Inspired Collaboration | Brilliant Visions, LLC

How to Become the Subject of Pleasant Dinner Conversation

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Sorry to break this to you, but the people you work with — your staff, your vendors, your colleagues… your clients — they are talking about you after work with their family members and friends. It’s just one of those facts of life. You know how that conversation goes: “How was your day today, honey?” asks your colleague’s spouse….

The Key to Great Business Partnerships

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Coffee shop. Crowded and cramped. Awkward moment, attempting to close my ears to the crescendo of conversation between a man and a woman sitting inches from where I stood waiting for my Chai Tea Latte. I would like to have poked my fingers in my ears and sang, “la-la-la-la-la-la,” to drown out their argument. But maybe that would be even…

Four Words that Motivate Teams – But Use Them Wisely!

Posted on September 20, 2010 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Each person in your organization, at some level, truly wants to do a great job and be recognized for their contribution. And motivating them can be as simple as a four-word phrase, according to Tom Peters, business management guru and author of the classic book, In Search of Excellence. Take a look at what Mr. Peters has to say in…

Team Innovation with a Marshmallow on Top

Posted on February 19, 2010 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Kindergarteners consistently beat business students and other professional adults in the simple, but revealing, Marshmallow Challenge. The Marshmallow Challenge is a team exercise that asks groups of four to build the tallest freestanding structure in 18 minutes using only 20 sticks of spaghetti, one yard of tape, one yard of string and one marshmallow – which must be at the…

Are You Really Ready for the Economic UPturn?

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Martha Carnahan | 0 Comments

Here’s a startling thought: “It’s tougher recovering from a downturn than being in a downturn.” This statement was made by Ira Jackson, Dean of Claremont’s Drucker School of Management, who was participating at the World Business Forum last week (Oct 6-7 in New York). The Wall Street Journal put together the video below, highlighting top management thinking on keys to…