Description: Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #637 – Host: Mitch Joel. I got to finally meet Shep Hyken last year at the massive NAMM music trade show. We wound up hanging out for a few days, and I then got to see Shep in action. He doesn’t just talk about great customer service, he gives it… and… Read more »

Description: As the opioid epidemic continues to rage across the country, with a record 72,000 drug overdose deaths estimated in 2017, the fallout is increasingly manifesting itself at construction sites, factories, warehouses, offices and other workplaces. A stunning 70 percent of employers reported that their businesses had been affected by prescription drug abuse, including absenteeism, positive drug… Read more »

Description: Amazon.com Inc. unveiled its vision for smart homes powered by the Alexa voice assistant, with a dizzying array of new gadgets and features for almost every room in the house — from a microwave oven to a security camera and wall clock. Source: Bloomberg.com – video report Date: Sep 21, 2018 Link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2018-09-21/amazon-s-alexa-leads-competitors-in-connected-home-tech-feinseth-says-video Questions for… Read more »

Description: Gap, Inc.–the $15.9 billion parent company of Old Navy, Banana Republic, Athleta, and Gap–is betting that athleisure isn’t just a passing trend. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Sep 20, 2018 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90238533/gap-inc-unveils-its-first-new-brand-in-more-than-a-decade?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=1&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=09202018 Questions for discussion: Summarize the key strategic points management is adopting for this product line. Are independent retail stores necessary for success? Do you… Read more »

Description: France’s education ministry hopes that its smartphone ban, which took effect at the beginning of September and applies to students from first through ninth grades, will get schoolchildren to pay more attention in class and interact more, and several studies suggest such correlations. Source: NYTimes.com Date: Sep 20, 2018 Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/world/europe/france-smartphones-schools.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Ftechnology&action=click&contentCollection=technology&region=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront Questions for discussion:… Read more »

Description: At eMarketer’s “How Amazon Is Changing … Everything” invite-only breakfast yesterday, eMarketer co-founder Geoff Ramsey and a panel of our analysts explained how brands and companies can work with the ecommerce giant. Here are some key takeaways: Source: eMarketer.com Date: Sep 21, 2018 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/these-are-the-top-three-things-marketer-s-should-know-about-amazon?ecid=NL1001 Questions for discussion: What is the TV industry strategy… Read more »

Description: Case Foundation CEO Jean Case’s new book profiles leaders who have used their desire to solve a problem to drown out their fear of risk or failure. Source: FastCompany.com Date: Sep 20, 2018 Link: https://www.fastcompany.com/90239282/want-to-change-the-world-here-are-five-steps-to-take?utm_source=postup&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Fast%20Company%20Daily&position=2&partner=newsletter&campaign_date=09202018 Questions for discussion: What are the key messages about leadership for managers to take-away? Do you agree with this… Read more »

Description: (Reuters) – Campbell Soup Co’s board is drawing up a list of CEO candidates, with Chief Operating Officer Luca Mignini emerging as the top internal contender, as the company seeks to fend off a proxy challenge from Daniel Loeb’s hedge fund, Third Point LLC, people familiar with the matter said. Source: Yahoo.com – Reuters… Read more »

Description: The fast food industry thrives in most of the world. Chains like McDonald’s and Burger King typically come out on top in the $651 billion fast food industry. In Vietnam, however, the brands have failed to take off. McDonald’s and Burger King have more than 36,000 and 16,000 locations across the globe, respectively. But in Vietnam,… Read more »

Description: From January-July 2018, Adjust analyzed 8 billion app installs worldwide and found that on average, apps get deleted in 5.8 days after they’re downloaded. Entertainment apps get uninstalled the quickest and lasted less than one day on average before they were removed. Source: eMarketer.com Date: Sep 13, 2018 Link: https://www.emarketer.com/content/most-apps-get-deleted-within-a-week Questions for discussion: What does the report… Read more »