ISSUE #003 | THE LEADERSHIP CONTRARIAN

In the first issue of The Leadership Contrarian, I said this newsletter would be a journey, a conversation about leadership from a more holistic perspective.

Not just leadership as performance.
Not just leadership as personality.
And definitely not leadership as hustle dressed up as heroics.

But leadership as something deeper. More human. More sustainable.

ISSUE #002 | THE LEADERSHIP CONTRARIAN

As I sit down to write this second newsletter, I’m struck by a simple truth:

We are all living in a world that feels louder, faster, stranger, and more unpredictable than anything we grew up with.

If issue #001 was about grounding us in a holistic, integrated life…

Today’s issue is about why that matters now more than ever.

ISSUE #001 | THE LEADERSHIP CONTRARIAN

As I sit here writing this, I want to begin with something simple and honest:

This is the first time in a long time that I’ve sat down to write directly to you, personally, thoughtfully, with intention.

And if I’m being candid… it feels overdue.

Website design is a crucial element for any business.Your website is one of the most important marketing tools you have. It's your online storefront, and it's how potential customers will learn about your business and decide whether or not to do business with you.

With so many website design options available, it's natural to wonder what the best approach is for your business. Find out how to choose the right website design for your business.

First impressions matter. Your website is one of your most important business assets. It should clearly communicate the problem you solve and what you offer while still making Google happy. Choosing the right company to design or redesign your website is a crucial step in establishing a strong online presence. There are important factors to consider when selecting a company to help create an effective website that reflects your values and engages your target audience. You also want to pay attention to the claims the company makes about their process and abilities, as well as review any past websites they’ve designed.

In today's world, a website is critical to the success of any business. It’s the one place online where you have complete control over your content and brand messaging. Whether you're starting a brand-new website or redesigning your current site, the cost is always a concern. Let’s explore pricing structure, and what factors determine the cost of a website redesign.

This past year has been momentous for Half a Bubble Out. If you have been following us at all, you know that we checked off 20 years in business. Just writing that causes me to want to pause and simply say thank you to all of you: our clients, friends, vendors, and others who are part of our larger community.

Thank you for the gift of allowing us to partner with you in growing your companies, in developing your leadership, and in managing the day to day opportunities that running a business or leading a team brings to your doorstep.

Popularity? Sure it’s nice to be noticed and all, but is that really the point? To be able to brag and say, yah…I had 1,000,000 visitors to my website last year…

That may be impressive, but why is website traffic important to your business?

Website traffic (or the number of visitors to your website) is important because the number of visitors equals the number of opportunities you have to add new customers. 

Many leaders hire a new employee and instantly feel like they’ve gone from business leader to babysitter. When leaders describe what they mean by “babysitting” employees, what they’re really saying is they don’t want to spend any time at all with a new employee. The first day on the job they think they should be able to just show them their desk, give them a task, and the employee will know exactly what to do.

When Michael and I got married, we made a deal: I had to learn to like the drums, so that I could fully appreciate my husband’s percussive skills, and Michael had to learn to like football—specifically, the NFL. I fell in love with the NFL long before I fell in
love with Michael. I’m a 49ers fan first but root for Green Bay on the back end.

Michael thinks I got the easier part of the deal. Drumming seasons come and go, but the NFL is relentless.

One of the great stories of the NFL—especially for 49ers fans—is a story about how Coach Bill Walsh turned the struggling 49ers around with his leadership and management during the late ’70s and ’80s. Humor me for a second—I just have to geek out a little.