Broken to Better - Deepstash
Broken to Better

Courtney Abbott's Key Ideas from Broken to Better
by Michael Kurland

Ideas, facts & insights covering these topics:

11 ideas

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Broken To Better: The Premise

Broken To Better: The Premise

Being a business owner is not for the faint of heart.

  • At a minimum, it takes a person with a firm resolve, the ability to persevere and pivot during challenging times, the humility to admit mistakes, and empathy for the people around them.
  • Self-reflection should come long before setting pen to paper for a business plan.
  • Understanding who you are is critical to being a leader who seeks to align purpose with profit.

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1.09K reads

Expand Your Network

Expand Your Network

Having a strong network of advisors, mentors, colleagues, and friends is essential for starting and growing a business.

Each relationship offers unique value, whether it's professional expertise, emotional support, or just an outside perspective. Actively build and nurture your connections.

Show up authentically, listen closely, communicate clearly, and don't be afraid of failure. Surround yourself with diverse viewpoints.

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782 reads

Remain Teachable

Remain Teachable

Experienced mentors can help you avoid common pitfalls and fill knowledge gaps as a new entrepreneur. Be open-minded, ask questions, and gather advice from multiple experts.

Prioritize and synthesize the information. Find mentors with complementary skills to get guidance on legal, financial, strategic and other key issues. Understand your responsibilities in the mentoring relationship. Expect to continually evolve.

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671 reads

Confront Your Fears

Confront Your Fears

It's natural to have fears about taking the leap into entrepreneurship. Fear can motivate preparation, but it can also paralyze action.

  • Be informed so you can make smart decisions.
  • Know yourself, your core motivations and vision.
  • Identify gaps or needs in the marketplace.
  • Develop a sound business plan.
  • Secure proper funding for each growth stage.
  • Check your ego regularly.
  • Continuously examine your relationship with money.

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619 reads

MICHAEL KURLAND

You have to ensure your team feels valued, that they know their contributions are making a difference and that you care.

MICHAEL KURLAND

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614 reads

Put People First

Put People First

  • Initially hire to fill skill gaps, but prioritize cultural fit to sustain the organization.
  • Hire team players who rise to challenges and pitch in where needed.
  • As you grow, separate employees into functional areas and teams. Build future leaders by empowering your best team members. 

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536 reads

Adopt a Future Focus

Adopt a Future Focus

Stay strategically future-focused, even before fully staffing your venture. Envision how you will segment your team into functional groups and empower leaders.

Continuously evaluate if your structure fosters growth or impedes it.

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523 reads

Foster Purpose

Foster Purpose

Engage and retain talent over the long-term by fostering an inclusive, appreciative, flexible, and trusting culture. Clearly define authentic values and guard them religiously.

Make your culture more than superficial words on a wall. Enable positive change driven by employees. Ensure everyone feels valued and impactful.

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489 reads

Change Habits

Change Habits

Changing habits requires an internal decision and commitment to a new path. Perseverance and focus make new habits stick. Bad habits result when we lose resolve.

To change, decisively commit to a plan and mindfully persist despite distractions or resistance.

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474 reads

Master Sales

Master Sales

Sales fundamentally depends on human relationships and social skills. Passion for your product and likeability build connections. Without strong people skills, sales will always struggle.

Approach sales through a human lens first. Have convictions about the value to customers. Establish trust and rapport. Sales enables all other functions.

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433 reads

Deliver Great Service

Deliver Great Service

  • Make customer service a competitive advantage through memorable, personalized experiences.
  • Take care of employees first so they can take care of customers.
  • Build trusting relationships over time.
  • Identify your ideal customer archetype.
  • Continuously improve service offerings.
  • Remain honest always.
  • Integrate simple processes and helpful technology.

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453 reads

IDEAS CURATED BY

coab

Education officer at museum

CURATOR'S NOTE

In the 2022 book Broken to Better: 13 Ways Not to Fail at Life and Leadership, CEO of Branded Group Michael Kurland candidly shares every step of his own entrepreneurial odyssey—selling everything he owned, driving across the country to launch his new business, and ultimately building a purpose-driven culture that aligns purpose with profit. Along the way, Kurland distills a lifetime of experience down to its purest essence.

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