What does it take to stay competitive and relevant in the world of business? Today’s show will reveal some of the secrets of someone who is “figuring it out.” She has insights to help your business not achieve the “status quo,” but to achieve “status grow.”

 

Rana Florida is the author of Upgrade and the CEO of The Creative Class Group. She has worked with major brands like IBM, Disney, Cirque Du Soleil, and Zappos. Let’s find out more!

 

What you’ll hear in this episode:

 

• Before the book, when Rana was miserable in the grind and not happy with what she was doing
• How she took a risk and regained control of her time and schedule while leading her business into a revenue model that has proved successful
• How she launched a business advice column with the Huffington Post, Your Start-Up LIfe, learning from entrepreneurs and celebrities about how they created their success
• She found seven key steps that each person took to find success----and those became her book!
• How the division of labor “works” for her and her husband
• Common themes in the book: Lead by serving and Don’t be afraid of failure
• Why it’s good to have “stupid ideas” and encourage curiosity and risk
• The fear of failure and risk-taking cause emotional distress and discomfort
• How humans learn through trial and error --just watch a toddler!
• The Creative Class Group: a global advisory services firm based on research and data-driven insights that help with competitiveness and economic growth
• Examples of companies they work with and how they help
• Interesting trends in the world of competitive business:”30% of the workforce create 50% of the wages, but control 70% of discretionary spending and income”
• How to nurture creativity and engagement: “Foster a culture of YES”
• Why business leaders have to let go of some control for the sake of growth
• Key elements of leadership, the right team, and the right partners
• Why diversity is important in creativity and moving an idea forward with different viewpoints and collaboration
• The CCG’s work with companies and organizations large and small, each with a custom-tailored project--No cookie-cutter strategies here!
• The need to stay relevant in a rapidly changing market with the key factors of being open and innovative
• How artificial intelligence may change the whole business dynamic and how it’s already changing our lives

 

Resources:

 

Find Rana’s book on Amazon, find her on Twitter, and visit her website: www.ranaflorida.com

 

Little Bets by Peter Sims