by Mary Byers | Sep 23, 2025 | Blog, Conversation Starters, Radical Change, Relevant Thoughts, Strategies for Success
I was shocked to learn that this year’s American Dental Association SmileCon will be the last annual meeting in its current format. Rising costs and meeting attendance that never rebounded to pre-COVID levels were cited as reasons. Privately, many clients have told...
by Mary Byers | May 12, 2025 | Blog, Conversation Starters, Strategies for Success
Is it fair to say we’re living in uncertain times? I definitely think it is. And when times are uncertain, I believe the best advice is: “Follow Your North Star.” The North Star (also known as Polaris if you’re a trivia junkie), is a star located in the Northern...
by Mary Byers | Feb 14, 2025 | Blog, Conversation Starters, Strategies for Success
Competitive advantage is a condition or circumstance that puts a company (or association) in a favorable or superior business position. In her book Creating Competitive Advantage, Jaynie Smith writes, “It answers the customer’s key question: Why should I do business...
by Mary Byers | Jan 17, 2025 | Blog, Conversation Starters, Relevant Thoughts, Strategies for Success
I crossed something off my bucket list last year: visiting Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home. I was 15 when he died, and as I wandered through the grounds, I wondered how long it would be before no one remembered or cared about him. This pondering led me to some...
by Mary Byers | Mar 31, 2021 | Blog, Conversation Starters
What traits do innovative cultures have in common? The graphic above shows six. Though this isn’t a complete list, it’s a good place to start. If you’re lacking in any of these areas, your innovation culture isn’t as strong as it could be. You can download the...
by Mary Byers | Mar 26, 2021 | Blog, Conversation Starters, Strategies for Success
The headwinds against association innovation are strong. It’s clear that comfort, status quo, complacency and inertia represent business as usual. How do we move—collectively as staff and board—to discomfort, disruption, and industriousness? We plan for it. Business...
