How Leaders Lead with David Novak

#265: Jim McCann, American entrepreneur and former CEO of 1-800-Flowers – Find a way to connect


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Jim McCann didn’t set out to become an entrepreneur. He was a social worker and bartender before finding his way into the floral business. But no matter what he did, he always found a way to connect with people.

That instinct eventually led him to build 1-800-Flowers, where he expanded the business strategically, turned it into a household brand, and tapped into the power of customer relationships long before it became a buzzword.

In this episode, he shares the lessons that have carried him through decades of reinvention – and why, no matter what technology disruptions may come, smart leadership always comes down to connection.

You’ll also learn:

  • A simple philosophy for a smart product expansion strategy
  • What it means to be an “engineer” of culture (and why it matters)
  • Why working with teenagers gave him a crash course in leadership
  • The #1 thing you need to do now to prepare your team for the disruption of AI
  • Take your learning further. Get proven leadership advice from these (free!) resources:

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    How Leaders Lead with David NovakBy David Novak

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