The Latest Personal Insights from Damon Stafford

In the world of business buzzwords, transparency is right up there with synergy and pivot—everyone loves to say it, but in this case, few actually live it. At Alpine Intel, we don't just talk about transparency—we've built it into the bones of our business. And I’m not talking about vague ...

CEO's Guide To Transparency: How To Build Trust And Accountability. CEOs often face situations where full transparency might not be appropriate, and understanding when and how to be transparent can be more important than the act of being transparent itself.

The more you act on things that create momentum, the more feedback you get. That feedback, even when it stings, is your unfair advantage.

Imagine this: you've got a business partner–let's call him "Mr. Narcissi." This guy is perfectly capable of making money, but he'd rather focus on showcasing his lifestyle than focus on the thing that makes a business successful: profit. He or she is the partner that you find cruising around ...

A scoreboard creates stress amongst the team. Visibility into performance creates jealousy. It also pushes those who want to achieve to be better. Every company I have founded has eventually created a scoreboard that would make a competitive athlete smile. Note: the word "eventually" was ...

We welcomed a partner years ago who, within just months of starting with our company, closed a $300,000 order. Seem like chump change? Simmer down, big guy. It meant everything in the world to us at that point. He aced the sale entirely on his own and being a partner, he knew exactly what this ...

If you've ever been forced to post a booth at some mind-numbing industry conference, you know the drill. Many companies think they can just plop down a booth, lure in decision-makers by throwing out some branded swag, and magically achieve their growth aspirations. Newsflash: that's not how ...

I wasn't listening! Picture this: You are in a meeting, and the attendees are nodding like bobbleheads on a hot dashboard. Empty suits aren't really listening–they are quietly chomping at the bit, revving their engines to get their next comment out to say whatever they planned to say. How is ...

In the realm of business, theres no substitute for those with the grit, determination, and an unapologetic drive to hustle and make things happen.

On the first day of officially launching my InsurTech company, Pearl Jam's "Vs." album played in the background at an unhealthy volume, and a frosty celebratory beer was on my horizon. That is until an unexpected phone call from a frustrated client changed everything, challenging the very ...