Strategy Tragedy: The Fall of Skymall….Six Ways to LOWER Your IQ….2015 Super Bowl Commercials….Congratulations in Order….Econ Recon: Slow….But Still Go

“The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”

 Vince Lombardi (1913-1970); Coach of the Green Bay Packers; Winner of Super Bowls I and II

 Strategy Tragedy: The Fall of Skymall

Skymall, that ubiquitous magazine found in nearly every airline seat pocket for almost 30 years, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection recently.The rise and fall of the magazine is an object lesson in the weird and wonderful ways businesses get started…and what happens when their competitive strategy or business models fail to adjust to the world.

The founder, who wisely sold out in 2001 for $47 million,was inspired during a flight in 1988 to create a new airline gift catalog by his dissatisfaction with the prevailing offering known as Giftmaster. This short article  “How Skymall Captured a Moment of Technological and American History” reminds us that so many businesses get their start from the failings of the current leader…and then fail to see their own shortcomings at a later date: is your strategy responding to such a failure…or inspiring a new competitor?

Six Ways to LOWER Your IQ

Sometimes knowing what NOT to do can be as important as knowing what TO do. Here are six surprising warnings that may help you preserve your greatest earning asset: your mind.

2015 Super Bowl Commercials

If you missed the Super Bowl (or really only watch for the commercials anyway), you can watch them all again by clicking here! 

Congratulations in Order – Safety and Respect

Consumer Reports recently rated 2591 hospitals nationwide on patient Safety and Respect. Greer Memorial Hospital, part of the Greenville Health System, ranked number 9! in this report. Congratulations to Greer Memorial President and Vistage CEO Group 3212 member John Mansure and his team for this significant achievement. How would your customers rate your company on safety and respect?

Econ Recon:  Slow, But Still Go

The initial estimate for 4^th quarter GDP has been announced and came in somewhat lower than the consensus expected. The Wall Street Journal states that the estimate for all of 2014 is now 2.4% GDP growth, the best growth rate since 2010. More importantly, 2014 will be the ninth year in a row in which the economy failed to break the 3% mark.WSJ further states that there is no similar period of such lack luster growth since 1930. In short, the economy is still going but at an historically slow rate. Economist Brian Wesbury looks at the 2014 Q4 estimates and concludes the economy is still a “plow horse.”