STRATEGY
Stay Loyal to Your Niche
Liry’s Jewelry in Tampa, FL, thrives by sticking to its lane. “Fifty percent of our business is chains — that’s who we are,” says Daniel Carvajal, vice president of Liry’s Jewelry. The store expanded online but never abandoned its Cuban-link identity. Now it’s building authority in bridal with targeted marketing. Loyalty to a niche builds brand strength.
COMMUNICATION
Try Brainwriting Instead
Group brainstorming often stalls because the loudest voices hog the air. Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington tested “asynchronous brainwriting”: quick solo writing sessions alternating with short group reviews. Participants produced ideas faster and more evenly, with less ego getting in the way. The rule is simple: shut up, scribble, then share. More ideas, fewer interruptions — and no one leaves muttering about that one guy who never stops talking.
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STORE DESIGN
Obsess Over Everything
Details aren’t details—they’re everything. Gregg Kelly at Northeastern Fine Jewelry in Albany, NY, spent untold hours engineering the perfect approach for a recent store redesign. “I studied the music, the rocks we used outside and the flowers we put into the planters to make sure the scent is appealing,” says Kelly, vice president. He researched parking lot pitch, sidewalk texture, even custom handicapped signs. The awning extends precisely far enough for umbrella coverage. Obsessive? Maybe. But first-year sales jumped 15%.
LEADERSHIP
Practice “Possible Selves”
Leadership confidence can feel like “faking it.” That’s not a flaw, says Herminia Ibarra, professor at London Business School. “Think of leadership development as trying on possible selves.” Acting decisively, even if you feel tentative, helps you discover authentic ways of leading in new challenges.
COMMUNICATION
Don’t See Yourself as Funny? At Least Try to Be Fun
You don’t need to be Amy Schumer — just warmer than the store down the street. Brad Bitterly and Alison Wood Brooks suggest if you can’t crack a joke, at least laugh at theirs. Smile quick, laugh easy, and people will stick around. Approachable beats clever.
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SELF-IMPROVEMENT
Night School Works
Can’t understand financials? Go back to school. Finance expert David Brown encourages continuing education. You may have struggled in teenage years, but now bring life experience, maturity and purpose to understanding numbers. Local colleges offer night courses in business basics. You may be surprised how easily you pick up things that baffled you before. Invest in yourself.
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