Growth Insights for CEOs

Growth Without Guesswork: The Questions Great Vistage Chairs Ask
Executive Takeaways
- Most CEOs are managing growth on assumptions that no longer reflect how buyers actually buy.
- The best Chair question isn't "how is sales going?" It's "where are the growth leaks?"
- AI search is already a revenue issue, not a future one.
- Insight without commitment is just a good conversation.
After leading more than 150 Vistage workshops, working with hundreds of CEOs navigating growth challenges, and spending more than 10 years as a Vistage member myself, I’ve noticed a consistent pattern in conversations with business leaders. No matter the industry, the symptoms sound familiar.
Recent Posts

Why CPG Companies Will Have to Innovate or...
Wed, Nov 29, 2023 — Challenger brands have nearly doubled the innovation success rate vs. leading brands By: Mike Concannon and Evan Eckman Which business author is famous for the quote “innovate or die”? Peter Drucker, Tom Peters, or Dr. Jack Matson? Answer: All of the above. It was a fundamental business principle for the past century. So why has the collective wisdom of these contemporary business authors seemingly been forgotten by the big CPG companies this century?

Bridging the Gap Between CEOs and Marketing Leaders
Tue, Nov 21, 2023 — Recent research from McKinsey & Company reveals a concerning trend - while 90% of CEOs believe their marketing leaders’ roles are well-defined, only 22% of marketing leaders agree. This staggering discrepancy highlights a growing divide in how marketing leadership roles are perceived and utilized in organizations today. This insight was brought to light in a recent article from the Wall Street Journal, “Divide Between CEOs and CMOs is Widening…”

5 Things You Should Know Before Spending on Marketing Execution
Thu, Nov 9, 2023 — Article 5 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen If you have been under pressure to tighten your marketing budget this year, you’re not alone. According to a survey, B2B companies' marketing spending in 2023 increased by only 2.3%. This growth rate is lower than the 3.7% inflation rate, impacting businesses and individuals.
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7 KPIs That Should be in Your 2024 Growth Plan
Fri, Nov 3, 2023 — Article 4 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen For modern-day businesses, establishing measures is not just a good idea – it’s a downright necessity. In fact, a poll of executive leaders found a nearly unanimous agreement that key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential to gauge the pulse of broad business goals.

How to Establish a Strategic 2024 Growth Plan and Justify Your Marketing Budget
Wed, Oct 25, 2023 — Article 3 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen In an era characterized by rapid technological shifts, changing consumer behavior, and a volatile global economic landscape, successful businesses are those that look ahead, anticipate challenges, and seize opportunities. But when it comes to developing your own business growth strategy, are you prepared for all that 2024 will throw at your company? Or are you content on a “lather, rinse, repeat” approach to strategic business development?

Analyze Your Current Customers to Supercharge Your 2024 Annual Business Planning
Thu, Oct 19, 2023 — Article 2 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen When we ask our clients why customers buy from them, much of the time, they either don’t know, or are completely off-base about the reason. In an uber-competitive marketplace and with so much at stake, this inability to define why people should buy your product or service can be a fatal misstep.

Why You Can’t Afford to Cut Your Marketing Investment for 2024
Wed, Oct 11, 2023 — Article 1 of the 7-part series: Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen In an era dominated by rapid change and economic unpredictability, businesses often find themselves at the crossroads of making challenging decisions, especially when it comes to budgeting. One of the areas often eyed for potential cuts is marketing. But is this a wise move?

Accelerating Growth In 2024 with Strategic Business Planning
Tue, Oct 3, 2023 — Introduction: Take Action Now to Plan for Success By: Scott Wright and Jack Bowen Temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing colors, and you can almost hear the sounds of the crowd cheering at the high school homecoming game. With these and other harbingers of the calendar’s fourth quarter, you’re likely about to sharpen your pencil, corral your executive leadership – and engage in your strategic business planning process for 2024.

Your Business Needs a Secret Sauce: Enter the 3 Uniques™
Tue, Sep 12, 2023 — Today, we’re going to whip up a secret sauce. Now, I can’t promise that this tasty combination will result in your anointment as a Kitchen Hero or the envy of Gordon Ramsay. But when basted upon your business, your clandestine condiment could unlock the kind of business success that will have your competitors salivating and your customers asking for seconds.