critical Guide to Building Your Digital Strategy The six chapters I've outlined dissect the strategic crossroads companies face when embarking on digital transformation. Each path offers distinct promises and pitfalls.  The "best of breed" approach risks complex integration woes, while outsourcing exposes you to cultural friction and potential quality compromises.  Hiring digital experts can run into issues with internal resistance, while consultants should be catalysts, not permanent fixtures.  The allure of replicating competitors holds hidden customization costs, and building an in-house software department demands a careful assessment of your willingness to accept the risks inherent in developing a non-core competency.  It's a crucial decision, and there's no single "right" answer for everyone. Chapter: The Illusion of "Best of Breed" In pursuit of a bulletproof digital s...

Are the big professional services companies are having real sales forces or they are using technical people for sales. It is just like I would use my programmers to sale software solutions. Would that work? Are you wondering if the big professional services companies have real sales forces or if they rely on technical people for sales? This is an important question to ask, especially if you are considering hiring them for your business needs. In this blog post, I will explore the pros and cons of both approaches and share some insights from my own experience in the industry. First, let's define what we mean by real sales forces and technical people. Real sales forces are those who have specialized training and skills in selling products or services, such as marketing, communication, negotiation, and customer relationship management. Technical people are those who have specialized training and skills in delivering products or services, such as engineering, programming, design, a...