Convention says that to transform the business culture, start with a spate of town hall meetings, dinners with staff, elaborate family outings, and a blitz of internal PR. Designate culture champions to launch a campaign in every location. Make everyone feel great about the company. Play to win, not lose, and profits will soar!

There is a more realistic view. Culture is a by-product of concrete leadership decisions and actions that translate purpose and direction into tangible performance. Business leaders who achieve dynamic growth never underestimate the power of culture on the business, or the ability of culture to derail the company’s ambitious plans. These leaders know that culture is greatly influenced by their own actions, words, strategies and programs. Continue reading…

Alex Bogusky is co-chairman of MDC Partners’ Crispin Porter + Bogusky, the award winning advertising agency, and chief creative insurgent of MDC, a portfolio of marketing communications companies. Bogusky is a game-changer, and Crispin Porter is known for changing the way people interact with brands.   

Bogusky challenged conventional wisdom at the Mirren New Business Conference on April 13, 2010. Among the conventions that he questioned was the idea that you can learn from your mistakes. 

“I’ve never learned anything from my mistakes,” Bogusky said. “Again, I hate conventional wisdom. Conventional wisdom is learning from your mistakes. What about learning from your successes? That’s where I’ve focused. Like, this works, we better get down and study…this.” Continue reading…