Business Strategy Archives

Sep32026

The Power of Questions

Business Strategy, Investing Strategies, Life StrategyBy Joshua Kennon September 3, 2026 2 Comments

When it comes to getting the life, career, and financial independence you desire, one of the most effective tools you have at your disposal is understanding and internalizing what I call the power of questions. Combined with a checklist, asking the right questions can help you evaluate where you are, introspectively examine your own heart so you can better understand where you would like to go, and gain some degree of objectivity in evaluating your progress on that journey, making course corrections as necessary.

Sep12026

Lessons from Ray Kroc’s Paper Cup Years

Business Strategy, Case Studies & ProfilesBy Joshua Kennon September 1, 2026 7 Comments

For seventeen years, Ray Kroc sold paper cups, learning lessons he would later apply to McDonald’s Corporation. Yet, hardly anyone talks about that important period despite it being rich with examples of why he later became so successful.

Nov302017

The Power of Intention

Business Strategy, Life StrategyBy Joshua Kennon November 30, 2017 17 Comments

One of the most powerful tools you have at your disposal in life and business is reflecting on your intention in taking a given action. Yet, despite its enormous benefits, few people stop to reflect on why they are behaving in a certain way.

Nov132015

How To Be Persuasive

Business Strategy, Politics, Religion & CultureBy Joshua Kennon November 13, 2015 17 Comments

Throughout your life and career, you are going to face many situations in which you are dissatisfied. Often, these situations will arise because of legitimate grievances you have about a person, behavior, policy, or system. There are a few strategies that, used judiciously, can exponentially increase your effectiveness.

May152015

Data Driven Decisions Can Help End Negative Feedback Loops

Data-Based Decisions Are the First Step to Escaping Negative Feedback Loops

Business Strategy, Life StrategyBy Joshua Kennon May 15, 2015 50 Comments

Shortly after Blue Fairy gives life to the eponymous wooden puppet in the 1940 classic animated film Pinocchio, she instructs him that he must, “Always let [his] conscience be [his] guide”. Were she a rationalist, she might have added an important addendum: “And make decisions based upon objective, high-quality, third-party-recorded data to remove your own bias as much as possible…

May112015

The Poisoned Watermelon

Business StrategyBy Joshua Kennon May 11, 2015 16 Comments

There is an old joke that goes something like this… Not so long ago there was a watermelon farmer. In June, during peak watermelon season, he began to notice that someone was stealing his fruit. Slowly, but steadily, melons would disappear, along with it his profits. He tried everything until one particularly fine morning, he had an idea.…

Apr102015

Mental Model: The Culture Code

Book Recommendations, Business Strategy, Marketing, PsychologyBy Joshua Kennon April 10, 2015 36 Comments

After writing about using words to your advantage in life and business, I began thinking of one of my all-time favorite mental models. It comes from legendary marketing psychologist Clotaire Rapaille, who wrote about it in his treatise “The Culture Code“. Before we get into that, let me say that Dr. Clotaire Rapaille caught my attention so…

Dec82014

Make Sure You Measure the Right Things in Life

Business Strategy, EconomicsBy Joshua Kennon December 8, 2014 2 Comments

[mainbodyad] With all of the talk of gas prices falling, I’m reminded of the situation a couple of years ago when fuel costs were on an upward trajectory. Everyone from the little old ladies at church to major economic commentators were lamenting the “record high” energy expenses. Very few people noticed that, as per the U.S. Energy Information…

Jul12014

Estee A Success Story Estee Lauder Autobiography 1985

15 Rules for Success by Estee Lauder

Business Strategy, MarketingBy Joshua Kennon July 1, 2014 1 Comment

Estee Lauder couldn’t get an ad agency to accept her company as a client because her budget was too small. Facing rejection after rejection, she decided to take the $50,000 she had set aside for marketing and try something new. Undeterred by the endless stream of “no”, she mailed direct samples to consumers, launched a virtually…

Mar92014

Mental Model: Situational Knowledge

Business StrategyBy Joshua Kennon March 9, 2014 23 Comments

Mental Model: Situational Knowledge Last night, I was talking with Aaron about the situational knowledge mental model and its implication for business innovation. For those of you who aren’t familiar with it, situational knowledge is a type of experience-based knowledge that arises either organically or through training, creating a database of relevant facts and implicit…