Believe In Better Foreward Indies Finalist

The Latest Personal Insights from Damon Stafford

Profit Requires Focus–So Ditch the Losers

Profit Requires Focus–So Ditch the Losers

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 ...
Teamwork: Ditch the Fluff, Embrace the Friction

Teamwork: Ditch the Fluff, Embrace the Friction

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 ...
Emotional Intelligence: The Art Of Perspective

Emotional Intelligence: The Art Of Perspective

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 ...
Selling Sucks–Unless You’re Willing to Work

Selling Sucks–Unless You’re Willing to Work

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 ...
Believe in Better: A Blueprint for Business Success

Believe in Better: A Blueprint for Business Success

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 ...