Whether you are ready to launch a new website, program, software, retail store, new product or even a new church campus, you need to know when it’s ready–not halfway and not overdone, but ready. I have coined a term for what the perfect launch stage, I call it “critical mass.” When launching something new, our tendency is to err on two opposite sides: too much or too little. Too much, or sometimes called “overkill,” can delay a project launch date, increase the budget and make it cumbersome and difficult to understand or navigate. I remember working on a software project that started out as a simple idea to solve a straight forward problem. During development it grew and by the time it finally launched, late and over budget, it was bloated and difficult to learn. Sadly, the extra features that cost the most and delayed the project were not as…

The double-breasted jacket has come back in a big way this year. It’s not the same version of the 1930s gangsta look or the 1980s resurgence with big lapels, extra thick shoulders pads and brass buttons. Labels are keeping it youthful and fun but making it more fitted, softer lines around the shoulders and using interesting fabrics. The fun part comes from paring unconventional shoes, no socks and bright colors. Some of you might feel the urge to reach way back into your closet and pull out your “vintage” double breasted jacket. Before you risk it, take a look at these new Fall and even Spring releases. If you are still not sure, ask your wife, girlfriend, mother, uh, not your mother, she thinks you look great in anything. What’s your take on the new double breasted jacket resurgence?

We purposely don’t have many sacred cows in the businesses that I run. We adapt and change fast and have become “platform agnostics” so we can server our clients better in a fast-changing business environment. Sacred cows only slow things down and are always self serving. There are three things, however, that we fight hard never to compromise. And if we ever do, we are quickly reminded of their importance and why after all these years, they are still relevant. We call it our 3 C’s. These core values are more than just posters on a wall or words on a website. These helped form the DNA of  these businesses and have everything to do with the environment we create internally. We take our time to hire someone at The A Group, so managing them is an easier process. C is for Character Character is a foundation of any success…