By Leo Valiquette
Though we took our usual holiday break in December, we still covered a lot of ground on the blog during the month. Scotland’s startup scene, the unintended consequences of Canada’s Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit program, and practical pointers for handing off a content marketing program were among the many topics we covered.
In case you missed any of it, here is a handy recap of our posts, as ranked by the enthusiasm of our readers:
Dec. 5: It’s that time again to put life and work in perspective, by Leo Valiquette
Dec. 12: Don’t spit your PR effort into the wind, by Leo Valiquette
Dec. 6: SR&ED and the law of unintended consequences, by Francis Moran
Dec. 20: Is this my very last blog post?, by Francis Moran
Dec. 3: Lessons from Project Glass: Why embracing technology is not optional, by Megan Totka
Dec. 17: Commercializing research in Scotland, by Maurice Smith
Dec. 4: Top 10 questions every strategic communicator should ask, by Caroline Kealey
Dec. 10: Apple versus Samsung: Samsung’s ‘out’ to escape infringement, by David French
Dec. 11: A timely post about succession planning in content marketing, by Alexandra Reid
Dec. 13: Content is the sun around which all else revolves, by Francis Moran
Dec. 19: Businesses must think like publishers, says C.C. Chapman, by Alexandra Reid
Dec. 18: Data mining, DNA or otherwise, no substitute for real customer dialogue, by Leo Valiquette
By Alexandra Reid
I sat down with award-winning marketer and author C.C. Chapman to talk about storytelling and why businesses must learn to think like publishers.
Pulling advice from his books, Content rules and Amazing things will happen, C.C. tells us about today’s online environment, the attention economy and why it’s so important for businesses to stop stalling and begin developing their online presence NOW. He also explains why he hates the term “content marketing” and shares stories about who did it well and who had epic failures. Most importantly, C.C. offers advice about how to become amazing at your job, and find happiness in the work you do.
Listen here.
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By Alexandra Reid
As a regular feature, we provide our readers with a roundup of some of the best articles we have read in the past week. On the podium this week are Fast Company, Entrepreneur, Forbes, David Meerman Scott, Harvard Business Review, Guardian and Wired.
Why most venture-backed companies fail
The current VC model is a play on probability. But this author says this “numbers game” theory, where some will win and some will lose, is not an acceptable approach, especially when fund managers’ fees can reach in the millions while investments may result in massive losses.
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By Alexandra Reid
The hand off of a marketing position is a tricky process for many professionals. It’s made even more complex when a professional has an online presence affiliated with the company or is responsible for managing multiple online company accounts. In content marketing, this is often the case, and so succession planning in this industry can often mean ironing out a lot of messy details.
This post is timely because I’m currently going through the process of sorting through all the information my successor will require to take over my position here at Francis Moran and Associates. Yes, dear readers, I’m sorry to say that my time here is running thin. But fear not; you will be in capable hands and this blog will continue to provide regular and valuable posts on all things under the immense subject umbrella of what it takes to bring technology to market.
For those of you currently going through this process, here are some things to keep in mind:
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By Leo Valiquette
I’ve referenced before the old joke about the easy-going work-life balance that results from being an entrepreneur. “I can work for only half the day,” says the entrepreneur. “And I get to decide which 12 hours that will be.”
But long hours are certainly not reserved for the start-up of a new business. I’ve worked with clients with professional practices whose emails often bear time stamps of 3 a.m. And in many industries, there is an ebb and flow to the volume of work based on the time of year.
Take, for example, the accounting industry, where the run up to tax season can be insanely busy. I know one accountant who maintains his focus through the daily practice of martial arts. “It gives me the energy to work until midnight when I have to,” he told me. “Instead of losing steam by 8 p.m.”
But there is always the risk of allowing such extreme work patterns to become habit, endangering personal health and relationships outside of the office.
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By Leo Valiquette
