Inside the Envelope

In 1948, Richard Stack started Dick’s Bait and Tackle with three hundred dollars borrowed from his grandmother. As the store expanded into sports and retail, Richard and his son Ed learned many lessons. Ed says one impactful memory came during a moment that tested his father. One day a little kid walked in the store and wandered over to the baseball section, then grabbed a glove and bolted toward the door. An employee nabbed him as he reached the parking lot and dragged him back inside. The employee was yelling at the child when Richard Stack intervened. He looked the little boy up and down and laid a hand lightly on his shoulder. From his ragged clothing, it was clear that this child came from a family with limited resources. “Why’d you steal the glove?” Stack asked. Tears streamed down the child’s face as he squeaked, “I just want to play baseball.” Stack nodded. “You can’t steal,” he said. “No matter how bad ...

Generation Z is the demographic cohort born between the mid-to-late 1990s and around 2010. Affectionately known as “Zoomers,” Gen Z individuals are technologically advanced (having never seen a world without internet), perceive information best through visuals, and absorb tons of new information daily. Zoomers are quick to learn and adept with technology, which is something we’re all being challenged to do in this pandemic season! Best Practices for Managing Meetings Remotely Perhaps you’ve recently become a “Zoomer” yourself: video-conferencing for the first time or managing the majority of your business remotely. Whether you’re a tech pro or you are brand new to online meetings, everyone faces video-based communication challenges. Here are a few tips to make your online meetings a bit better: 1. Put Your Best Foot Forward Often when we’re at home, we get a bit slumpy with our hygiene. Before your meeting, take a minute to f...

We are in a totally different world right now. Many of us are working from home and the future seems hazy. Perhaps you’re struggling to make decisions about staffing or future projects. But like a forest fire restarts growth, crisis moments can bring a new birth for your business. And that starts with how you communicate with customers. Others-Focused Communication In our unending-news-cycle world, much of what we hear seems like noise. But now, more than ever, it is crucial for you to connect with people in meaningful ways. Want to send business messages that are well received? Use an OTHERS -centered paradigm. O = ONE Write for one person. When you craft a message, imagine yourself speaking to one specific client. Pick out a single buyer and pretend you’re writing only for them. This helps you ditch the sanitized corporate-speak and makes your reader the focus of your message (rather than you!). People connect to messages that are specific, personal, and co...