Author Archives: David Shedd

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About David Shedd

David has been a President - CEO - COO of an up to $350M group of manufacturing, distribution, specialty retail and services companies, having led 22 different businesses from turnarounds to start-ups to fast growth companies.

Blue Ocean Strategy

In their book, Blue Ocean Strategy: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant, W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne outline a strategy process to create a long-term sustainable competitive advantage. While a bit too full of … Continue reading

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It is Better to Be Good in Fact than Great in Fiction

This is my 100th blog post in my blog “Helping Leaders Win.” If I had to sum up one line that describes my approach to business success and “winning leadership” over the previous 99 posts, it would be the title … Continue reading

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Ahead of the Curve: Two Years at Harvard Business School

In his book, Ahead of the Curve: Two Years at Harvard Business School, Philip Delves Broughton recounts his experience as a student at HBS. It is an interesting read, especially for those planning to go to business school. For our … Continue reading

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The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the Leadership Powered Company

In their book, The Leadership Pipeline: How to Build the Leadership Powered Company, Ram Charan, Stephen Drotter, and James Noel lay out a model for building a pool of leadership talent at all levels of your business or corporation. Introduction … Continue reading

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Business Turnaround 301 – Right People Doing the Right Job

In discussing business turnarounds, we have seen that the three fundamentals to turn a troubled business around are as follows: Understand Reality, Face Reality Focus, Prioritize, Plan (Less is More) Right People Doing the Right Job Today, we turn our … Continue reading

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12 Stupid Hiring Mistakes to Avoid in 2012

Despite the 8.6% unemployment rate, many companies searching for their next manager or executive have but one complaint: I cannot find the right person for my company; there is no good talent out there. In reality, nearly all these companies … Continue reading

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Made To Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

In their excellent book, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, Chip Heath and Dan Heath discuss the ways to make sure your ideas stick. An idea sticks when it is understood and remembered and has a … Continue reading

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How to ‘Do What You Say’ and Distinguish Yourself from Everyone Else

A fundamental for business relationships and business success is to do what you say you are going to do. ‘Doing what you’ say builds trust and confidence that you are reliable, dependable, and will live up to your commitments and … Continue reading

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Skills for Success: The Experts Show the Way

In Skills for Success: The Experts Show the Way, the Soundview Editorial Staff summarizes the keys to achieving success in business and life. It is an oldie (1988), but it is well worth reviewing even today, 23 years later. How … Continue reading

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The Lessons of History and Great Leadership

I enjoy the Great Courses series produced by the Teaching Company. Each course is a series of lectures that I can listen to while working out or in the car. Currently, I am listening to a course entitled The Wisdom … Continue reading

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Going Global – 3 Lessons From Those Who Failed

This is a guest blog by Mike Gomez (Global Success Centers and Allegro Consulting) I recently gave a presentation to owners of American companies who were contemplating a global expansion strategy.  I decided to share some lessons I gleaned while … Continue reading

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Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

In their book, Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan and Charles Burck drive home the point that execution is vital. The difference between a company and its competitors is its ability to execute; that is … Continue reading

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The 9 Biggest Time Wasters in Business

The sheer waste of time in the typical business today is incomprehensible. From half-baked initiatives and pet projects that lead nowhere to endless and endlessly dull meetings, the typical employee can fritter away as much as half of his or … Continue reading

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The New Leader’s 100 Day Action Plan

In their book, The New Leader’s 100 Day Action Plan: How to Take Charge, Build Your Team, and Get Immediate Results, George B. Bradt, Jayme A. Check and Jorge E. Pedraza discuss leadership transitions and on-boarding. Executive Summary High performance … Continue reading

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Human Resources – MIA, But Needed Now More Than Ever

For years, Jack Welch (former CEO of GE) has pleaded that human resources is one of the most important functions in any corporation. Alas, the reality in most companies today is that human resources (HR) people do not have a … Continue reading

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Leading at a Higher Level

In this book, Leading at a Higher Level: Blanchard on Leadership and Creating High Performing Organizations, Ken Blanchard summarizes his thoughts on leadership and building winning teams and winning businesses. Set your sights on the right target and vision Is … Continue reading

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5 Business Fundamentals I Did Not Learn at Wharton

In a previous blog, I discussed the five business fundamentals that I learned at Wharton. Today, I discuss five keys to business success that I did not learn at Wharton (and that may not be learnable in a classroom environment). … Continue reading

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It’s Your Ship – Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy

In this book, former Navy Captain D. Michael Abrashoff boils down the management and leadership techniques that helped his ship, the Benfold, become “the best damn ship in the Navy.” His 11 fundamentals are equally applicable in the business world. … Continue reading

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5 Business Fundamentals Learned at Wharton

The start of another school year is upon us. As such, nearly 100,000 aspiring MBA’s will be matriculating in the next few weeks to begin a two year program that leads to that golden business passport – an MBA. A … Continue reading

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Are You in Love With Your Customers?

“If your business leader does not love customers and is not committed to delivering value to them, your venture will fail.” With this quote from Ken Morse, serial entrepreneur & co-founder of 3Com Corporation, I begin my guest blog at … Continue reading

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