https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/24-hour-fitness-bankruptcy-coronavirus-closed-gyms The fitness industry has suffered tremendously from the ravages of COVID-19. First, Gold's Gym filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection only a month ago, and now 24-hour fitness has also filed for bankruptcy while closing 130 gym locations. Executives from both fitness companies indicated the COVID-19 quarantines and lock-downs were devastating to the financials …
The Entrepreneurial Leader Conundrum
https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2020/06/why-entrepreneurs-become-bad-managers-and-how-be-better-one In the attached article, Rizwan Virk writes about a classic conundrum all entrepreneurs must deal with as their company grows; how to convert from a "doer" to a "leader." Virk talks about how entrepreneurs can quickly fall into bad management behavior by getting trapped in one of two scenarios: MicromanagementAbsentee Management Obviously these are …
Applying 80/20 In A Pandemic
https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/coronavirus-supply-chains-SKUs-pandemic-Mondelez-Procter-Gamble-Coca-Cola/579017/ The attached article from Emma Cosgrove highlights the urgency of simplification and focus when faced with significant demand fluctuations like we have seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the biggest, best and most admired consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies like Mondelez, P&G and Coca-Cola found out how important the 80/20 principle is during …
Chronic Disease & Vegetable Oil
How did we find ourselves in a position where: 60% of the U.S. adult population has a chronic disease40% has two or more chronic diseasesOver 40% of the adult population is considered clinically obese If you have not read it yet, author Jeff Nobbs has compiled an excellent article where he showcases many of the …
Virtual Event Tips
https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2020/05/these-tips-will-make-your-virtual-event-home-run As more virtual meetings are held, and more virtual conference and presentations are planned, the attached article highlights some of the best practices to experience an impactful virtual event...whether you are the presenter or an attendee. Interestingly, the advice is applicable to both live and virtual events. The main difference is the how. Tip: …
Leadership Agility & Empathy
https://www.bcg.com/en-us/publications/2020/leadership-post-covid-19.aspx Boston Consulting Group (BCG) recently published an article describing the characteristics and behaviors necessary for leaders in the post-pandemic world. "Leadership in the New Now" rightly looks at how leaders will be successful as economies begin to re-emerge, but uncertainty still remains. More than ever, agility and empathy are going to be paramount for …
Keep the Brand Light On
https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2020/05/protect-and-prepare-your-brand-post-coronavirus-world In times of economic slowdown it is common to see companies make expense cuts to try and protect earnings. Some of the first expenses cut are marketing expenses that are seen as a "nice to have" by old school thinkers. Certainly in the world of the COVID-19 pandemic where economic survival is taking center …
Functional Beverage Power
https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/15350-theres-a-beverage-for-that Functional beverages are just one of many segments driving the fast growing health and wellness category. What do we mean by "functional beverages?" Beverages with some type of added benefit other than hydration, and could include: additional protein (collagen or plant-based proteins); vitamins & minerals; natural energy from caffeine, yerba mate, guava or other …
More Evidence of Obesity Linked to COVID-19 Complications
https://www.healio.com/endocrinology/obesity/news/online/%7B73a6d4bb-2dbf-453d-9b05-ca7775cdd18d%7D/obesity-should-not-be-dismissed-excess-weight-drives-inflammation-hypoventilation-behind-covid-19-complications People with a very high BMI (body mass index), considered obese and morbidly obese, also typically suffer from high levels of inflammation and hypoventilation. Given these chronic ailments, when COVID-19 attacks the system, the body can over-react based on the already damaging level of inflammation that has caused a weakened immune system. In the …
Continue reading More Evidence of Obesity Linked to COVID-19 Complications
Book Review: The Hundred-Year Marathon
As a student of history and World War II (WWII) enthusiast, I have spent two decades traveling all across European WWII sites, and have also spent time in countries that toiled for 50 years behind the Iron Curtain of the former Soviet Union. In fact, last year I spent the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landings in …
IRI Provides Additional Insights During COVID-19
https://retailleader.com/iri-offers-closer-view-cpg-pandemic-trends?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NL_Retail+Leader+Essentials&utm_keyword=&oly_enc_id=5012I1567089B5Y IRI is helping provide more clarity on consumer shopping and consumption trends during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating the IRI CPG Demand Index, which tracks weekly changes in consumer purchases vs. previous year periods. The data includes various departments, categories, retail formats and regions, and looks to be a great tool for brand leaders. Some …
Continue reading IRI Provides Additional Insights During COVID-19
Diversification in the Supply Chain
As investors, we are taught early on that a diversified portfolio is a smart, lower-risk approach to managing finances, whether it be our personal investments or those of an organization. As Steven Banker appropriately asks in his article, https://logisticsviewpoints.com/2020/04/27/if-multi-sourcing-is-a-best-practice-why-are-so-few-companies-doing-it/, why aren't more companies using diversification, or multi-sourcing, as a means to ensure supply continuity & …
Blood Sugar Rising: A PBS Documentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pBVbAHkC7M If you've been studying some of the reports during the Chinese Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, and following my blog, you know how much more at risk people are who have pre-existing conditions. Two of the biggest contributing conditions to placing people at higher risk of severe symptoms and possible death from COVID-19 are obesity (high …
A Link Between COVID-19 and Obesity
https://www.zdnet.com/article/nyu-scientists-largest-u-s-study-of-covid-19-finds-obesity-the-single-biggest-factor-in-new-york-critical-cases/ As we're learning more about COVID-19 and why it affects people in different ways, some factors are emerging that reinforce the need to take our holistic health much more seriously. First, in the above article, in addition to age, the research has found obesity of patients was the single largest factor in whether those …
Good Leadership Is Not Situation Dependent
In the article https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/is-good-leadership-different-during-a-crisis, the question is asked by the author, Duc V. Trang: "Is good leadership in fact different in a crisis situation than that in periods of no crisis? Or is it simply a matter of degree?" Think about it. If we were to outline what an effective leader does in "non-crisis" times, what would …
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