Posts by Carol Ross
The Bottom Line of Design
A few issues back,Fast Company magazine was focused on design, with a special section titled, "Masters of Design." A great quote that illustrates how design is a competitive advantage: "A three-year study of more than 40 Fortune 500 companies by the research firm Peer Insight found that companies focused on customer-experience design outperformed the S&P…
Read More12 Rules to Live By
As I was cleaning my 12-year old son’s room, I noticed a faded piece of paper thumbtacked to the wall above the bed. Here’s what was written in faded pencil: To: Andy From: Dad Date: 11/1/04 Subject: 12 Rules to Live By Always tell the truth. Treat others as you would like to be treated.…
Read MorePlayers
This is a follow-up to my post on Peter Block’s Employee Manifesto. The first of many, as it seems the wisdom in this manifesto has captured my attention, in the way that when one is shopping for yellow VW Beetles, one starts to notice them everywhere. My interpretation of the Manifesto is this: Be a…
Read MoreHow Gen Y Celebrates
Birthdays are now opportunities to make meaning in a larger way–supporting a creative artist or organization. I recently received a birthday invitation from a Gen Y-er that was part celebration, part philanthropy, part concert–held at a local theatre with a blues singer on stage, donations going to a Denver art center. While the wealthy may…
Read MoreLife Imitating Art Imitating Life
On a recent visit to Starbuck’s, I put on my biz owner hat to see what I could learn from one of the icons in entrepreneurship. I noticed the non-coffee, non-edible items that Starbuck’s sells—beautiful coffee mugs, CDs, books on organic farming, and board games. I got the sense that I was on a movie…
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