Subscribe to any business mags?

I do (much to my wife’s chagrin. She insists the ever growing stacks of glossy paper are just that more detritus, further clutter up our lives – and maybe she’s right ;-).

Print is Dying – But it Feels So Good!

Or course I realize print pubs are dying (the entire industry has already careened off a cliff and the final fiery crash is a foregone conclusion). But I still enjoy the tactile sense of a physical publication. Carting the slowly crumpling wad of slick paper from room to room.
Paging through a recent issue as I ride the Stairmaster at LA Fitness. Stuffing two or three in my bag where they lay in wait, ready to spring into action in moment of downtime.
eReaders are fine for books (some, ultimately disposable books I never want to refer to again), but they just don’t work for publications.

Education + Inspiration

Most importantly, business magazines are a huge source of education and inspiration. They keep me up to date on the latest trends and changes in the business landscape, not to mention offering invaluable insights from a host of writers FAR smarter than I.
And can’t tell you how many marketing ideas, promotional concepts and genius blog topics have sprung to life from business mag articles, interviews and profiles.
One such lightning bolt of inspiration came from a recent Inc Magazine profile of Evan Williams.
Williams invented Blogger, the free blogging platform now owned by Google, co-founderTwitter (where he served as CEO for a time), and now heads up Medium, a free publishing platform.
In the profile, Williams shared some of the toughest leadership challenges he faced while running a couple of recent history’s biggest tech companies.

Leadership & Marketing Converge

And it just so happens Williams’ leadership insights form the basis of three valuable marketing lessons (who woulda thunk?!)
So here’s we can learn from this one-time Twitter CEO…

Leveraging Collaboration is Critical

Though presidential hopeful Donald “The Donald” Trump (America’s first carnival barker for President) would have us believe command and control in the key to successful leadership, any good leader worth his sea salt knows otherwise.
Williams collaborated with partners in founding all of his ventures. And brought in key teammates to fill-in knowledge gaps, and help build his companies into powerhouse properties.
As a small business owner, you may not have the time or expertise to manage or implement marketing. And hey, there’re only so many hours in the day, right? All that tantalizing Netflix original programing isn’t going to watch itself!?
But seriously, this is why collaboration is critical. Leaning on, or bringing in, employees to help strategize, create and implement marketing campaigns is must to grow your business.
If you’re a solo-operator or don’t have the resources to take on marketing savvy employees, look to professional colleagues and industry friends. This group represents an enormous practical knowledge-base. And one you should definitely turn to for advice and support.
Failing any of the aforementioned avenues, it’s time to consider hiring a freelancer. Bringing a qualified pro in off the bench to fill-in your knowledge gaps. Someone like, oh, say… me!

Cultivating Trust is Imperative

Williams cited failing to cultivate trust among employs as one of his biggest leadership mistakes.
The lack of trust Williams referred to wasn’t borne from lying or cheating or any misrepresentation. It was due merely to a lack of communication.
Williams discovered whilst fighting in out in the corporate trenches as an inexperienced leader that employees were if fact his company’s most valuable resource. And to keep them engaged and happy, he had to stay connected. In short, he had to treat them like his best customers.
From a marketing standpoint, that says it all. Of course if you’re dishonest and manipulative, you’re bound to lose clients. But lack of communication can equally devastate client relationships.
Marketing isn’t just reeling a client in, snatching their money, and high-stepping along to the next victim. Effective marketing is ensuring satisfaction and fostering trust to earn a client not just for just one job – but for LIFE.

Don’t Put Off Difficult Conversations

Williams confessed to launching his first company with ZERO business background. He’d never actually WORKED for a company before.
So when it came to management, he was clueless. He treated it like a necessary evil. Something he did only when there was no other option.
As a result, difficult conversations became REALLY difficult.
Unfortunately, this is EXACTLY how lots of small business owners treat marketing. (Perhaps you included?)
Some business owners don’t understand marketing, and just ignore it. Or equate marketing with the dreaded and dirty “selling,” a concept that scares the bejeebers out of them. So they avoid it like the plague.
Or they pursue a particular marketing strategy that fails. And then just throw their hands up in defeat and exclaim to the heavens “MARKETING DOESN’T WORK!”
Meanwhile, the growth and long-term success of your business depends on effective marketing.
So the longer you put off the “marketing conversation” (usually a conversation you’re putting off having with yourself), the worse off your business will be.

What Are Some Leadership Lesson That Have Improved Your Business?

I’ve certainly had jobs that, irrespective of my duties, were great because my boss was awesome. And some jobs that were miserable because my boss was a sh*t heel.
So how did I pay it forward? When I’ve been in leadership roles, I’ve always done my best to model my awesome bosses.
What about you? Drop by my Google+ page and share some leadership lessons you’ve learned, either as an employee or boss.