Jimmy St. Louis

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Here's how thought leaders are setting and achieving their short- and long-term goals—creatively. You can do it too. Whether you are planning your business career and the goals that you intend to accomplish or are thinking about certain expectations you have set for yourself in terms of personal aspirations outside of the 9-to-5 hustle and bustle, it's important to develop a plan and put it into action. You should also consider the process of writing it down on paper to keep it on your radar on a daily basis.  A vision board is a creative way to keep yourself inspired and flesh out your ideas and potential pathways to realizing your goals. To spark your ability to remain laser-focused and not give up on your path to success, experts from Fast Company Executive Board share how making a vision board inspires their determination and encourages them not to give up on themselves or their dreams. 

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Applying the "show, don't tell" method in today's digital world can work wonders if you want to build your sales pipeline. When your sales and marketing team members are gearing up to promote your organization at a yearly in-person or hybrid-remote industry convention—in the new normal, it's always important to figure out the best strategy to effectively rise above the competitive noise and capture the attention of your target audience. So, how can company leaders elevate learning opportunities for current and potential customers to gather and retain information about their business products and services in the most efficient way? Below, 12 Fast Company Executive Board members share tips to keep consumers engaged and interested in what your brand has to offer, showing them why they should stick around to hear more and possibly give it a chance rather than moving on to another vendor.

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Apply these tips to foster improvement in your business products and services. It's important to keep your eye on the prize when you're running a business you want to see survive. But, it's not always easy to outdo your company's biggest achievements, or implement needed improvements, year after year—especially in a tight economy.  Despite reality, however, whether your company was able to move the needle forward by an inch or a mile to reach its bottom line this past year, it's essential to highlight each moment. By doing so, you'll be able to boost employee morale and heighten productivity among your loyal team members. Here, 15 members of Fast Company Executive Board share one new thing they've already implemented or are excited about doing in the coming year to enhance their business image, company core values, and work culture!

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If you're about to apply, consider these key points. There are a variety of resources available for new entrepreneurs to consider when they are just starting out and trying to grow a successful business in their market. Associating your business with either a startup incubator or accelerator program is one idea to consider if you are looking for opportunities to connect with mentors, technology tools, and more to elevate your organization to its next level.   We asked nine experts from Fast Company Executive Board to each discuss one factor that every rising leader should consider when they are weighing their options about which route to take. 

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Do you say yes to everything? Industry experts explain the benefits of clearing your plate at work. If you're just starting out in management, it's not unusual to constantly feel obligated to say yes. When duty calls and other colleagues are requesting your time and commitment to engage in an upcoming project or take over a daily task, it's a natural instinct for most people to lean in.  On the other hand, if you've been at your post for some time and have plenty of skin in the game, you've probably figured out by now that you can't take on everything without burning out. Learning to share growth opportunities with your staff members on a regular basis will also elevate your leadership skills and team relations in the workplace.  Leading experts from Fast Company Executive Board are no longer hesitant to turn down a project that may sound good on paper but has the potential to keep them sidetracked and further away from their objectives. Here, they share the benefits of learning to say "no" under pressure and how essential it is to improve your work-life balance and reach your goals.  

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In part two of this three-part series, I'm focused on adopting technology in franchising to become an innovator. 

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Business leaders share their best strategies for implementing technology solutions at work without breaking the bank. Whether you are an early-stage startup organization with limited capital or a large company that is suddenly facing financial uncertainty, no matter how you look at it, the ability to utilize innovative technology to advance your team's capability to serve client needs will move your company forward—but this can be difficult to do when working with a limited budget There are still steps you can take, however. Below are 11 methods that Fast Company Executive Board members recommend implementing when searching for the right technology to invest in, despite any current budget constraints.

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If you want to strengthen your professional network, skills and knowledge, making time to attend industry conferences can be a great strategy. As a business professional, attending an industry conference can be a valuable opportunity to learn from experts, network with peers and stay current with the latest industry trends and innovations. Whether attending in person or virtually, these events provide a unique chance to gather insights, ideas and best practices that can help you stay ahead of the competition. Below, 15 Fast Company Executive Board members share some of the big benefits you can gain from attending an annual industry conference, from creating new partnerships to learning new information about your industry. Consider their insights the next time you hear of an upcoming event you may want to attend.

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In part 1 of this 3-part series, Jimmy St. Louis focuses on the need for digital transformation within the franchise industry.

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The franchise industry is ready for disruption, and new digital platforms driven by transparency and variety of choice are stepping up to take on the task.